Kids--29 South Audubon Road

Grandchildren of James T. and Cora Layman enjoy fun time at 29 South Audubon Road (circa 1908). The Layman mansion is no longer standing. See previous posts to view other photos of this incredible house. This wonderful picture shows a glimpse into the lives of children in the neighborhood. Note the dog on the top step. This image is courtesy of Isabelle Layman Troyer.

Layman Family--29 South Audubon Road

The Layman family lived in a large Second Empire styled home at 29 South Audubon Road (see previous post). They owned the home from 1887 until its demise in 1952. James Townsend Layman (1844-1922), a Civil War veteran, was a partner with Simeon Carey in a wholesale firm downtown. He also served as an elected official in numerous capacities both as an Indianapolis city councilman and as a member of the Indiana Senate. Cora Layman (died in 1930) was an active clubwoman and helped to raise the couple's six children.

In the top image James Townsend Layman and his wife Cora Layman pose in front of their home at 29 South Audubon Road in 1910. In the bottom photo Mr. and Mrs. Layman again in 1910 pose outside with some of their children. These images are courtesy of Isabelle Layman Troyer.

Julian-Layman Home--Lost Irvington

This beautiful Second Empire-styled villa used to stand at 29 South Audubon Road. Jacob Julian, a founder of Irvington, likely commissioned architect Isaac Taylor to build the house in 1870. Across the street, Sylvester Johnson employed Taylor to build a nearly identical home at 26 South Audubon Road. In 1887, James Townsend Layman purchased the Julian Home. Layman ran a successful wholesale business south of downtown Indianapolis called the Layman, Carey & Company. Members of the Layman family would own the property until 1952. In the 1950s, a developer demolished the historic mansion and built the Saxony Apartment Complex. This image is courtesy of Isabelle Layman Troyer.

Danner Family--72 N. Ritter Ave

The Danner family operated a series of five and dime stores around the state of Indiana in places like Irvington and Rushville. Guy and Nellie Danner lived at 72 North Ritter Avenue in an Arts and Crafts bungalow. In the top photo Elaine, Louis, and John pose in the backyard around 1935. In the bottom photo Nellie Danner stands on her front porch with her children John and Louis in 1936. The wood shake still remains on the house in 2011. These images are courtesy of the Danner Family.

270 South Audubon Road--Then and Now

Many families have called 270 South Audubon Road home. The Gawne Family were the first to occupy the home in 1910. Orville Gawne was a traveling salesman. Other members of that family to live here included his wife Catherine and his children Catherine, Jenette, and their teacher-son Paul H. Other families who dwelled in this house included the McClains, the Headricks, the Dunhams, the Furgasons, the Lentzes, the Gingers, and the Campbells. By the 1940s the Graves family lived at 270. The Craigs called the house home for many years in the 1960s and 70s.

In the top photo, Mrs. Graves and her daughter stand on the front porch in 1949. In the bottom photo the current residents stand in the identical location on January 25, 2011. Note the beautiful glass window remains part of the house. The historic image is courtesy of the Stewart Family.

5317-19 University Ave--Asbestos Siding

5317-19 is one of the oldest doubles in Irvington. Built in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, the structure had many Queen Anne styled features including a porch with a balustrade railing and ornamental spindles. Many families connected with Butler or the Board of Missions lived in the duplex because of its close proximity to both institutions. In 1910, journalist Charles Fuller lived on one side and the Murphy Family lived on the other side. John H. Murphy was a molder while his daughter Mallie J. attended Butler.

In 1940, Mrs. Anna Finch owned the double and hired Ralph R. Reeder & Sons to put on asbestos siding. Mrs. Finch was looking for a way to avoid painting her wood clapboard siding and asbestos tiles were in vogue in Indianapolis between 1920 and 1950. She chose "White Thatch" to spruce up this home. Of course, Mrs. Finch was unaware of the dangers of asbestos. Many homeowners sheathed their houses in this material as it was the "vinyl" of its day.

Although the top image is in poor shape, you can faintly see how the home looked prior to being sided. It used to have a really beautiful porch. It looks like the Victorian features were removed when the asbestos siding was added. Mrs. Finch's home was featured in the Indianapolis Star on February 5, 1940 (page 16) as promotion for the siding.

I have also included a contemporary photo of the house (January, 2011). You will note that the asbestos siding remains seventy-one years later.

