Lost Irvington--Richardson Home

Today, a vacant lot along Burgess Avenue was once the site of a home for two prominent Irvington sisters.  Ida F. and Jennie Richardson likely moved into their home at 312 Burgess Avenue in the late nineteenth century.  Their brother, Thomas Morris Richardson, lived nearby in several Irvington homes before finally settling at 104 Johnson Avenue as he was both a builder and land speculator.

Joel F. Richardson, the father of this clan, made a fortune in the railroad business. He began investing and building rail lines as early as 1844 in Massachusetts and New York. Eventually, he moved his family to Delhi, Ohio (near Cincinnati) where he operated a farm and a coal elevator in nearby North Bend.  He first came to Indiana in the 1850s and helped to build the Indianapolis-Lawrenceburg Rail Line.  He returned in 1870 with the bold idea of building a belt or ring rail line around the city of Indianapolis.  Just as he began to find investors for the idea, the Panic of 1873 hit the nation and he saw his fortunes fall. He was saved by John Caven, the mayor of Indianapolis, who thought it was a good idea and helped to raise $500,000 for the construction of the profitable line.

Upon his death in 1895, Joel Richardson willed quite a lot of money and land to his children.  His son, Thomas, was an entrepreneur who began to speculate on land and housing in the Irvington area.  His firm, Richardson and Porter was likely responsible for building several Irvington homes including: 304 South Ritter Avenue, 346 South Ritter, and 104 Johnson Avenue among many others. It is possible that he built 312 Burgess Avenue, but that is merely speculation at this point.  An Indianapolis Star article (July 27, 1911) reported that Mr. Richardson sold eleven vacant lots north of Washington Street and New York Street and east of Audubon Road to Charles Thompson for $12,000.  When he suffered a near fatal stroke at the age of 60 on November 14, 1914, the Indianapolis Star called him "one of the most prominent citizens of Irvington."  He eventually recovered and lived until 1930.

Ida Richardson was a talented artist and poet.  To earn an income, she taught in the public schools.  She was known for her brass etchings and china painting.  The Indiana Historical Society has many of her scrapbooks, diaries, poetry, and two of her paintings of President Benjamin Harrison's childhood home in North Bend, Ohio.  She grew up near his family.  She had many passions in life including genealogy. In an age when it was difficult to search one's lineage, Miss Richardson managed to trace her mother's people back to Oliver Cromwell's England.  Miss Richardson was also the secretary to the Marion County Agricultural and Horticultural Society for decades beginning in the 1890s. She was also a member of other Irvington clubs as well.  Miss Richardson gave many formal talks in her lifetime including one titled, "Weeds and Seeds" on September 15, 1912. She lived most of her life with her younger sister Jennie (Mary J.) at 312 Burgess Avenue.  Sometime after 1904, they had the Queen Anne porch removed from the home and added a larger Craftsman era porch.

Ida Richardson lived to the age of 84 years and died in 1932.  Her younger sister passed away in 1936. Upon her passing, the home remained vacant through the remainder of 1936 and the rest of 1937.  Sometime during that year, the home burned to the ground.  For over seventy-five years, no one has rebuilt on the site and the lot now belongs to 304 Burgess Avenue.  Both Richardson women and the home have been forgotten.

Thankfully, local historian Larry Muncie, managed to acquire these three historic images of the long lost home.  In the top photo, you can see what the home would have looked like in the late nineteenth century.  Notice the smaller, but beautiful and ornate front porch.  In the second photo, likely taken around 1902, Ida Richardson hosts one of her many club gatherings.  In the third photo, you can see either Ida or Jennie Richardson sitting on the new porch.  Notice the plantings around the house.  In the bottom shot, taken in the final days of 2012, you can see the empty lot today.  If you are interested in reading Miss Richardson's prose (something I have not done yet), then go to the Indiana Historical Society and ask for the following catalog call numbers:  M0237, BV 1710-1719 OM 0050  This is not a woman who should be forgotten.

Richardson Home c1900 at 312 Burgess Avenue

Irvington Fortnightly Club c. 1902 at 312 Burgess Avenue

Elizabeth or Jennie Richardson sometime after 1904 at 312 Burgess Avenue

Empty lot where 312 Burgess Avenue used to be.  It likely burned to the ground in 1937.

Irvington and Charles C. Deam

Many Hoosiers have hiked in the Charles Deam Wilderness in southern Indiana, but how many of you knew that Mr. Deam lived in Irvington for a brief time along Burgess Avenue?  The neighborhood, with its canopy of trees, and a nearby college would have been an ideal home for a conservationist like Charles Deam.  Hailing from Bluffton, Indiana, Mr. Deam and his wife Stella moved to 318 Burgess Avenue in 1909 after being appointed the State Forester.

While living in the home, Mr. Deam penned Trees of Indiana (1911), the first of many books.  He was fascinated by nature and under his leadership, the state expanded the Clark State Forest in southern Indiana.  Several Indiana newspapers printed press releases issued by Mr. Deam during his tenure in office.  On April 8, 1910, he issued warnings to the township trustees throughout the state to enforce existing fire laws to prevent forest fires.  On December 29, 1910, he announced that the state would be planting 1800 hardwood trees in the Clark State Forest.  He considered planting exotics, but decided against that idea due to the expense.  He also founded the Irvington Nature Study Club in his home on March 7, 1913.

By 1913, Mr. Deam found himself embroiled in a controversy when he refused to pay two percent of his salary to the political party in power.  He eventually lost his job and had to leave Irvington.  In 1917, with the assistance of fellow conservationist, Richard Lieber he was rehired.  The Wonderly family moved into 318 Burgess Avenue in 1914.

