The Marchal Family Purchased an Irvington Double in 1942

      In 1942, Clarence and Edna Marchal purchased a nearly-twenty-year-old double on the northwest corner of South Audubon Road and Julian Avenue. The property sat on the former Sylvester Johnson estate. Built in the American Foursquare style c1924, the double had addresses for both streets. The Marchals moved into 5654 Julian Avenue and leased out 72 South Audubon Road. Eventually, the couple along with their two children, Roger and Sharon, moved into the Audubon Road side as Mrs. Marchal preferred that address. 

     Besides earning an income from their double, Mr. Marchal worked at both Diamond Chain Company and later at Allison Engine Company. Mrs. Marchal stayed home to raise the children although later she worked for both H. P. Wasson Company at Eastgate Mall and at J.C. Penny's Department Store in downtown Indianapolis. Roger Marchal, who loaned us the photos, grew up in the double and graduated from Howe High School in 1960. He had many fond memories of the property including the fact that they had one of the first television sets in the area. He noted that many friends enjoyed coming to his home to view the new invention. Mrs. Marchal loved flowers and every year she filled her pots and beds with many beautiful varieties. The Marchals owned the property until 2004! 

Family reunion: Roger Marchal, Jim Tool, Sharon Marchal, John Ruby, and Polly Edwards gathered in the front yard at 72 South Audubon in 1952. Raymond Lichti, an uncle to Roger and Sharon, parked his Chevrolet along Julian Avenue. (photo courtesy of Roger Marchal)

Theodore Rodenbeck leased 5654 Julian Avenue from the Marchals in the mid-1960s. (photo courtesy of Roger Marchal)

The Marchals planted this beautiful spruce tree in their front yard at 72 South Audubon Road. It came down during a strong windstorm recently. (photo courtesy of Roger Marchal)

Clarence and Edna Marchal spent 62 years of their lives in the double at 72 South Audubon Road. In this photo, snapped in 1998, Mr. Marchal was 93 and Mrs. Marchal was 89. (photo courtesy of Roger Marchal)

     I wish to thank Roger and Mary Marchal for their stories and photos about this property. Mr. Marchal is very involved with the Howe Alumni Association. 

Renowned Black Baritone Graduated from Butler University's Irvington Campus

    

     On June 15, 1925, Butler University seniors gathered outside under a grove of trees on Irvington's campus to receive their diplomas. Sitting among those hopeful students was Robert Todd Duncan.  He was born in Danville, Kentucky to John and Lettie (Cooper) Duncan on February 12, 1903. Later newspaper accounts noted that his mother named him Robert Todd after Abraham Lincoln's son since he was born on Lincoln's birthday. The family moved to Indianapolis when he was four and he remained in the city until his graduation from Butler University.  His mother was his first music teacher. She taught him how to play the piano beginning at age five. He also happened to be blessed with the most wonderful baritone voice as an adult. His mother, who raised him on Martindale Avenue (later Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue), worked multiple jobs and saved every penny to send him to Butler. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.

      His career after Butler is fabled. He earned a Master's degree from Columbia University and started teaching at Howard University. Everything changed when he auditioned for the role of "Porgy" in "Porgy and Bess" in 1935. George Gershwin, the composer of the opera, had auditioned many other singers before hearing Robert Todd Duncan. Gershwin knew immediately that he had found his Porgy. Mr. Duncan went on to sing in many other operas around the world. He sang on television stations at the BBC in the UK and NBC in the US. He never forgot his hometown and he returned frequently, often giving lectures. Sadly, his mother passed away just as his career was taking off. He lamented in newspaper articles that he wished she could have seen his success. 

     While much is known about his career, little is known about his time at Butler University. I have been contacted by a researcher who is looking into these early years. If you know of any sources or experts, please send me an email linked on this page. If you would like to hear his beautiful voice, click on the link below. 

In 1924, Robert Todd Duncan sat for his photograph for the Butler Drift his junior year. The editors

 of the yearbook placed the three Black students who posed for their shot separate and away from the white students. Robert Todd Duncan was placed as the last student when in reality, he would become the first. No one in that class would achieve such fame. 

