USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Centennial history of Indianapolis : an outline history > Part 4
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Indiana School for the Blind. The central portion of this building is the original building, erected in 1853. The plans were made by John R. Elder. but revised by Francis Costigan, the Madison architect, who built the Lanier House and other notable structures in that city. Costigan added the steps in front of the building, and the cupola. The wings and additional buildings are more recent. The property is valued at $1,000,000, and has accommodations for 150 pupils. The purpose of the school is purely educational. All the common school branches are taught and a thorough course is given in several industrial trades, Tuition, board and washing are furnished by the State: . clothing and traveling expenses by parents or guardians. The school is open to all blind children of suitable capacity between the ages of eight and twenty-one years. Attendance is compulsory for children eight to sixteen years of age. There is also a system of industrial aid to the blind, under which a broom shop is maintained on West Twenty-eighth street.
Indiana State School for the Deaf. This institution, located for over sixty years on East Washington street, was removed in 1911 to a tract of 77 acres on Forty-second street, east of College avenue. It has 16 dormitories, with capacity for 400 inmates, and is well fitted with shops and other buildings,
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the property being valued at $1,000,000. The school is open to all deaf children of suitable capacity between the ages of eight and twenty-one years. Attend- ance is compulsory for children from eight to sixteen years of age. All main- tenance expenses are paid by the State, but the pupils must be supplied with clothing. This institution is not an asylum, but a school and a part of the State's educational system ..
Central Insane Hospital. This institution, opened in 1848 on a small scale, has grown to one of the largest of its kind in the United States. It has 160 acres of land, and 32 buildings, with 746,454 square feet of floor space, or nearly 18 acres. It has a pathological laboratory, completely equipped for scientific study and investigation. A lecture course for physicians and medical students is maintained. The property is valued at over $2,000,000.
Indiana Woman's Prison. Established by a law of 1869 as The Indiana Reformatory Institution for Women and Girls, this institution was opened Oct. 4, 1873, receiving all the women who had been in the State Prison at Jeffersonville. In 1903 the Legislature provided for the transfer of girls under 18 years of age to a new institution, to be located outside, but within ten miles of Indianapolis. The girls were moved in July, 1907, and the quarters thus vacated were remodeled and occupied as the correctional department of the Indiana Woman's Prison. This department, opened February 3, 1908, receives women misdemeanants, who would otherwise be sent to county jails. If the sentence is ninety days or less it is left to the discretion of the court whether the commitment shall be to the State or to the county institutions. The institution is managed solely by women, and is the only strictly penal institution in the world so managed.
Indiana Girls' School. Separated from the Indiana Woman's Prison in 1907, the girls under 18 were lodged in the new school, constructed on the cottage plan, located on a farm seven and one-half miles northwest of Indianapolis. Its postoffice is Clermont. Girls are committed by the courts until they are twenty-one years of age, the age limit for commitment being from ten to eighteen years. The girls are given thorough courses in school, manual and industrial training. They may be released on parole at the discretion of the board of trustees subject to supervision by visiting agents.
The City Hall. The ground was purchased at the northwest corner of Alabama and Ohio streets October 30, 1907, on which to erect the City Hall building, at a cost of $115.000. Building operations were begun in 1909, and on July 27, 1909, the corner-stone was laid. Before the construction of this build- ing the city offices were in rented quarters in different portions of the city. For many years the city rented rooms for the different offices in the Marion County Court House. The building cost about $700,000 and is one of the most important works of the administration of Mayor Charles A. Bookwalter.
The City Building, on South Alabama street, was erected in 1897. It is of oolitic limestone, three stories in height. In it are located the City Court, the city clerk's office, the city dispensary and the police department, together with the station house, or jail, and the morgue. +
Tomlinson Hall. This is the city's first building by donation. Daniel Tom- linson, a public-spirited citizen, left by will a considerable amount of real estate and other property to the city, for the erection of a public building on the East Market Square. The devise was accepted, but the purpose of the testator was not carried out until 1885, when the present building was erected. Since then it has been the principal place for holding conventions, fairs, concerts and other large public gatherings.
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Traction Terminal Station.
