1940s-Era Snapshots From the Victoria Apartments on East Washington Street

      In the spring of 1928, contractors for the Southern Building Corporation began construction on two brick apartment buildings in the 5100 block of East Washington Street.  Developers called one of the structures the "Muriel" and the other unit, the "Victoria." Both have housed dozens of Irvington residents over the decades. 

     Twelve years after the Victoria opened its doors, sixty-one-year-old Floy Barnard Wayman and two of her adult daughters, Virginia and Janice, moved into unit number 3 in 1940. Mrs. Wayman, a divorcee, had worked for her entire adult life, and took the position as the manager of the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street. (later renumbered as 5128) Her daughter Virginia worked as a teacher while Janice was employed as a stenographer. They paid $45 dollars in rent. 

     Life changed for the women when twenty-four-year-old Janice Wayman married John Wilbur Kern at the Irvington Presbyterian Church on May 16, 1942. The young couple moved into Unit No. 1 of the Victoria where they remained until after World War II. Their first child James R. Kern arrived on September 3, 1946. The family documented little "Jimmy" in several photos around the Victoria. Sadness overtook the Waymans and Kerns in 1949 with the passing of Floy Barnard Wayman at the age of 70. By the end of the decade, none of the family remained in the apartments. 

The bridesmaids for Janice Wayman gathered in front of the Victoria at 5124 East Washington Street (later numbered as 5128) on May 16, 1942. She married John W. Kern at the Irvington Presbyterian Church. Pictured (left to right): Alice Wayman Trent (her sister), Charlotte Bullerman (sister-in-law), Virginia Wayman (sister), Randalyn Kern (sister-in-law), Frances Beale Kern (sister-in-law)

Floy Barnard Wayman not only lived in the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street (later 5128), but she also managed the building. This photo was likely snapped c1945 in front of the building. 

Janice Wayman and John Wilbur Kern posed for this photo in March of 1942 in front of the Victoria Apartments in Irvington. They married two months later. 

John Wilbur Kern posed in front of the Victoria Apartments (currently 5128 East Washington Street) where his fiancee, Janice Wayman lived with her mother and her sister in 1942. 

Little James R. "Jimmy" Kern rode his tricycle in front of the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street (now 5128) in 1947. 

Janice Wayman Kern posed possibly with two nieces in 1947 in front of the Victoria Apartments in Irvington. 

John Kern posed with his fiancee, Janice Wayman inside her mother's apartment at the Victoria. (current address is 5128 East Washington Street)

An unidentified Wayman or Kern family member reads a "picture book" inside Floy Barnard Wayman's apartment at the Victoria in Irvington in 1942. 

Virginia Wayman held her nephew, James R. Kern, in 1947 on the steps leading up the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street. (now 5128)

Virginia Wayman (left) posed with her sister, Janice Wayman Kern, and another unidentified women in front of the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street (currently 5128) c1949. Behind the women, you can also see the double located at 5134-36 East Washington Street. 

The Victoria Apartments at 5128 East Washington Street (formerly 5124) on November 1, 2024.

Next Up: Scenes Along East Washington Street

Sources:  1940 and 1950 Federal Census; Polk's Indianapolis City Directories; Information on the Victoria and Muriel: "Increase Shown in Realty Sales," Indianapolis Star, May 6, 1928, p. 36; "Activity Marks Realty Market," May 20, 1928, p. 12; Marriage--"Janice Wayman Becomes a Bride," Indianapolis News, May 16, 1942, p. 14.

A Note About the Photos: I found these images in an antique shop in Indianapolis. I would be happy to donate these photos back to a family member. Contact me on the email listed on this page.