Sigma Chi Fraternity Images 1913-1915

The Sigma Chi Rho Chapter has been a part of Butler University's three campuses since 1865. When the college moved to Irvington in 1875, the fraternity followed. By 1913, the club had eleven active members and several pledges. They lived in a variety of houses throughout Irvington. Howard Caldwell, Sr, for instance, resided at his family's home at 30 North Bosart Avenue. The club leased  a room at Moore's Hall, formerly located at 130 South Audubon Road, for their chapter meetings. Both the Butler Collegian and Indianapolis News reported in 1913 that the men of Sigma Chi had the highest GPA of any of the fraternities on campus with an average of 73.04%. Of course, the campus average was 75.5% and the Delta Pi Omega Sorority had an average of 82%.

Each year the club sponsored a dance. In 1913, a Sigma Chi alum managed to secure the Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis for the event. In 1914, they held the dance at the Propylaeum on North Delaware Street. A formal photo from 1913 shows the men in standard pose while other photos reveal the more candid and playful side of the group.

Sigma Chi Rho Chapter Butler University 1913, front row: Joseph Ostrander, Robert Buck, Murray Matthews, Dan Trone, Robert J. Masters; second row: Howard C. Caldwell, Sr., Carlos Bonham, Halsey R. Keeling,  Bruce Robison, Carbs Harrison,  Kenneth Barr (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Members of the Sigma Chi fraternity at gathered at the north end of Butler's campus in1913 near the Pennsylvania Railroad. Behind the men you, can see the residence at 143 South Butler and the double at 137-39 South Butler Avenue. We only know the names of a few of the young men. Seated in front: ?; Second row: ?, ?; Third Row:  ?,?, Robert J. Masters; Fourth row: ?, Dan Trone, Howard C. Caldwell, Sr,; Top row: ?, Halsey Keeling, ? (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

The members of Sigma Chi gathered for this photo most likely in 1913. The building next to the young men was possibly the Butler Observatory located at the northern end of the campus near the Pennsylvania Railroad. Howard C. Caldwell, Sr. is standing next to the building. Looking up to him is Halsey Keeling. We do not know the names of the other in the men in the photo yet. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst) 

Howard Caldwell, Sr. lived at 30 North Bosart Avenue with his parents although tragedy struck the family when his father, Benjamin Caldwell, died in 1913 at the 47. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Howard Caldwell, Sr. graduated from Butler University in 1915. He was a writer and would later run his own advertising agency. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Sources:  "Sigma Chi Plan Luncheon," Indianapolis Star, November 28, 1913, 13; "Ella Weaver Heads Honors List at Butler," Indianapolis News, April 17, 1913, 4

I am indebted to Ginny Hingst, the granddaughter Howard C. Caldwell, Sr., for these images.

The Korblys of 425 North Audubon Road (1915-1973)

For fifty-eight years, a member of the Korbly dwelled in the lovely home at 425 North Audubon Road. Bernard and Margaret Crim Korbly purchased the house in 1915 from the Kendall family and lived there until their deaths in 1935 and 1942 respectively. Bernard, Jr. and his brother John were raised in the house. At least two different servants also dwelled with the Korblys including Verona Seng. Miss Sing remained with the Korblys for decades.

Upon Mrs. Korbly's passing in 1942, Bernard Jr. and John inherited the property. Bernard Jr. bought out his brother, but John did not move far away as he purchased a home at 5814 Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive.

In 1942, Bernard Korbly, Jr, a newly-practicing attorney, surprised his friends and family when he married seventeen-year-old Patareka Elfner at city hall on July 31, 1942. Indianapolis Mayor, Reginald Sullivan, conducted the service. The couple immediately set up housekeeping at 425 North Audubon Road.

Mr. Korbly was very active in the Democratic Party just like his father. In 1950, he won the Democratic primary for Superior Judge but lost during the general election. Mrs. Korbly stayed home and raised their two children, Bernard, Jr. (the third Bernard!) and Patareka also known as Pat.

