Audubon Court--c1954

The Audubon Court (5703 East Washington Street) opened as the first apartment building in Irvington in 1914. The elegant rentals offered two and three bedroom apartments to families and retirees.  Camillus "Butch" and Edna Rohyan moved into Audubon Court sometime in the early 1940s.  They had previously lived in Fort Wayne and at 123 South Butler Avenue where they rented a home to raise their six children.  With all of the children out of the house, the couple moved into "Number 8" at Audubon Court.  Mr. Rohyan, a former athlete and professional football player, worked for years as an engineer foreman for the Pennsylvania Railroad.  Both his father and brothers worked for the rail company as well.  In his younger years, he played football with the Knute Rockne.  Mr. Rohyan died suddenly in 1952 at the age of 62.  His widow continued to dwell at the Audubon Court for many more years.  Her children and grandchildren frequently visited her and documented their time with these wonderful photographs taken around 1954.  In the top photo, Mrs Rohyan stood in the courtyard with her daughters, Phyllis and Jeanne. Note the tiled shingles still present on the roof of the building.  In the second photo, the family gathered on the south side of the west structure.  Pictured were Edna, Jeanne, and Mary Rohyans, along with Irene Gordon, and Phyllis Rohyans.  A new puppy also posed for the photographer!  Contemporary views show "Number 8" along with the courtyard on a snowy day on March 2, 2014.  The final contemporary shot was taken in the middle of a snowstorm, but provides a view of where the women stood c1954.  The historic images and stories are courtesy of the descendants of the Rohyan family via Ancestry.com.

Phyllis, Edna, and Jeanne Rohyans in the courtyard of Audubon Court (5703 East Washington Street) c1954

Camillus "Butch" and Edna Rohyan c1950

Rohyan Women:  Edna, Jeanne, Irene, Mary, and Phyllis along the south side of the west building of the Audubon Court (5703 East Washington Street)  c1954

"Number 8" of Audubon Court (5703 East Washington Street) on March 2, 2014

Courtyard of Audubon Court on March 2, 2014

South side of west building of Audubon Court on March 2, 2014

Our Lady of Lourdes Eighth Grade Graduation--1940

Members of the graduating class of 1940 from Our Lady of Lourdes School gathered on the steps of the former church building for this photo taken by Charles J. Bell. Monsignor Michael Lyons sat among the children in the first row. The parish would later name a gymnasium after him.  The only identified student at this time in the photo is Phyllis Rohyans who is the third girl from the right in the third row. If you recognize anyone else in this photo then drop me an e-mail at williamfranklingulde@gmail.com and I will add their name!  The church in the photo was nearing its time on this planet as the last mass held here occurred on June 15, 1941.  The congregation built a newer and larger structure just to the east of this one.

The historic image is courtesy of the Rohyan family via Ancestry.com.