USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Hyman's handbook of Indianapolis : an outline history and description of the capital of Indiana, with over three hundred illustrations from photographs made expressly for this work (1907) > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
SOUTH SIDE TURNVEREIN.
INDEPENDENT TURNVEREIN.
142
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
The Bismarck is one of the most popular cafes in the city. It is located at Nos. 23 and 25 East Pearl street, in the heart of the wholesale and shopping district. The service is excellent, the prices are moderate, and not only the best edibles that the market affords can be had here, but also the best-known brands of imported and domestic wines, beer, liquors and cigars. The Bismarck is famed for its business man's noonday lunch, and it is visited daily by the most prominent business and professional men of the city. It is under the management of F. J. Arens & Son, who give the business their personal attention and who thoroughly understand how to meet the requirement of the most ex- acting.
Other Hotels and Cafes-The city has many other hotels and res- taurants, where lodgings and meals can be obtained at prices to suit patrons. Among the more notable are the Occidental, the Stubbins, the Oneida, and the Sherman House, where the service is very good.
The Bertha Ballard-This is one of the most unique and practical institutions of its kind in the country. It was founded originally in 1890, and known as the Friends' Boarding House for Girls, and was conducted as such until 1900, when W. H. Ballard, a prominent busi- ness man of this city, presented the institution with its present magnifi- cent building and grounds as a memorial to his daughter. It is con- ducted for the sole purpose of providing a home for self-supporting girls, where they can obtain every comfort desired at actual cost.
The Mutual Service Association is an organization that was formed in 1904 for the mutual benefit of professional and working girls of In- dianapolis. The organization maintains a beautiful home in a large park near Fairview, where accommodations are furnished the mem- bers at a cost of from $3.00 to $4.00 a week. In the summer tents are erected upon the grounds for the accommodation of the members, where they are afforded all of the benefits of an outdoor life. It maintains an employment bureau free of cost and looks after the personal wel- fare of those connected with the organization.
Clubs and Social Organizations-Club life in Indianapolis has be- come to be one of its most prominent and interesting features. There are nearly 250 organizations and miscellaneous societies representing club life, in the city. These embrace social, political, literary, musical, dramatic, athletic, driving clubs, etc. Some of the club houses in point of construction and equipment are the equal of the finest in the country and represent an investment of many thousands of dollars, affording their members a variety of luxuries and delights not possible at home.
The South Side Turnverein is located on Prospect street in one of the most substantial club buildings in the city. The building was erected in December, 1900, and dedicated January 20, 1901, with all prominent German organizations participating in the celebration.
PROPYLAEURI
CERVI
E
THE PROPYLAEUM.
144
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
The Independent Turnverein-This society was organized Jannary, 1879. The present handsome club house was erected in 1885. It is equipped with the best bowling alleys in the West. The building is one of the most substantial contributions to club architecture in the city.
Indianapolis Maennerchor was organized in 1854, and is one of the oldest and most influential German organizations in this city. It has given in concerts and in courses of instruction the best works of Ger- man composers, and it has been potent in developing the love for music in this community. Its membership is composed of active members who are musicians or students, and others to whom the social features of the organization appeal. In 1906 it erected its present magnificent building on the northwest corner of Michigan and Illinois streets, and it is one of the finest examples of club architecture in America. It is sumptuously furnished and is fitted with all the conveniences necessary to modern club life. A unique feature of the building is the beautiful roof garden.
The Boys' Club is located at the corner of Madison avenue and Me- ridian street. It is conducted by the Boys Club Association that was
BOYS' CLUJB AND MANUAL TRAINING HIGH SCHOOL.
SCOTTISH RITE BUILDING.
146
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
organized for the purpose of supplying needy boys with assistance and surrounding them with such influences as would tend to make self- respecting and self-supporting men of them. The club maintains a free reading-room, baths and gymnasium and is open to boys from ten to twenty years of age.
