The Buddenbaums of Irvington

Louis Buddenbaum (1868-1931) ran a lumber company and became an active Mason with the Scottish Rite Cathedral near downtown Indianapolis.  At age 38, he married 18-year old Helen Cross (1888-1970).  Buddenbaum's new father-in-law was Charles Cross, a prominent realtor and developer of numerous Irvington homes.  It is possible that the two men had been in business together long before their families united.  The couple first dwelled at 307 South Audubon Road and then moved to 18 South Irvington Avenue.  In 1910, the couple went on an extensive vacation to Mexico.  Mrs. Buddenbaum remained very close to her parents who dwelled at 322 Downey Avenue.  She was an active club woman.  She also helped to raise her nephews, the Townsend brothers.

Louis and Helen Cross Buddenbaum pose with their nephew Louis Townsend around 1920.  The three Townsend brothers (Charles, Donald, and Louis) would later live  with the Buddenbaums before starting their own families.  

The Buddenbaums first dwelled at 307 South Audubon and later at 18 South Irvington Avenue.  

Mr. Buddenbaum's lumber store remained profitable and the couple retired to an apartment in the luxurious Marrott Building on North Meridian Street near Fall Creek.  Mr. Buddenbaum's untimely death in 1931, left Mrs. Buddenbaum a widow for nearly forty years.

Poplar Road Scenes--1925/1926/1935

Poplar Road winds through the small enclave of Pleasanton in western Irvington. The street cuts through the center of the neighborhood and intersects with Maple and Norway. Although the subject of the photos is usually Evelyn Schneider of 327 Poplar Road, you can get a glimpse of several other houses north of the Schneider home. All of the homes visible in today's post are bungalows and sit at 327, 333, 337, and 339 Poplar Road.

In the top photo, Evelyn Schneider poses with her doll. Behind her, you can see the newly built house at 333 Poplar Road. In second photo, taken around 1925, Evelyn poses with a neighborhood cat after a snowfall. She is sitting in front of her childhood home at 327 Poplar Road.

In the third photo, Evelyn Schneider poses with her good friend Virginia Buddenbaum after a snowstorm. The residents along Poplar Road have already done their civic duty and shoveled the sidewalks. The photo was likely taken around 1926. Behind the girls, you can see 333, 337, and 339 Poplar Road. In the bottom photo likely shot around 1935, a taller Evelyn Schneider plays with her dog "Gobi." Behind her, you have a nice view of 333 Poplar Road. The historic images are courtesy of Bill Ferling.

Pleasanton was not originally included within Irvington's National Register boundaries in 1987, but it should have been. That oversight has been rectified and it is now included as of 2010. Dan Marshall, a Pleasanton resident, is compiling a history of the neighborhood. Drop him an e-mail if your family has lived here as he would love to hear from you. Dan may be contacted at irv1870@yahoo.com.

307 South Audubon--Another View

Some houses in Irvington are better documented than others. Earlier this year, Vintage Irvington profiled images of 307 South Audubon Road taken in the 1920s. One of our readers recently stumbled upon those photos and sent images of that same house shot in the 1970s. Charles Germaine, spent the first ten years of his life in that tall home. His parents, Richard and Linda Germaine, purchased the house in 1969.

Charles reports that he had a happy childhood in the neighborhood. He played with the neighborhood children and he loved to walk down to the neighborhood market in the 200 block of South Audubon Road. His brothers all had paper routes near the home. By the 1970s, the house had seen better days. His family eventually moved away in 1978 so that his father would not have the long drive to Allison's Transmission on the west side of the city.

In 2006, the home went on the market. Charles had the opportunity to frequent an open house in his old haunt. He noted that the home had changed some from his childhood. After being completely renovated in the 1990s, the hardwood floors, woodwork, and fireplace gleamed. The porch had also been altered. His photos show the original historic porch and a hedge that used to grow along the front sidewalk.

In the top photo, a very young Charles Germain stands in the rear yard of his home around 1976. Behind him sits the small detached garage that belonged to 275 South Audubon Road, and the back of the large double at 261-263 South Audubon Road.

In the second photo, Paul Sexson, the brother Charles Germain, opens one of his Christmas presents in 1975. Note the beautiful mantel behind him. In the 1990s all of the paint was removed from the fireplace and the woodwork on the lower level of the home.

The third photo shows the the house when it was put on the market in 1978 for the listing price of $27, 500. Ludlow Realtors advertised it as, Large Rooms--Irvington area off Audubon Circle. Needs decorating. Partially floored attic, large garage--only six years old, has a basketball goal. Fireplace blocked off. Gas budget $44.00/month. (Stove, dishwasher, swag lamp and smoke alarm do not stay)

The bottom photo shows the home during the winter of 2010. The historic images and stories are courtesy of Charles Germaine. To learn more about this house click on the Buddenbaum link below.

South Audubon Home Then and Now

This beautiful home has been located at 307 South Audubon Road since 1908. Many people have dwelled in this house including the Buddenbaum family who lived here after it was first built. Mr. Buddenbaum ran a lumber company in Indianapolis. In the 1920s it served as a the Sigma Delta Sorority House for Butler University. The older photo in this post was taken in 1925 and the newer photo was shot in 2010. The porch is the only significant change to this century-old house.