Overland Auto Dealer--Irvington

The Irvington Motor Company awaits your order. The terms sound quite reasonable. Enjoy your drive! This ad appeared in a short-lived Irvington newspaper on March 26, 1920.

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.

Howe High School

Irvington achieved a dream in 1938 with the arrival of Thomas Carr Howe High School. Mr. Howe, a longtime neighborhood resident, was well known because of his tenure as president of Butler University. The neighborhood honored Howe by naming Irvington's first high school after him. Thousands of eastside residents have attended or graduated from Howe. Pictured here is a homeroom class from 1948. This photo is courtesy of Marty Book Powell.

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.