Four Years!

     Four years ago this month, I started down an unknown path.  Could I create a blog that concentrated on collecting historic photos of the Irvington neighborhood in Indianapolis?  Would people visit the site?  Would the site become self-sustaining?  In other words, if I built it...would you come?  Needless to say, Vintage Irvington has exceeded my expectations.  I have been fortunate in that several people have been very generous with their family collections. Some of have sought me out from all corners of the country. It turns out that this neighborhood has been very special in the lives of so many people.

Contributors From the Last Year

     In the winter of 2013, I met Leland Dickerson, a World War II veteran, whose brother was tragically killed towards the end of the war.  He generously loaned me dozens of shots of the neighborhood dating back to the 1930s.  Barbara Sanders had deep roots in the area on both sides of her family.  Thanks to her generosity I was able to post shots of the former White Farm at East 10th and Shadeland Avenue as well as of nearby areas on East New York Street and North Butler Avenue.  Suzette Hagan's family photos of 5621 Beechwood Avenue depicted fascinating glimpses into the lives of 1950s-era Irvingtonians.  I also received wonderful photos and stories from Bill Ferling, Paula Schmidt, David Bailey, Richard C. Gaskill, Carol Oribison, D.J. Smith, Brad Amiano, Terry Wilgus, the Stroude Family, Brian Callahan, and Larry Muncie.  This blog would not be possible without the kindness of these current or former Irvington residents.  Do you have a scrapbook filled with Irvington photos?  I would love to speak to you!  You can reach me at williamfranklingulde@gmail.com.

     By the way, in the four years that Vintage Irvington has been in operation, the site has received 115, 367 hits.  While most of the readers hail from the United States, Vintage Irvington has received hundreds and in some cases thousands of hits from Russia, Germany, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Ukraine, Turkey, Latvia, and Poland. Curiosity seekers from dozens of other nations have also landed upon the blog.

Highlights From the Past Year

     I have always had a soft spot for photos that show men and women returning from World War II.  In this image, snapped in February of 1943, Harry Perkins, Leland Dickerson, and Curly Morris posed along the 5800 block of Lowell Avenue.  They look joyful as snow melted about them on the warm winter day.  (Photo courtesy of Leland Dickerson) 

     Bill Ferling was kind enough to lend me photos from the collection of the Irvington Presbyterian Church.  This beautiful image shows the stunning structure on an early spring day in 1953. Note the historic double still standing just east of the church where the parking lot sits today.

     David Bailey grew up along South Emerson Avenue near the former Butler University.  Mr. Bailey, an avid reader and history lover, contributed many stunning photos to this blog including this image of Butler students on "clean up" day in 1917.  

     Carol Orbison's family grew up in Irvington.  She generously loaned me photos from her father and grandfather's photo collection.  This image depicts the Orbison family home at 51 North Irvington Avenue in 1912.  

    Paula Schmidt has graciously not only donated images, but she has also been a guest writer several times on this blog.  One of her stories this year was of the Thormeyer family at 93 South Butler Avenue. Paula traveled to Austin, Indiana to learn more about these interesting people and came back with some wonderful stories and images.  In this photo taken c1935, the Thormeyer women stand near the family home on Butler Avenue.

     
     Barbara Azbell Sanders has deep roots in Irvington.  Her mother's people owned a farm just east of the neighborhood at 10th and Shadeland Avenue.  There is not a shred of a farm at that intersection today, so I am particularly grateful to Mrs. Sanders for being so generous with her collection.  In this photo, snapped in 1937, members of the White family gathered for a reunion at their farmhouse. (now demolished)

     Mrs. Sanders also contributed several other photos that showed life in other parts of the neighborhood.  I particularly loved this photo of Vivian and Barbara Azbell in their riding attire. Behind them, you can see 4910, 4914, and 4918-20 East New York Street in 1938.  

     Fred Azbell ran Azbell Distribution Company, a business that sold auto parts. In this photo, little Barbara Azbell sits atop one vehicle in the family fleet along the 1100 block of North Butler Avenue in 1943.  Her grandfather, Thomas White, briefly took over the family business while her father served in World War II. (Photo courtesy of Barbara Sanders)

     The Becker family dwelled in a stunning Arts and Crafts home at 5621 Beechwood Avenue.  On November 27, 1954, Julius and Gloria Pirtle Becker celebrated their wedding day in the Becker home.  Family members and friends from all over the Midwest traversed to Irvington to rejoice with the young couple despite the snowy conditions outside.  In this photo, members of the Pirtle and Becker family gathered for the wedding photographer.  (Photo courtesy of Suzette Hagan)

The Thormeyers of South Butler Avenue

Paula Schmidt, one of our local history detectives, began to wonder about the large Victorian home along South Butler Avenue.  Her pursuit led her to the descendants of the Thormeyer family, who built the beautiful home.  Besides uncovering the stories of the family who dwelled there for sixty-two years, she also found historic photographs and documents.  Below is the fruit of her wonderful research.