Marion County Court House is one of the largest and most substantial buildings in the city. It is of stone, steel and concrete structure. fire-proof except in the mansard roof. It was completed in 1877 at a cost of $1,750,000. It is occupied by the Circuit, Superior and Criminal Courts, the county library, Bar Association library and offices of the county clerk, recorder, sheriff, auditor, treasurer, assessor, coroner, surveyor and county commissioners.
County Jail. This was completed in 1892, and is a well-built structure of oolitic limestone. It cost $175,000. The sheriff's residence is in the building: and it is connected with the Court House by a tunnel.
HOSPITALS AND CHARITIES
City Hospital. The original city hospital was built in 1856, as the result of a smallpox scare, and was in a fair way to be abandoned, when the Civil War came on and it was taken for a military hospital. Additional frame buildings were erected, and it was used as a soldiers' home for a year after the war, when it again became the city hospital. The present south wing was completed in 1885, and the other buildings have been erected since that time. The hospital is under a superintendent appointed by the City Board of Health. The Indianapolis Training School for Nurses is conducted in the hospital. There is a separate hospital for tubercular patients on the hospital grounds, and a hospital for contagious diseases a few blocks north of the grounds. The sick poor are treated free of charge, but pay patients are also admitted.
St. Vincent's Hospital. When the city hospital was a military hospital, during the Civil War, four Sisters of Charity-Athanasia, Henrietta. Frances Ann, and Helena-volunteered as nurses. These were the corner-stones. After the war they opened a hospital in & small house near the rolling mill,
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on South Capitol avenue, From there they moved to a larger house on Georgia street; then to a double house on Capitol avenue, where the street car barns now stand, and, in 1881, to a building erected for them at Vermont and Liberty streets. In 1889 the hospital was removed to the substantial building on South street, and in 1913, to the present building on Fall Creek, between Illinois and Capitol avenue. This building and the grounds represent an in- vestment of $800,000.
Protestant Deaconess Hospital. The Protestant Deaconess Society of In- 1 dianapolis, organized in January, 1895, at once bought the property at Ohio and Senate avenue, on which were two frame houses, and opened the hospital in them in October of that year. The present building was occupied in 1908. The cost of buildings and grounds was about $300,000.
Methodist Episcopal Hospital. This institution. at Sixteenth and Capitol avenue, originated in a surplus fund of $4,000 at the Epworth League Inter- national Conference, at Indianapolis, in 1889. The fund grew gradually until the hospital was opened in 1908. The total investment is $650,000. It has the backing of all the Methodist organizations of the State.
Robert W. Long Hospital. This large and finely equipped hospital, dedi- cated June 15, 1914, is in the nature of a State institution, and is the result of a generous gift from Dr. Robert W. Long and wife. The building was erected at a cost of $250,000. It is managed by the Indiana University School of Medicine.
St. Francis Hospital. This hospital, at Beech Grove, was opened in 1915, and cost $180,000.
Orphan Asylums. The Indianapolis Orphan Asylum, originally incorporated in 1851, and now located on East Washington street, is in charge of an organ- ization of charitable ladies of the city. The Germans have two separate orphanages, the General Protestant Orphans' Home and the- Lutheran Orphans' Home. There is also a Home for Friendless Colored Children.
Other Charities. There are a number of charitable institutions in the city, including homes for aged people, rescue mission, and refuges for unfortunates of various kinds. The general charity work of the city is consolidated under one society, known as The Charity Organization, which has its offices in the Baldwin block, at Delaware and Market streets.
EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES
Public Schools. The school city of Indianapolis is a separate corporation, managed by a board elected by the people, and levying its own taxes. There are 73 graded schools and 3 high schools. Vocational training is given in all the schools, and two of the high schools-Manual Training and Technical- specialize in this line. The public school property is valued at over $6,000,000.
Free Kindergartens. The public school system is supplemented by the work of the Indianapolis Free Kindergarten and Children's Aid Society, which has 43 kindergartens in various parts of the city. They are supported by a tax of two cents on each $100. Mrs. Eliza A. Blaker is superintendent. The offices are at Alabama and Twenty-third streets.