5334-36 E. Washington St.--Then and Now

This double, built around 1915, is located at 5334-36 East Washington Street. In the top photo members of the McDavitt Family pose in front of the home around 1946. In the lower photo, you can see the duplex in January of 2011. The structure has held up well over the years and retains many of its original features. In both photos you can see the Moore-Kirk Funeral Home located at 5342 E. Washington Street. The historic image is courtesy of the McDavitt Family.

Small Pond--5825 Oak Avenue

In 1947, the Stout Family of 352 Good Avenue built a Goldfish Pond in the northwest corner of the their lot. In the top photo John Stout begins to break ground. In the bottom photo the crew has nearly completed it. In the bottom picture, you can see 5825 Oak Avenue. This late nineteenth-century Queen Anne home is one of the older houses in the area. In 1910, Fred Rubin, son of Jacob Rubin, lived in the house and operated a dry kiln on the property. I am not sure who lived here by 1947, but the home is beautifully maintained in 2011. These images are courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

Stout Family Part III

In these two images, Ileen Stout is holding babies Frank and David. In the bottom photo she is standing outside. (1948) Behind her and to the right you can see 352 Good Avenue and to the left of her you can see 5905-07 University Avenue. She is standing next to a sawhorse holding up a small boat. You can also see that the car near the boat has an open door. In the top image she is standing inside a recently added room to 352 Good Avenue in 1950. These images are courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

Stout Family--Good Ave and University Ave Homes

The Stout family lived at 352 Good Avenue in the late 1940s and early 1950s. In the top photo Wilma and Ralph Stout pose near 5905-07 University Avenue. The color photo (1948) reveals that the duplex used to be stained brown. In the bottom photo Ralph and Frank Stout take a break from building an addition on to 352 Good Avenue in 1948. The rear of 5905-07 University Avenue can be seen in the photo. These images are courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

352 Good Avenue--1947

It is always interesting to see how homes have changed over the years. The Stouts lived at 352 Good Avenue in the late 1940s. All of the photos presented today were taken in 1947 and 1948. Wilma and Andy Stout are pictured on the front porch. You may see an earlier photo of this house (1910) in a previous post. These images are courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

Stout Family--352 Good Avenue

The Rubin Family dwelled at 352 Good Avenue from 1909 to 1934. Several families lived in the home in the 1930s and 40s. In 1946, Febro Stout and his wife Elsie purchased the house and lived here until 1951. The Stouts hosted several extended family members after World War II because of the lack of housing in the Indianapolis area. They also added on to the home in 1948. Pictured in the photo on the left are Elsie Stout and her two daughters. In the photo on the right Wilma Stout poses with her new husband Arthur Kinnan around 1948. In the background of this photo you can see 5920 University Avenue. More photos from this family will be forthcoming. These images are courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

Jacob Rubin--Irvington resident

Jacob Rubin, an immigrant from Alsace-Lorraine, moved to Irvington in 1909 after building a large home at 352 Good Avenue. He seems to have followed his adult son Fred Rubin, who owned a home on Oak Avenue. As a young man, Rubin was a carpenter and fireman. In one particularly horrible fire in the 1880s in Indianapolis, Rubin was thought to have died. Although he escaped the blaze, he remained slightly disabled for the remainder of his life. After moving to Irvington, he helped to develop and build other homes along Good and Beechwood Avenues. He and his wife Elizabeth lived the rest of their lives in the house. This wonderful photo shows Jacob Rubin towards the end of his life perhaps in the 1920s or early 1930s sitting in his Good Avenue home. You may see a picture of Elizabeth Rubin and their home in a previous post. This image is courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

Irving Circle Park Area--1940s

Members of the Lamb Family, who dwelled at 5631 University likely took this picture. In the background, 240 and 232 South Audubon can be seen. A bus has also just entered the photo. If anyone has any idea on the make and year of the car then drop me an e-mail. Perhaps we could get closer to dating this photo. We do not know the names of young girls in the photo but they are probably part of the Lamb family. This photo along with about seventeen others were found rolled up in a shoe in the attic of 5631 University Avenue. This image is courtesy of George and Linda Cuff.

5631 University Avenue--c.1948

The beautiful Johnson Home sits at 5631 University across the street from the Irving Circle Park. The Lamb Family dwelled in the house longer than any other beginning in 1938 and staying for over 30 years. This photo was found with several others rolled up in a shoe in the attic. This image is courtesy of George and Linda Cuff.

Vacation Departure--Ritter Avenue

An Irvington family heads out of town for vacation in 1950. The house pictured in the photo is 71 North Ritter Avenue. This photo is courtesy of the Stewart Family.

