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.

Tough Times on Linwood Avenue During the Great Depression

Harold Wilkens (1904-1976) and Ellen Smolley (1908-1964) eloped in 1930 and kept their marriage a secret for two years. They lived separately, but eventually in 1932 they formally announced to their families that they had wed. Mr. Wilkens found a job as a pharmacist with Henry Silver, who ran a drug store along Michigan Street near Bosart Avenue. In 1934, the couple had a daughter, Diana. With little money and in the middle of the Great Depression, the couple leased a double at 727 North Linwood Avenue. It was a small one-bed apartment and became even smaller when Carrie Gardner, the mother of Ellen Wilkens, moved in with them. Mrs. Gardner and the baby shared the bedroom while Harold and Ellen moved the dining room table each night and pulled down the Murphy Bed built into the wall. They remained in the small double for thirteen years before moving into a larger place in Irvington.

Young Diana had many friends along Linwood Avenue and attended School #58 nearby. She used to play in the woods and meadow in what would later become the Linwood Square shopping area. She recalled a fruit stand along East 10th Street near Linwood Avenue.  Diana remembered that times were tough for her family during those days.  In 1947, their landlord asked them to leave so that he could move in family members of his own. While initially this caused chaos in their lives, they would soon lease a beautiful double at 5120 East Washington Street.  

Diana Wilkens posed for her mother in front of 727-29 North Linwood Avenue in 1938.

Diana Wilkens in the front and backyard of 727 North Linwood Avenue in 1938

Christmas in 1940:  Diana Wilkens enjoyed Christmas Day in her home at 727 North Linwood Avenue. In the upper right photo, you can see Ed and Thelma Sheets who stopped by for a visit. Snowball the cat is visible in some photos.

Diana Wilkens and a friend posed for this shot in 1940 in her yard at 727 North Linwood Avenue. Behind the girls, you can see the tree-lined street and the homes in the 700 block of that street.  

The small double at 727-29 North Linwood Avenue looks much the same as it did when the Wilkens family dwelled here from 1934 to 1947. (Photo taken in the summer of 2015)  

The Dufour Family Moves to Indianapolis

The Dufour family name is well-known on the east side of Indianapolis because of a lovely cafe that sits on the northwest corner of East Washington Street and Audubon Road.  The family has been an important part of the Irvington community since 1940. Lawrence  and Carmella (Nell) Dufour met in Chicago and married there in 1935.  In 1939, the couple moved to Indianapolis on Guilford Avenue in Broad Ripple. Mr. Dufour was employed as a salesman.  By 1940, the couple had two small children so they rented a bungalow at 4003 Brookville Road. Soon that house had become too small so the Dufours, who now had four children, moved to 738 North Dequincy Street in Emerson Heights in 1942.

By the early 1940s, Mr. Dufour was established as a salesman of kitchen supplies for the Albert Pick Company. He helped firms, schools, hospitals, and non-profits with the designs of their kitchens. He spent much of his week traveling down the highways of Indiana from one city to the next selling stainless steel tables, cabinets, and industrial appliances. When he was home, he often worked at the dining room table creating blueprints, drawings, or plans.  His wife, Nell, would not only keep their growing family out of the dining room while Mr. Dufour worked, but she also typed up the quotes.

The Dequincy Street home would be the first of three houses that the Dufours owned. They paid $30 a month for their mortgage. While living in the house, the family attended Little Flower Catholic Church, but by the mid-1940s they would find their forever church with Our Lady of Lourdes on East Washington Street.  The Dufours would in total have ten children so there was always a great necessity of finding a larger house. Furthermore, Mr. and Mrs. Dufour occasionally took in families or people who needed a home.

With the start of World War II, Mr. Dufour attempted to enlist in the U.S. Army, but officials turned him down due to his blood pressure issues and the number of children he had. Instead, he became a local air raid warden for the Emerson Heights area. His job was to make sure that local neighbors turned off lights or at least shut their curtains so that would-be bombers wouldn't see the city during drills. In 1945, the growing Dufour family moved to 5125 East Michigan Street in the Pleasanton section of Irvington.