In 1924, Robert Todd Duncan sat for his photograph for the Butler Drift his junior year. The editors

Sources:  "Butler Graduates Will Get Degrees Monday Morning," Indianapolis Star, June 13, 1925, p. 2; John K. Shephard, "Ladder to the Stars," Indianapolis Star, February 19, 1950, p. 96; Obituary for Lettia Cambron, Indianapolis Star, April 21, 1935, p. 41. 

  

Robert Todd Duncan singing songs from Porgy and Bess

A Childhood Along South Audubon Road

Robert Kistner, or Bobby as he was known in the 1930s and 1940s, grew up at 263 South Audubon Road.  He was the youngest child of William and Inez Kistner. His twin sisters, Teresa and Dolores did not live in the house for long as they were both married by the early 1940s. His older brother Jack enlisted in 1942 for service in World War II so little Bobby was practically raised as an only child. He recalled that there were few other boys in the vicinity other than Dickie Gilmore at 262 South Audubon so he frequently played with many young girls who lived nearby. In an unpublished memoir, he jokingly tells that the young ladies enjoyed dressing him up and adding him to their stories. In the fall, they would rake leaves to create floor plans and play house.

Mr. Kistner noted that his bedroom, the smallest in the double, was at the rear of the home and without a closet so his parents added a chifforobe for his clothes.  He also had a small desk in the room where he displayed his rock collection. He remembered that his parents received many items delivered to the home including milk on a daily basis, eggs weekly, and sometimes fresh bread. A fruit vendor passed through the neighborhood and rang a bell so that folks would know where he was parked. Bananas and oranges were expensive in those days so the family only purchased these items once in a while.

For entertainment, he was allowed to go to Saturday matinees at the Irving Theater. Mr. Kistner recalled one amusing incident in 1939 when he decided to purchase some popcorn after the cartoons were over and instead of going home as he was supposed to do, he stayed for the next film, Gone With the Wind. His parents became frantic when he did not return so his father rushed to the theater and walked up and down the crowded rows to try to find his son. He finally found his wayward child and just as he was about to reproach him, young Bobby told his father, "Dad, the Yankees are about to burn Atlanta." The elder Kistner was intrigued and sat down next to his son and watched the remainder of the film. Mrs. Kistner was not happy with either of them when they finally returned home.

Mr. Kistner noted that World War II "was our constant companion." After his brother enlisted, the family constantly worried about his fate. Some Irvington soldiers did not come back from that conflict. Mr. Kistner recalled the day his brother left because he was in second grade at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and the parish was in the middle of construction for a new church. His brother Jack came to the school to say good bye and he tried to reassure Bobby that he would be okay. It was an emotional departure, but it was a joyful day three years later when Jack Kistner returned home upon the conclusion of the war.

The Kistners moved out of the double in 1948. In the spring of 2017, Robert Kistner and his daughter, Elizabeth Bodi, returned to Irvington so that he could visit his childhood haunts. With a gleam in his eyes, he told both funny and touching stories as he pointed to various houses in the area.

  Mrs. Edwards lived at 261 South Audubon Road. She collected beautiful antiques. 
  The Wettles resided at 269 South Audubon Road. I used to play in that backyard. 
  The Weidekamps were a large Catholic family who dwelled at 266  South Audubon Road. 
  Dr. Lamb, a dentist, lived in the large brick house (5631 University Avenue) on the circle. The Lambs always had a beautiful harp sitting in the parlor window.  

He spoke wistfully of his parents and his siblings and I watched as his daughter carefully helped him across each crevice in the sidewalk and up each step. It was a beautiful spring day not unlike those in Irvington seventy five years ago.

Birthday Party 1939: Friends gathered in the backyard of the Wettle home at 269 South Audubon Road. The home most visible is that of the double at 261-63 South Audubon Road. The children pictured are (left to right starting with the girl in the light top):  Jo Ann Windisch, Flavian Skeets, Alicia "Mitzi" Weidekamp (266 South Audubon Road), Mary Lou Wettle, and Bobby Kistner (263 South Audubon Road)  

Sibling Fun 1937:  Teresa and Bobby Kistner enjoyed a snowy day. Behind them, you can see the rear of the double that faces both Audubon Road and University Avenue (255 South Audubon Rd and 5703 University Avenue). If you look closely, you can also view the homes at 5714 and 5718 University Avenue.  

