Scenes Along East Washington Street--Part II

     John W. and Janice Kern resided in the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street (later numbered as 5128) from 1942 until 1948. Family snapshots show several East Washington Street scenes. Most of the shots were taken in 1947. The couple later moved north of Irvington to 3550 North Riley Avenue where they remained for decades. 

5136-38, 5140 (Muriel Apartments), 5148-50, and 5206-08 East Washington Street

     In the center of the photographs below, you will see the Muriel Apartments. First constructed in 1928, the two-story brick structure was at capacity in 1947. There was still a housing shortage in the US leftover from the Great Depression and World War II so the landlord of the Muriel or of the nearby duplexes had no trouble finding renters. 

Janice Wayman Kern (on the right) posed with an unidentified woman c1947 along East Washington Street. Behind the ladies, you can see the duplex at 5136-38 East Washington Street; the Muriel Apartments at 5140 East Washington; and the second story of the double located at 5148-50 East Washington Street. 

An unidentified woman posed with her 1941 Ford Super Deluxe c1947. Behind her you can see the properties located at 5136-38, 5140, 5148-50, and 5206-08 East Washington Street. 

5117 East Washington Street

     The beautiful American Four Square at 5117 East Washington Street first appeared in Irvington in 1918. A writer for the Indianapolis Star noted that Charles Edgar Bates designed the residence for John Larrison. Mr. Bates used "variegated" red brick on the outside and red tile for the roof. Inside, he designed a brick fireplace flanked by built-in bookcases. He added exposed wooden beams into the dining room ceiling for a "Flemish effect." Family members walked up and down an ornamental staircase. 

     By 1947, Francis and Anna Wilhelm resided at 5117 East Washington Street. Mr. Wilhelm, a builder, had already made a name for himself in the state of Indiana. He would later go on to build many iconic structures like the Expo Center in Indianapolis, the Music and Arts Center at Indiana University, the Chemistry building at Purdue University, and dozens of  Catholic schools. His firm was only nine years old when Mrs. Wayman posed for the photograph below. 

Floy Barnard Wayman, the manager of the Victoria Apartments on East Washington Street, stood along the sidewalk c1947. Behind her, you can see the residence at 5117 East Washington Street. The Wilhelms lived in the house at the time. 

5117 East Washington Street on November 1, 2024

5129 East Washington Street: Texaco Service Station

     George B. Keller operated the Texaco Service Station on the southeast corner of East Washington Street and Spencer Avenues. He also owned another nearby gas station at Arlington Avenue and Washington Street. The business made the headlines in 1943 when burglars broke into the building at night and stole gas ration coupons, cash, and a cigarette vending machine.  Mr. Keller owned this particular station until 1972. 

Janice Wayman Kern stood in the front yard of the Victoria Apartments in 1947. Behind her, you can see the former Texaco Service Station at 5129 East Washington Street and the west side of the LaMae Apartments at 5143 Street. 

Three unidentified people stood on the sidewalk leading to the Victoria Apartments. Behind the group, you can see the service station located at 5129 East Washington Street. That building was later torn down for a restaurant. 

5129 and 5143 East Washington Street on November 1, 2024

5143 East Washington Street: The LaMae Apartments

     The LaMae Apartments (now called Irvington Villas) located at 5143 East Washington Street opened in the fall of 1927. Builder and designer, John H. Larrison, held an open house on November 27, 1927, so that potential renters could tour the eight units. Twenty one years later, the building still looked much the same as it did in the roaring 20s. The LaMae appeared in several Wayman-Kern family photos from the late 1940s. 

Little James ("Jimmy") R. Kern rode his tricycle along East Washington Street in 1947. Behind him you can see the LaMae Apartments at 5143 East Washington. 

An unidentified girl held James R. Kern's hand on October 4, 1947. Behind the kids you can see the LaMae Apartments at 5143 East Washington Street. 

Janice, John, and James Kern sat on a bench at the Victoria Apartments while an unidentified young girl stood nearby on October 4, 1947. If you look closely, you can also see the duplexes located at 5201-03 and 5205-07 East Washington Street. 

Sources:  5117 E. Washington St.--"New Residence on the East Side Is a Model For Attractiveness," Indianapolis Star, February 2, 1919, p.32; Wilhelm family--"Francis Wilhelm of Building Firm Dies," Indianapolis News, December 6, 1976. p. 17; Texaco Gas Station--"George B. Keller" (obituary), Indianapolis News, April 18, 1989, p. 34; "Filling Station Robbed," Indianapolis Star, November 29, 1943, p. 18; LaMae Apartments--"Apartments Shown Today," Indianapolis Star, November 27, 1927, p. 35.

