School #77 Photos c1949

School #77 began on September 6, 1932, to help alleviate the crowding in nearby elementary schools.  With the development of neighborhoods north of Pleasant Run Parkway and eventually along East 10th Street, Indianapolis Public Schools officials scrambled to find classroom space.  The first building was to be temporary, but would serve as a school nearly twenty years on the northeast corner of Arlington Avenue and Pleasant Run Parkway.  The school district built a more permanent structure on the site in 1952.

In these historic photos, likely taken around 1949, school children gather on the front yard of IPS #77. In the top photo, some young women raise the American flag. You will note that they have their hands over their hearts. In the second photo, patrol boys gather on the steps. If you recognize any of these folks then drop me a note at sleeth28@rock.com. The historic images are courtesy of Larry Muncie, a local historian and author.

Girls raise the flag (c1949) at IPS #77 on Arlington Avenue

Patrol Boys (c.1949) IPS #77 on Arlington Avenue

School #77 is a charter school in 2012

Film Clip: Charles Dorn's Standard Grocery and a Grand Avenue Scene c1933

Charles Dorn, a popular Irvington grocer, operated a Standard Grocery Store on the northwest corner of Brookville Road and Grand Avenue. In this very brief clip, c. 1933, patrons exit and enter the store.  The final scene shows some employees standing along South Grand Avenue.  Behind them, you can see houses on the eastern side of the street (400 block).  I have included a shot of those dwellings in 2012.  This historic film is courtesy of Larry Muncie.

400 block of South Grand Avenue in 2012

Film Clip of Charles Dorn's Standard Grocery and the Nearby Horner House c.1933

Charles Dorn operated a small Standard Grocery store on the northwest corner of Brookville Road and Grand Avenue. (just east of South Emerson Avenue) Sometime in the early 1930s, a family member or friend filmed Mr. Dorn and some of his workers as they exited the store.  Mr. Dorn can be seen wearing a hat and smoking a cigar.  Larry Muncie, a local historian, remembers going to the store during World War II with his mother Margaret Muncie and his Aunt Gladys Shimer.  During the war years, Mr. Dorn could only carry canned goods because of the rations on meat and other items. Eventually, a Standard Grocery Store would be built on East Washington Street. Mr. Dorn's store still stands today although it has been drastically altered and is now a church.

So you know what you are seeing, I have included a sequential history by clip:

0-5 seconds--The exterior of the store

6-20 seconds--You can see the employees exiting the store and playfully posing for the camera. Behind them, you can see a bungalow on the southside of Brookville Road near Emerson and a brief shot of the Horner House on South Emerson.  Towards the end of this segment, you can see Mr. Dorn standing along the Grand Avenue side.  A small bungalow on Grand is behind him.

22--27 seconds--You can see a young man come from around a bus parked on Brookville Road.  Behind him, you have a clear shot of the Horner House on South Emerson Avenue.

This amazing film clip is courtesy of Larry Muncie. I am working to get rid of the labeling on the film. Contemporary images show the same views in 2012.

Charles Dorn's Standard Grocery in 2012

The Horner House has recently been purchased. You may follow their blog by clicking on my favorite links.

Reunion at New York Street Double c1943

Orville and Alice Bowman dwelled in their duplex located at 5755 East New York Street for many years. The couple hailed from Ohio and raised their three sons, Gerald, Deforrest (Forry), and Albert in the house. Mr. Bowman was an insurance salesman.  The Bowman double was valued at $10,000 in the 1930 Federal Census.

In 1943, the Bowman sons gathered for a reunion with their parents.  In the top photo, Deforrest and his wife Marilois and his son, Michael, posed with his brother, Gerald, sister-in-law, Maxine, and his nephew, Richard in the family home on East New York Street.  The families gathered in the dining room for this photo.  Note the wonderful light fixture above the men.

In the second photo, Michael and Richard Bowman, posed for their grandparents in the same home. The contemporary photo, shows 5755 East New York Street in 2012.  The home still retains its original wood clapboard siding and rafter beams.  The historic photos are courtesy of the Bowman family.