Stay tuned as more posts will be coming on this interesting Irvington family.

Lawrence and Carmella Rose Dufour were married in Chicago on May 18, 1935.

Growing Family:  Lawrence and Nell Dufour posed with their four children at that time (Lenore, Daniel, Sussanne, and Richard) on the front steps at 738 North Dequincy Street c1945. 

Proud Papa:  Lawrence Dufour posed with Lenore, Daniel, Richard, and Sussanne Dufour on their front steps at 738 North Dequincy Street c1945.  

738 North Dequincy Street in 2015.

The historic photos and stories are courtesy of the Dufour family.

Emerson Heights Kindergarten 1943

The Kindergarten Movement, a German idea, had been embraced by millions of Americans by 1930 when the Emerson Heights Kindergarten first opened its doors to students at 4805 East Michigan Street. Many Hoosiers realized the value of educating children at an early age and began to send their kids to private schools to prepare them for the first grade. It appears that Helen Martin was the founder of this school and she located it in the southern section of the Emerson Heights neighborhood. Many younger families had moved into the modest bungalows and American Four Squares nearby so Mrs. Martin had a ready and willing market who had big dreams for their children. The school moved from the Michigan Street location to 1012-14 North Emerson Avenue in 1932 and remained there until 1946.

Susan Koepper Foster, who dwelled at 5263 East Tenth Street as a child, attended the kindergarten located in the commercial strip on the northwest corner of Emerson Avenue and East Tenth Street. Her teacher in 1943 was Mrs. Fields. We do not know much about Mrs. Fields yet, but she can be seen in the photo.  We also know the names of some of the children in the image. Mrs. Foster remembers that it was a lively and engaging school where she received an introduction to reading and math.  She also recalls that Mrs. Fields taught her how to skip. There was not much of a playground so the children mostly stayed inside, however, in 1943 they gathered outside for a photo at the rear of the building and along the alley that runs parallel to East Tenth Street. Sadly, this part of the structure was demolished in the summer of 2014 by a developer who did not have proper permits.  Most of the kids in this photo are now well into their retirement age and enjoying grandkids of their own!

All dressed up:  Here are the names of the kids we know at this point.  Front Row: The second girl from the left is Marsha Thomas.  The fourth girl from the left is Susan Koepper. Elaine Clayton is the second girl from the right. Middle Row:  Sandy Fotiades is the second girl from the left. Ronnie Meek is the seventh child from the left. John Kot is the third child from the right. Top Row: The boy with the head bandage is Howard Franke. Next to him is Mrs. Fields.  The boy to the right of her is Bob Hibner. Mike Corcoran is the third child from the right while Karen Group is the blond girl at the far right of the row.  The Emerson Heights Kindergarten was located at 1012-14 North Emerson Avenue.  

The historic image is courtesy of Susan Koepper Foster

A New House in Emerson Heights--1911

Harold and Nell Scott moved into their dream home at 626 North DeQuincy Street in 1911.  The large American Four Square would also house their new baby, Martha Scott. Mr. Scott had done quite well and he soon worked his way up to becoming vice president of a local clothing company. Perhaps longing for an even more upscale address, the Scotts eventually built a beautiful home at 5435 Pleasant Run Parkway in 1923.  In this photo, taken shortly after the construction of the home in 1911, you can not only see the their beautiful dwelling, but also the lovely house next door at 630 North DeQuincy Street. In the distance, you can see a two-story home in the 600 block of North Wallace Avenue. To view a contemporary image these houses today, click on the link below.

Newly constructed in 1911:  626 North DeQuincy Street

The historic image is courtesy of Martha Scott Baum.  