The Indianapolis Propylaeum was incorporated June 6, 1888, for the purpose of promoting and encouraging literary and scientific en- deavors, also for erecting and maintaining a suitable building that would provide a center of higher culture for the public, and particularly for the women of Indianapolis. The organization of the Propylaeum was due to the suggestion of Mrs. May Wright Sewall. The member- ship of the organization is composed exclusively of women. The lead- ing organizations of the city, both those composed of women only, and those composed of both men and women, find in the Propylaeum suit- able quarters for their meetings. The building which is owned by the association is striking in appearance, of modern Romanesque architec- ture, and constructed of oolitic limestone, brick and iron. The location is beautiful, fronting upon the grounds of the Institution for the Blind. The building is handsomely furnished throughout with exceptional facilities and convenient accommodations for club meetings, banquets, lectures, public and private receptions, concerts, art exhibits, and, in general, for all social, literary, musical and other gatherings for which private houses are too small and public halls too large, too inconvenient or for various reasons unattractive.
The Dramatic Club, which was incorporated in 1891, is the out- growth of an organization of young ladies formed to give dramatic performances. The first play given by the club was at the Propylaeum, where it still continues to hold its meetings. While the prime object of the club is to entertain its members and friends, it has been instru- mental in arousing thought and intellectual interest in the art of acting. Plays of remarkable dramatic power as well as of fine literary merit have been written by some of its members, notable among which are the productions of Mrs. Margaret Butler Snow, Miss Louise Garrard, Miss Susan Van Valkenburg and Newton Booth Tarkington. In the years of its existence the club has more than fulfilled the expectations of its founders, aud has proved to be a public benefactor. Its plays have often been repeated for charity.
Art Association of Indianapolis was organized May 7, 1883, and in- corporated on October 11, 1883. The object of the organization is the cultivation and advancement of art, and the establishment of a perma- nent art museum in this city. To this end it gives exhibitions, provides lectures and purchases works of art; only one year since its organiza- tion has it failed to hold an annual exhibition,
1
-
OFFICES INDIANAPOLIS LIFE INSURANCE CO.
OFFICES INDIANAPOLIS FIRE INSURANCE CO.
148
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
Marion Club maintains its club house on North Merid- ian, opposite the site of the new federal building. It is maintained for the purpose of promoting the interests of Republicanism and has a very large and ac- tive member- ship, which emu- braces some of the most high- ly honored and popular men in the Republican party.
THE BLACHERNE.
The Indiana Club was organized this year by prominent Democrats of the city and state for the purpose of advancing the interests of their political organization in local, state and national affairs.
The Canoe Club maintains a splendidly equipped club house in. Riverside park on the east bank of White river. It has a member- ship of about 300 business and professional men, who enjoy boating and give encouragement to aquatic sports. Beside the club house its members own numerous steam and electric launches, canoes and other craft, which are cared for in a well-appointed boathouse. A toboggan slide is one of the interesting amusement features of the club.
The Country Club is one of the most prominent social clubs of this city. It has a handsome home about four miles north of the city, near Fairview park, overlooking the canal.
The Americus Club is a social club maintained by the prominent Jewish citizens of this city.
Other Club and Society Buildings-Among other notable club and society buildings are the Scottish Rite building on South Pennsylvania street, the Elks' Club building on East Maryland street, the University Club on North Meridian street, the club buildings erected by the Knights of Pythias lodges on East Ohio street.
-
-
CANOE CLUB, RIVERSIDE PARK.
COUNTRY CLUB.
150
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
The Indianapolis Board of Trade This organization was orlg- inally known as the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and was or- ganized June 12, 1882. Shortly after this date the corporate name of the association was changed, and it has since been known as the In- dianapolis Board of Trade. Its membership is composed at present of five hundred of the leading business and professional men of the city, with a few non-resident members.
The objects of the association are to promote the commercial, finan- cial, industrial, and other interests of the city of Indianapolis; to secure uniformity in commercial usages and customs; to facilitate business in- tercourse ; to promote commercial ethics and to adjust differences and disputes in trade. This was not the first commercial organization formed in the city. The history of the city informs us that at various times, associations of a similar character were formed, the first of which came into existence about the year 1895 or 1836. None of these early associations were successful and each failed for want of proper support.
