Children Along Irvington Avenue

On June 5, 1926, Judge Edward Felt was attempting to repair screens on the second story of his tall house at 64 North Irvington Avenue, when he fell from a ladder and on to the driveway below. His neighbor, Dr. John Kingsbury at 72 North Irvington Avenue, rushed to the scene, but tragically the judge passed away from his injuries later at Methodist Hospital.  Tributes and eulogies poured fourth from all over the state as Mr. Felt had served on the Indiana Court of Appeals. He was only 66 years old.

With her children grown and out of the house and with families of their own, Martha Thomas Felt, was now all alone in the large house. One of her children, Elsie Felt Caldwell, lived nearby at 30 North Bosart Avenue with her husband Howard Caldwell, Sr. and two children, Martha Virginia and Howard, Jr.  Mr. Caldwell's mother, Martha Caldwell still owned the Bosart Avenue home so Howard and Elsie made the decision to move in with Mrs. Felt in the larger Irvington Avenue home in 1926. They would remain with her for two years.

Photos from the mid-1920s and later show that the family concentrated on the children and grandchildren.  Snowstorms proved to be perfect opportunities to capture the kids at play. Even after the Caldwells moved out of 64 North Irvington Avenue, they still came back to visit Grandma Felt who remained in the home for many years.

David Browder posed with his cousins Howard and Martha Virginia Caldwell in their Grandmother's backyard at 64 North Irvington Avenue in 1927.  Behind the kids, you can see the Kingsbury home at 72 North Irvington Avenue. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Martha Virginia Caldwell pulled David Browder, her cousin, and Howard Caldwell, Jr., her brother, on a sled through some snow in the winter of 1927. The kids were playing in the backyard that belonged to Martha Thomas Felt at 64 North Irvington Avenue. Behind the kids, you can see the rear of 72 North Irvington Avenue. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Baby Boom:  Elsie Felt Caldwell, in the middle posed with her baby Martha Virginia Caldwell in 1918 along with two unidentified women and their babies in the front yard of the Felt home at 64 North Irvington Avenue. The second story and roofline of 63 North Irvington Avenue can be seen above the women. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

We are not certain at this time as to the names of the children in the photo, but behind the kids you can 63 North Irvington Avenue c1925. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

David Browder and Howard Caldwell, Jr. play in the front yard at 64 North Irvington Avenue c1927. Sadly, we do not know the name of the woman who took care of the boys. We believe her first name might be Lola. Behind the group, you can see the Kingsbury home at 72 North Irvington Avenue (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Howard Caldwell Jr. on the front walk of 64 North Irvington Avenue in 1928 (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

"Edward" pushes Howard Caldwell, Jr. while a neighborhood girl looked on. The kids were in front of the Stone family home at 60 North Irvington Avenue. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

64 North Irvington Avenue in 2019

Sources:  "Judge Edward Felt Injured," Hancock Democrat, Jun19, 1926, 2; "Judge Edward Felt Fatally Injured," Hancock Democrat, June 10, 1926, 2;  Indiana Judicial Branch, ind.gov.org;

I am indebted to Ginny Hingst, the great granddaughter of Edward and Martha Felt.