Family Posed on Emerson Heights Porch, c1920

     Alonzo and Ada Gordon Shepherd moved into their new home at 729 North Riley Avenue in 1919. The lovely two-story Arts and Crafts house had been built by George J. Adrian throughout the summer of that year. Hundreds of families had already moved into Emerson Heights by the time the Shepherds arrived. A nearby streetcar made it convenient for residents like the Shepherds to get to downtown Indianapolis for work or for shopping.

     Mr. Shepherd worked as a foreman for the Furnas Ice Cream Company formerly located at 133 North Alabama Street. The L. Strauss & Co. Department Store, also located downtown, employed Mrs. Shepherd as a saleswoman. Census records reveal that a variety of extended family members lived with the Shepherds in their Riley Avenue home. In 1920, a census taker recorded that Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd were both 36 years old. Also living with them was Bessie Gordon, age 14. She was related to Mrs. Shepherd. Ten years later, another census taker arrived and recorded that Bessie Gordon, age 25, still lived with the Shepherds. She served as a cashier at an ice cream shop. A nephew, Floyd McDaniel, age 20, worked as an auto mechanic and also resided there. By 1930, the Shepherds had also added a son, Robert Shepherd, who was 9 years old at the time of the census.

     On June 12, 1930, Bessie Gordon married Orville Price at 8:30PM at the Shepherd home. The Indianapolis Star recorded that the family "improvised" an altar of ferns, palms, and garden flowers. Miss Gordon was escorted by Mr. Shepherd down an "aisle" of white ribbon." Mary E. Lawler, a pianist, Mildred Lawler, a violinist, and Robert Shultz, a cornetist, performed "O Promise Me," "To a Wild Rose," and "The World is Waiting for Sunrise." Ruby Fuehrer sang "I Love You Truly," and "At Dawning." Reverend Oscar R. McKay, a baptist minister, conducted the ceremony. The newly-married couple settled nearby on Bancroft Avenue.

     For the next several decades Alonzo and Ada Shepherd continued to reside at their Riley Avenue home. Their son, Robert Shepherd served during World War II. In June of 1943, he received a furlough to visit his parents and it was a good thing because Mr. Shepherd died a little over a year later in 1944. Mrs. Shepherd lived in the house until her death in 1970. Recently, a photograph of the Shepherds appeared on EBAY. That image was donated to the Irvington Historical Society. You can see that image below. 

Ada Gordon Shepherd (upper right), Alonzo Shepherd (lower right) posed with Bessie Gordon (in white) and Doras Gordon Morrow (later Thompson) at 729 North Riley Avenue c1920. 

     I wish to thank Wayne Sharp and Kathleen Price Crawford for their assistance in researching the people in the photo.

Sources:  The 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950 Federal Census Records; Polk's Indianapolis City Directories, 1919-1971; Construction of house--"Building Permits," Indianapolis Star, February 20, 1919, p. 13; Bessie Gordon wedding--"Local Couple Wed in Home Ceremony," Indianapolis Star, June 13, 1930, p. 7; Robert Shepherd furlough during WWII--Indianapolis Star. June 20, 1943, p. 36; Obituaries--"Alonzo D. Shepherd Funeral Saturday," Indianapolis News, September 14, 1944, p. 12; "Ada Shepherd," Indianapolis News, December 26, 1970, p. 14; "Bessie Gordon Price," Indianapolis Star, September 19, 1993, p. 79; "Robert E. Shepherd," Indianapolis Star, March 13, 2001, p. 17.

South Audubon Road Scenes--1940s

Carrold and Blanche Bastin Stevenson leased a double at 72 South Audubon Road from 1943 until 1951. Mr. Stevenson was a pipe fitter and later a foreman for the New York Central System Rail. The Stevensons had extended family members living in Irvington. They would eventually move to Euclid Avenue just west of the neighborhood. Photos likely taken by Mary Stevenson of 112 Johnson Avenue not only show family members, but also nearby houses. Joanne Stevenson, the daughter of Carrold and Blanche Stevenson, was the subject of many of the photos. Another family member, Ted Lollis, who lived at 5866 Julian Avenue, can be see with Jerry Land. Behind the boys you can see the Layman mansion at 29 South Audubon Road as well as homes at 55 and 61 South Audubon Road.

Jerry Land and Ted Lollis stood on the sidewalk of 72 South Audubon Road c1944. Behind them, you can see the Layman mansion at 29 South Audubon Road and the Westover home at 55 South Audubon Road. In the distance you can see the Audubon Court Apartments. 

