Morris Family Dwelled Along Johnson Avenue

Ernest and Grace Mitchell Morris had grown up together near New Salem in Rush County, Indiana. Deciding that the life of a farmer was not for him, Ernest moved to Indianapolis and in 1896 became one of the founders of the Indianapolis Engraving Company. In 1909, he married his childhood sweetheart, Grace Mitchell, and they lived in a variety of locations before moving into the Arts and Crafts residence at 20 Johnson Avenue in 1921.

While Mr. Morris went to work at his office in downtown Indianapolis, Mrs. Morris stayed home with their two sons, Edgar and Maynard.  Tragedy visited the family in October of 1925, when fourteen-year-old Edgar came down with the polio virus. He was attended to by Dr. Oliver C. Neier, but the virus was too aggressive. Edgar Morris died on October 12, 1925, two days before the couple's sixteenth wedding anniversary. The teen had been named for his grandfather in Rush County. The Rushville Republican reported that the family was in complete shock over the suddenness of his passing.

For unknown reasons, the Morris family decided to leave Irvington and move to the north side of Indianapolis in 1926. They sold their home to Dr. Oliver Neier, the very man who had attempted to aid their son during his illness.  Mr. Morris died in 1956 at the age of 71. He was still associated with the Indianapolis Engraving Company at the time. Mrs. Morris lived until 1967.  Their only surviving son, Maynard, died suddenly in 1970 at the age of 50.

Ernest Morris as pictured in Fellow Citizens of Indianapolis in 1926

20 Johnson Avenue in 2017

Sources:  "Engraving Official Dies," Rushville Republican, July 9, 1956; "Boy Dies Suddenly," Rushville Republican, October 12, 1925, 1; "Engravers Saw 500 Hundred Mile Race Paved Way for Color Work," Indianapolis Star, May 26, 1946, 40.

Lost Irvington--Wilson's Drug Store

In 1946, two buddies, Leland Dickerson (818 North Arlington Avenue) and Curly "the Mouse" Morris (831 North Campbell Avenue), arrived home after completing their tour of duty in the U.S. Navy during World War Two, when Lee Dickerson snapped this photo of his friend Curly Morris.  It appears that Mr. Morris might have been purchasing a pack of cigarettes.  Behind him, you can see the former Wilson's Drug Store at 6128 East Washington Street.  This building is long gone and is the site of a parking lot in 2014.

Robert (Curly the Mouse) Morris leaves the Wilson Drug Store at 6128 East Washington Street in 1946

Sailors Reunite Along Lowell Avenue in 1943

Three childhood friends, Harry Perkins, Leland Dickerson, and Robert Morris, joyfully gathered in February of 1943 at the home of the Perkins family.  All three had joined the U.S. Navy after the start of World War II.  Harry and Leland both attained the status of Second Class Aviation Machinist Mate although they had been separated by thousands of miles during the war.  Harry patrolled the Caribbean Sea looking for enemy subs while Leland patrolled the Pacific coast near Astoria, Oregon.  Leland (or Lee) once called out that he saw an enemy sub, but was quickly informed by his crew that the sub was, in fact, a whale.  Robert Morris also known as Curly the Mouse Morris,  (No one knows how he obtained either nickname.) was classified as Seaman First Class.  He spent time on an aircraft carrier in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

In February of 1943, they gathered along Lowell Avenue with snow melting at their feet. One can only imagine the stories they had to tell.  All three returned to their posts shortly after these photos were snapped.  Harry was later informed that his division was being taken over by the marine corp.  He then went through extensive training for a possible invasion of Japan.  Leland applied to get on the U.S.S. Indianapolis as he longed to be on a heavy cruiser.  There were no openings and as fate would have it, that ship met a terrible end after being torpedoed and sinking into shark-infested waters.  Curly the Mouse sailed through the Panama Canal and spent time in many interesting ports.

Thankfully, all three returned home at the end of the war.  Harry finished his degree at Purdue University.  He married and moved to Decatur, Illinois where he helped to build a nuclear power plant.  Leland came home to Indianapolis and married an Irvington girl, Anna Belle York (121 South Berry Avenue).  He graduated from Butler University and worked for Western Electric for decades.  Curly the Mouse Morris married and lived on a plot of land near Mooresville, Indiana.  He worked for the U.S. Post Office delivering special packages.  Both Harry and Curly have since passed away.

The Images:

Harry Perkins, Leland Dickerson, and Robert Morris gathered for a photo in mid-February 1943 in the 5800 block of Lowell Avenue.

Best friends:  Harry Perkins and Leland Dickerson home on leave gathered in early February  1943 in the 5800 block of Lowell Avenue.

Curly Morris, Harry Perkins, and Leland Dickerson posed for this photo in February of 1943. Behind them, you can see the home at 5850 Lowell Avenue.  

The images and stories for this post are courtesy of Leland Dickerson.

Life at the Dickerson Home

J. Earl and Esther Dickerson built their dream home at 818 North Arlington Avenue atop a hill overlooking the Pleasant Run Golf Course in 1937.  Their four kids certainly enjoyed the new home. Leland Dickerson, the second child of the couple, became an expert golfer and caddied for many local Irvingtonians.  Mr. Dickerson enjoyed working in his yard.  He planted an amazing garden in the sunny backyard.  The following images span three decades of life at the home and mostly involve  the Dickerson brothers. The historic images are courtesy of Leland Dickerson.

Leland Dickerson posed in 1938 in front of his home at 818 North Arlington Avenue.  Note the beautiful rounded door behind him.  

Robert Dickerson, a bookish young boy, posed for this photo in 1938.  He is standing near the rear of his home at 818 North Arlington Avenue.  Sadly, he would be killed at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.

Calvin Blue Coates (6045 East St. Joseph Street) and Curly Morris (831 N. Campbell Avenue) posed for this photo at 818 N. Arlington in 1938.  Both young men would serve in the US Navy during WWII.  Sadly, Calvin Coates was killed in action.   

Snowy Day:  The Dickersons at 818 North Arlington Avenue used this photo for their Christmas card in 1948.

Halloween in 1964 at 818 North Arlington Avenue.  Mr. Dickerson planted many native species along the hillside.