Ladies Gathered on Former Church Steps

      In 1909, the Presbyterians of Irvington worshipped in their newly-constructed brick church located at the intersection of Johnson and Julian Avenues. The congregation eventually outgrew the structure and erected a Gothic-inspired building in 1928. Long before that, however, a group of smartly-dressed young women gathered on the steps for a group photo. We do not know the names of the young ladies, but the image came from the Shimer family. The shadow of the leafless tree on the church indicates that this might have been an Easter Day c1918. 

Young ladies posed on the steps of the Irvington Presbyterian Church c1918. (Courtesy of Chris Shimer)

Scenes Around the Irvington Methodist Church in 1948 and in 2015

Walter and Merry Jo Carey joyously departed the Irvington Methodist Church at 30 North Audubon Road on May 16, 1948, to start their newly married life.  The festivities began when Mrs. Carey stood atop the stairs and tossed down her wedding bouquet.  Behind the family members, you can see the beautiful rock wall located at 75 North Audubon Road.  The lushness of the tree canopy prevent us from seeing the stunning Thornton House on the property; however, the beautiful Craftsman home had stood on the site since 1914 and the Thornton's still dwelled there in 1948.  In another shot, friends decorated the newly married couple's car.  Behind them, you can see the cottage located at 23 North Audubon Road.  The Hui family might have been looking out one of their windows from that house to enjoy the merriment outside.  Of course, they might not have paid any heed as joyous events like this had been common here for decades.

Throwing the Bouquet:  Merry Jo Carey tossed her flowers to one lone woman hoping for a "catch."  Behind the family members, you can see the wall and home at 75 North Audubon Road on May 16, 1948.

Standing atop the stairs at the Irvington Methodist Church, you can see the same view that Merry Jo Carey saw when she joyfully tossed her bouquet.  The century-old stone wall still stands across the street and encloses the property at 75 North Audubon Road in March of 2015.     

Decorating the Car:  Friends gathered to write a few words on the windshield of the newlyweds, Walter and Merry Jo Carey, on May 16, 1948.  The house to the left at 23 North Audubon Road belonged to the Hui family in 1948.  

The grounds of the Irvington Methodist Church and a nearby house at 23 North Audubon Road can be seen in this contemporary image taken in March of 2015.  

One Last Goodbye:  Friends and family surrounded newlyweds, Walter and Merry Jo Carey, across the street from the Irvington Methodist Church as they gathered to take off for their honeymoon on May 16, 1948.  

The historic images are courtesy of Leslie Wilson.  

A Beautiful Spring Wedding in Irvington--1948

Walter Hershel Carey and Merry Jo Kessler likely breathed a sigh of relief when they awoke on the morning of May 16, 1948, to see that it was a beautiful day to have a wedding in Irvington.  The couple had met a year earlier.  Both were employed.  Mr. Carey  had worked stateside during World War II and by 1948 served as a salesman for the William Lynn Chemical Company.  He rented a small apartment in nearby Woodruff Place.  Miss Kessler leased a room from Anna Susman, the widow of John Susman, at 5145 East Michigan Street in the Pleasanton section of Irvington.  During World War II, Miss Kessler worked at the P.R. Mallory Defense Plant where she learned how to use an early calculator called the Comptometer.

On the day of their wedding, family members converged at the Irvington Methodist Church.  Mr. Carey's family hailed from New Castle while Miss Kessler's people drove in from Kokomo. They held their reception in the church as well.  The couple did not remain in Irvington for very long as they moved to Broad Ripple and later into Washington Township as Mr. Carey was a rising star within the company.  Mrs. Carey stayed home and raised the couple's two children, Leslie and Brian. Devout Methodists, the pair were charter members of the Epworth Methodist Church on Allisonville Road.  They took their vows seriously on this date in 1948 and remained together for the rest of their lives.

Walter Carey united in matrimony with his lovely bride, Merry Jo Kessler, on May 16, 1948, in the Irvington Methodist Church.

The Deed is Done!  Mr. and Mrs. Carey exited the Irvington Methodist Church on May 16, 1948.  

Merry Jo and Walter Carey opened gifts inside the Irvington Methodist Church on May 16, 1948.  