A Note About the Photos: I found these images in an antique shop in Indianapolis. I would be happy to donate these photos back to a family member. Contact me on the email listed on this page.

Milroy Family Moved to Irvington

      For the first twenty-five years of their marriage, Russell and Leona Harton resided in the village of Milroy in southern Rush County. They also raised their two children, James (Jim) and Marilyn there. Mr. Harton worked for the highway department. During World War II, International Harvester, a factory located on Brookville Road in Indianapolis, desperately needed workers as many young men were off fighting in the war. The plant likely paid much better than the Rush County Highway Department where Mr. Harton had been employed. While he likely started working at the factory in 1943, the family did not permanently relocate to Indianapolis until three years later. 

     On March 23, 1946, the middle-aged couple and their seventeen-year-old daughter Marilyn moved to a double at 132 Good Avenue in Irvington. Their son James was away at Indiana University, but came home and stayed with them whenever he was on break. Mr. Harton now had a very easy commute to the factory. He also lived near other neighbors who worked at International Harvester.  Ralph Law, who resided on the other side of the double at 130 Good Avenue worked at the plant as did James Lowery, who dwelled across the street in a double at 123 Good Avenue. 

     Most of the homes along the 100 block of Good Avenue were built between 1921 and 1925. By 1947, only one couple, Edwin F.  and Sarah M. Lay still remained from the 1920s. There was a housing shortage in the United States and in Indianapolis following World War II so the Hartons might have received a tip about the available double from either Ralph Law or James Lowery. It would not have been a quiet street as the Pennsylvania Rail line, a double track, was only one house away. Just across the tracks at 203 Good Avenue, the Hartons could view the Bruckman Ice and Fuel Company from their front porch. It had a coal yard. Their new life in Indianapolis would be very different from the old one in Milroy. They didn't stay in the small duplex for long however as the Hartons soon rented a nineteenth-century cottage located at 220 South Ritter Avenue in 1948. 

Ralph Law (left) chatted with his new neighbor and co-worker, Russell Harton.  Mr. Law and his wife, Mildred lived at 130 Good Avenue in 1946. Behind the men, you can see the bungalows located at 109 (far left), 115 and 117 Good Avenue. The Moorman, Green, and Agnew families resided in those homes in 1946. (photo courtesy of Tom Harton)

The Harton family moved from Milroy, Indiana to 132 Good Avenue on March 23, 1946. Russell Harton worked for International Harvester. Behind him, you can see the bungalow at 117 Good Avenue (left) and part of the double located at 123-25 Good Avenue. (photo courtesy of Tom Harton)

Marilyn Harton of 132 Good Avenue stood near the family automobile in 1946. The seventeen-year-old youth transferred from Milroy High School to Howe High School during her junior year and graduated from Howe in 1947. Behind her, you can see the Agnew home located 117 Good Avenue. 

James (Jim) Harton stood on the front porch of his family's new home at the double located at 130-32 Good Avenue in March of 1946. He was away at Indiana University when his parents made the decision to move from Milroy, Indiana to Irvington. (photo courtesy of Tom Harton)

Shortly after the Hartons moved to Good Avenue, their cousins, the Foysts of New Castle, Indiana came for a visit in 1946. The most visible home in the photo is 117 Good Avenue. Pictured; Joe Foyst, Jim Harton, Marilyn Harton, Mary Ann Foyst, and Martha Lee Foyst (photo courtesy of Tom Harton)

Marilyn Harton of 132 Good Avenue chats with Maria Keller, whose family lived at 136 Good Avenue in May of 1946. Mickey, the Harton family dog, was still getting used to his new home in Irvington as he started life in Milroy, Indiana. Behind the young women, you can see part of 117 Good Avenue and most of the double located at 123-125 Good Avenue. (photo courtesy of Tom Harton)

Butch, the Harton family cat, examines his new home at 132 Good Avenue in Irvington in 1946. The Hartons of Milroy, Indiana had recently moved into the double and brought their pets with them. (photo courtesy of Tom Harton)

     I wish to thank Tom Harton and Marilyn Clarkson for both the photos and stories about the Hartons. I also wish to thank Anne Hardwick. 

Irvington Historical Society

Sources: Good Avenue families:  Polk's Indianapolis City Directories for 1924 and 1947; Move from Milroy to Irvington--Harton family e-mails and "Milroy," Rushville Republican, March 26, 1946; The Rushville Republican documented many events in the lives of the Harton and Thomas families.