ARTICLES
100 Years Ago
A series of news articles about Irvington
Researched and Compiled by Steve Barnett,
Executive Director of the Irvington Historical Society
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ARTICLES 100 Years Ago |
NOTE: Some of these articles have also been published by the Eastside Voice.
1912
Thursday, May 16, 1912 Pleasant Run “went on a tear” today as a result of heavy rainfall and became a raging torrent. At Emerson Avenue the stream became so high that it flowed over the bridge. The water was about a foot deep on the bridge and people could not walk across. A man in the neighborhood came to the relief of the flood bound people with a push cart. When anyone came along to cross the bridge, the man loaded the passenger in the cart and waded through the water and delivered the rider on the other side.
Wednesday, May 15, 1912 A report filed today with County Auditor Patten shows that approximately 28,200 voters were enrolled under the new registration law during the three days of registration last week. In 1908 Marion County cast 70,580 votes for president, so this report shows that 40% of the county's voters have been registered. The political party managers expected this result during this session of the registrations boards. With the newness of the voter registration law and the unfamiliarity of the voters with this requirement, it was believed registration would be about one third of the total number of voters in the county. The political parties will make strong efforts to get out the rest of the voters at later registration sessions.
Tuesday, May 7, 1912 Residents of Irvington will be given a final opportunity tonight to oppose the city council’s proposal to change the name of Julian Avenue, one of the shaded and storied streets in which the suburb takes much pride, to commonplace Pearl Street. It is believed that residents of Irvington will offer considerable opposition to the proposed change.
Monday, May 6, 1912 Five trains totaling 85 railroad cars arrived yesterday in Indianapolis carrying the Ringling Bros. Circus and all preparations were completed for today's two performances. Hour by hour the trains arrived; the "big tent" was raised on the West Washington Street show grounds amid much activity. The show grounds bustled with smaller tents, shrouded wagons standing here and there, flags flying, and animals calling. This season the circus brings 930 circus workers, 350 performers, 650 horses, 1,000 animals from all over the world, including a herd of 40 elephants, to entertain Hoosiers of all ages.
Thursday, May 2, 1912 The Public Safety Board has requested police superintendent Hyland to investigate the feasibility of placing a ban on "catty-cornered" crossing at busy streets in the downtown districts. Under the proposed new ordinance, all pedestrians would have to take the long way around when crossing at street intersections. For example, if a person wanted to cross from the post office corner to the Denison Hotel, it would be necessary to cross Ohio Street first and then cross Pennsylvania Street, unless the pedestrian wanted to chance the corner policeman sending him back to try the new route until he succeeded in getting it. Those favoring this crossing change contend it would lessen traffic congestion in the downtown area during busy hours.
Wednesday, April 24, 2012 The woman suffrage meeting held last night at Tomlinson Hall under the auspices of the Equal Suffrage Association of Indiana and the Central Labor Union had an audience of 2,000 persons. This gathering is believed to have been the largest that has attended a suffrage meeting in the state's history. The Socialist almost "captured" the meeting and furnished much of the "ginger" which made the affair lively. Mayor Lew Shank was chairman of the meeting and received praise as the first Indiana public official to declare for suffrage. The Indianapolis Newsboys Band was among the evening's musical entertainment.
Friday, April 19, 1912 Scout Master Elmer Martin reports the Irvington Presbyterian Troop No. 3 now has a membership of over 30 boys. Meetings are held every Friday evening in the camp room at the church. The boys of the Irvington Methodist Troop No. 9 celebrated the first anniversary of their organization a few evenings ago at a banquet served by the boys which formed the feature of the program. A class in amateur photography has been formed among the Troop 9 boys with William Hogle as instructor.
Friday, April 12, 1912 Lew Shank II, the big Plymouth Rock rooster, died today from blood poisoning. His death is believed to have been due to the numerous encounters with all of the other Irvington roosters in which he unwillingly engaged. Having little knowledge of the art of self defense, the big rooster was the subject of attacks, and while he could not run away from his assailant, he invariably got the worst of the encounter.
Friday, March 29, 1912 Fred E. Schortemeier, editor-in-chief of the Butler Collegian, has made the announcement that all slang is to be “tabooed” in the columns of the paper. He announced to his staff of writers that henceforth a baseball pitcher must be called a pitcher and not a twirler, and that a catcher must be called a catcher and not a backstop. The Collegian is carrying on a campaign for cleaner and better English.
Saturday, March 23, 1912 The students at Butler College, through the columns of the school’s paper, the Butler Collegian, have asked that Irwin Field, Butler’s athletic ground, be enlarged and reconstructed. The students have asked that the running track be made a full quarter mile so that a better football field can be marked off on the inside. New and more adequate bleachers have been asked for, too. With these improvements, the students argue, Butler would have a model athletic field and all of its football contests could be held there. No longer would the big games have to be played at Washington Park . Also with a remodeled field other colleges in the state will likely use Irwin Field as a neutral battleground. One of the colleges most anxious to see Irwin Field used for this purpose is Indiana University .
