Butler University Visible in Family Photo--1936

The students and faculty of Butler University had been gone for seven years by the time the Bailey family posed for this photo in 1936.  Willa Sammis Bailey and her children David and Mildred gathered at the Sammis home (her parents' home) at 256 South Emerson Avenue.  Although they are the subject of this photo, the ghostly image of the abandoned campus stands behind them.  Within four years, most of the campus would be demolished for housing.

Willa, David, and Milred Bailey gathered for a photo at 256 South Emerson Avenue in 1936.  Behind them, you can see Butler University's Irvington campus.  

I am especially grateful to David Bailey, a regular contributor to this blog, who keeps finding these amazing shots from his family collection.  To learn more about this family or to see other images of the campus click on the links provided below.

Irvington Cub Scouts--1943

Scouting for both boys and girls remained very popular in Irvington throughout the twentieth century.  Most local groups were supported by churches.  The Girl Scouts in Indianapolis actually first started in the neighborhood at the Irvington Presbyterian Church.  Local resident, Francis Belzer (320 South Audubon Road), was a major leader of the Boy Scouts.  Mr. Belzer, a teacher at Manual High School, was later honored when the Scouts named a camp for him in Lawrence Township.

In this photo, taken in 1943, members of a local Cub Scout troop (Pack 31) gathered for their formal portrait.  If you recognize anyone in this photo, then drop me a note at sleeth28@rock.com or comment below.  This historic photo is courtesy of a grown-up Cub Scout and former member of this troop, David Bailey.

Newly identified Scouts courtesy of Ann Stewart:

Front Row (left to right):  Second boy from left--Frank Robertson (before his illness)

Middle Row (left to right):  Gary Roberts, Don Ross, ?, Jim Hueston, Scout Leader, Bob Routh, Dan Meininger, Joe Messing, Jack Young,?

Top Row (left to right):  Martin Bruce (Boy Scout), Bob Craig, and  ???? Jim Boles, David Bailey, ?

Abandoned Butler University Campus--1936

Charles and Myrtle Sammis built their dream home at 256 South Emerson Avenue across from Butler University's campus in 1908.  The couple raised their two children in the home and likely never envisioned that one day the college would leave Irvington.  In 1928, officials closed the Irvington location and moved north to the Fairview campus. Throughout the 1930s, the neighborhood suffered two insults with the combination of the loss of this important neighborhood institution and with the arrival of the Great Depression.  It would be a double hit to the community.  During this turbulent time, the college did little with the remaining structures now plagued by vandalism and decay. While the adults in the neighborhood lamented on the poor maintenance of the abandoned structures, nearby children found an entirely new playground!

David and Mildred Bailey frequently visited their grandparents at 256 South Emerson and spent some quality time roaming the grounds of the now ghostly quiet campus.  Mr. Bailey remembered that many of the windows had been broken out and the once manicured lawns became weed-choked.  He chuckled, nearly 75 years after playing on the campus, that he managed to acquire a "good case of poison ivy" from his time there.

By the late 1930s, Butler officials tore down most of the buildings and sold off the land for housing.  In 1941, David and sister Mildred moved into 256 South Emerson with their grandparents and watched as developers built brick apartments on the site of the old campus.

In this incredible photograph, likely taken in 1936, the Sammis-Bailey family posed for a photograph.  Although they are the subject of the picture, behind them you can see two abandoned Butler buildings. You will even note a cupola over the shoulder of the ladies in the image.  Pictured in the photo from left to right are:  Willa Sammis Bailey, Myrtle Shimer Sammis, and Charles Sammis.  The two children are Mildred and David Bailey. The contemporary shot shows the exact view in 2013.  The historic photo and stories are courtesy of David Bailey.

Ready for High School: The 8th Grade Class of 1946 from School #82

Look how nice they all look!  These well-scrubbed eighth graders gathered for their class photo in the spring of 1946 at School #82 at 4700 E. English Avenue.  The youngsters had to endure shortages from World War II and many of them had older siblings who fought in both the Pacific and European theaters.  With the war now over, they had much to look forward to.  Of course, they had no way of knowing that in four years some of them would be shipped off to fight another war in Korea.  However, on this glorious day, with the sunlight filtering through the tall tree above them, all of the possibilities of life awaited them.  We are particularly fortunate with this photo because we have the names of almost every child in it.  This wonderful image is courtesy of David Bailey, the dapper young man in a suit and tie in the top row.  (Be sure to click on it to enlarge the photo!)

Front Row (left to right):  Jim Boles (passed away from leukemia on November 16, 1947), Barbara White, Evelyn Rule, JoAnn Morell, Marilyn Waltz, Dick Silvers, Bobby Bryant, Mary Alice Spoon, Norman Wise, Joan Strupp, Barbara Phillips, Lucky Turner

Middle Row (left or right):  Don Brents, Nancy Denham, Janice Huston, David Dyar, Marilyn Brown, Jean Garinger, Barbara Brickham, Loren Potter, Newell Hall, Jane Lynch, Jeanne McGannon, Mary Catherine Susanke, JoAnn Minnis, Gary Betchel

Top Row (left to right):  Jack Young, Irene Brant, Billy Oaks, Janet Thompson, ??, Joyce McLaughlin, Eleanor Roach, Robert Horn, Jerry Druley, Don Ross, Billy Ruckersfeldt, David Bailey, Buddy Horton

Not Pictured:  Marilyn Hudson

A Birthday Party--1923

Nine-year old Thomas Ferling proudly stands next to his friends on the occasion of his birthday party on September 2, 1923. The Ferlings dwelled at 311 North Bosart Avenue although you can really see the charming bungalow at 315 N. Bosart Avenue behind the kids better than the Ferling home. Notice how dressed up the children are and some of them appear to be holding gifts or toys. Many of the children in the photo lived in nearby homes.

Pictured from left to right are: Mary Margaret Flarey, Oscar Bosart, Jim Crawford, Jane Bosart, Constance Bailey, Robert Ferling, Charles Miller, Josephine Geis, and Thomas Ferling. Both houses are still standing although the lovely bungalow pictured has been greatly altered since 1923. The historic image is courtesy of Bill Ferling.