Butler University Visible in Family Photo--1936

The students and faculty of Butler University had been gone for seven years by the time the Bailey family posed for this photo in 1936.  Willa Sammis Bailey and her children David and Mildred gathered at the Sammis home (her parents' home) at 256 South Emerson Avenue.  Although they are the subject of this photo, the ghostly image of the abandoned campus stands behind them.  Within four years, most of the campus would be demolished for housing.

Willa, David, and Milred Bailey gathered for a photo at 256 South Emerson Avenue in 1936.  Behind them, you can see Butler University's Irvington campus.  

I am especially grateful to David Bailey, a regular contributor to this blog, who keeps finding these amazing shots from his family collection.  To learn more about this family or to see other images of the campus click on the links provided below.

The Johnson Family of 252 South Emerson Avenue

Some Irvington families dwelled in the same house for decades.  Harry P. and Mabel E. Johnson of 252 South Emerson would be among that group.  The Johnsons moved into their modest home across from the Butler campus in 1916 and remained for many years. Mr. Johnson was a postal carrier much like his neighbor Charles Sammis (256 S. Emerson).  In fact, the 1930 Census reveals that several postal clerks lived in the vicinity.  Mrs. Johnson remained at home and raised the couple's daughter, Maxine, who was born in 1920.  How many of us dwell in homes that still bear the names of previous occupants?  It is likely that many along Emerson referred to 252 as the "Johnson Home" long after their departure.

Mabel Johnson holds her daughter Maxine in 1921.  The Johnsons dwelled at 252 S. Emerson Avenue

Along Emerson Avenue:  The Sammis Home (256 S) and the Johnson Home (252 S.) are the first two homes pictured.  This photo was likely taken around 1916.

In the top photo, likely taken in 1921,  Mabel Johnson holds her daughter Maxine.  The other child identified on the photo is "Emma Jean."  We are still trying to sort out who she might belong to.  The photo was taken on the front porch of either 256 or 252 S. Emerson. (I am leaning towards 252!)  Both of the houses had similar porches and the same number of steps!  In the second photo, taken around 1916, you can see the Johnson home.  It is second house from the left with the large hipped roof.  I have also included a photo of the home 2013.  The front porch has been changed and vinyl siding now covers the historic clapboard, but the original windows remain intact.

This 2013 photo shows 252 S. Emerson Avenue on a gray wintry day.  

The historic photographs are courtesy of David Bailey.

Abandoned Butler University Campus--1936

Charles and Myrtle Sammis built their dream home at 256 South Emerson Avenue across from Butler University's campus in 1908.  The couple raised their two children in the home and likely never envisioned that one day the college would leave Irvington.  In 1928, officials closed the Irvington location and moved north to the Fairview campus. Throughout the 1930s, the neighborhood suffered two insults with the combination of the loss of this important neighborhood institution and with the arrival of the Great Depression.  It would be a double hit to the community.  During this turbulent time, the college did little with the remaining structures now plagued by vandalism and decay. While the adults in the neighborhood lamented on the poor maintenance of the abandoned structures, nearby children found an entirely new playground!

David and Mildred Bailey frequently visited their grandparents at 256 South Emerson and spent some quality time roaming the grounds of the now ghostly quiet campus.  Mr. Bailey remembered that many of the windows had been broken out and the once manicured lawns became weed-choked.  He chuckled, nearly 75 years after playing on the campus, that he managed to acquire a "good case of poison ivy" from his time there.

By the late 1930s, Butler officials tore down most of the buildings and sold off the land for housing.  In 1941, David and sister Mildred moved into 256 South Emerson with their grandparents and watched as developers built brick apartments on the site of the old campus.

In this incredible photograph, likely taken in 1936, the Sammis-Bailey family posed for a photograph.  Although they are the subject of the picture, behind them you can see two abandoned Butler buildings. You will even note a cupola over the shoulder of the ladies in the image.  Pictured in the photo from left to right are:  Willa Sammis Bailey, Myrtle Shimer Sammis, and Charles Sammis.  The two children are Mildred and David Bailey. The contemporary shot shows the exact view in 2013.  The historic photo and stories are courtesy of David Bailey.