The Thormeyers of South Butler Avenue

By Paula Schmidt

A lovely Queen Anne Victorian was built in 1891 on four adjacent lots along Lake Avenue, four houses south of Washington Street.   Today the address is 93 South Butler Avenue and because its appearance is almost original, one can imagine the owner, George Thormeyer, managing his business and political interests from his study, or his family resting after school or meeting with the Butler Alumni Literary Society on the deep front porch.

The Thormeyer family two years before they moved to Irvington in 1891: Front Row--George, Clara, Caroline Newhart Thormeyer; Back Row--Albert, Agnes, Phoebe, Bertha, Lydia Thormeyer.  The family dwelled in a large brick farmhouse along the Michigan Road near the Marion and Shelby County line before moving to 93 South Butler Avenue in Irvington in 1893.  

George Thormeyer c1900

This house has two separate chapters.  The first chapter is about George, a successful Acton farmer, who moved with his wife Caroline and their large family (Lydia, Bertha, Phoebe, Agnes, Albert, and Clara) to Irvington in 1891.  The second chapter focuses on two of his daughters, Bertha and Clara, who lived in the house until 1955.  Oddly enough, even his name has two stories!  One "e" or two, the papers, tombstones, obituaries, and even Butler College could not seem to decide.

George Thormeyer was an interesting man.   At age 18 he enlisted in the 22nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry Company G and served for three years in the Civil War.  He took part in some intense battles, was captured, wounded at least five times, and carried lead shot in his skull throughout his life.   He retained his medals and weapons which his family later donated to the Frazier Museum (http://www.fraziermuseum.org/exhibitions/upcoming-2/civil-war) in Louisville, Kentucky. Remaining connected to other veterans was so important to him that he remained active in the G.A.R and died while parading at the age of 73 at a Civil War reunion in Terre Haute (obit, Star, May 12, 1916,"Calls Recruits to G.A.R. Ranks.." page 4).

Why would a successful farmer move to a new city when he was almost 50?  Many reasons! Indianapolis in the 1890's  was booming…the Columbia Club had been formed, the cornerstone of Monument Circle had been laid, Butler College had added a new Science Building and Hilton U. Brown was building his estate in Irvington.  George had both business ambitions and political interests in Marion County. At least five of his six children attended Butler College.  Possibly most importantly, as his Great-grandson Albert Thormeyer said, "successful German farmers built houses in town". Even then, retirees need challenging projects!

Unidentified women--possibly Thormeyer daughters standing in the side yard of 93 South Butler Avenue c1935

Bertha Thormeyer (c1928) standing in the side yard of 93 South Butler Avenue

Butler University report card of Bertha Thormeyer in 1890

Mr. Thormeyer  did not retire to that front porch when he moved to Irvington.  He founded a lumber company in 1893, Thormeyer, Weise & Company, located at 1208 East Washington Street and purchased tracts of property for development. He invested in a commercial building at the northwest corner of Ritter and Washington St.  He owned the Thormeyer Livery Stables housed in the former streetcar mule barn on the southwest corner of Butler and Washington Street (which also served as the marshal's office and as a justice of the peace court). He was involved in local Republican politics and ran for offices including the Warren Township Advisory Board and for Irvington Town Marshal. He was a charter member of the Irvington Masonic Lodge #666.

Mr. Thormeyer served as a trustee of the Irvington Presbyterian Church and was instrumental in raising funds.  When the church failed to get a loan of $500 in 1909 from Indianapolis banks. George Thormeyer and three other trustees (Fred Ropkey, John Friday and James L. Kingsbury) "secured the loan from a roadhouse on the outskirts of Irvington.”  Reporting to the congregation one trustee said:" I fear some of the brethren are shocked to learn that the church would accept money from a dive.  Perhaps they think this the filthiest of filthy lucre, tarnished and black, but let me assure you, my dear brothers and sisters, that when we paid it back with interest, it was as white as the driven snow." I like to think that acquirer of "filthy lucre" was George Thormeyer.

93 South Butler Avenue in April of 2014

93 South Butler Avenue in April of 2014

Paula would like to acknowledge Albert Thormyer from Austin, Indiana for the stories and historic documents.