About to be a Bride:  Merry Jo Kessler looked excitedly into the nave as she was about to walk down the aisle at the Irvington Methodist Church on May 16, 1948. Her father, Joel Henry Kessler, stood next to her as did her maid of honor, Marilyn Hollingsworth, and her flower girl.  

Mr. and Mrs. Carey cut the cake inside the Irvington Methodist Church on May 16, 1948. Nearby, family members from New Castle and Kokomo, Indiana watched the ritual.  

Walter and Merry Jo Kessler Carey joyously greeted guests after marrying at the Irvington Methodist Church on May 16, 1948.  

The historic images are courtesy of Leslie Wilson.  

Our Lady of Lourdes Graduating Class--1947

Eighth graders from the graduating class of 1947 from Our Lady of Lourdes School gathered for one last photograph.  The church and school had been an important part of the neighborhood for nearly forty years.  Many of the students in this photograph had attended the school for eight years.  Justine Collins and Joseph Lutz had the highest grades from the class while Thomas Williams, Marilyn Schmidt, and Barbara Noonan had perfect attendance.  The local priest urged parents to "remember their obligation of providing a CATHOLIC EDUCATION in high school for their children." (back of this flier) Students who had not attended Our Lady of Lourdes but desired to attend a Catholic high school would need a letter from a local pastor and then have it submitted to the Archbishop.  The children in this photo would have a much easier path to a Catholic high school.

First Row: Marilyn Hagan, John Foley, Max Haughton, Thomas Williams, Mary Ann Just, Kathleen Gallagher, Donald Newman,  John Schulz, Robert Denari, Marjorie Schauinger
Second Row:  Richard Mayer, Elizabeth Rumple, Mona Lee Cull, Jacqueline Bender, George Lawler,  Sue Ann Dillchay, Anne Shannon, Justine Collins
Third Row: Nadine May, Marie Speicher, Joan Miller, Joan Fox, Earl Owens, Jane Fox, Patricia Braun, Patricia Schoettle, Marilyn Schmidt
Fourth Row: Joseph Lutz, Marilyn Hofer, Joan Gannon, Robert Commons, Mary Margaret Rohyans, Barbara Noonan, James Matthews
Fifth Row:  Donald McWilliams, Rose Ellen Sexton, Patricia Alandt, Rita Harding, Margaret Everett, Richard Simko

Our Lady of Lourdes in 2014

The historic flier is courtesy of Suzette Hagan.

A Birthday Party at the Wallace Street Presbyterian Church--1952

The Reverend John H. Bergen, the pastor of the Wallace Street Presbyterian Church, received a surprise on his 62nd birthday when the local chapter of the Bluebirds honored him with a cake. Mr. Bergen and his wife Lorene and children, John and Mary, dwelled in the small bungalow at 929 North Wallace Avenue which served as the church parsonage. The photo, taken in the basement of the church in 1952, shows the two chapter sponsors, Mrs. Vivian Azbell and Mrs. Flo Norton.  The girls in the photo include:

Juanita Stewart, Melinda Beberstein, Sandra Myers, Donna Young, Barbara Azbell, Carol Hall, Carolyn Rosemeyer, Shelly Norton, Brenda Frazier, Charlotte Spangler, Jennie Gray,  and Margaret Pete.  

The church, built in 1926, was truly a neighborhood church as no parking lot has ever existed for the structure located at 4805 East 10th Street. Congregants built onto the structure in 1948.  Oddly, the church is called Wallace "Street" Presbyterian Church despite the fact that it is located along Wallace "Avenue."  

The local chapter of the Wallace Street Presbyterian "Bluebirds" hosted a birthday party for the Reverend John H. Bergen in the basement of the church in 1952.

Wallace Street Presbyterian Church in 2014

Tenth Street entrance to the Wallace Street Presbyterian Church in 2014

Cornerstone for the newer 1948 addition to the Wallace Street Presbyterian Church in 2014

The historic image is courtesy of Barbara Sanders.  

