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.

1940s-Era Snapshots From the Victoria Apartments on East Washington Street

      In the spring of 1928, contractors for the Southern Building Corporation began construction on two brick apartment buildings in the 5100 block of East Washington Street.  Developers called one of the structures the "Muriel" and the other unit, the "Victoria." Both have housed dozens of Irvington residents over the decades. 

     Twelve years after the Victoria opened its doors, sixty-one-year-old Floy Barnard Wayman and two of her adult daughters, Virginia and Janice, moved into unit number 3 in 1940. Mrs. Wayman, a divorcee, had worked for her entire adult life, and took the position as the manager of the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street. (later renumbered as 5128) Her daughter Virginia worked as a teacher while Janice was employed as a stenographer. They paid $45 dollars in rent. 

     Life changed for the women when twenty-four-year-old Janice Wayman married John Wilbur Kern at the Irvington Presbyterian Church on May 16, 1942. The young couple moved into Unit No. 1 of the Victoria where they remained until after World War II. Their first child James R. Kern arrived on September 3, 1946. The family documented little "Jimmy" in several photos around the Victoria. Sadness overtook the Waymans and Kerns in 1949 with the passing of Floy Barnard Wayman at the age of 70. By the end of the decade, none of the family remained in the apartments. 

The bridesmaids for Janice Wayman gathered in front of the Victoria at 5124 East Washington Street (later numbered as 5128) on May 16, 1942. She married John W. Kern at the Irvington Presbyterian Church. Pictured (left to right): Alice Wayman Trent (her sister), Charlotte Bullerman (sister-in-law), Virginia Wayman (sister), Randalyn Kern (sister-in-law), Frances Beale Kern (sister-in-law)

Floy Barnard Wayman not only lived in the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street (later 5128), but she also managed the building. This photo was likely snapped c1945 in front of the building. 

Janice Wayman and John Wilbur Kern posed for this photo in March of 1942 in front of the Victoria Apartments in Irvington. They married two months later. 

John Wilbur Kern posed in front of the Victoria Apartments (currently 5128 East Washington Street) where his fiancee, Janice Wayman lived with her mother and her sister in 1942. 

Little James R. "Jimmy" Kern rode his tricycle in front of the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street (now 5128) in 1947. 

Janice Wayman Kern posed possibly with two nieces in 1947 in front of the Victoria Apartments in Irvington. 

John Kern posed with his fiancee, Janice Wayman inside her mother's apartment at the Victoria. (current address is 5128 East Washington Street)

An unidentified Wayman or Kern family member reads a "picture book" inside Floy Barnard Wayman's apartment at the Victoria in Irvington in 1942. 

Virginia Wayman held her nephew, James R. Kern, in 1947 on the steps leading up the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street. (now 5128)

Virginia Wayman (left) posed with her sister, Janice Wayman Kern, and another unidentified women in front of the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street (currently 5128) c1949. Behind the women, you can also see the double located at 5132-34 East Washington Street. 

The Victoria Apartments at 5128 East Washington Street (formerly 5124) on November 1, 2024.

Next Up: Scenes Along East Washington Street

Sources:  1940 and 1950 Federal Census; Polk's Indianapolis City Directories; Information on the Victoria and Muriel: "Increase Shown in Realty Sales," Indianapolis Star, May 6, 1928, p. 36; "Activity Marks Realty Market," May 20, 1928, p. 12; Marriage--"Janice Wayman Becomes a Bride," Indianapolis News, May 16, 1942, p. 14.

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.