On Her Own--Mrs. Emmajane Aumann--c1948

Carl F. and Emmajane Aumann moved into their dream home at 614 North Bosart Avenue in the Emerson Heights neighborhood in 1928.  Their son, Robert, was fourteen at the time. The beautiful American Four Square had been home to families since the 1910s.  Mr. Aumann worked his way up at the E.C. Atkins Company from sawsmith to eventually a foreman. Sadly, he died at the age of 62 in 1947 leaving Mrs. Aumann a widow.  She never remarried and lived in the house until 1981.  In this photo, taken shortly after her husband's death, Emmajane Aumann stood next to the family home.  Her shrubs and vines grew lushly next to the house.

Emmajane Aumann stood next to the family home at 614 North Bosart Avenue c1948

The historic image is courtesy of Barbara Sanders. To see a contemporary image of the house click on the link below.  

Little Flower Catholic School Graduation--1930

Eastside Indianapolis Roman Catholics had few options in the early twentieth century. St. Philip Neri opened its parish doors in 1908 followed by Our Lady of Lourdes in Irvington in 1909.  As more Catholics moved into neighborhoods surrounding Irvington, the need for more churches grew.  In 1926, the Archdioceses of Indianapolis opened the St. Therese Little Flower School and parish. Located at 1401 North Bosart Avenue, the school serviced congregants in the Little Flower and Emerson Heights neighborhoods. Some Warren Township farmers sent their children to the school as well.  Like many Catholic schools, the institution educated children until the eighth grade.  In this photo, taken in 1930, Father Doyle (later Monsignor John J. Doyle) and Father Duffy posed with eight graduates.  Most of the kids lived nearby.  Albert Berlier's family had a rural route address and lived north of 13th Street along Arlington Avenue.  George Marter traveled from Chester Avenue while Fred Ward dwelled nearby on Colorado Avenue.  Ralph Robisch could have easily walked to school from his home at 904 North Emerson Avenue.  Cecelia Wilson's home remains a mystery, but Louise Hansman dwelled at 4608 East 10th Street.  Her family kept this photo and later posted it on Ancestry.com.  Marie Parks lived in a beautiful brick home at 1115 North Leland Avenue.  Helen Hall commuted from Grant Avenue.  Many of the children came from large families whose brothers and sisters attended Little Flower School.

Little Flower 8th Grade Graduates in 1930

 This photo is courtesy of the descendants of the Hansman family via Ancestry.com.  

Starting a Family on Bosart Avenue

When Leland Dickerson finally arrived home after honorably serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II, he decided that he couldn't wait to get back to see his family in Irvington.  So, he began to hitchhike from Dayton, Ohio still dressed in his navy attire.  Much to his surprise, a limousine pulled over and a passenger dressed up in a suit and time called out, "Where are you going?"  "Indianapolis!" the veteran answered.  "Hop in!  I am going there too."  The passenger turned out to be the CEO of the Perfect Circle Corporation, a company that specialized in piston rings.  The young veteran told the millionaire that he could drop him off at Washington Street and Arlington Avenue and that he could walk the remainder of the way home to 818 North Arlington, but the executive would not hear of it and he ordered his chauffeur to drive eight blocks north.  Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson both happened to be outside when the giant limo pulled up and they reacted with surprise and joy upon seeing their son safely home from the war and in a limousine no less!

With so many veterans returning to Indianapolis, jobs were not easy to find.  Leland, a Butler University graduate, landed employment at East Side Chevrolet near the corner of Washington Street and Ritter Avenue.  It was not a dream job, but he did not mind being around Irvington because his buddies had reintroduced him to Anna Belle York (121 South Berry Avenue).  She lived with her parents and her young son Robert, and worked nearby at the Missions Building (222 Downey Avenue).  The couple began to date and by February of 1947 they were married.  Upon returning from their honeymoon in Washington D.C., a fellow worker at the East Side Chevrolet told Leland that Western Electric was hiring.  Sensing an opportunity, he drove out during his lunch hour for an interview and landed a job.  He would remain for the next thirty-five years eventually attaining the rank of supervisor.