Charles Sammis and Babe the Horse

Charles and Myrtle Sammis built their dream home at 256 South Emerson Avenue in 1908.  Mr. Sammis worked for the Post Office as a substitute carrier.  Each day he would report to work at the central office in downtown Indianapolis to see who was absent for the day and then he would walk or drive their route.  He built a barn at the rear of the lot to house his traveling companion "Babe" as horses were used throughout the early twentieth century along postal routes even after the arrival of the automobile.

The Sammises welcomed their daughter Willa back home in 1941 along with two grandchildren.  The family remained in the house until the 1950s.  In these historic images, you can see Charles Sammis and Babe parked in front of 256 South Emerson around 1915.  If you look closely you can see "Parcel Post" on the carriage.  The other two historic images show Charles Sammis next to his daughter Willa in the back and side yard around 1948.  These historic images are courtesy of David Bailey.

Charles Sammis and "Babe" standing in front of 256 South Emerson Avenue c.1915

Charles Sammis and his daughter Willa,  June 1948

256 South Emerson (foreground) in 2013.  The house to the south of it was moved to the site in the mid-twentieth century.  

The Sammis of 256 South Emerson Avenue

Myrtle Sammis came to the construction site nearly everyday to check on the progress of the building of her new home at 256 South Emerson Avenue.  She and her husband, Charles, a substitute carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, purchased their narrow but long lot in 1908 for the price of $100.  Because it was below grade level, they had to add dirt before construction of their two-story Arts and Crafts era home could begin.  Mrs. Sammis was quite familiar with Irvington because her family, the Shimers, owned large farms along Brookville Road.  She eventually became very involved with the details of the house by personally staining the beautiful oak woodwork throughout the first story of the dwelling while Mr. Sammis worked the late shift for the Post Office.  The home's location across from Butler University and along the newly bricked Emerson Avenue made this a very attractive area in which to live.

The Sammis Home at 256 South Emerson in 1910

The Sammis Home at 256 South Emerson Avenue c.1915.  Note the brick street and the homes to the north.

The Sammis reared their two children, Willa and Frederick (Fritz) in the house.  The children walked to School #57 as it was the closest school at that time.  Grandchildren who dwelled in the house in the 1930s and 40s attended School #82.  Their daughter Willa wrote a memoir of her life and much of it involved Irvington.  This wonderful narrative, recently donated to the Irvington Historical Society by her son David Bailey, contains much about the family home.  She recalled her childhood days in the house with its airy rooms, "light hardwood floors," and "dark colonnades" separating the large reception hall from the living room.  She noted that her parents took a long time to pay off the mortgage because they added hot water, wallpaper, lovely draperies, built-in cabinets in the kitchen, and eventually the very modern extravagance of a..... telephone.

Charles, Willa, Frederick (Fritz), and Myrtle Sammis in 1910

The exterior of the Sammis home was the epitome of the Arts and Crafts period.  Most houses of this era had two colors.  The upper story was generally painted darker than the lower story.  The Sammis' second story was clad in dark stained wood shakes.  The lower story, sheathed in clapboard, was painted a lighter color with matching trim. You will note the porch columns were perched atop concrete block.  The historic photos show the home in 1910 and most likely in 1915.  In the top photo, taken just two years after construction, you can see that the Sammis have planted a tree along the street.  You can also see their fashionable porch furniture.  In the second photo, taken just a few years later, you can see the beautiful brick street and the two houses north of 256 South Emerson.  David Bailey, the grandchild of the Sammis remembers the grassy median that used to be on the street.  The third photo shows the family in 1910.  Finally, I have included a photo of the home today.  Much of the charm has been covered up and in some cases removed, however, the original paneled entryway still exists.  The stories and photos for this post are courtesy of David Bailey.  More posts will be forthcoming on this interesting Irvington family.

256 South Emerson Avenue in 2013:  The home has been significantly altered over the years including the removal of some windows and porch columns.  

Source:  Unpublished Memoir of Willa Sammis Bailey Smith (1896-1974)