A Walk Down East Washington Street in 1989

         36 years ago, Robert Phelps, who lived at 5317 Lowell Avenue, walked down East Washington Street on a sunny day in 1989 and snapped many images of the business corridor. He managed Chaille's Shoes at 5622 East Washington, and you can see that sign in one of his shots. At least three of the buildings seen in the images below are no longer standing. Let's take a walk with Mr. Phelps, shall we?

Our first stop will be at the Red Shield (Salvation Army) Thrift Store at 5639 East Washington Street. You might find a great deal in here or next door at Old John's Home Center. Watch out for that speeding traffic! (Current Site of the Irvington Public Library)

Let's see if we can find some parking behind the building. Do you see the Salvation Army Drop-off box? Older Irvingtonians will remember this building as the former site of the Standard Grocery Store. It seems crowded today. 

Let's drop by PIP Printing at 5649 East Washington Street so I can get a few items copied. (Current site of Irvington Public Library) 

Do you mind if I peek behind these stores? Oh, I don't think I am supposed to be back here. There are two fences and one of them has barbed wire. Let's get out of here. (Current site of Irvington Public Library)

Let's cut through the Irvington Presbyterian Church parking lot on South Audubon Road. I see the Saxony Apartments across the street. 

Over here! Be careful as you cross! I see the Audubon Court Apartments. Watch out for that trash can. I don't think it is long for this world. 

Let's grab a Pepsi from the machine and stop into some of the shops. I see that A La Cheri Beauty Salon is offering a deal on perms. I think I will pass on that but let's visit Mr. Phelps at Chaille's Shoes. Next door, we could learn a few dance steps at McCleish School of Dance. 

    Alright, our tour is over for now. You can turn off your Milli Vanilli cassette tape and head back to the future. Onward!! 

Provenance of photos: Robert Phelps snapped the images. His neighbor, Kent Hankins, the former President of the Irvington Historical Society, obtained the photos and donated them to the Society. We are so grateful! 

New Image of Chaille's Shoes--1962

Howard T. Chaille ran a shoe store at 5622 East Washington Street for decades.  His son-in-law, Robert Phelps, Sr., continued to run the business well into the 1980s.  The Chailles dwelled at 832 North Campbell Avenue while the Phelps lived at 5317 Lowell Avenue.

In these historic photos, provided by Robert Phelps, Jr, the grandson to Howard T. Chaille, you can see the shop in the early 1960s.  Robert Phelps, Sr. proudly stands in front of the building.  I especially enjoy the ad in the window.  In the second photo, taken in 1956, Howard T. Chaille poses for a photo about seven years before his death.   I have also included a lovely photo of Eva Mae Phelps, the wife of Robert Phelps, Sr and daughter of Howard T. Chaille.  She was a teacher for many years.

Robert Phelps, Sr. in front of Chaille's Shoes (5622 East Washington Street) c. 1962

Howard T. Chaille of 832 N. Campbell Avenue c. 1956

Eva Mae Chaille Phelps, c. 1962

A special thank you to Mr. Robert Phelps, Jr. for the photos and the information...

Lost Irvington--10 North Ritter Avenue

Homes located near the commercial blocks on East Washington Street were some of the first removed in the neighborhood as parking became a premium.  Six homes on the west side of Ritter Avenue just north of Washington Street were demolished over time.  One home, 24 North Ritter Avenue, was eventually moved to its present location at 354 North Ritter.

10 North Ritter dated to at least the late nineteenth century.  This small cottage served as home for many of the small business folks who operated nearby.  George Wilkins, a barber, lived here in 1916 and worked across the street at 9 North Ritter Avenue.  Howard T. Chaille and his family also lived at 10 North Ritter in the mid-1920s.  Mr. Chaille ran his shoe repair business across the street at 9 North Ritter.  He eventually moved into a bigger store on East Washington Street.  (See Chaille link below)

A member of the Chaille family in a nice boater hat poses on the back porch at 10 N. Ritter c. 1925

Lola Marie Chaille,  poses for a photo at 10 N. Ritter. (c.1925)  Note the brick structure behind her.

Eva Mae Chaille stands on the front porch of 10 North Ritter c.1925.

Although we do not know who these folks are in the photos, someone has written 10 North Ritter on the back of each picture.  They came with the Chaille family collection so it is likely that the folks in these images are connected with that family.  10 North Ritter has been gone for over sixty years and so far these are the only images we have of the structure.  The first two depict the rear of the home and you can see the commercial buildings on the northwest corner of East Washington and Ritter in the background.  The bottom picture was taken on the front porch.  Clearly, the snapshots do not portray the image that all of Irvington was lush and well-manicured.  The yard appears to be dirt and a hubcap rests against the brick building in the background.  Perhaps someday we shall be able to find views that depict all seven homes either destroyed or moved.

These historic images are courtesy of Kent Hankins.