Teachers' College. To some extent connected with the kindergarten work is the Teachers' College, for the training of teachers. It gives courses of two to four years, to graduates of high schools, with the special object of fitting them for teachers. Mrs. Eliza A. Blaker is president.
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Fletcher Savings and Trust Building.
Union Passenger Station.
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Masonic Temple.
Private Schools. In addition to the public schools there are 23 Catholic and Lutheran parochial schools, and one Hebrew school. There are also half- a-dozen schools under private management, both for boys and for girls, that maintain high standing.
Herron Art Institute. The handsome building and fine art galleries of this institution were made possible by a bequest of John Herron, which is supplemented by donations and service from other public-spirited citizens. It maintains an art school, for instruction in various departments of fine arts, which is partly supported by the city, and which is closely related with the public schools.
City Library. The city public library was established in 1873, as an adjunct of the public schools, and is controlled by the Board of School Commissioners. The central library, on St. Clair street between Meridian and Pennsylvania, was erected at a cost of $510,000, and was occupied on Oct. 17, 1917. It stands on grounds partially donated by James Whitcomb Riley. The reading room is open from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. on week days, and from 2 to 9 p. m. on Sundays. There are 14 branch libraries, in various parts of the city, each supplied with from 1,500 to 5,000 volumes, and newspapers and magazines, and having reading room facilities. Five of these are housed in special Carnegie buildings. The Bona Thompson Memorial library, at Irvington, is one of the branches. A special Business Branch for the use of business men, is maintained in the old library building, at Meridian and Ohio streets, and is open from 8:30 a. m. to 6 p. m. There are 220,000 volumes in the library. Any citizen may withdraw books for home use. For convenience in this, there are more than 50 delivery stations, in addition to the central and branch libraries, where books may be obtained and returned.
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Columbia Club Building.
Chamber of Commerce Building.
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Y. W. C. A. Building.
Other Libraries. The State library goes back to the beginning of the State, but it was poorly supported until 1889, when the Indiana Historical Society secured larger appropriations, and put it on the up grade. It occupies the south front of the second floor of the State House, and has over 70,000 volumes. It is especially valuable as a reference library for history, economics and public documents. The Marion County library is located in the Court House. It has over 5,000 volumes. It is open only on Saturdays, and is free to all citizens of the county. The State Law library, otherwise known as the Su- preme Court library, was originally part of the State library, but was separated from it in 1867. It has over 40,000 volumes of legal publications. There are a number of partially public libraries connected with various institutions and schools in the city.
Butler College. This-historically the college of the city-was incorporated in 1850 as Northwestern Christian University, and a handsome building was erected at Fourteenth street and College avenue. In 1873 it was removed to its present location in Irvington. In 1877, in recognition of large gifts from Ovid Butler, the present name was adopted. The grounds include over 25 acres, and there are six substantial buildings, besides the astronomical ob- servatory. Notable among the buildings are that of the Bona Thompson Memorial library and the Sarah Davis Deterding Missionary Training School. The latter, as the name implies, is specially devoted to training for foreign and home mission work, From the start Northwestern set an example to the world by admitting women on equal terms with men. Butler maintains a high collegiate standard, and while under Christian church management, is open to all. The president is Prof. Thos. C. Howe.
Indiana University School of Medicine. This medical college on the R. W. Long hospital grounds, representing a consolidation of several medical
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS
1.
Y. M. C. A. Building.
schools of the State, was adopted by the State University as its school of medicine in 1908. In addition to a full course of medical and surgical in- struction, the college has charge of the Robert W. Long Hospital and the City Dispensary, in the City Building. It also conducts the Bobbs Free Dis- pensary, established by a bequest from Dr. John S. Bobbs, in the college building. It conducts clinics in all the hospitals of the city. The dean of the college is Dr. Chas. P. Emerson.
Indiana Central University was incorporated October 6, 1902. It is con- ducted by the United Brethren Church of Indiana. The building and campus at University Heights, a mile south of the city, were donated to the institution by Wm. L. Elder of Indianapolis.