Betrand Jonathan and Maude Darnell Westover moved into this beautiful home at 55 South Audubon Road in 1924. Other families had dwelled there like the Gordons and Duwars, but the Westovers remained until 1970. The couple raised their two children here and in 1943 they carved the grand home up into at least four apartments. They named the house the Westover Apartments and they moved into a downstairs unit. While the abode began as a single family residence, it has been home to apartment dwellers for most of its existence.  

Carole Sue Stevenson of 72 South Audubon Road posed in the front yard c1948. Behind her you can see the house at 61 South Audubon Road.  

Joanne Stevenson posed (on the right) with a friend c1948 in the front yard of 72 South Audubon Road. Behind her you can see the homes at 61 and 55 South Audubon Road. You can also see an open lot where 63-65 South Audubon Road sits today. 

Pliny and Maud Wolfard were not the first to dwell at 61 South Audubon Road, but they certainly lived here a long time. The Wolfards set up housekeeping at this residence in 1930 along with their two children, Margaret and Philip.  Mr. Wolfard passed away first, but Mrs. Wolfard continued to dwell in the bungalow until 1967.   

Joanne Stevenson in her Girl Scouts uniform posed for this photo c1944 in the front yard of 72 South Audubon Road. Towering trees spanned the street during this era. 

Joanne Stevenson held her sister, Carole Sue Stevenson c1947, in the front yard of 72 South Audubon Road. Behind her you can see the open lot of what today houses a small brick double at 63-65 South Audubon.  

Joanne Stevenson posed with her sister, Carole Sue, c1947, in the front yard of 72 South Audubon Road. Behind her you can somewhat see the front porches at 68 and 60 South Audubon Road.

Ennis Stevenson, the brother to Carrold Stevenson, posed for this photograph c1944 along the front sidewalk of the Stevenson home at 72 South Audubon Road. Behind him, you can see the brick bungalow at 69 South Audubon Road (formerly numbered 65 South Audubon Road). Many families had dwelled in that home by the 1940s.  In 1944 the Rumrills lived there. Mr. Rumrill was "traffic motorman."  Mrs. Rumrill continued to reside at that corner as a widow for many years. Note the wonderful street light on the corner!  

69 South Audubon Road in 2015

The American Four Square double at 72 South Audubon Road and 5654 Julian Avenue in 2015

    To learn more about the extended Stevenson/Lollis or Layman family click on the links below. The historic images are courtesy of Ted Lollis.  

Audubon Court--c1954

The Audubon Court (5703 East Washington Street) opened as the first apartment building in Irvington in 1914. The elegant rentals offered two and three bedroom apartments to families and retirees.  Camillus "Butch" and Edna Rohyan moved into Audubon Court sometime in the early 1940s.  They had previously lived in Fort Wayne and at 123 South Butler Avenue where they rented a home to raise their six children.  With all of the children out of the house, the couple moved into "Number 8" at Audubon Court.  Mr. Rohyan, a former athlete and professional football player, worked for years as an engineer foreman for the Pennsylvania Railroad.  Both his father and brothers worked for the rail company as well.  In his younger years, he played football with the Knute Rockne.  Mr. Rohyan died suddenly in 1952 at the age of 62.  His widow continued to dwell at the Audubon Court for many more years.  Her children and grandchildren frequently visited her and documented their time with these wonderful photographs taken around 1954.  In the top photo, Mrs Rohyan stood in the courtyard with her daughters, Phyllis and Jeanne. Note the tiled shingles still present on the roof of the building.  In the second photo, the family gathered on the south side of the west structure.  Pictured were Edna, Jeanne, and Mary Rohyans, along with Irene Gordon, and Phyllis Rohyans.  A new puppy also posed for the photographer!  Contemporary views show "Number 8" along with the courtyard on a snowy day on March 2, 2014.  The final contemporary shot was taken in the middle of a snowstorm, but provides a view of where the women stood c1954.  The historic images and stories are courtesy of the descendants of the Rohyan family via Ancestry.com.

Phyllis, Edna, and Jeanne Rohyans in the courtyard of Audubon Court (5703 East Washington Street) c1954

Camillus "Butch" and Edna Rohyan c1950

Rohyan Women:  Edna, Jeanne, Irene, Mary, and Phyllis along the south side of the west building of the Audubon Court (5703 East Washington Street)  c1954

"Number 8" of Audubon Court (5703 East Washington Street) on March 2, 2014

Courtyard of Audubon Court on March 2, 2014

South side of west building of Audubon Court on March 2, 2014