Couple Moved into Emerson Heights Double During the Great Depression

      On December 9, 1933, Orville Peters and Marjorie Jones wed at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Irvington. With the nation still firmly in a major economic depression, the newlyweds started their lives together. Mr. Peters had grown up in Crothersville, Indiana and had only recently moved to Indianapolis. He enrolled in the Sanderson Business School and excelled, so much so that the college published his portrait and boasted of him in an advertisement. He used his knowledge and skills from that school to get hired by Standard Oil as an auditor. 

     In the summer of 1935, the couple likely saw an ad in the Indianapolis News that a double at 740 North Bancroft Street was available for rent. The home turned out to be a good decision on their part as it was close to Marjorie's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, who lived at 312 North Layman Avenue. Soon, the pair welcomed two children, Donald and David Peters. 

     The young couple became very involved in the community. Mr. Peters was an avid golfer and frequently organized company tournaments. Mrs. Peters, who also golfed, formed the very first Mothers' Club for St. Matthew's Episcopal Church where she served as the Vice President. She conducted meetings in her Bancroft Avenue dwelling. As many of her friends also married, she hosted bridal showers in the residence as well. In the summer of 1938, she decorated her place in red and white colors for Jean McHatton who would soon marry Robert Behr. She asked attendees to gift kitchen items for the future Mrs. Behr. 

     On April 15, 1940, census taker, Beatrice Bleich, knocked on the door at 740 North Bancroft Street. Ms. Bleich recorded that Orville Peters was 29 years old and an auditor for Standard Oil Company. He earned a comfortable salary of $2000 a year. Marjorie Peters was 27 years old. Ms. Bleich noted that little Donald was three years old while David was only five months old. She further revealed that the couple paid $33 a month in rent. What she likely didn't know was that the family would soon move from the small two-bedroom double and into Marjorie Peters' childhood home at 312 North Layman Avenue. They would need the larger house as two more children would later arrive. Upon completing her survey, Ms. Bleich walked across the front porch to the other side of the double at 738 North Bancroft Street to interview Harry and Mary Beese. 

Next Up: Life Along Layman Avenue

Marjorie and Orville Peters resided at 740 North Bancroft Street from 1935 until 1940. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Orville Peters excelled at the Sanderson Business School. He served as an auditor and accountant for the remainder of his working life. (ad from unknown publication courtesy of the Peters family)

Orville Peters worked for Standard Oil in 1938 when this photo was snapped at 740 North Bancroft Street. He was later employed at Barbasol, Jones & Laughlin Steel, and other companies. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Marjorie Jones Peters grew up in Irvington. She posed with her first of four children, Donald, in 1938.  (photo courtesy of the Peters family) 

Orville Peters posed with his son, Donald, in 1938 along the sidewalk leading up to 740 North Bancroft Street. Behind the pair, you can see the bungalows at 741 and 739 North Bancroft Street. (photo courtesy of the Peters family) 

Little Donald Peters played with his blocks in 1938 in front of his home at 740 North Bancroft Street. You can also see the front porch of the home next door at 742 North Bancroft Street. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Donald Peters (right) walked up the sidewalk at 740 North Bancroft Street with an unidentified little girl in 1938. Behind the pair, you can see several houses in the 700 block of North Bancroft Street. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

A group of children gathered in front of 739 North Bancroft Street in 1938. Bert and Clara Marston resided in the home at the time. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

Donald Peters, the son of Orville and Marjorie Peters, walked along the sidewalk leading up to 740 North Bancroft Street in February of 1938. Behind him, you can see houses in the 700 block of North Bancroft Street. (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

By 1939, Orville and Marjorie Peters welcomed their second child, David. In this portrait: Orville (holding David), Donald and Marjorie Peters (photo courtesy of the Peters family)

     I wish to thank Doug Peters who generously loaned family scrapbooks and stories. 

Sources:  Interviews with Doug Peters, Summer, 2024; Wedding--"Miss Jones and Orville Peters Wed," Indianapolis Times, December 9, 1933, p. 5; Ad for 740 N. Bancroft--"For Rent," Indianapolis News, June 29, 1935, p. 13; Mothers' Club--"Mothers Club Founded at St. Matthews Church," Indianapolis News, August 20, 1939, p. 8; Wedding shower--"Kitchen Shower Tonight to Honor Jean McHatton," Indianapolis Star, July 8, 1938, p. 7; Polk's City Directory (Marion County, IN), City Directory, 1938; US Federal Census, 1940.