Indiana Law School. This school, organized in 1894, is the result of generous service by Indianapolis lawyers, who have acted as its professors and lec- turers. The various courts and law libraries of the city furnish exceptional opportunities for study. The dean is James A. Rohbach.
Indiana Dental College. This school was established in 1879. It gives prac- tice training, as well as instruction. Women are admitted on the same terms as men. The dean is Frederic R. Henshaw. The course is four years of eight months.
The Indiana Veterinary College was chartered in 1892. The college owns its own building, laboratories and equipment and occupies the quarter square at the northeast intersection of Market and Davidson streets. The course com- prises veterinary science in all its branches. The requirement for entrance is four years in a commissioned high school. The course covers a term of four sessions of eight months each. The college is under the supervision of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. W. B. Craig is Dean.
Indianapolis College of Pharmacy. Was organized in 1904 as a department of Winona Technical Institute, and later reorganized as a stock company. Its course is two years of six months each. The secretary is Edward H. Niles.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS
Maennerchor Building (Academy of Music)
BUILDINGS AND ORGANIZATIONS
The Indianapolis Board of Trade. The building of the Board of Trade, at Meridian and Ohio streets, is headquarters for the grain trade of the city. There is a grain call at noon of each business day. The board is the successor of the old Chamber of Commerce, and was organized June 12, 1882. Its mem- bership of over 500 includes many professional men as well as business men.
The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. This was organized in 1912. It is the result of a consolidation of the Indianapolis Commercial Club, the In- dianapolis Trade Association, the Indianapolis Freight Bureau, the Manu- facturers' Association and the Adscript Club. Later the Convention and Tour- ists' Bureau was absorbed. It owns the eight-story building at Meridian and Pearl streets, and occupies the upper four stories, being devoted to social and club activities as well as civic welfare.
The Propylaeum, on North street, west of Pennsylvania, is a woman's en- terprise. It was erected in 1888-9, and is devoted to the promotion of literary, social and general culture.
The Academy of Music. This building, at Illinois and Michigan streets, is the home of the Indianapolis Maennerchor, the oldest German organization of the city, inaugurated in 1854. The objects of the organization are musical and social.
The Columbia Club. This club, whose building is in Monument Place, is the oldest and most widely known political club of the city. The building was dedicated New Year's Eve, 1900. It is Republican, but also social to an extent precluding extreme partisanship.
The Indiana Democratic Club. This clubhouse, on Vermont street, opposite University Park, is a stronghold of Democracy, with social features.
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German House (Athenaeum)
The Marion Club, whose building is on Meridian street, opposite the Federal Building, is a Republican club, which makes politics its chief end. It is fully supplied with social accommodations.
The Athenaeum. This building, at New Jersey and Michigan streets, was known as Das Deutsche Haus until the late war. It was built by Der Deutsche Klub, the east wing in 1894, and the west in 1898. In 1899 this club consoli- dated with the Musikverein. In addition to social and musical features. the club maintains a Sunday school, a kindergarten, and a girls' industrial sel vo]. The Normal College of the American Gymnastic Union is located in the build- ing.
The Independent Athletic Club. This is the home of the Independent Turn- verein, organized in 1879. The building at Pratt and Meridia streets was erected in 1897, and took the place of the former quarters at Illinois and Ohio streets. It is devoted to social and athletic culture.
Y. M. C. A. Building. This fine edifice at Illinois and New York streets, was the result of a public subscription of $250.000 in 1907, in recognition of the work of the Association, which was organized in Indianapolis in 1854. In addition to equipment for moral and educational work, the building has a fine gymnasium, swimming pool, baths, dining room, and other social at- tractions.
Y. W. C. A. Building. Immediately after the subscription for the Y. M. C. A. $140,000 was raised for a building for "the girls." and it was erected on Pennsylvania street east of University Park. It is fully equipped with ae- commodations for teaching, gymnasium, swimming pool, apartments and din- ing room for young women, and other desirable features.
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Independent Turnverein (Independent Athletic Club)
Colored Y. M. C. A. Building. This building, at Senate avenue and Michigan streets, was erected in 1913 by a public subscription of $100,000. It serves all the purposes for the colored population that the Y. M. C. A. building serves for the white population.
