Dewey Avenue Home on a Wintery Day c1958

Charles Rich and Verla Goodwin Rich dwelled at 5936 Oak Avenue through much of the 1950s and into the early 1960s. They had one son, Dick, who graduated from Howe High School in 1957. Mr. Rich worked as a lathe operator for the International Harvester plant on Brookville Road.

In the historic photo, Verla Rich documented Charles as he shoveled the snow for the Perkins family who lived at 5925 Dewey Avenue. Harold and Lulu Perkins, both quite elderly by the 1950s, resided behind the Rich family. The couple had owned the property since 1921. City directory research indicates that the house had been converted into apartments as early as the 1920s. Mr. Perkins filed for a permit in 1944 to turn the place into an apartment building, but it is unclear if he planned to tear down the current structure or add more units into the existing home. (Indianapolis Star, July 18, 1944, 14)

The connection to the Perkins and Rich family is unknown at this time, but by 1963 the Rich family had moved away from their Oak Avenue home.

Charles F. Rich in front of the Harry and Lulu Perkins home at 5925 Dewey Avenue c1958

The historic photo and information about the Rich family is courtesy of Carol Yeager. 

Snowfall Along Julian Avenue--1937

In the winter of 1937, Mary Stevenson of 56 South Irvington Avenue peered out her window and noticed a beautiful scene as snow had just fallen. She grabbed her camera and went out onto the front porch and snapped one photo.  Then she ventured out into her yard and took another.  In the top photo, a young boy can be seen in front of 5451 Julian Avenue.  It is possible that it might have been five-year-old Harry Fox, Jr. who dwelled in that house.  His father, Harry Fox, Sr., was Vice President of Fox Optical Company.  His mother Mabel stayed home and raised his other siblings, Mary Ellen, Dorothy,  Anna, Jane, and Joan.   Next door at 5457 Julian Avenue dwelled  his elderly neighbors, Edgar and Harriett Perkins.  Mr. Perkins still served as a judge although he was old enough to retire. You can also see the rear of the homes along South Ritter Avenue.

In the second photo, Mrs. Stevenson aimed her camera at the back of IPS #57.  Were children in session on that day or did she take the photo on a weekend? The home at the far left was a double at 25-27 South Irvington Avenue.  Verner E. Sprouse lived on one side while Bernard and Mary Callon dwelled on the other.

Beautiful Snow:  Mary Stevenson snapped this photo from her home at 56 South Irvington Avenue of the 5400 block of Julian Avenue in the winter of 1937.  

The rear of IPS #57 and part of 25-27 South Irvington Avenue can be seen in this photo snapped by Mary Stevenson (56 South Irvington Avenue) in the winter of 1937.  

The historic images are courtesy of Ted Lollis.  

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.

Vibrant Color Photo Along Hawthorne Lane--1959

This candid and vibrant colorful photograph was taken of "Frank and Mamie" on their anniversary in 1959.  The photographer is standing in the front yard at 25 N. Hawthorne Lane and is facing west.  Behind the couple, you can see 22 N. Hawthorne Lane.  This is the kind of photograph that you can stare at for quite sometime because there is so much detail.  Notice the amazing cars parked along the street for the celebration.  Thomas F. Daily and his wife Mary dwelled at 25 N. Hawthorne Lane in 1959. Mr. Daily worked for the Indianapolis Police Department.  The white house (22 N. Hawthorne Lane) across the street from the Dailys looks very similar in 2013 although the porch columns have been changed and the home has been clad with vinyl.  This historic image is courtesy of the descendants of the Daily family via Ancestry.com.

22 North Hawthorne Lane in 1959