Our Lady of Lourdes Cheerleaders--1956

In September of 1956, five young ladies from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School assembled in a backyard to practice for the most exciting football game of the year. Every autumn, the Catholic Youth Organization hosted a football jamboree on the west side of Indianapolis for all Catholic schools in grades six through eight. The local diocese owned land across from Bush Stadium on West 16th Street so that local Catholic high schools could have a "home" field.

Lynda Foster (820 North Layman Avenue), Terry McDonnell (419 North Bancroft Street), Judy Lindeman (5234 East Michigan Street), Mary McDavitt (655 North Ritter Avenue), and Katy Grothaus (340 North Ritter Avenue) all worked very hard for the big day. Terry McDonell Wilgus Knisely recalls that one of the most exciting moments came when the parade of teams began and the cheerleaders rode in the back of a convertible waving their school colors of blue and gold as Our Lady of Lourdes families cheered along. Each young lady then walked across a small stage as their name was called over the loudspeaker. Teams from schools like Little Flower, St. Joan of Arc, Christ the King, St. Patricks, Holy Spirit, and numerous others would scrimmage for about ten minutes. Teams who scored could have bragging rights the next day.

All five girls faced a big decision that year as they would have to decide where they would go to high school. Lynda Foster, Terry McDonnell, and Judy Lindeman chose Scecina High School while Mary McDavitt selected Our Lady of Grace in Beech Grove. The Grothaus family moved to Mississippi so Katy attended a high school there. The young women had no inkling on that autumn day in 1956 that they would not all be together again in one room for fifty years! They reunited at an Our Lady of Lourdes class reunion in 2007 at DuFour's Restaurant in Irvington and three of them gathered to pose for a photograph. 

The photographs and the memories of this day are courtesy of Terry McDonnell Wilgus Knisely.

Our Lady of Lourdes Cheerleaders posed in the backyard of the McDavitt family at 655 North Ritter Avenue in September of 1956.  Pictured from left to right: Lynda Foster, Terry McDonnell, Judy Lindeman, Mary McDavitt and Katy Grothaus

Our Lady of Lourdes Reunion Photo in 2007. Pictured left to right: Katy Grothaus Boeding, Judy Lindeman Johns, Terry McDonnell Wilgus Knisely  

The Lindeman Cottage on Michigan Street

Dr. Robert and Mary Margaret Blottman Lindeman moved into their brand new brick cottage at 5234 East Michigan Street in 1938.  The young couple situated the front door to face Michigan Street, but placed a side porch and entrance along Ellenberger Parkway West Drive.  Giant picture windows on the eastern facade of the dwelling allowed them to see Ellenberger Park.  They built a matching and tasteful brick detached garage in the backyard.  The couple had three children and remained in the house for the next several decades.  Dr. Lindeman served as dentist on the east side for over 46 years with offices along East Tenth Street.

Mary Ann Lindeman posed next to Santa in December of 1939. If you look closely you can see that the mail slot had recently been placed into the front door as you can see the ghosts of the numbers 5234 around the slot.  The Lindemans dwelled at 5234 East Michigan Street for many decades. You can also see the side of 5232 East Michigan Street.

The Lindeman cottage at 5234 East Michigan Street in 2015.  The front door has no porch, but serves as the official entrance to the home.  Clearly, the lovely side porch serves as the real entrance to the home.

5234 East Michigan Street in 2015.  Note the matching brick garage in the rear of the backyard.  The Lindemans likely planted the lovely magnolia tree in the front yard.  

The historic image is courtesy of Diana Kelly.  

Lost Irvington: 216-18 Ohmer Avenue

Ever wonder what used to be where many of our parking lots are today?  Houses close to businesses, lodges, churches, schools, and other institutions have often been demolished as the need for more parking has grown.

Such is the case for today's profile.  This early twentieth-century residence used to sit on the northwest corner of Downey and Ohmer Avenues. (216-18 Ohmer Avenue)  Its location near the former Butler University campus made it an ideal location for renters and boarders over the years.  It sat across the street from the headquarters for the Disciples of Christ.  That fact, would in the end, spell the doom of the historic home because the Disciples tore it down for more parking.

It was first built as a single family residence. Professor Richard B. Moore and his family dwelled at 216 Ohmer Avenue in the early twentieth century.  Later it appears to have been turned into a duplex.  In this photo, taken in 1947, Johnny Lindeman poses in front of his childhood home.  The Lindemans dwelled in 218 while Mr. and Mrs. Earl Deeter lived at 216 Ohmer.  This historic image is courtesy of Sue Thompson.  The contemporary image was shot in the winter of 2012.

216-218 Ohmer Avenue in 1947--Young Johnny Lindeman

The same view in 2012.