Showing posts with label Irving Ridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irving Ridge. Show all posts

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Thomas Newton White c1944

T. Newton White grew up on a farm on the northeast corner of East Tenth Street and Shadeland Avenue.  Most of his life, however, was spent in a small bungalow that he and his wife, Pearl, had constructed in 1915.  In fact, the Whites owned the cottage until the 1970s.  In this photo, taken c1944, Mr. White stood in front of his station wagon parked along East New York Street.  Behind him, you can see the upper story of 5026-28 East New York Street.  The Demaree and DeJeet families dwelled there in 1944.  Mr. White ran the Nichols Candy Company for years and later operated a candy brokerage firm. He also assisted his son-in-law during the 1940s by running Azbell Distributing Company (auto parts) while Mr. Azbell was away at war.  Another business adventure included the development of Irving Ridge, a subdivision along East 11th Street and Shadeland Avenue.  In 1953, at the age of 64 he began to have health problems.  He passed away three years later in 1956.  He is still fondly recalled by his granddaughter, Barbara Azbell Sanders.

T. Newton White stood in front of 5024 East New York Street c1944. Behind him, you can see the double at 5026-28 East New York Street.

5026-28 has been significantly altered over the years and is now shrouded in plastic siding, doors, and windows in 2014.  

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Reunion at the White Farm--1937

The White family had been farming the land on the northeast corner of East Tenth and Shadeland Avenue for one hundred years when this photo was snapped in 1937.  All around them, neighbors sold their properties to developers and speculators who saw opportunities near the thriving community of Irvington. The Whites eventually developed part of their farm and called it Irving Ridge.  They planted crops until the 1940s.  This is the last known photo of the farmstead as it would be torn down by the early1950s for development.

Family Gathering 1937:  (left to right) Mary Nichols White, Vivian Azbell, Virginia White, Pearl White, Fanny Settles, Thomas Newton White and "Duke"

Duke the family dog patrols the White home located at East 10th and Shadeland Avenue in 1937
The historic images are courtesy of Barbara Sanders.