Finding an adequate house after World War II, was nearly impossible for most veterans as there had been very little construction during the war. Many homeowners in Indianapolis divided their large homes and turned them into rentals.  Leland and Anna Belle spent the first months of their marriage in a "shack" in northern Warren Township. They had no indoor toilet.  Both had been raised in Irvington, so this was not a standard either really cared for although Leland reports that they were very happy.  Eventually, the couple found a lovely small home at 861 North Bosart Avenue in Emerson Heights just west of Irvington.  They also welcomed a daughter, Linda. (Jimmy would come later.) With a growing family and income, the Dickersons moved out of the small Bosart Avenue cottage and by the early 1950s they found a larger place along Ridgeview Drive.  Stay tuned as I will chronicle the Ridgeview years in the next installment!

Newlyweds:  Leland and Anna Belle York Dickerson at the York home at 121 South Berry Avenue (February, 1947)

Instant Family:  Leland and Anna Belle Dickerson and young Bobby, who also became a Dickerson standing in front of the York home at 121 South Berry Avenue in February, 1947

The Dickerson home at 861 North Bosart Avenue in 1948

Growing Family:  Anna Belle and Leland Dickerson posed with Linda and Bobby in front of 861 North Bosart Avenue in June of 1949

Birthday Party  (on January 7, 1951) inside 861 North Bosart Avenue.  Pictured: (beginning with the boy sitting closest to the photographer at the far left) Dick Abell, Linda Dickerson, Dennis Holmes, Bobby Dickerson, Sue Deering, Ronnie Holmes, Tommy Abell, and Jerry Abell

The historic images are courtesy of Leland Dickerson. You may see a contemporary image of 861 North Bosart Avenue by clicking on the Google Satellite image below.  You will note that the porch has now been enclosed and that the house is now sheathed in aluminum siding.

A Christmas Card From Emerson Heights

Irvington's western neighbor, Emerson Heights, is loaded with wonderful homes from the Arts and Crafts-era.  Sometime around 1950, Carl C. and Elsie Hartman, mailed this gem out to friends and family.  The couple had lived at 525 North DeQuincy Street for decades and would dwell in the house from the 1920s and into the 1960s.  Mr. Hartman was an artist so it is very possible that he created this card.  The home still retains so many wonderful features including the wood clapboard siding and knee braces along the roofline.

Carl C. and Elsie Hartman dwelled at 525 North DeQuincy Street from the 1920s to the 1960s.

525 North DeQuincy Street on December 22, 2013

The historic image is courtesy of Marilyn Jacobs via Ancestry.com

   

Houses for Sale--1910

The brand new subdivision of Emerson Heights, just west of Irvington, advertised in many local newspapers in 1910, including the Indiana Catholic.  The ad boasted of "no taxes until 1912" and macadam streets.  Developers placed esplanades down several of the avenues and built beautiful Arts and Crafts bungalows and American Four Squares next to some Dutch Colonial dwellings.  Clearly catering to the growing middle-class Roman Catholic population on the east side, the ad spoke of Our Lady of Lourdes Church located in nearby Irvington.  Residents who dwell in the area today will notice that the illustrator seems to have made a few mistakes with regards to street names.  You will also note, that if the map is accurate, then only a few homes had been constructed by the summer of 1910.  The current neighborhood association has an incredible gallery of historic and contemporary images. Be sure to click on the link and then under the "Gallery" section select the "Development Book-Historic Photos" tab.

http://www.emersonheights.org/

Visitors Arrive at the Striebeck Home c1945

Teacher, Margaret Striebeck, lived a full life.  Her scrapbooks reveal that the single woman traveled with friends all over the United States.  She also entertained friends at her home at 606 North Bosart Avenue in Emerson Heights.  In these candid photos, two of her friends posed in the backyard of the Striebeck home.  Behind the unidentified women you can see the rear of the dwellings at 602 and 528 North Bosart.  The photos were likely shot in the month of May as it appears that both phlox and peonies are blooming or about to bloom.  These photos are from the Margaret Striebeck collection.

