Treat Home

Hiram and Isabelle Treat and family dwelled at 335 Whittier Place. Mr. Treat worked as a clerk in the Parry Manufacturing Company in 1910. Mrs. Treat was an active clubwoman in Irvington. Their American Four Square styled home was a common design found in Indianapolis. This house photo is one of many featured in my book Irvington in 1910: A Year in the Life of an Indianapolis Neighborhood. You may order it from www.lulu.com

The second photo is of Isabelle Treat in 1910. Both pictures are courtesy of Tawn Spicklemire.

Kin Hubbard

Indianapolis News cartoonist Kin Hubbard moved to Irvington in 1907. Hubbard became well known throughout the United States because of a folksy rube he created named Abe Martin. The backwards hill character was centered in Brown County, Indiana and he had many quips about life that early twentieth-century Americans enjoyed reading. Syndicated in newspapers around the country, Hubbard soon started publishing books with Martin's witty jabs at society. Hilton U. Brown, the publisher of the News, encouraged Hubbard to buy a beautiful piece of real estate from him and build a house in Irvington. Hubbard sited the home on a small hill near Emerson Avenue, Pleasant Run Parkway, (not yet built in 1907) and Michigan Street. Hubbard eventually left Irvington as his fortunes increased for a mansion along Meridian Street.

The postcard above was sent from "Emma" to Mrs. Earl Brown of Advance, Indiana on November 1, 1914. Emma was staying at 133 Downey Avenue in Irvington and was renting the "sleeping porch." In a brief note she describes her worries about staying warm in such a room during winter!

Hubbard published Abe Martin's Almanack in 1909. It was his third major publication with many more on the horizon.

South Audubon Road

The Graves Family dwelled at 270 South Audubon Road in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This photo shows two members of the family standing in front of 266 South Audubon Road. You can see the Irving Circle Park and part of 262 South Audubon Road as well. This photo is courtesy of the Stewart Family.

Car Repair

Members of the Bowsher family work on the family vehicle in the 300 block of Whittier Place. This photo is courtesy of Roberta Quandt.

Emerson Heights

In the early twentieth century, developers designed and created Emerson Heights, a neighborhood just west of Irvington. By 1910, the city built a streetcar line along Michigan Street so that the new residents could easily travel to work downtown. Built at the height of the Arts and Crafts era, the neighborhood is filled with bungalows and American Four Squares. Several of the streets have an esplanade with sweet gum trees providing a beautiful canopy. Many people sought their dream home here. Unfortunately, the developers put in a protective covenant that forbade the sale of homes to Indianapolis's African-American population.

The print for this post came from www.emersonheights.org. Leaders in that neighborhood have created a stunning website that actually has the original 1914 promotional book with photos of many of the houses. Be sure to click on "development book-historic photos." I believe that this neighborhood is seeking National Register status and once you see photos of the homes you will see why that should be granted. Enjoy.

Scott Home

Harold Scott saw to the construction of this home in 1922 for his family at 5435 Pleasant Run Parkway. Note the beautiful interior shot. Both shots were taken shortly after the construction of the home. Photo courtesy of Margaret Scott.

Graham-Stephenson Home

Irvington's most infamous landmark is the D.C. Stephenson Home. In the 1920s, Indiana and the nation came under the grip of the Ku Klux Klan. The Governor of Indiana and many other politicians fell under the sway of Irvington's most notorious resident. A millionaire, Stephenson added the columns onto the Graham family's home. Mr. Graham had been a prominent minister and his family was greatly respected in Irvington. The house at 5432 University Avenue was photographed for the Indianapolis Star while Stephenson stood for trial in the rape and murder of an Irvington woman named Madge Oberholtzer. The trial became a national sensation and Stephenson's conviction helped to end the power of the Klan in Indiana and around the nation. This photograph was taken in 1925.

Danner Family

The Danner family ran a chain of "five and dime" stores throughout Indiana. Some of the Danners called Irvington home. In this shot, Danner children gathered in front of their 72 North Ritter Avenue home for a photo taken sometime in the late 1930s. Note that the WPA had already widened Ritter Avenue by this point. The picture also shows several homes along North Ritter and Lowell Avenues. This photo is courtesy of the Danner Family.

Irvington kitchen

The Scott Family were the first to live at 5435 Pleasant Run Parkway. This amazing kitchen was photographed shortly after the home was built in 1922. Photo courtesy of the Scott Family.

Girlfriends at Forsyth Home

Artist and director of the Herron Art School, William Forsyth (1854-1935), lived at 15 South Emerson Avenue. He maintained a studio at his home at the southeast corner of East Washington Street and South Emerson Avenue. Constance Forsyth, a daughter, went on to become a prominent artist as well. Shown here are a group of Irvington girls gathered in front of the Forsyth home in 1925. They are from left to right: Margaret Cook, Margaret Elrod, Dotty Canfield, Evelyn Forsyth, and Isabelle Layman. This photo is courtesy of Isabelle Layman. The home was demolished in the mid-twentieth century for a gas station.

Lost Irvington--Cross Home

Charles Cross made a small fortune selling real estate in and around Irvington. He and his family dwelled in a large home at the southeast corner of East Washington Street and Ritter Avenue. Cross sold his house for the future site of the Irvington bank around 1912/13. His family then moved into a beautiful dwelling at the intersection of Ohmer and Downey Avenues. Although the quality of this photo is poor, you will be able to see a magnificent home.

Lost Irvington

Some of our heritage has been lost to development. East Washington Street used to be a fashionable address. J. Thompson Layman and his family dwelled in this house at 5731 E. Washington Street. Mr Layman was vice president of the Layman-Carey Dry Goods Company. The Layman relatives owned several homes in Irvington including an Italianate villa less than one block south of Washington Street on Audubon Road. This Washington Street home was eventually torn down to make room for a phone company headquarters.

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.

Hackleman Brothers

Charles Hackleman and his wife Grace dwelled at 28 North Ritter Avenue in Irvington. Mr. Hackleman became a successful engraver and even published a textbook on the subject used throughout the US. The Hacklemans lived in their small cottage for about four years before building their dream home next door at 34 North Ritter. This photo, taken in 1904, shows Mr. Hackleman (far left) and all of his brothers sitting on the front porch at 28 North Ritter. Note the address at that time used be 16 North Ritter. Many addresses changed after the city of Indianapolis annexed the community. This photo is courtesy of Dennis and Sharron McKnight.