Caldwells Move to Pleasant Run Parkway Home

In 1958, Howard and Elsie Felt Caldwell listed their home at 81 North Hawthorne Lane with the Spann Realty Company. They had made the decision to move into a beautiful ranch home at 6530 East Pleasant Run Parkway South Drive due to Elsie Felt Caldwell's health. She could now move about easier without having to climb a staircase.They were not the first residents of that home as the Meyers and Huffers preceded them. Situated on a corner, the backyard sloped down to the Pleasant Run stream. Although he could have retired long ago, Howard Caldwell, Sr. continued to work at his advertising firm downtown.

6530 East Pleasant Run Parkway c1968 (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Ad Man: Howard Caldwell, Sr. at his desk in his downtown office in the Merchant's Building in July of 1964 (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Tragically, not long after the Caldwells moved into their new home, Elsie Felt Caldwell became sick. Their daughter, Martha Virginia, moved in to help take care of her mother. After a long illness, Mrs. Caldwell passed away in the house in 1961. Mr. Caldwell continued to live on in the dwelling and likely surprised his family in 1968 when he announced that he was marrying Bertha Lugar, the mother of Mayor Richard Lugar. The happy couple honeymooned in Florida and South America.

Not all was perfect in the new house. Sometime in June of 1969 while the Caldwells were gone, thieves broke into the residence and stole many items including the couple's color television set, silverware, jewelry, and their 1963 Buick LeSabre. Of course, the new Mrs. Caldwell was the mother of the mayor of the city so the police eventually tracked down the culprits. All four connected with the burglary were captured and shepherded to jail.

Howard Caldwell, Sr. married Bertha Lugar in 1968. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Howard Caldwell Jr. and his wife Lynn Gruenholz Caldwell and their daughters, Tracy, Ginny, and Susan, visited Howard Caldwell Sr. at his home at 6530 Pleasant Run Parkway South Drive c1966 (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Howard Caldwell Sr. relaxed in his home at 6530 East Pleasant Run Parkway South Drive in 1972. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

6530 East Pleasant Run Parkway South Drive c1958 (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Howard Caldwell, Sr. passed away at the age of 80 in 1973. Bertha Lugar Caldwell continued to reside in the house until 1975. She would live many more years and long enough to see her son become a Senator. She died in 1999 at the age 92.

Sources:  "Mrs. Caldwell Dies in Home," Indianapolis Star, September 17, 1961, 12; "Burglars Make $10,000 Haul in Eastside Home," Indianapolis News, June 21, 1969, 16; "Howard Caldwell, Sr. Rites to be Saturday," Indianapolis Star, December 27, 1973, 37.

I am indebted to Ginny Hingst for her stories and photos of the Caldwell family.