'The Board of Trade is the headquarters of the grain trade in this city, and by it the Indianapolis cash grain market is established through ยท the medium of its grain call, which takes place each day at 12 o'clock noon. The Board of Trade is in every sense a business organization and wields much beneficient influence in shaping the affairs of the city.
The following are a few of the more prominent affairs in which it has rendered valuable service and aided in securing for this city. The new Federal building and postoffice, the army post, the national mone- tary convention, the Soldiers' Monument, the present city charter, the Fall Creek boulevard, the Columbia Day celebration held here in 1892, the Liberty Pell demonstration, etc. In addition to the above we re- count the numerous occasions when its relief committee has secured funds and distributed same to the many sufferers by storm, flood, fire and other calamities that have visited various portions of the state and nation.
The Board of Trade has recently erected a fine eight-story office building on the southeast corner of Meridian and Ohio streets, which is acknowledged to be one of the most modern and substantial office buildings In the central West. The rooms used by the Board are located on the seventh floor and are all furnished in a manner befitting the dignity of the association and reflecting great credit upon its mem- bers. These rooms consist of a large assembly room, governing commit- tee's room, secretary's office, parlor and reading room, committee rooms, dining room, kitchen, etc. The new building has given quite an im- petus to the membership on account of the social features which have been inaugurated, and the younger element of business men are becoming more interested in the affairs of the association.
151
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
The Commercial Club was organized in January, 1890, by twenty- seven business and professional men of Indianapolis, the membership of which increased within a month to nearly a thousand. Its name does not fully indicate the club's purpose, which is not commercial in a sense of devotion to trade interests, but is broadly stated to make the Indiana capital a better place to live in. The club's influence has not only been felt at home but throughout the world. It was instrumental a few weeks after its organization in bringing together the street paving ex- position of Indianapolis. Up to this time no definite system had been discovered for the uniform paving of streets and the result of this con- gress was the adoption of the present plan of asphalt paving, not only in Indianapolis, but throughout America and foreign countries. Among other work to which the club has given it assistance and co-operation are the securing of a new city charter, the inauguration of a system of street improvements and of sewerage, the promotion of a park system, railroad track elevation, the location of new industries, etc. In a word the club's accomplishment is that no one's thought for the betterment of the community has had to be unrealized for want of co-operation. With a view to permanence in this effort of public spirit an eight-story stone front building was erected by the club in 1890, at the southwest corner of Meridian and Pearl streets as its home. The club membership is now in excess of 1,400 members.
MASONIC TEMPLE.
152
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
Places of Amusement-These consist of six theaters. English Opera House is devoted to the production of the highest class. the Grand Opera House and the Majestic to fashionable vaudeville, the Park Theater to popular-priced plays and the Empire and Gayety The- aters are devoted to burlesque. In addition to these are numerous small- er places of attraction. For sum- mer amusements the principal one is Fairbank, situated on North Illinois street on the north bank of Fall creek. It is one of the most beautiful gardens in the United States, and in the season the most notable bands and orchestras in the world give concerts here.
117777 BRO ELLS 71111
B. P. O. ELKS* BUILDING.
Indiana State Fair, which is held in Indianapolis in the fall of the year, is the great event that attracts thousands of In- dianians with their families to the Hoosier capital. It is the annual exhibition of progress in agriculture, horticulture, stock raising and the various depart- ments of husbandry. In 1893 the State Board of Agriculture secured the beautiful tract of 214 acres northeast of the city it now has covered with conve- nient buildings, including the magnificent coloseum erected in 1907, which is one of the finest and largest in this country. The ground formerly occupied by the fair was sold in 1892 for $275,- 000, and is now one of the most attractive residential districts in the city.
The Race Track, located on the state fair grounds, is one of the best in the country. The track and its accessories are of ideal con- struction and consists of a mile track with a half-mile within it for training purposes and for the purpose of expediting races while they are in progress on the main track. The stabling, blue grass, water, shaded drives, etc., are exceptionally fine.
OVERHEAD AND UNDERFOOT
BRIDGES, TUNNELS, SEWERS, AQUEDUCTS, WATER, LIGHTING BY GAS AND ELECTRICITY, TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONES.