Grandkids visit the Meek Family

Homer G. and Ruth Bonner Meek dwelled at 5809 Lowell Avenue for many years. The 1930 Census reveals that their home was valued at $7500. The Meeks hailed from Greensburg and moved to Indianapolis in the 1920s. Mr. Meek worked for the London Assurances Corporation as an insurance salesman. They raised their daughters Ruth and Marilois in the two-story stuccoed home. Marilois eventually married the boy next door or at least a block away. The Bowman and Meek families joined together in 1936 when Marilois married Deforrest Bowman.

The Bowmans had two children, Michael and Susan, who frequently visited both sets of grandparents. In these photos taken in the late 1930s and 1940s in the backyard of 5809 Lowell Avenue, the Bowman children played with each other or with their parents. I have also included photos of Homer and Ruth Meek when they were young and still living in Greensburg, Indiana.

Michael and Susan Bowman play in the backyard of 5809 Lowell Avenue in August of 1949

Deforrest Bowman plays with his son Michael in the backyard of 5809 Lowell Avenue in 1938

Marilois Bowman proudly poses with her son Michael in the backyard of 5809 Lowell Avenue in 1938

Michael plays in the beautiful backyard belonging to the Meek family at 5809 Lowell Avenue in 1938. Note that Mrs. Meek has planted nasturtium, gladiolus, and zinnias next to her stylish birdbath.  

Homer Meek c.1905

Ruth Bonner in 1905

5809 E. Lowell Avenue in 2012

The historic images are courtesy of the Bowman family.  The contemporary image shows the front of 5809 Lowell Avenue in 2012.

Lowell Avenue Scenes c.1948

Michael and Susan Bowman loved to visit their grandparents, the Meeks, who lived on Lowell Avenue and the Bowmans, who lived on East New York Street.  In these two photos, the Bowmans gathered on the front yard of the Meek home at 5809 Lowell Avenue.  The home behind the family in the photo is actually 5816 Lowell Avenue.  You can also see the rear of the Dutch Colonial homes along North Bolton Avenue.  Today that view is not possible because a small house has been built obscuring the views of 1948.  In the top photo, Marilois Bowman posed with her two children.   Little Susie Bowman stood upon a landscaping rock.  In the second photo, Michael Bowman showed off his new bike while a neighbor girl (in the scarf) and his sister admired the gift.  The contemporary images, taken in 2012, shows the same views sans the cute children.

Marilois Bowman and her two children, Susan and Michael, c1948 in the front yard of 5809 Lowell Avenue

Susan and Michael Bowman (left) and a neighbor girl standing in the front yard of 5809 Lowell Avenue c1948

5816 Lowell Avenue in October of 2012

Lowell Avenue looking towards North Bolton in 2012 

The historic images are courtesy of the Bowman family.

Bowman Family of Walnut Street

Deforrest and Marilois Meek Bowman grew up just a block apart in Irvington and settled down in the neighborhood.  They set up housekeeping at 5218 East Walnut Street after marrying in 1936.  Mr. Bowman was a  businessman and a talented athlete who used to exercise in nearby Ellenberger Park.  Mrs. Bowman was an interior designer.  The couple raised their two children, Michael and Susan, in the large duplex on Walnut Street.   The following photos, courtesy of the Bowman family, show the children in the late 1940s and images of Mr. and Mrs. Bowman.

Michael and Susan Bowman posed for this photo around 1949 in their front yard at 5218 East Walnut St.

Beautiful spirea served as a perfect scene for Michael an Susan Bowman around 1948. Their Mom likely took this photo in front of their home at 5218 East Walnut Street. Behind the children, you can see houses just east of the home.  

The Bowman children gather for Christmas around 1950 at 5218 East Walnut Street.  

Deforrest Bowman was a talented athlete who used to workout in Ellenberger Park.  He posed for  this photo with his young son Michael around 1939 on the front porch of 5218 East Walnut Street.

This beautiful photo shows Marilois Meek Bowman on her wedding day on June 13, 1936, at the Irvington Presbyterian Church.  

Michael Bowman boxes with his father at 5218 East Walnut Street in 1940.

5218 East Walnut Street in the autumn of 2012

Homes just east of 5218 East Walnut Street in 2012