The Gang is All Here--Oak Avenue in the 1940s

In these candid and posed shots, southern Irvington children gathered for photos.  In the top image, taken in 1947, Bob Drum (5740 Oak Avenue), Chuck Vogt (5733 Oak Avenue), Jane Vogt (5733 Oak Avenue), Linda Drum (5740 Oak Avenue), and Ed Hecker (5729 Oak) gathered on the front porch at the Vogt home.  Note the wonderful metal sliding bench behind the kids.

Fun Gathering:  Bob Drum, Chuck & Jane Vogt, Linda Drum, and Ed Hecker at 5733 Oak Avenue in 1947

In the second photo, taken from an article from the Indianapolis News (June 2, 1948, 18), members of the Cub Scout Den 6, Pack 3 troop listen intently to airplane pilot, Carl M. Smith.  All of the boys had the opportunity to ride with him over the city of Indianapolis. The scouts pictured in this article lived throughout the neighborhood.  Pictured:  Dick Ebert, Bob Hecker, Robert Drum, Billy Ebert, David Hecker, Gene Ross, Richard Rich, and Chuck Vogt.  The adults pictured are Carl M. Smith and his wife Mrs. Smith.

These images are courtesy of Chuck and Joyce Vogt.

Color Restored to Oak Avenue Photo

Thanks to Larry Muncie, one of our regular contributors to Vintage Irvington, you can now see a previously posted photo with the color enhanced.  The photo, from the Vogt Family collection, is of the new family Buick in 1948.  Behind the car, you can see 5740 and 5802 Oak Avenue.  Thanks to the restoration, you can even see a cloud in the sky.

The Drums dwelled at 5740 Oak Avenue in the first half of the twentieth century.  Edith Drum had a shop in Irvington called Edith's Ceramic Nook.  She also taught fabric painting out of her home.  Mr. Muncie reports that both his mother and aunt took classes from Mrs. Drum

The historic image is courtesy of Chuck and Joyce Vogt.  The color restoration and stories of the Drum family are courtesy of Larry Muncie.

Color Photograph Restored:  Behind the Vogt Family (5733 Oak Avenue) Buick, you can see 5740 and 5802 Oak Avenue in 1948.  

Early Color Photograph Along Oak Avenue--1948

One can only imagine the excitement when Charles Vogt, Sr. pulled into the family driveway at 5733 Oak Avenue to show off his new 1948 Buick.  I could imagine that the entire family likely packed themselves into the car for a drive around Irvington.  At some point, one member of the family--most likely Mr Vogt--grabbed the camera and snapped a color photo of the car.

Although the Buick is the obvious subject of the picture, two houses across the street at 5740 and 5802 Oak Avenue loom in the background.  These beautiful homes had already graced the street since the 1890s and early 1900s.  In 1948, Robert and Edith Drum dwelled at 5740 Oak Avenue.  The Drums had already lived in the house for nearly forty years when this shot was taken.  Next door, J. Gordon and Florence Ramsden lived at 5802 Oak Avenue.

5740 and 5802 Oak Avenue can be seen behind the Vogt Family Buick (5733 Oak Avenue) in 1948.

5740 and 5802 Oak Avenue in 2013

Although the Buick is long gone, the two homes remain important anchors along meandering Oak Avenue.  Both homes have been recently renovated.  The Vogts, Drums, and Ramsdens would have no problems recognizing their homes today.  Contemporary images show the same view in 2013.  The historic image is courtesy of Chuck and Joyce Vogt.