Scenes Along East Washington Street--1940s, Part I

      John and Janice Kern lived in the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street (later 5128) from 1942 until 1948. During that era they also welcomed a son named James R. Kern. Photos from the Kern family documented their life along that busy street. While the photographers generally captured people, they also inadvertently documented several houses and at least one business. Let's take a stroll down the 5100 block of Washington Street in 1947. 

5118-20 East Washington Street

     The Rahn family occupied both sides of the double at 5118-20 East Washington Street in 1947. Alf Rahn lived at 5118 while Lester and Mildred Rahn resided at 5120. Lester Rahn served as an assistant cashier for Indiana National Bank. He was a rising star in that organization and was still on his upward trajectory in 1947. If the Rahns looked out their living room window on a winter's day, they might have seen a young James Kern walking along the sidewalk. 

James R. Kern posed with his new toy in January of 1948. Behind him, you can see the double located at 5118-20 East Washington Street. 

James R. Kern took a tumble in January of 1948. You can see the corner of the Victoria Apartments at 5124 East Washington Street (later 5128) and the double located at 5118-20 East Washington Street.

Janice Wayman Kern posed along East Washington Street c1945. Behind her, you can see the sign for the Mobil Gas Station that used to operate at 5104 East Washington Street. You can also see the double at 5118-20 East Washington Street and the Victoria apartment building at 5124 (later 5128) East Washington Street. 

Two members of the Wayman-Kern families walked down the stairs leading to the Victoria Apartments at 5124 (later 5128) East Washington Street. You will note that there used to be an empty lot just to the west of the apartments. Construction of a brick double there later prompted city officials to renumber the Victoria Apartments to 5128 East Washington Street. You can also see the double at 5118-20 East Washington Street. 

5118-20 East Washington Street on November 1, 2024

5132-34 East Washington Street

     The double at 5132-34 East Washington Street appeared in numerous Kern family photos due to its proximity to the Victoria Apartments next door. The extended Warrick family resided at 5132. Brothers Harold C and Forrest E. along with their sister, Dorothy, and their widowed Aunt Cassie Rowlette all dwelled in the double in the late 1940s. The Warricks also rented a room to a young woman named Annatasia Corrington, who would later marry Harold Warrick.   

     Mrs. Mary C. O'Donnell, whose husband, Terrence J. had died suddenly in 1944, was the mother of seven children. She resided at 5134 East Washington Street in 1947. The O'Donnells were members of the nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. 

Three women from the Wayman-Kern family stood in the front yard of the Victoria Apartments c1945. The woman facing the camera is most likely Virginia Wayman. Behind the ladies, you can see the double at 5132-34 East Washington Street. 

Janice Wayman Kern held her baby, James R. Kern, on April 10, 1947, in front of the Victoria Apartments. Behind the pair, you can see the double located at 5132-34 East Washington Street. 

James R. Kern stood in front of his home at the Victoria Apartments in 1948. You can also see the double located at 5132-34 East Washington Street. 

John Wilbur Kern posed with his son, James R. Kern, in front of the Victoria Apartments in 1947. Behind them, you can see the double at 5132-34 East Washington Street. 

Sisters Janice Wayman Kern and Virginia Wayman, posed in the front yard of the Victoria Apartments c1945. Behind them, you can see the double at 5132-34 East Washington Street.

An unidentified woman stood in the front yard of the Victoria Apartments c1945. Behind her, you can see the double at 5132-34 East Washington Street. 

5132-34 East Washington Street on November 1, 2024

Next Up: Scenes Along East Washington Street, Part 2

Sources: Polk's Directory for Indianapolis, 1947; Rahn family--"Lester H. Rahn Rites Saturday," Indianapolis News, March 31, 1977, p. 3; Warrick family--US Federal Census, 1950; "Harold C. Warrick," obituary, Indianapolis Star, August 18, 1970, p. 25; O'Donnell family--"Awarded Bronze Star," Indianapolis Star, June 29, 1952, p. 17; Obituary for Terrence C. O'Donnell, Indianapolis Star, November 6, 1944, p. 13.

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.

