Who Lived Here? The Belzers of South Audubon Road

Nestled in a grove sits the charming Belzer home located at 320 South Audubon Road. Many of the tree specimens on the property were likely planted by Francis O. Belzer, an executive with the Boy Scouts organization. Mr. Belzer grew up in Lawrence Township and married Prunetta Hunter in 1892. The couple had one child, Katherine, in 1900. Mr. Belzer began his career in education as a principal in a four-room schoolhouse in Castleton in 1899. He then moved to Oaklandon and eventually down into the city of Indianapolis where he served as the principal of School #50 and others. In 1904, the couple and their daughter moved into the beautiful Queen Anne home at 320 South Audubon Road. It would remain part of the Belzer family until 1980.

The Boy Scouts of America started in 1910 and in the next year Mr. Belzer started Troop Number Nine at the Irvington Methodist Church. In 1915, he took a leave of absence from the city schools to run the Boys Scouts in Marion County.  In that same year, tragedy struck the family with the death of Prunetta Belzer. Fifteen-year-old Katherine and her father had only each other now.  She would later graduate from Butler University and become a social worker. She never married and dwelled in the family home until her death in 1980.

Mr. Belzer became a beloved member of the community. Thousands of young boys joined the scouts during his tenure as their leader. He started the Cross Roads of America Band in 1917 and he shepherded the Scouts to focusing more on the outdoors and less on athletics. In 1933, he traveled with some local boys to the World Jamboree in Budapest, Hungary.  Towards the end of his life, the Boy Scouts honored him by naming a camp after him in Lawrence Township. Later, school officials would also name the Belzer Middle School for him.

Sometime in 1926, Mr. Belzer posed for this photo for a book titled, Fellow Citizens of Indianapolis. He was a well-known figure in the city and many local leaders counted him as one of their mentors.

320 South Audubon Road in 2015

Candid Photo: Mrs. Lawton Walks Home-1940

Emma McCord Lawton dwelled at 5915 Julian Avenue from 1939 to 1945 along with her husband, Burrell, and her two sons, William and Stephen. She had formerly worked for the Gregory and Appel Insurance Company but resigned in 1937 to start a family and raise her two sons. Living next door, in the summer of 1940, was the Lollis family.  In August of that year, a member of the Lollis family--most likely Mrs. Lollis--snapped this photo of Mrs. Lawton walking back to her home.  Behind her, you can see the Lantz family residence located at 5914 Julian Avenue. The Lawtons moved to Colorado in 1945. To learn more about the Lawton or Lollis families click on the links below.

Emma McCord Lawton walked to her home at 5915 Julian Avenue in the summer of 1940.

The Lantz family dwelled across the street from the Lawtons at 5914 Julian Avenue in 1940.  (photo: November 1, 2015)

The historic image is courtesy of Ted Lollis.  

Who Lived Here? The DeJarnatts of Rawles Avenue

Rawles Avenue sits along the southern edge of Irvington. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad abuts the properties all along the street.  Most of the housing stock in this area tended to be smaller and less grand than the rest of the neighborhood likely due to the proximity to a major rail line. The bulk of the construction along this street came in the 1910s and 1920s.  Matthew Frank and Gertrude DeJarnatt moved into their brand new bungalow at 5826 Rawles Avenue in 1925. Mr. DeJarnatt was really at the apex of his career as he served as the Chief of the Income Tax Division for the Internal Revenue Service in Indiana. In 1926, the forty-six-year-old accountant submitted a photo for a book on prominent residents called Fellow Citizens of Indianapolis. Mr. DeJarnatt had been involved with Republican Party politics in the Evansville area and moved to Indianapolis to take on his new position. Mrs. DeJarnatt passed away in 1933 at the age 52.  It was at this point that Mr. Dejarnatt decided to leave Irvington. He died in 1939 and was buried in Memorial Cemetery next to his wife. Numerous other people have called the modest bungalow "home" over the decades since the DeJarnatts first dwelled here.

5826 Rawles Avenue in 2015

South Audubon Road Scenes--1940s

Carrold and Blanche Bastin Stevenson leased a double at 72 South Audubon Road from 1943 until 1951. Mr. Stevenson was a pipe fitter and later a foreman for the New York Central System Rail. The Stevensons had extended family members living in Irvington. They would eventually move to Euclid Avenue just west of the neighborhood. Photos likely taken by Mary Stevenson of 112 Johnson Avenue not only show family members, but also nearby houses. Joanne Stevenson, the daughter of Carrold and Blanche Stevenson, was the subject of many of the photos. Another family member, Ted Lollis, who lived at 5866 Julian Avenue, can be see with Jerry Land. Behind the boys you can see the Layman mansion at 29 South Audubon Road as well as homes at 55 and 61 South Audubon Road.

Jerry Land and Ted Lollis stood on the sidewalk of 72 South Audubon Road c1944. Behind them, you can see the Layman mansion at 29 South Audubon Road and the Westover home at 55 South Audubon Road. In the distance you can see the Audubon Court Apartments. 

Betrand Jonathan and Maude Darnell Westover moved into this beautiful home at 55 South Audubon Road in 1924. Other families had dwelled there like the Gordons and Duwars, but the Westovers remained until 1970. The couple raised their two children here and in 1943 they carved the grand home up into at least four apartments. They named the house the Westover Apartments and they moved into a downstairs unit. While the abode began as a single family residence, it has been home to apartment dwellers for most of its existence.  

