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| Teeguarden family at 4621 Young Avenue: Joseph and Miriam (top) along with Bethanyanne and Linda, June, 1945 (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
In January of 1942 both the Indianapolis Star and the Indianapolis News advertised that a newly-built home at 4621 Young Avenue in the recently-developed Christian Park Heights neighborhood was on the market for $4400. Beginning in 1941, the Grinslade Company built dozens of two and three-bedroom homes in the Christian Park neighborhood just west of Irvington. They had already sold 45 homes by the time they completed their newest property at 4621 Young Avenue.
Joseph R. and Miriam Teeguarden had been renting homes on Keystone and Kealing Avenues since their marriage in 1935. Mr. Teeguarden worked as a pressman for the Indianapolis News when the ad appeared. The couple had been saving their money thanks in large part to Miriam Teeguarden, who was very adept at managing money with few resources. Shortly after the ad appeared, the Teeguardens along with their daughters, Bethanyanne and Linda, moved into the cottage in 1942.
The Teeguardens represented the typical family who moved into the new addition as they were young and had children. In fact, there were so many young residents in the neighborhood that school officials struggled to accommodate the influx at nearby Christian Park Elementary School. (School #82)
As the United States joined the fight during World War II, Mr. Teeguarden worked stateside for the Lukas Harold Company manufacturing the Norden Bombsight. Once the war ended, he resumed his employment with the local newspapers. He was an avid tennis player and belonged to several organizations like the Jaycees. Mrs. Teeguarden stayed home and raised their two daughters. Her grandson notes that she kept a beautiful house and garden. Sometime in 1945 the couple painted their white house gray. Newspaper accounts indicate that Mrs. Teeguarden was highly involved with the Central Christian Church north of downtown Indianapolis. The couple also attended many plays and discussions at the Civic Theater.
The Teeguardens placed their home on the market in the fall of 1948 for $9400. They sold their home to another young family, the Tolers, and moved to the north side of the city. Photos from the Teeguarden family scrapbook show typical domestic scenes from the era.
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| Indianapolis Star, January 25, 1942, p. 28 |
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| Bethanyanne, Joseph, and Linda Teeguarden at 4621 Young Avenue, September, 1943 (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Linda and Bethanyanne Teeguarden, Christmas, 1943 at 4621 Young Avenue (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Linda and Bethanyanne Teeguarden posed in front of their home at 4621 Young Avenue in February of 1944. In the following year, the family painted the house gray. (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Miriam Giddens Teeguarden (1917-1967) posed inside of her home at 4621 Young Avenue in 1944. Note the incredible radio next to her. (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Linda and Bethanyanne Teeguarden posed in their home at 4621 Young Avenue in 1944. (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Linda and Bethanyanne Teeguarden on their front stoop at 4621 Young Avenue in 1944 (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Easter portrait of Linda and Bethanyanne Teeguarden at 4621 Young Avenue in 1944 (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| The Teeguarden sisters posed next to 4621 Young Avenue on their first day of school in 1945. (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| The Teeguarden family sat for this portrait in the living room at their home of 4621 Young Avenue in 1945. Pictured: Miriam, Linda, Bethanyanne, and Joseph Teeguarden (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Miriam Teeguarden posed with her daughter, Linda, along the front walk leading to their house at 4621 Young Avenue. Behind the women, you can see 4617 and 4613 Young Avenue. (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Linda and Bethanyanne Teeguarden in front of 4621 Young Avenue in 1947 (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Bethanyanne Teeguarden on her front yard at 4621 Young Avenue in 1948 (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
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| Linda Teeguarden posed in front of her home at 4621 Young Avenue in the summer of 1948. If you look closely, you can see neighbors on their front stoop next door at 4625 Young Avenue. Vassel and Maxine Flinn lived in that home. (photo courtesy of Dan Carlson) |
I wish to thank Dan Carlson, the grandson of Joseph and Miriam Teeguarden and the son of Linda Teeguarden, for his stories and photographs.
Sources: Emails from Dan Carlson, 2025; Indianapolis City Directories 1940-1950; For Sale Ad--Indianapolis Star, November 4, 1948. p. 35; Patrons of Civic Theater--Indianapolis Star, March 8, 1946, p. 6; Obituary Miriam Teeguarden--"Mrs. Teeguarden Dies; Funeral to be Today," Indianapolis Star, January 12, 1967, p. 50.
