An Oak Avenue Home--1911

Dawson C. and Ida Belle Kile moved into their brand new home at 5921 Oak Avenue in 1911. Mr. Kile, who was 34 years old at the time, had lived part of his life in a house with his parents, Oliver and Sarah Kile, under the giant oak tree (now called the Kile Oak) on Beechwood Avenue. The younger couple were able to purchase the triangular lots on Oak Avenue because they belonged to the Frys, who were related to the Kiles. The house, fashioned in the American Four Square design, was a very popular style in the U.S. in 1911.  On the back of the photo, a realtor or family member described the interior of the home. Downstairs, the Kiles could enjoy a brick fireplace in the living the room with a coal grate.  The first floor also included a library, a dining room, the kitchen, and a pantry. The lower level had beautiful hardwood floors. Four bedrooms with "large" closets and a bathroom occupied the second floor. The builder attached city water and included a coal furnace that pumped warm air into the home on cold days.

The price of the home in 1911 or perhaps in 1913 was $5000 although the seller was willing to go down to $4500.  The Kiles moved from Irvington in 1913 so it is possible that this photo was used to try to sell the house at that time. It must have worked as the Evans family moved in and remained until 1918.

Dawson C. Kile worked as a railway mail clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad for 37 years. He serviced various parts of the line from Pittsburg to St. Louis during his long tenure with the company. The couple had one biological son who survived into adulthood, John Albert Kile,  but he died at age 20 from malaria after they had moved to Ohio. The couple also adopted many foster children over the years. The Kiles left Irvington for Zanesville, Ohio after only living in this home for two years. The beautiful photo of their home shows the house before some of the later alterations occurred including a sizable rear addition. Mr. Kile's sister, Mae, continued to reside in the family home two blocks south on Beechwood until the early 1970s.  Ida Belle Kile passed away in 1948 while Dawson Kile lived until 1967.

Dawson and Ida Kile moved into this American Four Square at 5921 Oak Avenue in 1911. By 1913, they had moved to Zanesville, Ohio. Other families to reside here over the years included the Evans, Whiteman, Shirey, Kramer, Fee, Collins,  Pedigo, and Thomas families. (Photo courtesy of the Irvington Historical Society)

Most likely in 1913 when the Kiles were putting the home on the market, someone wrote all of these details about the residence on the back of the photograph.  (Photo courtesy of the Irvington Historical Society)

I wish to thank Paula Schmidt of the Irvington Historical Society for loaning me this wonderful image. 

Sources:  Information about the purchase of the lots came from the Indianapolis Star, May 23, 1905 and the Indianapolis News, March 19, 1907, 8) Other useful information came from the obituaries of Dawson, Ida Belle, and John Albert Kile.

Time for Play and Time for School in the 1920s

Dick Palmer grew up at 333 North Audubon Road as the nation and the neighborhood "roared."  His parents, Walter and Mary Fee Palmer, built a house in the decade as did hundreds of others especially north of Pleasant Run Parkway. Many Irvingtonians purchased cars during the 1920s so toy automobiles became popular gifts for children. Dick Palmer received his special present in 1925. He remained a car enthusiast for the rest of his life. In an image below, you can see him "driving" around in the backyard.  Two years later he received a toy airplane. Behind him in that photo, you can see the double at 338-40 and the dwelling at 344 North Audubon Road. His family had no way of knowing it in 1927, but  later during World War II, Dick flew B-25 Mitchell aircraft and even taught other pilots how to fly.

The 1920s were also important for Dick as he started school in 1927. Children along North Audubon Road attended School #57. Visiting the family in September of 1927 was his Aunt Nell Fee.  The Fees hailed from a prominent farming family near Clarksburg, Indiana in northeastern Decatur County. Nell and Mary Fee's grandfather, John G. Fee, was one of the founders of Berea College in Kentucky. Aunt Nell's timing for her visit could not have been more perfect as Dick was afraid to go to school. She told him that she would escort him to the building and she gave him a dime to put in his pocket. As young Dick walked up the stairs of School #57, he turned back to give his Aunt the dime, but she told him to keep it and he was to show it to her upon his exit later that day. Dick Palmer thrived at school. He later graduated from Arsenal Tech High School and Miami University in Ohio.

Dick Palmer received his toy car gift in 1925. He "drove" it around in the backyard of his home at 333 North Audubon Road. 

Dick Palmer and a friend posed for this photograph in 1927 after receiving his new airplane as a gift. Behind the boys, you can see the double at 338-40 North Audubon Road and the residence at 344 North Audubon Road. The Karns family dwelled on one side of the double and the Johnson family lived at 344.  The 1927 city directory noted that one side of the double was vacant.  

Dick Palmer posed for this photograph in 1927 in his front yard at 333 North Audubon Road on his first day of school.

Dick Palmer posed for his family in 1927 in the backyard of 333 North Audubon Road in 1927. His  supportive Aunt Nell Fee walked  with him to school that day.