Bobby Kistner posed on a snowy day in 1937 in front of his house at 263 South Audubon Road. Behind him, you can see the Irving Circle Park and many homes on the east side of the street.  

Dolores Kistner posed with her brother Bobby along with Spot in the front yard at 263 South Audubon Road in 1937. Behind the siblings, you can see the homes located at 269 and 275 South Audubon Road.  

John W. (Jack) Kistner posed with his little brother, Bobby, and Miss Muffet in their front yard at 263 South Audubon Road in 1944. Behind the brothers, you can see the double at 245-47 South Audubon and the home at 251 South Audubon Road.  

Reunion: John W. (Jack) Kistner on leave from World War II, posed with his parents Inez and William Kistner along with his younger brother Bobby in 1944. The family is standing in front of their home at 263 South Audubon Road.  

The stories and historic images are courtesy of Robert Kistner and Elizabeth Bodi. The author met both on the sidewalk as they were taking photographs of the neighborhood.

Friends Pay a Visit Along Audubon Road in 1943

Dick Palmer, who grew up at 333 North Audubon Road, graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in 1939 and later at Miami University in Ohio in 1943. Sometime in 1943, Dick returned home just before going off to flight school to learn how to fly B-25 aircraft. Many of his buddies stopped by for a visit in Irvington including John and Bernard Korbly, who lived up the street at 425 North Audubon Road and another friend named Jim Boyd, who dwelled with a widowed aunt at 346 North Audubon Road.  All of the young men were likely thinking about their futures as World War II raged overseas, but at least for the time being they shared a few light-hearted moments in front of Dick's home.

Bernard (driving) and John Korbly of 425 North Audubon Road stopped by the Palmer home in their 1935 Ford Roadster convertible to visit Dick Palmer in 1943. Behind the young men, you can see the Ostrander home at 323 North Audubon Road and the Buck home at 311 North Audubon Road.  

Jim Boyd in his "gas saver" had fun trying to push the Buick parked in front of 336 North Audubon Road in 1943. Jim lived with his widowed Aunt Edith Edwards at 346 North Audubon Road. A pianist, he frequently played the blues on his Aunt's piano.

Jim Boyd drove his "gas saver" along Audubon Road. Behind him, you can see the homes at 326 and 336 North Audubon Road in 1943.  

One of the Korbly brothers jumped into the photo while Jim Boyd attempted to drive a homemade contraption in 1943. Behind the young men you can best see 344  and 346 North Audubon Road. 

Dick Palmer posed in his Pontiac in the summer of 1943. Behind him, you can see the Ostrander residence at 323 North Audubon Road. 

Dick Palmer during his senior year at Arsenal Technical High School in 1939.  

Images and stories for this post are courtesy of Janet Chapman and Dick Palmer.  

8th Grade Graduation Party--1958

Members of the eighth grade graduating class from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School gathered at the home of Steve Koepper in 1958. They would be the last graduating class from the Arsenal Street location as the congregation built a new school on East 16th Street.  Four of the graduates in these photographs went on to Thomas Carr Howe High School in Irvington. While the kids laughed and ate snacks in the dining room, the adult chaperones gathered around a card table in the living room and sipped on some coffee. Everyone is dressed up as they had just come from the formal graduation ceremony. Like many teens in the U.S., they likely kept up with popular culture.  The number one song on the radio on June 6, 1958, was "The Purple People Eater." by Sheb Wooley. If they had gone to a movie that year at the Irving Theater then some of these kids might have watched "South Pacific," the top grossing film for the year.  As more Irvington families added television sets into their living rooms, some of these teens might have spent some time watching "Leave it to Beaver," "I Love Lucy," "Candid Camera," or the "Ed Sullivan Show."  The baseball fans in that dining room likely enjoyed the start of the new Major League Baseball season as they followed favorite players like Willie Mays, Mickey Mantel, and Ted Williams.  If they were Yankees fans then they were in for a treat later in the year.

