T. Edgar York & Son Moving Company Headquartered on Berry Avenue in Irvington

      From 1932 until 1938, Ray Douglas Mathews and his brother William Thomas "Bill" Mathews worked for Thomas Edgar York, who owned a moving company in Irvington. Headquartered at 121 South Berry Avenue, Mr. York employed various family members as well as young men like the Mathews brothers. The business had been founded by John York and had operated in Irvington since 1908. Photos from Marlena Linne, the daughter of Ray Mathews, reveal how people managed to move across the state or the country during the Great Depression. The Yorks safely delivered furniture from Indianapolis to all parts of the nation sometimes during blinding snowstorms and on mountainous roads. While the work was likely difficult at times, the Mathews brothers managed to see a great deal of the U.S. 

     Both brothers were employed in other jobs before the start of World War II and the Yorks merged with other investors, eventually moving to a larger location at 2154 North Sherman Avenue. The company was later bought out and no longer exists except in photos like those below. 

Brothers Bill and Ray Mathews posed next to a moving truck owned by Irvington resident Thomas Edgar York in 1937. (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

Cecil York and another unidentified man moved a piece of furniture out of a home most likely in Indianapolis c1935 (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

Johnny York, the son of Thomas Edgar York, also went into the hauling business and operated from 5721 Bonna Avenue in Irvington. We do not know his location in the photo above. (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

York moving men carefully wrapped valuable furniture and used a dolly to get heavy pieces into homes. The only identified person in this photo is Bill Mathews, who posed under the exterior light c1937. We do not know the location. (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

Sometimes York Movers hauled items other than furniture including this shed. We do not know the location of this photo snapped c1935. (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

Thomas Edgar York (left) posed with Thomas "Tommy" Edward York, and Ray Mathews in the alley behind 121 South Berry Avenue in Irvington c1935. (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

Thomas Edward York, the son of Thomas Edgar York, posed next to his moving truck behind his childhood home at 121 South Berry Avenue in Irvington, c1935. (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

York Movers posed next to their truck at a Gulf Service Station somewhere out on the road c1937. (Photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

Although rare, the company had a few accidents during its time of operation. This smaller rig crashed somewhere outside of Indianapolis c1935. (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

York and his men faced many treacherous days on the road. Sometime in the mid-1930s, they traveled across Route 22 and stopped for a rest near Cresson, Pennsylvania. (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

Brothers Ray and Bill Mathews posed after a long day of hauling and moving c1936. (photo courtesy of Marlena Linne)

Good wishes from T. Edgar York & Son Moving Company, Indianapolis Star, December 31, 1935, p. 29

     I wish to thank Marlena Linne for her stories and photographs. To learn more about the York family, click on the link below.