Masonic Temple, at Illinois and North streets, erected in 1908, is the third temple building of the order in the city: The two preceding, the first com- pleted in 1851, and the second in 1877, stood on the southeast corner of Capitol and Washington. The present building, of oolitic limestone, attracts much notice by its monumental architecture.
The Odd Fellows' Building, at Washington and Pennsylvania streets, occu- pies the site of the former building of the order. erected in 1856, and torn down in 1907 The twelfth floor is occupied by Grand Lodge offices, and on the thirteenth, floor is an auditorum seating 1,500 persons.
Indiana Pythian Building. This, sometimes called "the flatiron," is at Massa- chusetts avenue and Pennsylvania. It is the home of the Knights of Pythias and was dedicated Aug. 14, 1907.
Murat Temple. Refuge of the Mystic Shrine, is the unique building at Michigan and New Jersey streets. It contains one of the finest theaters in the United States, which was opened on Feb, 28, 1910.
The University Club. This is the only club in Indianapolis for purely social purposes that maintains a building of its own. It is nominally re- stricted to college men. The building is at Meridian and Michigan.
The Canoe Club. This club, wholly for recreation, has a fine clubhouse on White river, opposite Riverside Park.
The Knights of Columbus have their clubhouse at the corner of Delaware and Thirteenth-formerly the home of Hugh McGowan.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS
HISTORICAL
NDIANAPOLIS was not a product of chance. When Indiana was admitted to the Union, in 1816, Congress adopted a reso- lution donating four sections of land to the State, on which to establish its capital. At that time the white population of Indiana, numbering about 65,000, was located in the southern third of the State, the central and northern thirds being held by the Indians. The four sections donated were to be located in these Indian lands, when the title to them was acquired.
The Indians relinquished their title to the central part of the State by the treaty of St. Mary's in October, 1818; and the large tract of land then ob- tained from them was thenceforth known as The New Purchase. On January 11, 1820 the Legislature adopted a law for the appointment by the Governor of ten commissioners who should select the four sections of the donation. Governor Jennings appointed George Hunt of Wayne County; John Conner, of Fayette; Stephen Ludlow, of Dearborn; John Gilliland, of Switzerland ; Joseph Bartholomew, of Clark; John Tipton, of Harrison; Jesse B. Durham, of Jackson; Frederick Rapp, of Posey; William Prince of Gibson. and Thomas Emmerson, of Knox. All of them, except William Prince, accepted the appointment and served. Governor Jennings also joined the commission - ers, and remained with them until the site of the capital was finally selected. They assembled at "the house of William Conner, on the West Fork of White River," on May 22, 1820, as provided by the law, and organized for their work by electing Hunt, chairman, and Benjamin I. Blythe, clerk.
The Location Chosen. It was understood that the capital would be located on the west Fork of White River, as it was the only navigable stream in the central part of the state. Three points on the river were considered : Con- ner's Station, about four miles below Noblesville; the mouth of Fall Creek, and the Bluffs, near Waverly. After careful examination of the region. the mouth of Fall Creek was chosen. The Delaware Indians called Fall Creek "Sok-pe-hel-luk" (i. e. Waterfall), referring to the falls at Pendleton, which were the only ones in central Indiana; and the Miamis called it "Chank-tun- oon-gi" (i. e. Makes a Noise Place), referring to the same falls. The mouth of the creek had the same names; and the Miamis still call Indianapolis "Chank-tun-oon-gi." At that time the mouth of the creek was only a short distance above Washington street. The present mouth was made by cutting a new channel for the creek along Tenth street, in 1875, and building a levee on its south bank.
There were several reasons for choosing this location, among others that the river banks afforded a good boat landing, that there was ample high and level ground for the city, and that Fall Creek and Eagle Creek were good mill streams. Another important consideration was that at the point where Washington street now crosses the river there were high banks on both sides of the stream, "insuring in times of high water a certain passage;" while for thirty miles below, and ten miles above there were bottom lands on one or both sides. At that time the National Road had been, located on a line 'that would have thrown it about eighteen miles south of Indianapolis, but it was later changed on account of this favorable crossing.
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