Butler Tennis Match and a Lost House--1924

The tennis courts for Butler University used to sit on the southwest corner of University and Ohmer Avenues.  In this shot, taken in 1924, a member of the team prepares to return a serve.  He is facing north.  Near him, you can see 5317-19 University Avenue.  That home is still standing.  Across the street, however, like a ghostly image, you can see the former home that used to sit on the northeast corner of University and Ohmer Avenues. (5326 University Avenue)  It has been missing for at least sixty years.  The Disciples of Christ purchased the corner and removed the house to add a wing on to the College Board of Missions sometime in the 1950s.  The house appears to have been a large Queen-Anne styled home.  More research is needed to determine who dwelled in it.  Pictured in this photo is Julius Sagalowsky, who was the star player for the team in 1924.

A Father and Son--1929

The Finch family lived in several houses in Irvington. In these two photos, Lewis and Richard Finch stand in front of 392 Downey Avenue. Behind them you can see 373 Burgess Avenue, a Dutch Colonial style home. (Downey Avenue turns into Burgess as it crosses South Ritter Avenue) Herman Orville Brenton, the former State Highway Commissioner, and his wife Mary A. dwelled in that home in 1929. The contemporary photo shows the same scene on January 29, 2012. The historic images are courtesy of Evan Finch. You may learn more about the Finch family by clicking on the link below.

Camping in the Backyard--1930

The Finch brothers and their downstair's neighbor, Jeanine Smith pose for a photo next to the family tent in the side yard at 304 North Drexel Avenue in 1930. The home, split into two apartments, actually sits on the northwest corner of East New York Street and North Drexel Avenue. Although their front door faced Drexel, the Finch's upstairs living room faced busy New York Street. Years later, George Finch reported that the home was not a very quiet place in which to dwell with traffic whizzing by, including the city buses, whose tires sometimes hit the curb next to the house. Luther and Hazel Smith and their family lived downstairs at 4524 East New York Street. The Finch and Smith children had an easy walk to school as the Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School ( #58) was less than a block away.

In this historic photo, Richard (Dick) Finch sits behind his younger brother George. Jeanine Smith holds the baby, Robert (Bob) Finch. The small enclosed yard provided a perfect place to put up a tent. The street behind the children is Drexel Avenue. The historic image and stories are courtesy of Evan Finch.

The Lost Houses of Ritter Avenue

When the Finch family took the following photos of George Finch in 1929, they had no idea that they were documenting a piece of history. Besides the cute kid in the striped sweater, they also captured 369, 373, and 377 South Ritter Avenue. An explosion in February of 2004, destroyed all three of these bungalows and damaged dozens of others nearby. Although you can only see 369 in two of the photos (far left), it was actually a Sears catalogue home! The other two might have come from a catalogue as well. City directories reveal that all three homes were built between 1923 and 1925. Richard B. Miller, an employee for the Diamond Chain Company, and his family lived in the Sears home. The Bortsfields and Craggs lived in the other two bungalows. Both Rueben R. Bortsfield and Harry C. Cragg worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

The contemporary image, taken during the winter of 2012, shows the newer homes constructed since 2004. Note that the only thing that is similar is the placement of the fire hydrant. The historic images are courtesy of Evan Finch.

Backyard along Good Avenue

Lewis and Louie Finch and their sons lived briefly in a double at 368-370 Good Avenue in the late 1920s. Twelve-year-old Richard, whose name used to be Richard Gray, was adopted by Lewis after he married Louie, who already had Richard from a previous marriage. Mrs. Finch stayed at home with the children and she might have been the photographer of the historic images featured today.

In the top photo, baby George Finch stands in his formidable crib in the backyard of the double on Good Avenue in 1927. Behind him you can see the stuccoed garage that used to belong to 366 Good Avenue. That garage was torn down around 2009. The rear of the house visible in the photo is of a small bungalow at 362 Good Avenue. George grew up and served his country during World War II. He later worked as a personnel manager for the Diamond Chain Company for many years.