On the cusp of high school, the kids enjoyed a few light moments together in the Koepper family bungalow at 5263 East Tenth Street.  They were about to separate and leave their insular world of their smaller school for much larger institutions; however, on this lovely spring day they just had fun.

Treats in the Dining Room:  Graduates from the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School gathered at the home of classmate, Steve Koepper, at 5263 East Tenth Street one final time in 1958 before moving on to various high schools. Pictured: Cheryl Ann Kubiak (standing), Grant Bernard Jacobson (drinking), Rose Anna Baumgart, Daniel Mark Edwards,  Sandra Lenore Griffin, Stephen Lee Koepper (sitting in foreground), Douglas James Felten (waving), Steven Ralph Deal (eating a sandwich)  

Rosa Anna Baumgart and Grant Bernard Jacobson had fun at their eighth grade graduation party at the Koepper home at 5263 East Tenth Street in 1958.  Cheryl Ann Kubiak stood behind the couple.  You can also see the cage for Pete the Parakeet behind young Grant.  Pete had free reign in the house and he particularly like to perch atop the eyeglasses of various family members!  

Chaperones Monitor Behavior from the Living Room:  Norman and Lora Meyer Koepper (couple on left) agreed to host a reception for the graduates of eighth grade class from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School on June 6, 1958 in their home at 5263 East Tenth Street.  The Feltens joined them.  Henry Felten (foreground) was the principal and their teacher in the school. His wife, Erna, can be seen behind and to the right of him.  Their son was also a graduate and in the next room.  

Birthday Party in Ellenberger Park in 1954

Ellenberger Park served as the perfect spot for local families to host reunions, receptions celebrations, and birthday parties.  When Steve Koepper turned ten years old on April 11, 1954, he invited his Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School friends to Ellenberger Park to celebrate.  Mr. Koepper, the son of Norman and Lora Meyer Koepper, grew up in a bungalow located at 5263 East Tenth Street.  Ellenberger Park became an important place for the young man as he took swimming lessons from the Red Cross in the park's pool in 1951.  He would later join the Ellenberger Park Swim Team under Coach Dave Hines.  You may see a photo of the 1960 swim team by clicking on the "Ellenberger Park" link below.

Birthday Party Gathering:  Steve Koepper and his Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School friends posed for this photograph in the spring of 1954 in Ellenberger Park.  Left to right:  Steven Deal, Fred Von Spreckelsen, Jeff Boerger, Steve Koepper, Lanny Simpson, Irvin Coffer, Danny Edwards, Ron Yeskie, Bill Hoff, and Tom Holtman

All of the young men in the photo above attended the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School at 26 North Arsenal Avenue. They were the last class to graduate from this building in 1958 before the institution moved to its current location at 8540 East 16th Street.  Many of the students who attended this school had German heritage.  (photo: Damien Center) 

The historic image and information for this post are courtesy of Steve Koepper.  

Lost Irvington--6049 East Washington Street

Many homes along East Washington Street have been razed over the years for commercial development. This lovely early twentieth-century home at 6049 East Washington Street met its fate in the mid-twentieth century and has been gone from Irvington for decades.  In 1909, attorney Levi P. Harlan and wife Lillian and son Loran moved into the home.  By the 1920s, the Wright family dwelled here.  Bert Wright was a laborer while his wife Anna stayed home and took care of the house.  Her father, Charles Edwards, a veteran of the Civil War, moved into the large dwelling in the late 1920s and remained until his death.  In this photo, taken in 1925, Mr. Edwards sits peacefully in the side yard playing with the family dog. The yard is lush--a far cry from the commercial site it would become.  In 2014, the lot now hosts a liquor store.  You can see the area today by clicking on the address below.

Charles Edwards in the side yard at 6049 East Washington Street in 1925. He moved in and stayed with his daughter and son-in-law for the remainder of his life.  

Anna Edwards Wright dwelled at 6049 East Washington Street with her husband Bert.