In his long life, Mr. Deam collected over 78,000 plant specimens.  It is possible that some of those might have come from Irvington.  The entire collection eventually went to Indiana University.  Mr. Deam, is one of the many talented people who have called this neighborhood home.

In the top photo, you can see the Deam Home before the family lived there as this photo was likely taken around 1898.  The home closest to the photographer belonged to the Richardson family at 312 Burgess Avenue.  (more on that home in another post) The second home at 318 Burgess Avenue would become the Deam home in 1909.  In the far distance, you can see the Toole Home at 336 Burgess Avenue.  This wonderful image is courtesy of Larry Muncie.

The second photo shows Mr. Deam surrounded by his collections. This was likely taken long after he left Irvington.  The bottom photo shows the Deam home in 2012.

Burgess Avenue homes in 1898: 312, 318, and 336

Charles Deam would later have a wilderness named after him in southern Indiana

The Deam Home at 318 Burgess Avenue in 2012

Burgess Avenue Beauty--1898 and Today

Burgess Avenue curves from South Ritter up to University Avenue.  This meandering street, formerly called Grand Avenue before Irvington's annexation in 1902, was developed in the 1880s and 1890s.  While the first Irvingtonians built solid brick Italianate villas in the 1870s, the second wave constructed tall rambling Queen Ann homes.   This unusual house, located at 289 Burgess Avenue, has been home to many families since the 1890s.  Note the irregular roofline and ornamental detailing in the gables and on the porch.  The stair-stepped attic windows were another unusual feature of the dwelling.  In the top photo, children gather on the front porch (c.1898) of the house.  If you look closely, the ghostly image of the former Irvington Public School appears on South Audubon Road!  The children are dressed in their finest.  At least two of them have removed their winter boots.  The second photo, shows the Bloomfield Moore family on a snowy day in front of their grand home.  (c1898) You will note that Burgess Avenue was little more than a dirt path in the late nineteenth century.

Children stand on the porch at 289 Burgess Avenue c1898

The Bloomfield Moore family in front of 289 Burgess Avenue c1898

289 Burgess Avenue on December 27, 2012

The contemporary image was shot on December 27, 2012, after another snowstorm.  You can still see some of the original Victorian features on the home.  The historic images are courtesy of local historian, Larry Muncie.

Christmases of Yore in Irvington--Happy Holidays to All!

Hartsock Family (59 N. Hawthorne Lane) Christmas Tree in 1940

Hunt Family Christmas at 341 S. Audubon Road in 1955

Hunt Family (341 S. Audubon Road) Christmas Scene--1955

Germaine Family Christmas at 307 South Audubon in 1975

Ferling Family Christmas at 5823 Beechwood Avenue in 1956

Christmas Table at 25 North Irvington Avenue in 1961

Nativity Scene in 25 North Irvington Avenue in 1961

These images are courtesy of Brian and Emily Mack, the Hunt Family, the Germaine Family, and the Ferling Family

Building to be Restored!

The former Irvington Post Office at 5502 East Washington Street has been spared from the wrecking ball.  Today, it was announced that the Irvington Development Corporation and the Irvington Historical Society have purchased the building.  They will obtain grants to complete much needed structural repairs and they plan to restore the exterior of the building. The organizations will then market the structure to a potential developer or buyer. This is such great news as this corner has long been a troubled spot in Irvington.  I commend both organizations for the tenacity and patience it took to obtain this structure.

Early Twentieth Century Views of School #57

IPS #57 is one of the oldest continuously run school buildings in the city of Indianapolis.  The school has gone through many additions and renovations since it was first constructed on the southwest corner of East Washington Street and Ritter Avenue in 1903.  The school district commissioned local architect, Herbert Foltz, to design the substantial two-story building.  Further additions in 1914 and 1922 provided much needed classroom space as the community continued to grow.  In the early 1930s, the community petitioned that the building be named after George Washington Julian, a former US Congressman and Irvington resident.  The historic photos, courtesy of Larry Muncie, show three views of the school before officials enlarged it.  Further stories about Irvington schools may be found in Irvington Stories by Larry Muncie (1992) and Greater Irvington by Paul Diebold (1997).  Oral histories conducted in the 1980s and 1990s also contain a wealth of information about the teachers and principals who worked here.  You may now access those interviews online by going to the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library's website.

School #57 c.1910

School #57 c.1908

School #57 c.1908

Downey Avenue Christian Church Youth Group--1930

Many of the local churches had active Sunday schools and youth groups.  Downey Avenue Christian Church's location one block north of the international headquarters for the the Disciples of Christ, made it a frequent subject in church newsletters sent all over the world.

In this photo, taken in 1930, local youth complete their exhibits for "Parent's Day." Pictured in this photo:   unknown girl, Christine Bruckman, Russell Barnett, Anna Vert, unknown boy, Betty Flay

How do some photos survive through time and others are lost forever?  In the case of this image, the provenance is quite interesting.  After the photo was taken, it was used in a church promotional.  Many years later, Florence Carmichael (an aunt to musician Hoagy Carmichael), decided to go through her files since she had made the decision to retire from the Disciples of Christ Education Division.  She came upon the photo and saw Christine Bruckman in the picture.  Miss Bruckman had become Mrs. Rouse and worked on the third floor of the Missions building so Mrs. Carmichael sent the photo downstairs. Mrs. Rouse kept the photo and later shared it with her son, Don Rouse, who lent it to me for this blog.  Mrs. Carmichael could have have easily thrown the photo away or it could have become lost over the years.  You will note that the children are standing in a building that was torn down to make way for the current church in the early 1950s.  One other any interesting note is that Russell Barnett was the father of Steve Barnett, who has been the Director of the Irvington Historical Society for many years.

This image is courtesy of Don Rouse.