In the second historic image, Richard Finch (1919-1990) stands on what looks like the cistern that belonged to 368-370 Good Avenue in 1928. The photographer, who was facing south, not only captured Richard, but also the rear of the double at the northwest corner of Good and Beechwood Avenues. (384 Good/5854 Beechwood) Notice the large brackets along the roofline. The other home visible behind Richard was 5850 Beechwood. The Bell family dwelled there in 1928. Richard grew up and joined the National Guard. He was on the USS Nevada when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Thankfully, he survived the war and later settled in Keene, New Hampshire.

The contemporary images show the rear of 384 Good/5854 Beechwood and 5850 Beechwood Avenue. You will note that the historic garage belonging to the double is still standing and that both of the homes look largely the same. The other photos show the front of both homes in 2012. The double on the corner is still very beautiful as it has been wonderfully maintained over the years. City directories reveal that it was likely built in 1923. Behind the double you can see the former Finch home at 368-370 Good Avenue. The bottom photo reveals 5850 Beechwood Avenue in 2012. It is one of the older homes in southeastern Irvington and might have been built in the late nineteenth century. Further research is needed on the interesting structure. The historic images are courtesy of Evan Finch.

The Finches of Irvington

Lewis S. and Louie Mae Jones Finch lived in several homes in Irvington with their sons Richard, George, Robert, and John. While living in Irvington, Mr. Finch worked for the Indiana State Board of Health. It appears that the young couple rented homes along Bolton, Good, Burgess, Drexel, and Layman Avenues.

In the top photos, a very young George Finch attempts to make a snowman in front of 368-370 Good Avenue. Behind him you can see what the 300 block of Good Avenue looked like in 1928. In the first photo you will note the large triangular home at 5905-07 University. More of views of this double may be found by clicking on the "University Avenue" link below.

The contemporary images show 368-70 Good Avenue today and what the street looks like in 2012. More images will be forthcoming from the Finch family collection. The historic images are courtesy of Evan Finch.

215 South Butler Avenue Then and Now

With its ideal location across from the Butler University campus, the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority moved into this new dwelling at 215 South Butler Avenue in 1923. It is not known at this time whether the house was built for the organization or on speculation, but the young women lived in the house until Butler moved out of Irvington in 1928. Clarence C. and Hester Finch lived in the home for a year until 1930 when Henry Schwimmer, an electrician, and his wife Rose moved in and stayed until 1933.

Beginning in 1934, Clifford E. Wagoner, an insurance agent, and his wife Jean Brown Wagoner moved in and remained in the home until the 1980s. Mrs. Wagoner received national attention as a children's book biographer. She also became a beloved figure in the neighborhood reminding children that it was "going to be a good day!" (Interview with Sherri Wood Emmons, a former resident of 234 South Butler) You may learn more about her by clicking on the Wagoner Family link below.

The historic photos show the home shortly after it was completed in 1923. Members of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority pose both inside and outside of their home. Note the beautiful woodwork, wall sconces, and interesting staircase. The historic images are courtesy of Amy Friedly. The contemporary image was shot in the autumn of 2011.

5317-19 University Ave--Asbestos Siding

5317-19 is one of the oldest doubles in Irvington. Built in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, the structure had many Queen Anne styled features including a porch with a balustrade railing and ornamental spindles. Many families connected with Butler or the Board of Missions lived in the duplex because of its close proximity to both institutions. In 1910, journalist Charles Fuller lived on one side and the Murphy Family lived on the other side. John H. Murphy was a molder while his daughter Mallie J. attended Butler.

In 1940, Mrs. Anna Finch owned the double and hired Ralph R. Reeder & Sons to put on asbestos siding. Mrs. Finch was looking for a way to avoid painting her wood clapboard siding and asbestos tiles were in vogue in Indianapolis between 1920 and 1950. She chose "White Thatch" to spruce up this home. Of course, Mrs. Finch was unaware of the dangers of asbestos. Many homeowners sheathed their houses in this material as it was the "vinyl" of its day.

Although the top image is in poor shape, you can faintly see how the home looked prior to being sided. It used to have a really beautiful porch. It looks like the Victorian features were removed when the asbestos siding was added. Mrs. Finch's home was featured in the Indianapolis Star on February 5, 1940 (page 16) as promotion for the siding.

I have also included a contemporary photo of the house (January, 2011). You will note that the asbestos siding remains seventy-one years later.