Pat Korbly Dwyer and her cousin Margaret Korbly Scott have many fond memories of life at 425 North Audubon Road. Pat's Mom, Patareka, was very artistic and created beautiful tables and elegant dinners for guests. The home was decorated with antiques. Mrs. Korbly later operated an antique store near Irvington. The Korblys hosted large Christmas gatherings. On Christmas Eve, the Korbly clan gathered for a lobster dinner near a giant Christmas tree. Every room in the house was decorated or lit up with Christmas bulbs. On Christmas Day, Mrs. Korbly's family, the Elfners, would arrive.

Much of the furniture in the house had been passed down from the earlier Korblys who dwelled there. Large oriental rugs covered beautiful hardwood floors. In the winter, the home could be quite cool as not all of the windows were air-tight. One night, the family awoke to a large crash downstairs. Mr. Korbly grabbed his gun while the rest of the family stayed upstairs. He crept down and saw movement in the house so he raised his gun and fired. Upon investigation, the family was relieved to learn that a wind had blown open a door and it was the billowing curtains he had seen in the dark.

The Korblys attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church as did their housekeeper, Verona Seng. They were also active members of the Irvington Historical Society. In 1966, they hosted an ice cream social on their property to help raise funds for the organization.

In the next post, the artist Patareka Elfner Korbly will be featured.

Friends gathered at 425 N. Audubon on January 11, 1936: (left to right) Bernard Korbly, Jr., Tom Harrison holding "Judge," Bob Insley, John Korbly (image courtesy of Pat Dwyer)

Christmases were festive at the Korbly home at 425 North Audubon Road. In this image, snapped in 1957, Bernie, Pat, Patareka, and Bernard Korbly posed near their large Christmas tree. (image courtesy of Pat Dwyer)

Bernard and Paul Korbly inherited their family's cabin in Brown County, Indiana. They later sold it in the late 1940s. (image courtesy of Pat Dwyer)

Bernard and Patareka Elfner Korbly were married on July 31, 1942  (Indianapolis News, August 14, 1942)

Patareka and Bernard Korbly in 1966 (Image courtesy of Pat Dwyer)

In 1959, the Korblys considered selling their home at 425 North Audubon Road, but in the end they remained for another fourteen years. (Indianapolis Star, February 22, 1959)

425 North Audubon Road in 2018

Life Along Dewey Avenue

The Schweiters family dwelled in the bungalow at 6076 Dewey Avenue for decades. They raised their two daughters, Barbara and Dorothy, in the dwelling and the family watched as the city line near their home moved to the east as a result of the Marbar development. Photographs from the Deedee Davis collection reveal snapshots of life along the quiet street in the early 1940s.

Dorothy Schweiters looked on as her daughters, Barbara and Dorothy, posed along their front walk at 6076 Dewey Avenue in 1943.

Little Barbara Schweiters posed for this snapshot near an unidentified neighbor sometime during the winter of 1940. Behind the young girl, you can see the houses on the north side of Dewey Avenue looking towards Arlington Avenue. The Ricketts, Brennen, Spitzer, and Ashcroft families might have been home when this photo was taken of their front yards and porches. 

Little Barbara Schweiters of 6076 Dewey Avenue ran towards the photographer on a winter's day in 1940. Behind her, you can see the city line of Indianapolis and the open farmland beyond Sheridan Avenue. The Turk, Maloy, Harrison, and McVey families dwelled along the north side of Dewey Avenue and might have noticed the photography session. 

Irene Spitzer (6064 Dewey Avenue), Mary Jo Harding, Barbara Schweiters, and Dorothy Schweiters gathered for this photograph on September 19, 1944, in front of the Schweiters family home at 6076 Dewey Avenue.

Hugh Maloy--on the top step (6104 Dewey Avenue), Ann Shumaker, Dorothy Schweiters, and Barbara Schweiters gathered at 6076 Dewey Avenue in the winter of 1945.  