Little Flower Catholic School Graduation--1930

Eastside Indianapolis Roman Catholics had few options in the early twentieth century. St. Philip Neri opened its parish doors in 1908 followed by Our Lady of Lourdes in Irvington in 1909.  As more Catholics moved into neighborhoods surrounding Irvington, the need for more churches grew.  In 1926, the Archdioceses of Indianapolis opened the St. Therese Little Flower School and parish. Located at 1401 North Bosart Avenue, the school serviced congregants in the Little Flower and Emerson Heights neighborhoods. Some Warren Township farmers sent their children to the school as well.  Like many Catholic schools, the institution educated children until the eighth grade.  In this photo, taken in 1930, Father Doyle (later Monsignor John J. Doyle) and Father Duffy posed with eight graduates.  Most of the kids lived nearby.  Albert Berlier's family had a rural route address and lived north of 13th Street along Arlington Avenue.  George Marter traveled from Chester Avenue while Fred Ward dwelled nearby on Colorado Avenue.  Ralph Robisch could have easily walked to school from his home at 904 North Emerson Avenue.  Cecelia Wilson's home remains a mystery, but Louise Hansman dwelled at 4608 East 10th Street.  Her family kept this photo and later posted it on Ancestry.com.  Marie Parks lived in a beautiful brick home at 1115 North Leland Avenue.  Helen Hall commuted from Grant Avenue.  Many of the children came from large families whose brothers and sisters attended Little Flower School.

Little Flower 8th Grade Graduates in 1930

 This photo is courtesy of the descendants of the Hansman family via Ancestry.com.  

Stunning Historic Photos of Irvington Presbyterian Church--c1955

In the mid-twentieth century, photographer Reuben L. Brullow, photographed the interior of the Irvington Presbyterian Church for the sixtieth anniversary celebration.  Founded in 1906, Presbyterians built two separate structures along Johnson Avenue.  The second and more grand edifice arrived in 1928.  These shots, taken less than thirty years after the construction, provide a stunning view of the interior of one of the most important architectural sites in the neighborhood.  Architect Merritt Harrison designed an ornate structure that could have easily graced any city center in Europe.  Note the stunning wooden beams, the gorgeous windows, and beautiful lighting. Mr. Brullow was clearly an artist as well as these photos are still stunning nearly sixty years later.

Interior of the Irvington Presbyterian Church c1955

Interior of the Irvington Presbyterian Church c1955

The historic images are courtesy of Bill Ferling and Irvington Presbyterian Church.  

Church is Over--1955

In the summer of 1955, photographer Reuben L. Brullow (1616 North Bosart Avenue) set up his tripod and documented a typical day at the Irvington Presbyterian Church.  Some of his photos were to be used in a forthcoming history written to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the congregation. (1956)  In the top photo, adults chaperoned children to Sunday School along Johnson Avenue.  Through the trees and behind the church, you can see Maplewood Court.  Further down the block, you will note the American Four Square home at 27 Johnson Avenue and the rear of shops along East Washington Street. In the second photo, church members exit the building.  Some linger for conversation while others head for home. These historic images are courtesy of Bill Ferling and the Irvington Presbyterian Church.

Sunday School 1955 at the Irvington Presbyterian Church

Church is over--1955 at the Irvington Presbyterian Church

And the Beam Goes Up--1908

In this stunningly clear photograph, members of the newly organized Irvington Presbyterian Church gathered along Johnson Avenue to commemorate the erection of the first beams of a new edifice.  It was a cool day sometime during the winter of 1908.  The men wore their topcoats and the women donned their hats.  A member of the building committee, James L. Kingsbury (348 North Layman Avenue), addressed the audience. Behind him stood the Reverend Jonathan Day (5830 University Avenue).  Everything about this photograph was ephemeral.  All of the people are long gone; future congregants replaced this building with a larger church in 1928; and the home facing Audubon Road behind those gathered would be razed not long after image was snapped.  Perhaps the most we can hope for is that someone still has one of those wonderful feather hats sitting in an unopened trunk in the back of an attic.

Members of the Irvington Presbyterian Church Gather in 1908

The historic photograph is courtesy of Bill Ferling and the Irvington Presbyterian Church. To see more images from this commemoration, click on the link below.

Cornerstone Ceremony for Irvington Presbyterian Church--1908

The Irvington Presbyterian Church, although not the oldest congregation in the neighborhood, has been  in the community since the early twentieth century.  The organization began in 1906 and by the next year the founders hired Jonathan Day as the first minister.  Reverend Day's first task was to work with the board to raise the funds for a church structure.  Dr. Day had other issues to deal with that first year including the controversial notion of allowing members to play Sunday baseball.  He went against other nearby Protestants and thought it would be okay.

