Irvington and Hollywood

Floyd Whittenburg, the grandson of Jacob and Elizabeth Rubin, (352 Good Avenue) lived in a couple of Irvington homes including 356 Good Avenue. His mother Stella Rubin Whittenburg grew up at 352 Good Avenue. Floyd later moved to Hollywood, California where he worked in the film industry. In this image, he stands next to the actor Jimmy Stewart. Floyd fondly recalled his boyhood days in Irvington in the 1910s and 20s and at age 99 he shared his memories and some photos with Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart. This image is courtesy of Susan and Chris.

Small Pond--5825 Oak Avenue

In 1947, the Stout Family of 352 Good Avenue built a Goldfish Pond in the northwest corner of the their lot. In the top photo John Stout begins to break ground. In the bottom photo the crew has nearly completed it. In the bottom picture, you can see 5825 Oak Avenue. This late nineteenth-century Queen Anne home is one of the older houses in the area. In 1910, Fred Rubin, son of Jacob Rubin, lived in the house and operated a dry kiln on the property. I am not sure who lived here by 1947, but the home is beautifully maintained in 2011. These images are courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

352 Good Avenue--1947

It is always interesting to see how homes have changed over the years. The Stouts lived at 352 Good Avenue in the late 1940s. All of the photos presented today were taken in 1947 and 1948. Wilma and Andy Stout are pictured on the front porch. You may see an earlier photo of this house (1910) in a previous post. These images are courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

Stout Family--352 Good Avenue

The Rubin Family dwelled at 352 Good Avenue from 1909 to 1934. Several families lived in the home in the 1930s and 40s. In 1946, Febro Stout and his wife Elsie purchased the house and lived here until 1951. The Stouts hosted several extended family members after World War II because of the lack of housing in the Indianapolis area. They also added on to the home in 1948. Pictured in the photo on the left are Elsie Stout and her two daughters. In the photo on the right Wilma Stout poses with her new husband Arthur Kinnan around 1948. In the background of this photo you can see 5920 University Avenue. More photos from this family will be forthcoming. These images are courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

Jacob Rubin--Irvington resident

Jacob Rubin, an immigrant from Alsace-Lorraine, moved to Irvington in 1909 after building a large home at 352 Good Avenue. He seems to have followed his adult son Fred Rubin, who owned a home on Oak Avenue. As a young man, Rubin was a carpenter and fireman. In one particularly horrible fire in the 1880s in Indianapolis, Rubin was thought to have died. Although he escaped the blaze, he remained slightly disabled for the remainder of his life. After moving to Irvington, he helped to develop and build other homes along Good and Beechwood Avenues. He and his wife Elizabeth lived the rest of their lives in the house. This wonderful photo shows Jacob Rubin towards the end of his life perhaps in the 1920s or early 1930s sitting in his Good Avenue home. You may see a picture of Elizabeth Rubin and their home in a previous post. This image is courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.

Rubin Home

Alsace immigrant, Jacob Rubin and his wife Elizabeth Rubin, built this comfortable home located at 352 Good Avenue in 1909. This photograph depicts Mrs. Rubin shortly after the construction of the home. This picture will grace a book soon to be released by me titled Irvington in 1910: A Year in the Life of an Indianapolis Neighborhood. I will post details on to how obtain the book soon. Photo courtesy of Susan Gulde and Chris Capehart.