The Caldwells Move to Bosart Avenue

Benjamin and Martha Caldwell and their talented son, Howard, moved away from their home in Lewisville, Indiana to a brand new house at 30 North Bosart Avenue in 1911. Mr. Caldwell, a carpenter, built the Bosart Avenue home in the Dutch Colonial style. Howard had just graduated from the Spiceland Academy and enrolled at Butler University where he once again excelled. The east side of Indianapolis was booming in construction so Mr. Caldwell likely found plenty of work. The home remained an important part of the Caldwell family for over twenty five years.

30 North Bosart Avenue in 2019

In December of 1913 tragedy struck the Caldwell family when Benjamin took a job in Lewisville building a barn for A. R. McIlvaine. He developed a deep chest cold but kept on working. Eventually, the cold turned into pneumonia. The 47-year-old carpenter was not able to make it back to his Bosart Avenue home as he died on the family farm near Lewisville. Somehow, Martha Freeman Caldwell, his widow, was able to keep the Indianapolis home. Howard was a sophomore at Butler University at the time.

Benjamin Caldwell's obituary was carried in the National Road Traveler (Cambridge City) shortly after his death on December 17, 1913. His obituary stated that he "was a man of few words and attended strictly to his own business. The family and friends feel that they can truthfully say that no man could be more devoted to his family, could have no more love for the partner of his joys and sorrows, and could have no greater interest in the welfare of his home...His sympathy was always with those in distress and was manifested by acts of kindness and deeds of charity and benevolence." His funeral was described as the one the largest ever held in Lewisville, Indiana.  (obituary courtesy of Ginny Hingst) 

Bosart Avenue was actually not very far from the western edge of Butler University's campus on Emerson Avenue so Howard could easily walk or ride a bike to his classes. He joined the Sigma Chi fraternity and remained active with that organization for much of his life. At college, he was the sports editor for the Butler Collegian. Butler President, Thomas Carr Howe, threatened to expel him after the journalist exposed that the football team's partying the night before an important game contributed to a loss. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and Howard remained on campus. While at Butler University, he met Elsie Felt, who was the daughter of a prominent judge. Their courtship would eventually lead to marriage.

Martha Caldwell as a young widow likely focused her attentions on making sure that Howard graduated from Butler University. After his graduation in 1915, Howard continued to live in the Bosart Avenue home as he worked for a variety of publications including the Marion County Mail which he helped to publish along with his fellow classmate and fraternity brother, Joseph Ostrander.

Howard and Elsie married in 1918 and lived in Kokomo, Indiana where Mr. Caldwell had been working since 1917 for the Haynes Auto Company in the advertising department. His fraternity brother Halsey Keeling also worked there. Martha Caldwell seems to have rented out rooms or perhaps the entire Bosart Avenue home to James Hallet in 1919. By 1920, Howard and Elsie and their new baby, Martha Virginia, moved back to Indianapolis and lived with Mrs. Caldwell on Bosart Avenue.

While living with Mrs. Caldwell, Howard formed the Caldwell-Baker Advertising Agency in the 1920s. They also welcomed a second child in their lives, Howard Caldwell, Jr. in 1925.  Their Bosart Avenue days were numbered for the moment as the family moved to the Felt family residence at 64 North Irvington in 1926. Judge Edward Felt, the father of Elsie Felt Caldwell, died in a tragic accident at the house when he fell from a ladder. The Caldwells moved into the larger large home with Mrs. Felt and remained until 1930.

In 1930, the Caldwells dwelled in the Audubon Court Apartments, but the Great Depression had taken a toll on the country and Mr. Caldwell's advertising agency so they moved back into the Bosart Avenue home with Mrs. Caldwell in 1932. This allowed the family to save money for a down payment on their very own home at 81 N. Hawthorne Lane. Today, 30 North Bosart Avenue looks much like it did in 1911.

Elsie Felt Caldwell posed with her daughter Martha Virginia Caldwell in the backyard of 30 North Bosart Avenue c1919. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Little Howard Caldwell, Jr. posed in his backyard at 30 North Bosart Avenue in 1926. Behind him, you can see the rear of 34 North Bosart Avenue. The Binford family lived there at the time and became close friends with the Caldwells.  (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Howard Caldwell, Jr. in 1926 in the backyard of 30 North Bosart Avenue. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

The Caldwell family posed for this snapshot in 1932 in the backyard of 30 North Bosart Avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell had just moved from the Audubon Court Apartments back into his mother's home to help save money during the Great Depression. Behind the family, you can see the home at 26 North Bosart Avenue. Onias and Hattie Alford lived in that house at the time. Pictured:  Howard Caldwell, Sr, Martha Virginia Caldwell, Elsie Felt Caldwell and Howard Caldwell, Jr. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst)

Howard Caldwell, Jr. on the left posed with "Edward" in the front yard of 30 North Bosart Avenue in 1934. The fire hydrant behind the boys is still located in the same spot in 2019. (photo courtesy of Ginny Hingst) 

Sources:  On Benjamin Caldwell: Obituary, Knightstown Banner, December 19, 1913, 13; "Recalling School 57 and 'Schoolboy Crush,'" Indianapolis Prime Times, September 2003, 5; Early years of Howard Caldwell, Sr.: "Caldwell's Contribution Valuable to Profession," Indianapolis Prime Times, April 2003, 5; "Caldwell with Haynes," Indianapolis Star, August 12, 1917, 18

I am indebted to Ginny Hingst for her kindness in loaning me photos and stories of the Caldwell family.

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.