The Board of Trustees had already secured a large lot at the intersection of Johnson and Julian Avenue for the future church for $1600. Architect Bennajah Weesner donated his fees and designed a pleasant one-story brick structure with intersecting gables and a tower.  Eventually, the congregation would outgrow the small building and it was torn down in 1928 to make way for the current and grander edifice.

In the following two photos, both taken in the winter of 1908, you can see the cornerstone dedication for the first Irvington Presbyterian Church.  In the top photo, you can see the Reverend Jonathan Day at the far right.  Historical information for this post came from: Emily McAdams, Irvington Presbyterian Church 1906-1956, Indianapolis, 1956.  The historic photos are courtesy of Bill Ferling.

Reverend Jonathan Day (far right) speaks to new Irvington Presbyterian Congregation in 1908

Members of the Irvington Presbyterian Church gather in 1908 for the cornerstone ceremony for the new church (no longer standing) at the intersection of Johnson and Julian Avenues.

Irvington Methodist Church Then and Now

This beautiful Tudor-Revival structure has graced the "north" circle since 1925. Designed by architect, Herbert Foltz, the church replaced an earlier building on Layman Avenue.  (now a parking lot for businesses along East Washington Street) Mr. Foltz decided to position the structure towards Lowell Avenue rather than tear down the double-gabled home that faced East Washington Street.  The dwelling had been occupied by both the Forrest and Howe families.  Thomas Carr Howe would later become the President of Butler University and for whom Irvingtonians named their local high school in 1938.  His home now serve as offices and school space for the church.  The intersection of Lowell Avenue and North Audubon Road is one of the loveliest in the city of Indianapolis.

Irvington Methodist Church c1930

Irvington Methodist Church on June 3, 2013

Forrest-Howe Manse now incorporated into the Irvington Methodist Church

Candlelight Service--Irvington Presbyterian Church (1950)

The Irvington Presbyterian Church has been an important institution in the neighborhood since the early twentieth century.  Located along Johnson and Julian Avenue since 1908, the congregation has met in the current Gothic structure since 1928.  Weddings, baptisms, funerals, holidays, and special ceremonies have made this one of the most documented structures in Irvington.  Photographs, church programs, newsletters, and other ephemera about the church have survived the decades and now sit in scrapbooks and file cabinets.  Today's historic image documents a candlelight service held in the church in 1950.  Chuck Vogt and another unidentified boy were responsible for the official lighting ceremony.  Contemporary photographs reveal that the structure is just as beautiful as when it was first built over eighty years ago.

Candlelight service at the Irvington Presbyterian Church in 1950

Irvington Presbyterian Church in May of 2013

The historic image is courtesy of Chuck and Joyce Vogt.  

Image of First Baptist Church--c. 1938

This modest stuccoed church has been along Good Avenue since 1910.  Begun in 1887, congregants for the First Baptist Church used to meet in a small structure on the north side of University Avenue east of the Irving Circle Park.  They moved to their current structure in 1910 although the building as has been altered over the years.

Irvington's African-American population dwelled throughout the neighborhood.  Many members of the church lived away from the community and drove in for services.  In this historic image, taken around 1938, church members gathered for a photo.  The young women and ladies are all wearing dresses while the men are in ties.  I am sorry to report that I don't know many of the names in the photo, but this wonderful image is courtesy of the Krystal Wagner Family Tree page from Ancestry.com.  Gertrude Higgenbotham, who dwelled at 136 South Sheridan Avenue, joined the church in 1935 and is in this photo.  Her mother joined in 1921.  The Reverend R.H. Noel served as the minister.

The contemporary image shows the structure at 231 Good Avenue on a quiet Saturday morning in the waning days of the summer of 2012.

The Missing Tooth--A House Reemerges From the Grave 36 Years Later

Sometimes when you are a historian, you get sent into directions you never imagined.  For instance, when local Irvington resident, Kent Hankins, presented me with today's historic image, I had to do a double take.  With only one recognizable structure, I had to figure out where this photo was taken.  The photographer intended to take a picture of the procession of children.  In the background, there was clearly a church, but the house looked unfamiliar.