Howe High School Dance--1949

Friends having fun at a Howe High School dance in 1949. Pictured (L to R): Jim Holtz, Myra Leasor, Marty Book, Jim Langdenberg. This photo is courtesy of Marty Book Powell.

152 Downey Avenue--Then and Now

This interesting home at 152 Downey Avenue has had a variety of owners and renters over the years. The 1900 census lists 53-year-old Samuel H. Richey, a manufacturer, and his wife Louisa Richey, aged 45 as living in the house. Their three children, Verna , 19; Hunter, 18 (a stenographer), and Katherine, 10 also lived in the large home. By 1910, Bloomfield Moore, Sr, 38, a bridge draftsman and his wife Lillian B. Fuqua Moore dwelled here. Others listed in the census that year included Bloomfield Moore, Jr, aged two; Mrs. Sarah Fuqua, 63, Lillian's widowed mother, and Cora Nellie Fuqua 37, Lillian's single schoolmarm sister.

Due to its proximity to Butler University, it served as a sorority house for Delta Gamma by 1928. After World War II, the large home was carved up into apartments and remains in that state in 2011. The photos on this page depict the beautiful home in 1928, and the home in its present condition in 2011. Perhaps in the future, the house will be restored to its former grandeur.

North Irvington Avenue--Then and Now

This historic postcard (ca1910) shows the first block of North Irvington Avenue. (26 N. Irvington to 52 N. Irvington) Some of you may recognize the photo from the cover of Greater Irvington (1997) by Paul Diebold. Several of these properties were built as duplexes. The more recent photo was taken on January 8, 2011.

School 57--Historic Postcard

School #57, also known as the George Washington Julian School, is actually the third school building for Irvington. The first two structures used to be located in the 200 block of South Audubon Road across the street from the Irving Circle Park. After two significant fires, leaders in the neighborhood chose to move the school to East Washington Street and Ritter Avenue across from the former Irvington Fire Station! Herbert Foltz designed the school in 1903. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. This historic postcard was sent by "Maud" to "Miss Nannie Thom" of Massillion, Ohio (c/o Rev. Mathinson of South Lincoln Avenue) on April 28, 1910. She writes: Hello my dear and how are you? We are fine. Haven't seen any of those pictures floating out this way. Hope to hear from you soon. Good Bye. Maud

Lost Irvington--5342 E. Washington St.

This interesting Queen Anne styled home used to sit at 5342 East Washington Street. It was likely built in the late nineteenth century. By 1897, the Newlin family dwelled here. Charles Newlin was the treasurer of the Clean Politics Publishing Company. In the 1920s it served as a fraternity house for Butler University. This photo shows the home in 1924. It was later torn down for a funeral home.

Butler University Golf Team--1927

This is a great shot of the newly formed Butler Golf Team from 1927. The players identified in the photo are: (left to right) Lawrence Vollrath (captain), Robert Hanna, Arthur Cope, and Norman Cook.

Ernest T. Earl--5631 University Avenue--Part 2

Ernest Theodore Earl was a bit of an actor as you can see from this photo. He portrayed a variety of characters including one as a hobo. This photo was taken of him in 1898 when he lived with his parents in the "Castle House" at 5631 University Avenue. This rare photo is courtesy of George and Linda Cuff.

Ernest T. Earl--5631 University Avenue

The "Castle House" located across the street from the Irving Circle Park is perhaps one of the most photographed homes in the neighborhood. Built in 1876 for the Eudorus Johnson Family, it has been occupied by several other families including the Earl Family. The Earls moved into the large Victorian Gothic dwelling in the late 1890s and remained until 1913. Pictured here is Ernest Theodore Earl, the son of Henry and Anna (his first wife) Earl, standing by the front porch stoop in 1898. This rare photo shows what the home looked like before the Craftsman-era porch was added in the early twentieth century. This photo is courtesy of George and Linda Cuff.

Although upon first glance, the second photo might look like it had been shot in the 1930s, it was in fact, taken in July of 2004, by me. Many more photos and stories of this important Irvington house will be posted.

Irvington Teachers--1927

Teachers take time out in 1927 to pose for the camera in front of School #57 (East Washington and Ritter Ave). Oral histories conducted by the Irvington Public Library in the 1970s and 1980s reveal that some of these ladies were loved while others feared. You will note that none of them married. In this photo--standing (from left to right) Miss Genevieve Burns, Miss Nessler, Miss Alwes, Miss Early, Miss Vance, and ?--seated (from left to right) Miss Winders, Miss Loeper, principal.