War Correspondent Documented the Lives of Hoosier Soldiers

Leo and Emma Litz moved into their brand new home at 914 North Arlington Avenue in 1938. The veteran Indianapolis News reporter had spent much of his time covering Marion County politics. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the 51-year-old journalist temporarily left his wife and his home to cover the war in the Pacific.  His column in the Indianapolis News called "Report From the Pacific" documented the stories of Hoosiers who were fighting the Japanese. Mr. Litz likely had an affinity for veterans as he had fought in World War One and had witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors in 1919.

Much in the same light as fellow correspondent and Hoosier, Ernie Pyle, Mr. Litz sought to tell the everyday kinds of stories facing the troops.  He went out of his way to get as much information about the soldiers as he could including their addresses and family members.  He told of the mundane, the humorous, and the horrible.  After the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, Mr. Litz interviewed the airmen who discovered the wreckage site and their daring efforts to save as many men from the ocean as possible. After the defeat of the Japanese, he went into Tokyo with American troops.  There he saw how desperate the Japanese had become towards the end of the war with so little food available. He traveled down to Hiroshima to see the devastation of the atomic bomb and his vivid reporting helped his readers understand the power of that weapon.  Later he found himself in the hospital in Tokyo near the cot of General Tojo, who had tried to kill himself.  While in the hospital, a fellow Irvingtonian, Captain Joseph T. Farrell, 34, of 934 North Lesley Avenue attended to both Tojo and Mr. Litz.  The two neighbors must have had a joyful reunion and could easily walk over for coffee upon their return to the States.

After the war, Leo Litz returned to Irvington and wrote a book about his experiences in the Pacific called Report From the Pacific (1946).  He enlisted a friend by the name of J. Hugh O'Donnell to illustrated his narrative.  The volume is a treasure of stories about Indiana men and women who served in the Pacific during World War II.  The chronicle should be indexed at some point so that descendants may learn more about the work and bravery of their grandfathers and mothers.  A product of his time, Mr. Litz frequently referred to the Japanese in a derogatory manner, but towards the end of the book his tone is much more sympathetic after he sees their hardships and horrors.

Below you will see a photo of Mr. Litz in the Pacific.  I have also documented all of the Irvington houses and families he notes in the book.  Of course, there are hundreds of others mentioned from towns like Rushville to Bloomington to Huntington to Gary.  Mr. Litz clearly deserves the same honors and accolades as other correspondents who risked their lives during World War II in order to tell Americans the stories of their veterans.

Indianapolis News correspondent, Leo Litz (on the right), chatted with Bill Madigen of Veedersburg, Indiana on the island of Guam.  (Report From the Pacific, 14)

After World War II, Leo Litz came home to 914 North Arlington to pen Report From the Pacific in 1946. 

Leo and Emma Litz built 914 North Arlington Avenue in 1938 and dwelled here until 1948. They later moved to Hamilton County, Indiana to manage a dairy farm.  They retired to San Diego and spent the remainder of their lives there.  

Leo Litz documented Captain Joseph T. Farrell of 934 North Lesley Avenue in his book Report From the Pacific. Captain Farrell provided medical aid to Mr. Litz in Japan.  

Major Louis A. Aull dwelled at 938 North Ritter Avenue as the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Aull.  He fell in love with an Irvington girl, Martha Lou Matthews, of 966 North Graham Avenue, and married her before shipping out to the Pacific. While stationed in the tropics, Mr. Aull received the joyful news that his wife had given birth to their son.  Leo Litz documented this touching story in his book Report From the Pacific.  

At a stop in Honolulu, Leo Litz interviewed Specialist Ned Tilman who grew up at 970 North Campbell Avenue. Mr. Tilman had been a swimming star in his youth and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Tilman.  He held down a variety of jobs in the navy including his stint as a swimming instructor.

Towards the end of World War II, Leo Litz documented the departure of Hoosier veterans. Soldiers returning from Guam, Okinawa, Saipan, and other islands had to be processed at Pearl Harbor before going home.  This procedure could take several days.  While in the processing station, Mr. Litz interviewed Louis Townsend, 27, of 5617 Lowell Avenue. Mr. Townsend was anxious to get home to see his wife and children. He had not seen them in over two years.  

 Source:  Leo M. Litz, Report From the Pacific, Indianapolis, 1946.  All of the contemporary photos were taken on March 7, 2015.