Carole Sue Stevenson of 72 South Audubon Road posed in the front yard c1948. Behind her you can see the house at 61 South Audubon Road.  

Joanne Stevenson posed (on the right) with a friend c1948 in the front yard of 72 South Audubon Road. Behind her you can see the homes at 61 and 55 South Audubon Road. You can also see an open lot where 63-65 South Audubon Road sits today. 

Pliny and Maud Wolfard were not the first to dwell at 61 South Audubon Road, but they certainly lived here a long time. The Wolfards set up housekeeping at this residence in 1930 along with their two children, Margaret and Philip.  Mr. Wolfard passed away first, but Mrs. Wolfard continued to dwell in the bungalow until 1967.   

Joanne Stevenson in her Girl Scouts uniform posed for this photo c1944 in the front yard of 72 South Audubon Road. Towering trees spanned the street during this era. 

Joanne Stevenson held her sister, Carole Sue Stevenson c1947, in the front yard of 72 South Audubon Road. Behind her you can see the open lot of what today houses a small brick double at 63-65 South Audubon.  

Joanne Stevenson posed with her sister, Carole Sue, c1947, in the front yard of 72 South Audubon Road. Behind her you can somewhat see the front porches at 68 and 60 South Audubon Road.

Ennis Stevenson, the brother to Carrold Stevenson, posed for this photograph c1944 along the front sidewalk of the Stevenson home at 72 South Audubon Road. Behind him, you can see the brick bungalow at 69 South Audubon Road (formerly numbered 65 South Audubon Road). Many families had dwelled in that home by the 1940s.  In 1944 the Rumrills lived there. Mr. Rumrill was "traffic motorman."  Mrs. Rumrill continued to reside at that corner as a widow for many years. Note the wonderful street light on the corner!  

69 South Audubon Road in 2015

The American Four Square double at 72 South Audubon Road and 5654 Julian Avenue in 2015

    To learn more about the extended Stevenson/Lollis or Layman family click on the links below. The historic images are courtesy of Ted Lollis.  

Who Lived Here? The Wishards of Oak Avenue

In 1918, Dr. Ernest Elmer and Mary Bickell Wishard moved into 5828 Oak Avenue. The couple had been married for eighteen years and they had three children.  They had previously dwelled at 5514 University Avenue. Dr. Wishard was not only a physician but also a chemist and he worked for Eli Lilly & Company. Mrs. Wishard was an Irvington club woman and she frequently hosted the Irvington Home Study Club in her Oak Avenue bungalow.  At least one child, Lois, graduated from Butler University in 1924. She was an English major. In 1926, fifty-year-old Ernest Wishard posed for this photo which appeared in a promotional book called Fellow Citizens of Indianapolis.  By 1930 the family had moved away from Irvington for new opportunities in Minnesota.  Dr. Wishard died in 1935 at the age of 60, while Mrs. Wishard passed away at the age of 96 in 1972.

Lois Wishard graduated from Butler University in 1924. Her photo can be seen in the middle of the top row.

5828 Oak Avenue in 2015

Upon the Rock Then and Now

Mary Margaret Ham lived all over the United States as her father was in the military. In the late 1920s, she came to Irvington to live with her Aunt Guinevere Ostrander at 323 North Audubon Road so that she could attend Butler University.  Sometime around 1929 she posed for this photograph in the front yard of her adopted home. Behind her you can see the family Hupmobile and beyond that you can see the home of Elmer and Emma Hughes at 326 North Audubon Road.  Mr. Hughes taught at Shortridge High School as did his adult daughter, Leda, who also dwelled in the house. Miss Ham was dressed in riding attire that day and welcomed Ginger the dog into the photo.

Amazingly, in 2015 you will note that the rock that Miss Ham sat upon for the photo still rests in the same spot nearly 90 years later. The Hughes home is still lovely although there have been some small changes over the years including the removal of an upstairs dormer and the railings at the upper story windows.

Mary Margaret Ham c1929 in front yard of 323 N. Audubon Road with "Ginger"

326 North Audubon Road in 2015

The historic image is courtesy of Nancy Ostrander.  

Who Lived Here? A University Avenue Cottage in 1926

In 1926, several thousand city residents submitted a photo to a publication titled Fellow Citizens of Indianapolis. (Jno. V. Coffield Publishing Company, Indianapolis) Most were men and all were white. Many of the citizens featured were rising stars in their profession. Irvington was well represented in the publication with dozens of names. Many of those individuals will be shared on this site.

Floyd Raymond Fisher (1892-1977) was just in the beginning of his career when he submitted his photo to the publication.  A manager for the American Central Life Insurance Company, Mr. Fisher had only recently married Elizabeth Louse Parker (1894-1989) in 1923. He likely purchased 5720 University Avenue in 1922 as a building permit record shows that he placed a furnace in the home in September of 1922. He might have also added on the Craftsman-era porch onto the small Queen Anne cottage.  By 1924, Mr. Fisher moved his wife into the house and shortly thereafter they welcomed their first son, Parker, who was born in the same year.  They would later have a second son, Floyd, Jr.

Their Irvington home was clearly just a starter house as Mr. Fisher continued to rise through the ranks of American Central Life. They left 5720 in 1930 for another 5720. Their next home was far grander and located at 5720 North Delaware Street.

If any member of the Fisher family has any photos of their time in Irvington, please contact me!

5720 University Avenue in 2015