Mr. Striebeck and His Amazing Pet Squirrel

After he retired as a plasterer, Harry Striebeck settled down to a quiet life with his wife Elizabeth and adult daughter, Margaret, at his home at 606 North Bosart Avenue in Emerson Heights.  Mr. Striebeck kept a meticulous yard and even trained a squirrel as a beloved pet.  In these photos, taken c1945, Mr. Striebeck sits or stands in his backyard with his well-heeled squirrel.  In the top two photos, Mr. Striebeck relaxes next to his garage in the backyard.  Behind him, vines are beginning to grow up his trellises.  In front of him, sits the family lawnmower.  In the third photo, the elderly man stands and feeds his squirrel, which is perched on the family lawn chair.  Behind Mr. Striebeck, you can see the rear of 606 and 610 North Bosart Avenue.  Note the awnings on the windows and the broom hanging from the back porch of his neighbor's home.  A metal tub sits atop the cistern and is apparently filled with flowers.  This little slice of life was recently developed from some negatives from the collection belonging to Margaret Striebeck.  Miss Striebeck passed away in 1976.

Harry Striebeck and his new friend c1945 in the backyard and next to the garage at 606 N. Bosart Avenue

Squirrel on the lap of Harry Striebeck (606 N. Bosart) c1945

Harry Striebeck feeds a pet squirrel. Behind him, you can see both 606 and 610 North Bosart Avenue c1945

The Striebecks of Bosart Avenue

Harry and Elizabeth Boller Striebeck, both the children of German immigrants, dwelled in the Cottage Home (formerly called Noble's Farm or Subdivision) neighborhood just east of downtown Indianapolis. They lived in the Boller home on Pine Street until shortly after the death of her father.  By 1916, the couple had saved up enough money to build a small, but beautiful two-bedroom home at 606 North Bosart Avenue (formerly 530 North Bosart) in the new streetcar suburb of Emerson Heights, just west of Irvington.  Their only child, Margaret, was 19 years-old at the time and was beginning her training towards becoming a teacher.  By 1923, Margaret served as an elementary instructor for the Indianapolis Public Schools. She would live out the remainder of her life in the home on Bosart.  Her father, a plasterer, helped to build the French Lick Hotel in southern Indiana.  Her mother kept house while both Harry and Margaret were away at work.  Miss Striebeck touched hundreds of lives over the years as a teacher.  After both of her parents passed away, she continued to dwell in the house until her death in 1976.

With no heirs, her lovely home filled with antiques, became a rental.  The old furniture and her mementos were relegated to an unfinished attic where they remained for years. Various leasers over the decades, sold or took some from her collection.  In 1993, one of the renters approached me with a box filled with photos and artifacts from Miss Striebeck's life.  They were going to throw the items in the trash.  I took the collection and have held onto it for many years.  Recently, I had some of her negatives developed and I have tried to track down people in some of the photos and Christmas cards that she saved.  Most of us don't get remembered for very long.  Within a few generations, we are usually forgotten unless someone comes looking for us.  Miss Striebeck, with no children of her own, has likely lived on in the memories of her former students, who are also now reaching their elder years. Many have likely already passed.   Miss Striebeck, you are not forgotten.  I never knew you, but your letters and notes reveal that you were loved as a teacher and as a friend.  I dedicate this post to your memory.