The demands of a modern metropolis require easy, rapid and safe means of transit, and for the health, comfort and convenience of its citizens extensive sewer, water, heating and lighting facilities. In this respect Indianapolis has kept abreast of the most progressive cities in the country, and over head and under foot it has much of interest and value. Beneath the principal streets there is a network of pipes of all descriptions, sewers and water mains, conduits for electric light, telephone and telephone wires, and over and under the railroads, tunnels and viaducts. Were it not for these conveniences overhead and underground the activities of the city would be hampered to a considerable extent.
Marion County Heating and Lighting Plant-Dur- ing 1900 a power-house was erected on the grounds of the county jail, a tunnel was constructed leading from the power-house to the basement of the court-house, and
E
MARION COUNTY HEATING AND LIGHTING PLANT.
154
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
THE AQUEDUCT OVER FALL CREEK.
the entire sanitary. lighting and heating system of the court house was taken out and the county's own system installed.
The Aqueduct carries the water of the canal over Fall creek. It is located northwest of the city and is maintained by the Indianapolis Water Company.
Virginia Avenue Viaduct is the only structure of this character in the city, and it affords easy, safe and rapid passage for pedestrians, vehicles and street cars over the numerous railroads that cross the avenue.
Illinois Street Tunnel, under the Union Railway Station, was the first engineering work of this kind completed in this city. It is for the convenience of vehicles and pedestrians and carries Illinois street under the railroad tracks.
Conduit Systems-The telegraph, telephone and electric light com- panies maintain complete conduit systems in the original mile square, which embraces the entire business district of the city. There are in all thirty-two miles of conduits, through which the wires of the com- panies are carried to all parts of the city.
Track Elevation in Indianapolis was started by the Commercial Club at a meeting held in 1894, based on recommendations made in a
155
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
BUILT BY WM. FIFE & BOND.
THIRTIETH STREET BRIDGE OVER FALL CREEK.
very thorough report submitted by William Fortune, treating the vari- ous methods of abolishing grade erossings and showing what had been accomplished iu other cities. The meeting anthorized the appoint- ment of a permanent commission on track elevation to continue the effort in Indianapolis until successful. The commission was headed in the beginning by Col. Eli Lilly as chairman and William Fortune as secretary. On the death of Col. Lilly in 1898, Mr. Fortune became the chairman, and has since continued at the head of the commission, which was persistent in its efforts with city officials, and before the State legislature and the courts. A campaign of education was con- ducted for several years, and the question was an issue at several mu- nicipal elections. In 1898 an ordinance was passed under the Taggart administration regarding elevation of tracks, but was defeated in the courts. Finally in 1905, under the Holtzman administration, track ele- vation at. the Massachusetts avenne crossing was started and was com- pleted in 1906. The enactment of a state law by the legislature was also brought about in 1905, providing for track elevation at an annual expenditure not exceeding $400,000, of which not over twenty-five per cent. should be paid by the city and county. Under this law the ele- vation of the tracks through the center of the city east from White
156
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
2
5
4
3
1-MORRIS ST. BRIDGE. 2-WEST MICHIGAN ST. BRIDGE. 3-CENTRAL AVE. BRIDGE. 4-WASHINGTON ST. BRIDGE. 5-NORTHWESTERN AVE. BRIDGE.
river was begun in 1905 and has continued under Mayor Bookwalter's administration. It is now the established policy of the city to abolish grade crossings and to elevate the railroad tracks wherever this is the most practical method. The elevation at Massachusetts avenue has been of incalculable benefit to the section of the city lying east of the tracks, and it has been the contention of the Commercial Club commission that the elevation of the tracks will be the solution of the greatest problem affecting the physical development of the city at its present stage of growth.