Bancroft Avenue Snapshot--1958

The McDonnell family dwelled at 419 North Bancroft Avenue in the late 1950s. The family had formerly lived in an apartment on Lowell Avenue, but they needed more space for their growing family. In this photo, snapped in 1958, a very young Tim McDonnell played with his buddy near the brick street.  Across the avenue, you can see the double at 418-20 North Bancroft Avenue and the side of 416 North Bancroft Avenue.  A contemporary photo shows that the double still retains many of it original features including the clapboard siding.

Tim McDonnell and a neighborhood friend posed for this photo in front of 419 North Bancroft Avenue in 1958

416 and 418-20 North Bancroft Avenue in 2014

The historic image is courtesy of Terry Wilgus.  

Lowell Avenue Home 1953 and 2014

The large American Four Square at 6134 (formerly 6136) East Lowell Avenue has stood along this street since the early twentieth century.  The Heagy family were one of the first families to dwell in the home and they lived there until 1945.  As World War II was winding down, Lawrence G. Kilwitt, a pharmacist, and his wife Margaret purchased the home from the Heagy family.  The Kilwitts, who anticipated the future housing shortage for the city of Indianapolis, divided the house into two apartments.  The upstairs apartment became known as 6134 and the downstairs apartment became 6136.  The Kilwitts remained in the home until 1950.

George and Loretta McDonnell were the next family to move into the newly converted double. Mr. McDonnell had not been able to work for years because of an earlier bout with tuberculosis.  Mrs. McDonnell, a loyal Democrat, found work at city hall when that party was in power.  Because of the fickleness of politics, the McDonnells counted on a steady income from renting out the downstairs apartment.  The Quicks and Murphys were a few of the folks who leased the bottom abode.

In 1953, the elder McDonnells decided to vacate the upper apartment for a place with no stairs. Their oldest son, Robert, an Indianapolis city firefighter, moved into 6134 with his wife Mary Jane and their daughter, Terry.  While living in the home, the couple welcomed a second child, Tim.

A very young Terry McDonnell had fond memories of the house.  Because they had lived in such small places, she thought that the second story apartment seemed quite grand especially the finished attic where she could play with her friends.  She also loved sitting out on the screened-in front porch. Their backyard stretched all the way to Pleasant Run Parkway in those days.  A local peony farmer rented part of their backyard for his prized peony collection and he sold the fragrant flowers from a stand along Pleasant Run Parkway on Memorial Day weekend.  Local Irvingtonians purchased the flowers and decorated their family's tombstones in places like Memorial Park, Crown Hill, or even Anderson Cemetery.

The McDonnells remained in the double until 1956 before moving to Bancroft Avenue.  In the small historic photograph taken c1953, you can see what the house looked like in the mid-twentieth century.  A contemporary photograph shows the dwelling, now a single family home again, in 2014.

6134-36 East Lowell Avenue in 1953

6134 East Lowell Avenue in 2014

The historic photograph and information on the McDonnell family is courtesy of Terry Wilgus.  

An Emerson Heights Duplex in the Mid-20th Century

Emerson Heights sits just west of Irvington.  Founded in the early twentieth century, the community is filled with Arts and Crafts era homes.  Known originally as a streetcar suburb, the area is now on the National Register of Historic Places.  Developers built several large and small duplexes throughout the neighborhood including this American Four Square double at 605-07 North Bancroft Avenue.

Numerous families have called this place home since the 1910s.  Throughout the mid-twentieth century, the 607 side of the double was occupied by the Johnson family.  Raymond Johnson worked at Allison's Motors while Mrs. Eleanor Johnson was busy with their children.

In the top photo, the Johnsons gathered for a photograph in the backyard of their home in 1953.  You can also see the rear of the bungalow at 611 N. Bancroft.  The Peacher family lived there in 1953.  In the second photo, the Johnsons posed on the front porch of their home in 1967.  Amazingly, the urn still sits on the same pedestal forty five years later in 2012.

The Johnson Family at 607 N. Bancroft in 1953.

Eleanor and Raymond Johnson in 1967.   (607 N. Bancroft Ave.)

605-07 N. Bancroft on September 30, 2012.

The historic images are courtesy of the descendants of the Johnson Family.