The Floods of Beechwood Avenue

Beechwood Avenue sits neither higher nor lower than any other street in southern Irvington. It is not near any stream, yet for decades the street has filled with water after a drenching rain. Some years are worse than others. This issue has not abated in 2012. Clearly, this is an engineering issue.

In these historic images taken in August of 1955, you can see that the street turned into a major stream. In the top photo, several children float down the street. Three kids in the middle of the canoe have been identified as Joe Romer, Dennis Krauss, and Gary Krauss. Besides the hilarity of the picture, I also enjoy seeing the houses across the street. The Queen Ann-style cottage directly behind the young people is 5806 Beechwood Avenue. Note the fish scale shingles in the gable and the unusual classical columns on the front porch. In the contemporary image of the same view, you will note that the house is now sheathed in aluminum siding and that the columns are gone. I was particularly struck by the fact that the weeping ornamental tree in the front yard in 1955 still exits in 2012! You can also see the brick home just to the east at 5814 Beechwood.

The twelve-year old cameraman, Bill Ferling, also turned his camera northwest to capture a car driving through the giant puddle. Behind the auto, you can see both 5736 and 5744 Beechwood Avenue. Bill lived across the street at 5823 Beechwood. The contemporary images show the same views in 2012 sans the water. These wonderful historic images are courtesy of Bill Ferling.

Sledding in Ellenberger Park--1925

William Schneider and his daughter, Evelyn, pose for a photo in 1925 towards the bottom of the Ellenberger Park sledding hill. The Schneiders had recently moved into their newly-built home at 327 Poplar Road in the Pleasanton section of Irvington. The family could have easily walked to the park from their house. This historic image is courtesy of Bill Ferling.

A Bike Ride Through Irvington--1937

Evelyn Scheider, the daughter of William and Myrtle Schneider, grew up in the Pleasanton section of Irvington at 327 Poplar Road. This lovely part of the neighborhood is just east of Emerson Avenue, one block north of East New York Street, and just south of Michigan Street. In this photo, Evelyn at the far left, poses with her friends just as they begin to embark on a bike ride on June 12, 1937. We have the first names of the young women, but not the last names so if you recognize anyone please let us to know. Besides Evelyn, they are listed as Vera, Mary Jean, Kathryn, Wanda, and Phyllis. Both houses in the photo are standing and are now part of the Pleasanton National Register Historic District. This wonderful photo is courtesy of Bill Ferling.

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

Setting Up Housekeeping in 1937

In December of 1937, newlyweds Tom and Evelyn Ferling set up housekeeping in their small apartment at the Mary Elizabeth (4801 East Washington Street) in unit number six. This incredible snapshot gives us some insight as to some of the wonderful decor from the 1930s. I especially enjoy the tall radio dominating the small living room and the art deco ashtray. The couple both grew up in the Irvington area with Tom living on Bosart Avenue and Evelyn on Poplar Road. Within a few years, the young couple would see many changes including Tom's stint in the navy during World War II, and the birth of their two children. They eventually settled at 5823 Beechwood Avenue.

The historic image is courtesy of Bill Ferling. The contemporary image shows the Mary Elizabeth during the winter of 2012.

A Father and Son--1929

The Finch family lived in several houses in Irvington. In these two photos, Lewis and Richard Finch stand in front of 392 Downey Avenue. Behind them you can see 373 Burgess Avenue, a Dutch Colonial style home. (Downey Avenue turns into Burgess as it crosses South Ritter Avenue) Herman Orville Brenton, the former State Highway Commissioner, and his wife Mary A. dwelled in that home in 1929. The contemporary photo shows the same scene on January 29, 2012. The historic images are courtesy of Evan Finch. You may learn more about the Finch family by clicking on the link below.

Camping in the Backyard--1930

The Finch brothers and their downstair's neighbor, Jeanine Smith pose for a photo next to the family tent in the side yard at 304 North Drexel Avenue in 1930. The home, split into two apartments, actually sits on the northwest corner of East New York Street and North Drexel Avenue. Although their front door faced Drexel, the Finch's upstairs living room faced busy New York Street. Years later, George Finch reported that the home was not a very quiet place in which to dwell with traffic whizzing by, including the city buses, whose tires sometimes hit the curb next to the house. Luther and Hazel Smith and their family lived downstairs at 4524 East New York Street. The Finch and Smith children had an easy walk to school as the Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School ( #58) was less than a block away.

In this historic photo, Richard (Dick) Finch sits behind his younger brother George. Jeanine Smith holds the baby, Robert (Bob) Finch. The small enclosed yard provided a perfect place to put up a tent. The street behind the children is Drexel Avenue. The historic image and stories are courtesy of Evan Finch.