Wednesday, March 13, 1912 The meeting of the Butler College Roosevelt Club was to have been held at the college this morning for the purpose of stirring up interest in the Roosevelt rally at Tomlinson Hall tonight. However, Will Mills, president of the Butler Roosevelt Club, could gather together only a handful of supporters, so the meeting was not held.
Saturday, March 9, 1912 The first bank to be established in Irvington, and known as the East Side State Bank, will be opened to the public at 9 o’clock this morning. Its opening will continue until 9 o’clock at night. All are invited to visit the bank whether they become depositors or not. Souvenirs will be distributed. The bank is located at 5450 E. Washington Street , and is incorporated under the laws of Indiana . Its board of directors consists of B. F. Terrell, George Russell, Demarchus Brown, W. E. Morris, William Gale, S. I. Carr, and W. H. Moffett. Mr. Moffett is president and Mr. Morris is cashier.
Wednesday, March 6, 1912 H. E. Barnard, the state board of health's chief chemist has undertaken to estimate the average monthly deposit of soot in the city's Mile Square during the winter months. The data obtained will be used by the state board in its fight for pure air. When the recent snow covered the Mile Square and was not not moved in places for 24 hours, 120 square foot samples of snow surface were taken in this area and the examination disclosed that one sample taken near the Circle indicated that soot was deposited at the rate of 33 pounds to the acre in 24-hours. The smallest deposit discovered was two to three pounds to the acre near North and Meridian streets.
Saturday, March 2, 1912 Irvington ’s carefully nurtured sensibilities have suffered a jolt and a howl has arisen such as has not been heard in all the peaceful history of the classic suburb. A billboard for several vacant lots at Washington St and Butler Av proclaiming, “Build in Irvington , the Beautiful,” has stirred the ire of the citizenry. Irvingtonian Grace Julian Clark, who is prominent among the city’s workers for civic improvement and civic beauty, asserted, “I am opposed on principle to billboards anywhere, and particularly in Irvington….Billboards are unsightly when viewed from any angle, and it is a shame to have our community marred.”
Wednesday, February 21, 1912 A mass meeting of the citizens of Irvington was held last night at the Irvington Presbyterian Church to arrange tentative plans for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of Irvington. At the meeting which was arranged by several of the women’s clubs of Irvington it was decided to have a ‘home coming day” some time during the summer, and Charles M. Cross was elected chairman and Mrs. Vida T. Cottman secretary of the committee to complete the plans for the celebration. The adjoining estates of Sylvester Johnson and James T. Layman, two of the oldest residents of Irvington, are to be used for the celebration.
Tuesday, February 13, 1912 Irvington residents were awakened early yesterday morning by revolver shooting near the chicken coop in the rear of the home of Joseph Karns, 5432 Julian Av, where two patrolmen found a dog, believed to have been mad, had killed nine chickens. The patrolmen do not know whether the dog was hit, although several shots were fired at it. The dog is believed to have been the victim of a mad dog in Irvington several weeks ago.
Sunday, February 11, 1912 Butler 23, Indiana 17. Look again, if there seems to be anything wrong with the vision. The millennial dawn is visible in the basket ball world for the state school last night went down in no uncertain defeat before the Butler basket ball quintet in a game staged in the local collegians’ gymnasium. The victory of the Butler squad was the first time the Irvingtonians have ever triumphed over the state school on the basket ball floor. The teams have been meeting for several years and the initial victory caused the Butlerites to celebrate the event with great enthusiasm.
Wednesday, January 31, 1912 There was another tie-up on the Irvington street car line this morning between 7:00 and 8:00 o’clock. A lame interurban car could not make the grade west of Emerson Av, and before the blockade was lifted sixteen city cars were lined up behind the lame duck. East- Enders declared a blue, cylindrical cloud was seen ascending over those cars as a result of diversified language that was used. It was reckoned at least 50 men and women in the tie-up missed trains out of the city that they were hoping to make; 800 men, women and boys were late at their offices, stores or factories, and 25 policemen and firemen were late at roll call. Two hundred of the belated travelers were happy, or at least not hopelessly depressed, high school students coming into the city and Butler College students going out to the suburb, all destined to miss first recitations.
Sunday, January 28, 1912 Sylvester Johnson, 62 S. Audubon Rd , will celebrate his 90th birthday on Jan 31. Johnson, along with Jacob Julian, founded the classic suburb of Irvington. A Union County, Indiana native, Johnson resided in Wayne County for many years. He has been a school teacher, United States mail agent, and two-term Wayne County auditor. Johnson attributes his long life to temperate habits; never touching intoxicants; eating carefully and sleeping during the early part of the night. “Sound sleep, fresh air and exercise are the best health producers that it is in nature’s power to provide.”
Friday, January 19, 1912 George Cullen “Cully” Thomas has been named general athletic coach of Butler College and will direct all branches of sports next year. The appointment was made by President Thomas Carr Howe and ratified by the faculty committee of the board of directors of the college. The big six foot-four Thomas, the best all-round athlete that Butler has had in many years if not in the history of the college, is completing his senior year and will assume his post after graduation.