The Indianapolis Light and Heat Company, as a result of a merger of the earlier central stations, came into existencee in 1905. Its equip- ment is equal to the best and largest power and light plants in the world. The business of the company consists in supplying electricity for all of the various uses to which this potential form of energy can be applied. Its most general application is for municipal lighting, in the use of which over 1,800 are lamps, of 2,000 candle power, are employed ; in the illumination of stores and residences, using approximately 400,000 incandescent lamps, and in the use of current as power in the various industrial establishments, elevators, newspaper offices, etc., and for all the varied and numerous other uses for which it is readily economically
157
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
INDIANAPOLIS LIGHT AND HEAT CO.'S KENTUCKY AVE. STATION.
employed ; over 16,000 horsepower is furnished by the company. The station of the company, located at the crossing of the Vandalia railroad and Kentucky avenue, has a combined output of 10,000 horsepower, and the Mill street station 6,000 horsepower. Located on Bird street, next to the Willoughby building, on North Meridian street, the company has installed the third largest storage battery in the world, with a-reserve energy equivalent to 3.000 horsepower, sufficient to supply its entire system for one-half hour in case of an emergency, or it can be used at any time to take part of the station's load should it become necessary. The amount of ciectric output of this company is greater per capita than that of any other station in the United States. This result has' been brought about largely by the policy of the company in giving to the consumer the benefits of the cheapening processes as rapidly as they have been adopted. In ne city in the country, under similar circum- stances, is electricity sold so cheaply. A notable evidence of this is the lavish use of electricity by the merchants of the city for decorative and display purposes. The electrical signs and decorations on the main thoroughfares in this city are not equalled by the profuse displays on Broadway, New York City. All of the company's wires in the mile
158
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
INDIANAPOLIS LIGHT AND HEAT CO.'S MILL ST. STATION.
square which embraces the entire business section of the city are car- ried underground in a comprehensive conduit-system-the largest main in the world employed in the distribution of the Edison system of light- ing. The installation of the underground system began in 1889. The company is purely a local one, and all of the stock of the company is held by Indianapolis citizens. Daniel W. Marmon is president, Charles C. Perry, vice-president and treasurer, and Thomas A. Wynne, secretary and general superintendent.
Bridges-Indianapolis is in possession of more permanent examples of fine bridge architecture than any other city in the country. This is especially notable, not only for the reason that Indianapolis is an inland city, but that they are all products of the genius of a citizen of Indian- apois, Henry W. Klaussman, who planned and designed them, and all were huilt by local contractors. The work of displacing wooden and iron bridges with permanent stone and concrete structures began with the erection of the stone bridge over Fall creek on Central avenue in 1900. This was followed by the Melan arch bridge over Fall creek at Meridian and Illinois streets. In March, 1904, Indianapolis was visited by the most disastrous flood in the history of the city, which destroyed practically all of the bridges over White river, and owing to the condi-
159
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
BUILT BY CENTRAL STATES BRIDGE CO.
THE EMRICHSVILLE BRIDGE OVER WHITE RIVER.
tion of the city's finances the county assumed the work of building the needed bridges by appropriating nearly a million dollars, and the work was begun on systematic basis. The work has progressed rapidly ever since.
Washington Street Bridge over White river Is a steel girder struc- ture on stone abutments, 430x80 feet, was built at a cost of $147,000, by Wm. Fife & Son.
Michigan Street Bridge is a three-span Melan arch structure faced with Bedford stone, 425x60 feet, built at a cost of $145,000, by the Central States Bridge Company.
Morris Street Bridge is a five-span Melan arch structure, 654x50 feet, built at a cost of $152,000, by Wm. Fife & Son.
River Avenue Bridge is a concrete structure with concrete and steel girders, 430x58 feet, and cost $120,000. The substructure was built by the Moore-Mansfield Construction Company, and the superstructure by the Central States Bridge Company. A notable feature of this bridge is that it contains longer concrete girders than any other bridge in the United States,
160
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
BUILT BY WM. FIFE & SON.
COLLEGE AVE. BRIDGE.
College Avenue Bridge over Fall creek is a three-span all stone structure, built of stratified limestone, 235x50 feet, at a cost of $90,000, by Wm. Fife & Son.
The Emrichsville Bridge over White river at Riverside park is a three-spau Melan arch structure faced with Bedford stone, 425x40 feet, built at a cost of $160,000 by the Central States Bridge Company.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.