Jacob B. Julian and Sylvester Johnson walked into the Marion County Courthouse on November 7, 1870, to file a plat for a new experiment called Irvington. Neither man hailed from the area as both were from Centerville, Indiana in Wayne County. A simple ad in the Indianapolis News on the following day documented the moment:
A plat of the town of Irvington was filed for yesterday. It has one hundred and nine lots, containing one to ten acres each.
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| The original plat created by Julian and Johnson as seen in this early map: The men quickly added the Julian and Johnson Addition south of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Just to the west, Levi Ritter added 80 acres of additional land for development in 1871. |
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| In the Julian and Johnson Addition, the developers added one of the first parks in Marion County. By 1874, builders erected a school across the street from the circular green space. |
The men had been inspired by the development of the town of Glendale (1851), a suburb north of Cincinnati. In that neighborhood, families of means built large homes on wide lots out in a country atmosphere. Glendale was located along a major rail line and had a small commercial section along with a school. Julian and Johnson strategically purchased farmland and woods east of Indianapolis in Warren Township due to its proximity to two major rail lines and its location along the National Road. These men were investors, but they were also planning to sell a way of life.
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| Early accounts indicate that Sylvester Johnson, a founder of Irvington, visited Glendale, a town north of Cincinnati. The beautiful community became the model for Irvington. (photos courtesy of Glendale Archive and Cincinnati Refined) |
Both Julian and Johnson had earned comfortable livings in Wayne County as attorneys and as land speculators. Both men were Quakers and both had been irked by a local issue that involved the removal of the county seat from Centerville to Richmond. Their vision for Irvington was similar. Of course, it was a profit-making venture, but Johnson, who was devoted to the cause of temperance, wrote in covenants that banned the sale of intoxicating liquors. He also added numerous other provisions as well including the stipulations that no slaughterhouses nor soap factories would be built within the town limits. Julian was given the naming rights. Early accounts vary, but either Jacob or his daughter, Mary Julian Downey, named the new town after their favorite author, Washington Irving.
The men must have done a good job of promoting the experiment as many people signed up to purchase lots before the town was even chartered. Levi Ritter, who owned 80 acres just to the west of the original plat, joined into the plan and it appears that he built the first new house in the neighborhood although there were still a few farmhouses nearby. Grace Julian Clarke, the niece of Jacob Julian, attributed his accomplishment to the fact that his house was clad in wood and not brick like many of the original residences so it was easier to build. His home used to stand on the grounds of the present School #57 and of course, the nearby street is named for his family. Johnson and Julian completed their homes soon after Mr. Ritter. A blurb in the Hancock Democrat (February 23, 1871) noted that Jacob Julian intended to build a residence in Irvington. A Cambridge City Tribune (October 31, 1872) article recorded that Mr. Julian and his family removed from his old house in Centerville to his new residence at Irvington, a suburb of Indianapolis, on Tuesday last. Both Julian and Johnson sited their brick Second Empire homes facing South Audubon Road (Central Avenue). The imposing residences could be seen from the National Road and must have been impressive mirages for travelers who might have been sojourning across the state.
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| Jacob Julian and Sylvester Johnson both hailed from Centerville, Indiana. They founded Irvington in 1870. Levi Ritter joined the duo as an investor in 1871. (Irvington Historical Society) |
Julian, Johnson, and Ritter followed the Glendale plan of meandering streets. The romantic design had become popular in the United States. Crown Hill Cemetery, begun in 1863, had a similar plan. Homeowners in the new suburb were required to plant trees. Towering oak, maple, catalpa, elm, ash, and sycamores grew into incredible canopies providing pleasant shade for future residents. Many of the new neighbors possessed cows that were allowed to graze in the public green spaces. Sheep, horses, and chickens were also allowed within the town limits although many spats in the neighborhood over the animals spilled into the local press.
The investors touted the possibility that a female seminary would be placed in the north circle although none ever materialized. Each person who built in Irvington was required to spend from $2500 to $10,000 on their homes. George W. Julian, the brother of Jacob Julian, spent $18,000 on his own home at 115 South Audubon Road (then called Central) in 1873. He rued the cost of his new residence and in his journal called the builders "scalawags." For most families in the 1870s, Irvington was out of financial reach. It largely became an exclusive enclave for white and Protestant families during the early years. Although few in number, some African Americans moved into the neighborhood and lived along the fringe in small houses. Many worked for the wealthy white families nearby.
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| James Downey, the son-in-law of Jacob Julian, built one of the first homes in the neighborhood when he erected this Second Empire residence in 1871 on the northwest corner of East Washington Street and Audubon Road (then Central). Mr. Downey was a major promoter of the neighborhood during the early years. He and his wife, Mary Julian Downey, built an even larger brick home at what is today University Avenue and Downey Avenue. The nearby street was named for the family. |
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| Jacob Julian moved into his beautiful home at 29 South Audubon Road (then Central) on October 24, 1872. Sylvester Johnson lived in a home that mirrored Julian's at 26 South Audubon Road. (photo courtesy of Isabel Layman Troyer) |
As the sounds of workmen building gorgeous villas on large lots emanated throughout the bucolic community, a startling development took place in 1873 that rocked Irvington and sent one its founders, Jacob Julian, into financial ruin. Economic malaise began in Europe and spread to the United States where investors had over-speculated on land near rail lines. Banks failed and it sent the country into the greatest depression it had ever experienced until an even bigger crisis came along in 1929. For Jacob Julian, it must have been a bitter moment. He had speculated on land all over the state of Indiana. He managed to hold on until 1876, but then was forced to declare bankruptcy. Some wondered if the new town would survive. Talks had been underway to lure a college into the neighborhood. Could that save the town?
Stay tuned for more posts on Irvington's 150th birthday.
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| In 1897, the Indiana Woman profiled Irvington. Many of the early homes can be seen in this edition. The Irvington Historical Society has reproduced copies of the publication for sale at the Bona Thompson Center. |
Sources: Information regarding James E. Downey: ad in the Indianapolis News, May 11, 1872; Downey home: "Death of Mrs. Downey, Wife of One of the Projectors of Irvington," Indianapolis News, October 14, 1898; Downey-Hibben home on University: Grace Julian Clarke, "Some of 'Original' Irvington's History Recalled by House Razing," Indianapolis Star, May 26, 1929
Sources regarding Jacob Julian: Obituary--"Death of Jacob B. Julian, An Aged Lawyer and Life-Long Indiana Resident," Indianapolis News, May 26, 1898; Moving to Irvington--Cambridge City Tribune, October 31, 1872, 1; Bankruptcy--"Petition in Bankruptcy," Indianapolis News, September 4, 1876
Sources regarding Levi Ritter: New Plat--Indianapolis News, September 16, 1871; First home in Irvington--"Old Ritter Homestead, First House Built After Establishment of Irvington," Indianapolis Journal, June 28, 1903
George W. Julian house price and scalawag quote--Patrick Riddleberger, George Washington Julian, Indianapolis, 1966, 278.
Sources regarding early Irvington: "Hear Irvington History Retold," Indianapolis Star, August 29, 1912; Layout and future depot--Cambridge City Tribune, January 26, 1871; Paul Diebold, Greater Irvington, 1997; Gertrude Hecker Winders, A Glimpse of Irvington Then and Now, 1870-1970, 1970; Larry Muncie, Irvington Stories, 1992; Larry Muncie, Irvington: Three Windows on Irvington History, 1989
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