Chaille's Shoes Operated During Much of the Twentieth Century

Howard L. Chaille (1890-1963) opened his first shoe business, a repair shop, in the 1920s at 9 North Ritter Avenue.  In 1935,  he began selling shoes and moved into the Tudor-Revival shops at 5622 East Washington Street.  Generations of Irvington residents purchased shoes from Mr Chaille.  His business became lucrative enough that the family moved into a charming bungalow at 832 N. Campbell Avenue.  His wife, Lola M. Chaille (1899-1975), helped to raise their children.  One child, Eva, would grow up to become a teacher and marry Robert E. Phelps.  Mr. Phelps took over the operation of the shoe store in the mid-twentieth century and ran the business until the early 1990s.  Loyal customers kept the store open longer than most independent shoe stores even as people began to flock to the suburban malls for their clothes.

Today's historic images, likely taken in 1989, show Chaille's Shoes towards to the end of its life span in Irvington.  Next door, you can see the A La Cheri Beauty Salon and the McCleish Dance Studio (click on the link below to more about this business).  A photo, likely taken around 1960, also shows the interior of the shop.

Robert Phelps, the son-in-law of Howard Chaille, took over the family business and ran it during the second half of the twentieth century.  The man in this photo has been identified as Louie Saba, a skilled cobbler for Mr. Phelps.  

East Washington Street shops circa 1989

East Washington Street shops on June 26, 2012

The contemporary image reveals that the present generation is busy improving East Washington Street. The facades of the shops are now protected by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission and the corridor is being transformed into more of a destination with new street lights, park benches, brick walkways and more.  Chaille's Shoes is the home of Edward Jones Investment Group in 2012.  Next door you can see two other thriving businesses:  Geneva Hair Studio and Homespun.  A future photo will be posted to document the transformation of the street that is ongoing as I type this post.

The historic images are courtesy of Kent Hankins.

The Phelps Family Moves into the Wheeler Home--1954

For the past week, we have been celebrating the centennial of the Wheeler Home (5317 Lowell Avenue).  Clifton and Hilah Drake Wheeler saw to the construction of the home in 1912 and dwelled in the house until 1954.

The Phelps family moved into the Wheeler Home in 1954

In 1954, Robert E. Phelps (1919-2004) and his wife Eva Mae Chaille Phelps (1921-2002) became the next long-term residents.  Mrs. Phelps grew up in Irvington.  Her father's family operated Chaille's Shoes, a business that began at 9 North Ritter Avenue in the 1920s and eventually moved to 5622 E. Washington Street.  Mr. Phelps took over the family business and ran it until the early 1990s.  Chaille's Shoes became an institution in the neighborhood as generations of Irvingtonians purchased shoes there.  (A future post will be dedicated to this business.)  Mrs. Phelps, as she was called by her students, taught at Schools 58 and 85 for twenty-eight years.

The Phelps family ran Chaille Shoes at 5622 East Washington Street in the second half of the 20th century. Louis Saba, a clerk for Chaille's Shoes stands next to the shoe rack.  He later moved to Las Vegas where he bought a gas station.  

The couple collected antiques and raised their children in the beautifully-sited home.  Mrs. Phelps liked bright colors and painted some of the rooms in the house, including the gallery, in yellows and reds.  They had the reputation of being kind neighbors and were very much interested in the home's history. The family maintained ownership of the property until 2004.

The Wheeler-Phelps Home in an undated photo.  

You may learn more about the history of this home by clicking on the Wheeler Family link below.  The  historic images are courtesy of Michele and Bruce Oertel and Kent Hankins.

Helen and Janet Hunt--1961

The Hunt family have lived in Irvington for over seventy years. Helen Hunt, seen this photo, is 94 years old (in 2011) and can recall many stories about the neighborhood. Born in Tipton County, Indiana, she spent her childhood on the Weaver farm near Hobbs. She eventually married Leroy Hunt in 1939 and they moved to Indianapolis where he became a pharmacist. The newlyweds rented a couple of homes on the east side of Indianapolis and lived briefly in Rockford, Illinois. In the early 1940s, they purchased their dream bungalow at 341 South Audubon Road in Irvington.

Mr. and Mrs. Hunt raised their two children, Michael and Janet, in the house. Mrs. Hunt stayed at home with the children while Mr. Hunt worked at Lagg's Pharmacy at State and Southeastern Avenues. Mrs. Hunt fondly recalled shopping at Regal's Grocery in the 200 block of South Audubon and Danner's Five and Dime on East Washington Street. She also frequented Vonnegut Hardware and the Chaille Shoe Store both on Washington Street. Besides being a Girl Scout leader, Mrs. Hunt was known as an excellent cook. She baked a cake every weekend and always had a full cookie jar. Her favorite activity was to go "neighboring." She loved to visit with people and her memories are filled with Irvington families who departed long ago. Her stories and her photos will be frequently presented on this blog. She is an Irvington treasure. I am especially indebted to her daughter Janet Hunt Wilzbacher, who made it possible for me to not only interview Mrs. Hunt, but also to collect some of her photos of Irvington.

The image featured today is of Mrs. Helen Hunt and her daughter Janet Hunt in 1961. They are standing in the front yard of their bungalow at 341 S. Audubon Road. Across the street you can see the small bungalow at 340 as well as 338, 326, and even 320 South Audubon Road. This photo completely captures the love between a mother and a daughter that is still strong fifty years after the picture was taken. This image is courtesy of Helen Hunt.