Family Moved Into Layman Avenue Home

      In the late summer of 1940, neighbors in the 300 block of North Layman Avenue likely noticed a new family moving into 312. Of course, if they looked closely, they would have seen someone who looked familiar. Marjorie Jones Peters had grown up in 312 North Layman Avenue. Her parents, Morris and Lillian Jones, had purchased the house in 1923. Mr. Jones worked as an insurance agent and received a job opportunity in Chicago so the older couple sold the house to Orville and Marjorie Peters. A member of the Jones-Peters family would reside in the home for nearly 70 years. 

     Orville and Marjorie Peters had been renting a small double nearby at 740 North Bancroft Street. Their new home on Layman Avenue had two stories and three bedrooms. Their sons, Donald and David, soon welcomed a sister, Susan, in 1943. Images from scrapbooks from the family show that the three children had the entire area as their playground. Like many neighborhood kids, they attended School #57 and Howe High School. 

     Shortly after moving into their Layman Avenue home, Mr. Peters left his position as an auditor for Standard Oil Company and transferred into a similar position for the Barbasol Shaving Cream Company. He would also later work for Jones and Laughlin Steel Company. When he wasn't working, he could generally be found on a golf course so it was likely no surprise to his family that after he retired, he helped to take care of the Pleasant Run Golf Course. 

     One by one, Mr. and Mrs. Peters watched as their children graduated from high school, attended college, and got married. Then, they received a shock with the arrival of a fourth child, Douglas Peters, in 1958. Doug recalled in an interview that he lived a happy and adventurous childhood with good friends from the neighborhood. Like his siblings, he attended School #57 and Howe High School. 

Next Up: Layman Avenue Scenes

Orville and Marjorie Peters posed with their third child, Susan Peters, in the summer of 1944 along the front sidewalk leading up to 312 North Layman Avenue. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Marjorie Jones Peters had grown up in 312 North Layman Avenue. She moved back into her childhood home in 1940 and remained for the rest of her life. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Family reunion: Marjorie Jones Peters hosted her sister's family at 312 North Layman Avenue c1950. Like Marjorie, Betty Jones Fox had grown up in the house. Top: David Peters (in cap), Walter Fox (brother-in-law to Marjorie Jones Peters), Orville Peters in white t-shirt; Betty Fox, sister of Marjorie Fox; smaller children--Marjorie Fox, Tom Fox, and Susan Peters. Donald Peters stood in the front. You can also see 316 North Layman Avenue behind the group. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Donald, David, and Susan Peters posed for this photograph at 312 Layman Avenue in 1946. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Marjorie Peters held her niece, Marjorie Fox c1948 in front of 312 North Layman Avenue. Her son Donald helped little Marjorie look at the camera by pointing at the photographer. David Peters is at the right and Susan Peters is in the front. (photo courtesy of the Peters Family)

Susan and David Peters in the side yard of 312 North Layman Avenue in the summer of 1944; (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Susan Peters played with a cat in the backyard of 312 North Layman Avenue in the summer of 1944. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Susan and David Peters in the backyard of 312 North Layman Avenue in the summer of 1944 (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Susan Peters rode her bike and posed for this photograph in front of her home at 312 North Layman Avenue, c1950. (photo courtesy of Doug Peters)

Grandmothers, Lillian Jones and Carolyn Peters, gathered on the front porch at 312 North Layman Avenue with Donald Peters and Bob Jones in 1951. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Doug Peters (right) was the fourth and final child of Orville and Marjorie Peters. In this photo, he posed with nephew, Mark Peters, in the front yard of 312 North Layman Avenue in 1961. Behind the kids, you can see the home located at 315 North Layman Avenue. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Lillian and Morris Jones sold their home at 312 North Layman Avenue to their daughter, Marjorie Jones Peters and their son-in-law, Orville Peters, in 1940. They were pictured in front of their home in 1935. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

     I wish to thank Doug Peters for the use of the family photos and stories.

Sources:  Interviews with Douglas Peters, 2024; US Federal Census, 1950; Polk's City Directory: Indianapolis, 1940, 1941.