Neighbors Along Young Avenue

     Many families moved into the newly-constructed houses in the Christian Park Heights subdivision in the 1940s. John and Helen Huggler found their forever home at 4613 Young Avenue in 1942. They raised their son, Ron, in the modest two-bedroom bungalow. Mr. Huggler documented many of the neighbors along Young Avenue. They socialized together and their children grew up together.  As World War II raged, many family members sent spouses and children off to war. Mr. Huggler served as the air-raid warden for the community. Families planted victory gardens. Children participated in paper and scrap drives. 

     Most of the kids from the neighborhood attended IPS #82  adjacent to Christian Park. Teenagers enrolled at nearby Howe High School or Arsenal Technical High School. Ron Huggler, who grew up in Christian Park Heights, noted that the neighborhood was close-knit. 

Ron Huggler grew up at 4613 Young Avenue. His father, John Huggler, photographed several families who resided along Young Avenue. In this image, young Ron posed with his dog Patrick. The photo was snapped in 1947. Behind Ron, you can see several of the residences in the 4600 block of Young Avenue.

The Dudley Family, 4605 Young Avenue

    Art and Faustina Dudley along with their daughter, Cathy, moved into the Christian Park Heights neighborhood in the early 1940s. Mr. Dudley was a plumber for several companies. He occasionally received calls from his neighbors, and according to Ron Huggler, Mr. Dudley always made time to help unclog a drain or fix a leaky faucet. The house became a gathering spot for many neighborhood kids especially on hot summer days as the Dudleys filled an inner tube with water and let the kids cool off. Art Dudley and John Huggler remained friends throughout their lives. 

Faustina and Art Dudley stood in front of their home at 4605 Young Avenue c1943 (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler)

Art Dudley hosed down Cathy Dudley, Johnnie Robeson, Karen Moore, Alan Miller, and Bob Butler in the front yard at 4605 Young Avenue on a hot summer day c1945. Behind the kids, you can see 4610, 4614, 4618, and 4622 Young Avenue. (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler)

Ron Huggler, who lived at 4613 Young Avenue, posed with Cathy Dudley in her front yard at 4605 Young Avenue. Both kids were only-children and grew up as brother and sister. The photo was likely snapped in 1943 in the front yard of 4605 Young Avenue. Behind the kids, you can see 4610 and 4614 Young Avenue. (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler)

   The McKinney Family, 4609 Young Avenue

     Raymond and Mary (Mae) McKinney moved into their bungalow at 4609 Young Avenue in 1943. Mr. McKinney worked for the E.C. Atkins Company for years and later as a representative for the American Saw & Manufacturing Company. Their only son, Raymond McKinney, Jr. served during World War II so there were likely many anxious nights in the home. Thankfully, Raymond, Jr. returned home after the war. The couple did not live in the residence for very long as they moved to 1104 North Leland Avenue by the end of the decade. 

Raymond and Mae McKinney (4609 Young Avenue) visited with the Dudley family at 4605 Young Avenue c1943.  (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler)

Raymond and Mae McKinney relaxed in their backyard at 4609 Young Avenue c1945. Mr. McKinney planted the Lombardy Poplar trees seen in the photo. They were one of the first families to fence in their backyard along the block. They also had one of the earliest television sets. (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler)

Raymond P. McKinney, Sr. landscaped his yard at 4609 Young Avenue c1943 (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler) 

The Mauzys, 4617 Young Avenue

      Merritt and Evangeline Collins Mauzy briefly lived in Christian Park Heights following their marriage in 1943. Mr. Mauzy served the country during World War II and attended the IU School of Medicine. He eventually became a plastic surgeon. Mrs. Mauzy was an accomplished soloist and a graduate of the IU School of Music. She is not pictured in the photographs below. We are still trying to identify the woman in the photos but she is possibly Merritt's mother, Verlie Mauzy. The children in the photos belong to the Teeguarden family of 4621 Young Avenue. Dr. Mauzy and Mrs. Mauzy relocated to West Virginia and  divorced in the early 1950s. Evangeline, who went by the stage name of Jenny Collins, went on to a highly successful singing career in Paris and on Broadway in New York. She married a French athlete and painter named Jacque Maloubier. All of that was far into the future from the photos below. On this date sometime in either 1942 or 1943, John Huggler, who resided at 4613 Young Avenue grabbed his camera and snapped some photos of his new neighbors. 

An unidentified woman posed with Merritt Mauzy and Linda and Bethany Teeguarden c1943 in front of 4617 Young Avenue. The woman might be Verlie Mauzy, the mother of Merritt Mauzy. The Teeguarden children resided at 4621 Young Avenue. (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler)

An unidentified woman posed with Merritt Mauzy in front of 4617 Young Avenue c1943. The woman might be Verlie Mauzy, the mother of Merritt Mauzy.  (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler)

Ron Huggler, Linda Teeguarden, Wayne Bruness, and Bethany Teeguarden stood in front of the Huggler home at 4613 Young Avenue c1942. Behind the kids you can see part or all of 4618, 4622, 4626, 4630, and 4634 Young Avenue. (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler) 

Stodgill Family, 4614 Young Avenue

     Robert (Bob) and Bernadette Stodgill were the second residents of 4614 Young Avenue. Donald and Jane Smith were the first to dwell in the home. The Stodgills were best friends with the Hugglers at 4613 Young Avenue. Ron Huggler reported that his parents frequently hosted card parties or board games with their neighbors. The Stodgills later moved to Texas but returned in the summer of 1984 to visit their good friends along Young Avenue. 

Bernadette and Bob Stodgill returned to their old neighborhood to visit John and Helen Huggler at 4613 Young Avenue in August of 1984. They had moved to Texas. (photo courtesy of Ron Huggler)

Next Up:  The Young of Young Avenue

Sources:  Interviews with Ron Huggler, the son of John and Helen Huggler, January 23, 26, February 1, 2023; Obituaries--"Arthur Dudley," Indianapolis News, December 4, 1986, 1947; "Faustina Dudley," Indianapolis Star, September 25, 1961, 18; "Raymond McKinney," Indianapolis Star, April 30, 1962, 6; "Mary McKinney," Indianapolis Star, January 26, 1994, 14. Evangeline Collins Maloubier--J. Dorsey Callaghan, "She's About as French as New Paris (Ind.)" Detroit Free Press, May 12, 1956, 11.