Barbara Schweiters stood in front of the family home at 6076 Dewey Avenue on February 7, 1943.

The Schweiters family home c1950 on a lovely summer's day....

The historic photographs and stories are courtesy of Deedee Davis. 

Growing Up Along Audubon Road

Thomas Richard or Dick Palmer was born in 1921 to Dr. Walter and Mary Fee Palmer. He spent his entire childhood at 333 North Audubon Road.  Dick was raised as an only child because his older brother died before his birth. He had no trouble finding playmates as there were several households in the area with children under ten years of age. Next door at 323 North Audubon Road dwelled little Nancy Ostrander and Eva Ham. Two doors down at 347 North Audubon Road resided Thomas Harrison, the youngest son of John and Elizabeth Harrison. Ruth Adams, the daughter of Henry and Pearl Adams lived across the street at 344 North Audubon Road. Other kids near his age like Bob Glass, Roger Schuck, and the Korbly brothers dwelled in the vicinity on Michigan Street, and along Lowell, Lesley, Graham, and Bolton Avenues. The Palmers, clearly very proud of their son, documented several key moments of his early life. You will see snapshots from his youth and scenes from the neighborhood in the following images.

Dick Palmer played with his toys on his front porch at 333 North Audubon Road in 1923.

Backyard fun:  Dick Palmer played in the backyard of his home at 333 North Audubon Road in 1922. 

Dick Palmer enjoyed the outdoors in the spring of 1922. Behind him, you can see the large Italianate home at 343 North Audubon Road. 

Dick Palmer on the front porch of his home at 333 North Audubon Road in 1923.

Mary Fee Palmer assisted her son Dick on her porch at 333 North Audubon Road in 1922.

333 North Audubon Road in 1922

333 North Audubon Road in 1923

The historic images are courtesy of Janet Chapman and Dick Palmer. 

Hearing Set for Developer Who Demolished Part of Historic Commercial Building

A row of brick Tudor-Revival storefronts have been partially destroyed by a developer who wants to put in a gas station and convenience store on the northwest corner of East 10th Street and Emerson Avenue.  Without proper permits, the owner of the property, Balwinder Singh, hired a contractor to knock down the building which has stood on the site since 1927.  Quick thinking neighbors called the city and received a stop work order, but the damage has clearly been done as most of the building has been removed.  Mr. Singh's plan will come before the Marion County Zoning Board of Appeals on December 9 at 1:00PM in the City County Building.  He will join a long list of previous developers who have knocked down part of Irvington's heritage.

The structure, which faced both 10th Street and Emerson Avenue housed a variety of local establishments throughout the years.  When the site first opened in 1927, Edward Orn operated a drug store at 5070 East 10th Street while J.R. Harrison ran a meat market at 1006 North Emerson Avenue.  Next door Mary Hitchcock managed a small bakery at 1008 and Ora Devore cut hair at 1010.  Lawrence Gloe dry-cleaned clothes at 1012 North Emerson Avenue.  By the 1990s, the building developed a negative reputation among the neighbors because of a strip club located inside 5068 East 10th Street.

With a little imagination, it is not hard to have envisioned what this corner could have looked like before the wreckers showed up.  Nearby, a Renaissance is taking place along the East Washington Street corridor.  The blond brick building with the beautiful green slate roof tiles could have been an ideal site for more amazing development.  Mr. Singh could have also looked at two other corners of this intersection and noticed that previous gas stations had been located on the northeast and southwest corners, but were closed by the 1990s.

Neighbors who have concerns about the gas station proposal should attend the meeting on December 9  or write to the Marion County Board of Zoning Appeals.

Closed Door:  1927 Commercial Building at 10th and Emerson has been partially destroyed

 Ghost of Tudor-Revival elements in the gables 

Beautiful green slate tiles untouched since 1927 fall near the sidewalk

Vacant Shell:  Most of the building at 5070 East 10th Street has been destroyed.