Wednesday, January 10, 1912 The board of county commissioners has referred to Judge Remster, of the Circuit Court, the report of the grand jury in which it was recommended that a better grade of food be supplied to the children in the Children’s Guardians’ Home. Judge Remster is in charge of the board which supervises the institution. The grand jury recommended that food which is adapted to growing children be supplied at the institution.
Friday, January 5, 1912 The young women of Butler College averaged 77.66%, while the young men averaged 72.05% during the fall term, according to a compilation of statistics prepared by Prof. E. N. Johnson of the college faculty. The non-sorority women averaged 77% while the Greek women averaged 76%; the non-fraternity men made an average of 73%, while the Greek men averaged 70%. The members of the Kappa Gamma sorority made the highest average of any of the Greek letter organizations. The Kappas made an average of 77.86%, which was .3% above the average of 77.83% made by the Kappa Alpha Theta girls. Pi Beta Phi was third with an average of 74.90%. Sigma Chi heads the list of fraternities with an average of 73.40%, Delta Tau Delta is second with an average of 70.75% and Phi Delta Theta, third, with 67.50%.
1911
Saturday, July 22, 1911 Joseph Stapert, a dairyman living at 5216 Brookville Rd, escaped a charge of selling milk containing visible dirt this morning in police court. Stapert was arrested on a warrant signed by a health officer who alleges he bought a bottle of milk coming from Stapert’s dairy which contained foreign matter. When Stapert was arraigned for trial, the court was informed that through a mistake the “evidence” against Stapert had been spilled in the city laboratories.
Monday, July 10, 1911 A delegation of about 100 Irvington citizens submitted a petition to the board of public works today asking the extension of city street car service over the tracks of the Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction Co in East Washington St from Audubon Rd to the city limits, a distance of ¾ of a mile. James A. Everitt called attention to the fact that many persons in the district that would be accommodated by the extension now have to walk as many a six blocks to reach a city car. He said the extension would mean very little expense to the Indianapolis Traction & Terminal Co because there are no tracks to be built, aside from providing a loop, and the street car companies are owned by the same interests.
Saturday, July 8, 2011 A preliminary order to pave Lowell Av from Hawthorne Ln to Arlington Av with asphalt was adopted yesterday by the board of public works. It is expected a majority of resident property owners will file a petition for asphalt. Residents of Lowell Av have tried for many years to have their street paved, but were always unable to get approval because the cost would be more than 50% of the appraised value of the ground. This year, when new appraisements were made, property owners saw to it that the valuations were made high enough to permit pavement.
Thursday, June 29, 1911 A number of members of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority of Butler College are living in the log cabin, leased by the chapter in N. Irvington Av. In the college year the cabin is used by the members for social purposes, but none of the members live there.
Saturday, June 24, 1911 William Forsyth’s advanced painting class has been enjoying the fine weather by working out of doors along the banks of Pleasant Run, north of Irvington. Mr. Forsyth’s Irvington studio has been made headquarters for the class.
Saturday, June 17, 1911 Indianapolis Public Schools announced assignments for the 1911-12 year. At Irvington School, No. 57, Principal Inez Elliott will be in charge of the following teaching staff: Departmental teachers: Deborah Edgeworth, Augusta Stowe, and Lola Nusbaum. Grades: 6a & 6b, Anna Byram; 6b & 5a, Gladys Gratz; 5b Irene Difford; 4a & 4b Maude Wertz; 4b & 3a, Verena Denzler; 3a & 3b, Clara Goe; 3b & 2a, Alice Pavey; 2b & 1a, Alta Nichols; 1a & 1b, Charlotte Read.
Thursday, June 8. 1911 H. E. Barnard, commissioner of the State Board of Health’s Food & Drug Department, issued clean-up notices to 87 Indianapolis food producing and distribution concerns. Three groceries and one bakery in Irvington are among those ordered to take corrective action. E. Dirks & Co, 5446 E. Washington St, was cited for toilets in the workroom with no ventilating flues; J. H. Karns, 5424 E. Washington St, was cited for unclean toilets; C. A. Vollrath, 203 S. Audubon Rd, was cited for not having screened windows and doors, and for keeping butter with meat; Jennie C. Woodmansee, 5460 E. Washington St, was cited for not protecting pastry.
Friday, June 2, 1911 Prof. George H. Danton of the German department of Butler College entertained the German students of the college last night at the South Audubon Road home of Pres. Howe. A playlet was presented by members of the beginning classes entitled, ‘Gott sei Dank, der Tisch ist Gedeckt [Thank God, the Table is Covered].” The play was given under the direction of Anna F. Weaver, instructor in German.
Wednesday, March 1, 1911 Sixteen Butler College Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority coeds were suspended by President Thomas Carr Howe this afternoon because they danced until 12:10 a.m. instead of stopping promptly at midnight as required by a recent college regulation. The sorority members left the Woodruff Place clubhouse, where the dance was held, and returned to Irvington on the last regular East Washington Street car which leaves Illinois and Washington Streets at 12:35 a.m. They say they took the liberty to complete their program as they were so nearly finished at midnight. Mr. and Mrs. George C. Embody of the college faculty were chaperons at the dance. |
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