It didn't take long to figure out that the religious institution in the photo was the former St. Matthews Episcopal Church at 23 South Ritter Avenue.  That structure has hosted several denominations over the years including the Seventh Day Adventists and Baptists.  So, what of the house next door?  It is clearly gone today.  Who lived there?  I wanted to know more.

It turns out that the small bungalow at 21 South Ritter Avenue was likely built in 1927 by Harry L. and Grace L. Moore.  The couple would be the only family to ever live in the house and they dwelled in it for decades.  Mr. Moore worked in a variety of jobs.  He was a salesman and insurance agent.  He was probably most known for his appliance shop that he operated at 5420 East Washington Street called Moore's Modern Appliances.  An ad proclaimed that the shop sold everything from juvenile furniture to household "electrical" appliances.  Mrs. Moore continued to live in the house after her husband died.  Eventually, the Seventh Day Adventist Church purchased the property and leveled the house in 1976.  Today, the Moore's family site is a parking lot.

The Mobley family purchased this radio from Moore's Modern Appliance Store at 5420 East Washington Street (photo courtesy of Robert Mobley) 

Moore's Modern Appliance Store operated at 5420 East Washington Street. The Moore family dwelled at 21 South Ritter Avenue.  (photo courtesy of Robert Mobley)

The second mystery surrounding this photo still remains.  First, I am unclear on the date.  It looks to be sometime in the mid-1950s.  I know that the young people are on the grounds of School 57 on the southwest corner of East Washington Street and South Ritter Avenue.  It is obviously a warm day.  Perhaps the graduates of School 57 can help me out with this part of the photo. What are the young people doing?  Is this a practice? A ceremony?  A celebration?  Inquiring minds would like to know more!  Send me an e-mail at williamfranklingulde@gmail.com if you have any ideas.

The historic image is courtesy of Kent Hankins and likely came from the Phelps family, who dwelled at 5317 Lowell Avenue for years.  The contemporary image reveals that the church remains, although now sheathed in vinyl siding instead of stucco.

Taking a Walk--1937

Newly-married Evelyn Schneider Ferling paused in front of the newly-built Fourth Church of Christ Science at 5201 Pleasant Run Parkway South Drive in 1937 for this photo. Mrs. Ferling, who grew up at 327 Poplar Road in the Pleasanton section of Irvington, married Tom Ferling of Bosart Avenue. They first lived in the Mary Elizabeth Apartments along East Washington Street.

Irvington Christian Scientists purchased lots for a church in 1924, but did not construct a building on the site until 1936. Notice that in this photo, taken shortly after the completion of the structure, that there are no tall sycamores shading the lovely corner. Mrs. Ferling was not a member of the church, but the combination of the bench, the new building, and her fashionable coat made it a perfect place for a photograph. This wonderful image is courtesy of her son, Bill Ferling.

Emerson Avenue Baptist Church Groups

The Emerson Avenue Baptist Church has been a part of the Irvington area since 1913 and on the northwest corner of Emerson Avenue and East New York Street since 1921. The current structure at 306 N. Emerson was remodeled in 1958. All of the photos posted today are images of various Sunday school groups from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. If you recognize any of the folks in the photos, drop us a note so that we can identify them!

In the top photo, a group of Sunday School kids pose for a photo in 1921. The only child identified in this photo is Evelyn Schneider, who is the third child from the left in the bottom row.

In the middle photo, a women's group affiliated with the church, pose in the backyard of someone's home. The photo was likely taken around 1930. The only person identified is Myrtle Schneider, who is seated on the ground in the front row and at the left. It is possible that she was hosting the event at 327 Poplar Road.

In the bottom photo, members of a graduating Sunday School class pause for a photo in October of 1949. Note that the church used to be brick. Today it is clad in stone. A very young Bill Ferling stands in the top row of the photo. Mr. Ferling also graciously loaned the photos for this post.

Irvington Presbyterian Confirmation Class--1956

On March 12, 1956, several young Irvingtonians and members of the Irvington Presbyterian Church paused to take this photo. Many Vintage Irvington readers may recognize some of these teenagers! This historic image is courtesy of Bill Ferling.