In the top image, Harry and Elizabeth Striebeck along with their daughter, Margaret posed next to the side of their home at 606 North Bosart Avenue.  You can also see the bungalow at 602 North Bosart.  The photo was likely taken around 1945.  In the second photo, shot around the same time, Margaret Striebeck stands in her backyard next to the garage.  Behind her you can see the rear of 606 N. Bosart.  A cement sistern sits on the ground near the home.  It is clearly a cool day with leaves not yet raked at her feet.  The final two photos show her classroom in an unidentified IPS school.  Be sure to note her beautiful handwriting and the words that students had to use for their assignment.  The classroom is very clean.  The desks are polished and it might be around Halloween based upon some of the decorations in the room.  The photos along the chalk ledge in one of the pictures indicate that the images may have been taken around 1940.

Elizabeth, Harry, and Margaret Striebeck at 606 North Bosart Avenue c1945

Teacher, Margaret Striebeck stands in her backyard at 606 North Bosart Avenue c1945

Miss Striebeck's classroom in an unidentified Indianapolis Public School c1940

Beautiful handwriting on the chalkboard is that of Miss Margaret Striebeck, who taught in this unidentified Indianapolis Public School (c1940)

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.

Bosart Avenue--1925/1946/2012

Bosart Avenue is five blocks west of Emerson Avenue. North of Michigan Street, the avenue is considered part of Emerson Heights. South it seems to be a part of Bosart Heirs. The Bosart family still lived in the area in 1925 when the top photo was taken. Behind the boys you can see the west side of the street north of 320 North Bosart. In 2012, I stood on the same sidewalk where the boys gathered and captured the same houses today. You will note that much has changed since 1925. In the second photo, a very young Bill Ferling goes for a drive in his sleek new toy car in 1946. Bill is parked in nearly the same spot as the young boys of the previous photo twenty-one years later. Bosart looks very peaceful and quiet in this photo. The historic images are courtesy of Bill Ferling.

A Birthday Party--1923

Nine-year old Thomas Ferling proudly stands next to his friends on the occasion of his birthday party on September 2, 1923. The Ferlings dwelled at 311 North Bosart Avenue although you can really see the charming bungalow at 315 N. Bosart Avenue behind the kids better than the Ferling home. Notice how dressed up the children are and some of them appear to be holding gifts or toys. Many of the children in the photo lived in nearby homes.

Pictured from left to right are: Mary Margaret Flarey, Oscar Bosart, Jim Crawford, Jane Bosart, Constance Bailey, Robert Ferling, Charles Miller, Josephine Geis, and Thomas Ferling. Both houses are still standing although the lovely bungalow pictured has been greatly altered since 1923. The historic image is courtesy of Bill Ferling.

A Summer House, A Fish Pond, and Beautiful Landscaping

George and Rae Ferling dwelled at 311 North Bosart Avenue for several decades. Over the years, they planted and built stunning gardens in the backyard. In 1934, the Ferling men built a summer house complete with an open fireplace for grilling out. They also put in a large fish pond next to their garage. Throughout the years, the family planted beautiful tree, shrub, and flower specimens and transformed the small city lot into an oasis. The following historic images reveal this small paradise.

In the top image, George Ferling builds the stone fireplace while his two sons, Tom and Bob, work on the rest of the summer house in 1934. In the second photo, Tom Ferling proudly sits in his Adirondack chair in the completed summer house shortly after its construction. Note the lovely stone fireplace behind him. In the third photo, you can see the summer home as it appeared in 1941. Note the vines growing over the structure, the lovely spruce tree, the stone pathway, and the gorgeous flowers along the property line and garage. Louise Ferling, a grandchild, can be seen on the swing.

In the bottom photo, four generations of Ferlings gather in the rear of the backyard near the fish pond and garage. The elderly woman sitting in the metal chair was Jettie Thomas, the mother of Rae Ferling, who is holding her new grandson, Bill Ferling. The proud father, Tom Ferling, kneels behind the group. This photo was likely taken in September of 1943 shortly after the birth of young Bill.

Little remains of this Eden today. The summer home appears to have been enclosed and perhaps used for storage in 2012. The historic images are courtesy of Bill Ferling.