The Summer House on Butler's Campus--c1928

One of the iconic structures on Butler's Irvington campus was the Summer House. Reflective of the Arts and Crafts era with its boulders and wood shake, the site became a frequent place for meetings among coeds and people who lived in the neighborhood. Located in a grove of trees, the site was a perfect place for a picnic or clandestine meeting.  Note the giant beech tree to the right of the shelter. The Summer House and the trees were removed in the early 1940s for new housing.  This historic image is courtesy of David Bailey. You may see another view of the Summer House by clicking on the link below.

Shelter House at Butler in 1922

One of the landmarks on the former Butler University campus included this shelter house. Students frequently met there or studied in it on nice days.  Butler yearbook photos are filled with students posing in or near the structure.  Many a moonlit rendezvous likely began here.  This photo, taken in 1922, shows that the structure was surrounded by tall shade trees.  You can see why it became a romanticized subject by local artists and writers.  The shelter house was open to all locals including those Irvingtonians who had no ties to the Butler campus.  Sadly, it was removed after the campus moved to the Fairview site.