Top Row: (left to right) Thomas Tiedemann, Reverend Emerson Olds Houser, Rex Mills, Frederick Shick, Kevin Coughill, Steven Atkins, John Ridge, Dr. Howard W. Stone, Sue Osborne, Stephanie Boylan, Barbara Fassnacht, Sue Ann Dirks, Dr. Fox, Jeanne Kightlinger, Mrs. Helen Houser, Lana Pursley, Geraldine Rudlinger

Middle Row: (left to right) Joe Moor, Jerry Ernst, Paul Shirley, Charles Hague, Mariann Goodwin, Martha McNeely, Suzanne Faught, Shirley Atwood, Donna Boylar, Barbara McKain

Front Row: (left to right) Kirby Bowen, Charles Campbell, David Irvin, James Warren, William Ferling, John Robb, Robert Lawhorn, Jane Shick, Jane Platte, Donna Bevis, Carole Baker

The Geislers of Colorado Avenue

Where is Irvington? This might seem like a simple question, but you can ask five different people and receive five different responses. Purists quote the National Register nomination completed in late 1980s as the definitive source. However, it might come as news for folks who live on the east side of Arlington and the westside of Emerson that they are not in Irvington. So where do we do draw the line? Many people who lived far from Emerson or Arlington considered themselves Irvingtonians. They attended Irvington churches, shopped in Irvington businesses, and attended schools in the area. I prefer, what one writer from the early twentieth century penned, when he stated that Irvington was a "state of mind."

Colorado Avenue is generally not considered Irvington by purists, but that might have come as a surprise to the Geisler Family, who lived along this street in the 1940s. Ed and Isabelle Geisler, both natives of Louisville, Kentucky moved to Colorado Avenue with their three talented daughters Fannie, Martha, and Carol. The young women became well known in the city of Indianapolis for their beautiful voices. All three of them sang in the Messiah at the Irvington Methodist Church in the 1940s. Ed and Isabelle were friends with the Ruhsenberger Family of 5930 East Washington. Mrs. Geisler and Mrs. Ruhsenberger were best friends. On January 16, 1942, Mrs. Geisler asked Mrs. Ruhsenberger if she would like to go with her to hear a presentation by Carol Lombard, the famous Hollywood actress. Ms. Lombard was in town to encourage her fellow Hoosiers to buy war bonds. Mrs. Ruhsenberger was not able to go, but Mrs. Geisler went on to the event. Later both families learned of the actress's death in a plane crash. Mrs. Geisler was devastated by the news. The Geislers and Ruhsenbergers remained close for many years even playing matchmaker for some of their children and friends.

In this historic picture, the Geislers gather for a photo in front of their home at 529 North Colorado Avenue. Pictured: (L to R) Fannie, Martha, Carol, Ed, and Isabelle Geisler. Both homes seen in this photo are still standing although somewhat altered. The stories and historic images are courtesy of Ann Hart Stewart.

Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist--1950

Christian Scientists had been actively involved in their faith in Irvington as early as the 1920s. Residents Robert Marsh, Richard Shimer, and local artist Dorothy Morlan were some of the early trustees. (See Paul Diebold, Greater Irvington for more information on the early years.) The church purchased lots along Pleasant Run Parkway in 1924 and began construction in 1936. Archival film footage of the cornerstone laying and subsequent construction may be found at the Indiana Historical Society. The building at 5201 East Pleasant Run Parkway South was formally dedicated in 1945. The church was designed by architect Charles Wilbur Foster, a member of the church. The plan of the building was reflective of the neo-colonial revival style very popular in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s in the US and is somewhat unusual for Irvington.

The Christian Scientist population dwindled in Irvington by the Millennium and the congregation sold the building and moved into a small reading room in the 100 block of South Audubon Road. A Seventh-Day Adventist congregation moved in by 2005.

The historic photo was taken around 1950. Note how small the sycamore and evergreen trees are in the photo. In the contemporary photos, taken on June 2, 2011, you can see the trees have grown to great heights. The current occupants seem to be struggling with some maintenance issues with the structure. Otherwise, the building looks very similar to how it did upon its construction over seventy years ago.

Bowsher Sisters--1948

The Bowsher sisters exit the Irvington Methodist Church in 1948. They had just attended a wedding that summer. This color image is courtesy of and in memory of Roberta Bowsher Quandt.