Logan's Indianapolis directory, 1868, Part 59

Author:
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: Logan
Number of Pages: 416

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The war having closed the people de- sired the great commanders who had be- come prominent in it to visit the place, and in response to their invitations Generals Sherman and Grant visited the city in 1865. General Sherman arrived on the 25th of July, and was conducted through the principal streets by a great civic and military procession to the State House yard, where he made an able speech to the people counselling peace, and earnest ef- forts to repair the damages caused by the war. He held a reception and attended a banquet at Military Hall given by the former officers and soldiers of his com- mand. General Grant arrived in Septem- ber, and was received by the State and city authorities and military forces with the honors accorded to the Commander-in- Chief of the American army. A great military and civic procession conducted

HISTORY OF

him to the State House yard, where he was welcomed in fitting terms by the Governor, and bowed his acknowledgments with a few well chosen words to the public. He held a reception in the evening and atten- ded the banquet at the Bates House at night.

Amusements were numerous and con- stant in the period intervening from 1861 to 1866. Nearly all the leading actors of the country appeared at the theater, which was open the greater part of each year, and constantly crowded by soldiers and strangers sojourning in the city. From 1864 to 1866 a museum was kept by Mad- ame English in the Kinder building on east Washington street, and largely pat- ronized by the rural population and sol- diers. Shows and circuses appeared regu- larly each summer to reap a full harvest,

and negro minstrel bands and panoramas drew crowded houses. Sleight of hand and ledgerdemain were illustrated at Masonic Hall, by Herman and Heller, the great masters in the art, exciting the wonder and adding to the enjoyment of their audi- ences. Concerts, operas and lectures had their full share of votaries, and fairs were revived for church and charitable pur- poses. A great fair was held in Septem- ber, 1864, on the military grounds for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission, lasting one week, and realizing a large sum of money. Since the war ended amusements have been fewer and. less well patronized, the hard times telling seriously upon them.

The leading event in the musical line since the war was the annual German Sængerfest, held about the middle of Sep- tember, 1867, lasting three or four days. The programme included processions, ad- dresses, vocal and instrumental concerts, a ball, displays of fireworks, etc. The ar- rangements were made by a committee under direction of the Mannærchor of this city. A two story frame building, ninety or one hundred feet wide and one hundred and eighty feet long, was erected on the south east corner of Court Square. The floor was closely seated and wide galleries ran round three sides of the house, the whole affording accommodations for three or four thousand spectators. The north end was occupied by a wide raised plat- form for the orchestra and singers, and the whole interior was profusely decorated with pictures, wreaths, flags, mottoes, gas jets, etc. The exterior was also fully decorated and the roof surmounted with the flags of all nations. Many buildings in the city were finely decorated with flags and evergreens. The expenses were met by individual subscriptions, and an appro- priation of $1,500 from the city treasury.

The Fest was very successful pecuniarily and otherwise, a considerable sum being left on hand, and devoted afterward to charitable purposes. Thousands of visit- ors were in attendance.

It has been stated heretofore that the four acre tract on the river bank south- west of the town, set aside for burial pur- poses by Judge Harrison, in 1821, was for years the only cemetery, and that at sub- sequent periods two or three adjoining tracts were platted as cemeteries by differ- ent parties. These were rapidly filling up as the city increased in size, and it became evident that some further provision must be made for cemeteries at a greater dis- tance from the city. With this object in view, a number of gentlemen held a pre- liminary meeting on the 12th of Septem- ber, 1863, to consult regarding the matter, and on the 25th of September, an associa- tion was formed, with James M. Ray, President, Theodore P. Haughey, Secre- tary, S. A. Fletcher, Jr., Treasurer, and with seven directors. S. A. Fletcher, Sr., offered to loan the necessary funds to purchase grounds, and a committee being appointed to select a site, soon after re- ported in favor of purchasing the farm and nursery of Martin Williams, three miles north-west of the city, on the Michi- gan road, together with several smaller adjoining tracts. The report was accepted, and the purchases made in the fall of 1863, and January, 1864, at prices ranging from $125 to $300 per acre, two hundred and fifty acres in all being secured at a cost of about $51,500. The money was loaned to the association by Mr. Fletcher, with addi- tional amounts to begin the improvements. A survey was ordered and plats made in October and November, and Mr. F. W. Chislett selected as Superintendent. He began the improvements in the spring of 1864. The large trees were cut into logs, which were sawed by a portable mill on the grounds, into lumber and fencing, with which the tract was enclosed. A gate lodge was built at the western entrance near the Michigan road, and in 1867, a large cottage residence for the Superintend- ent, was erected on the southern part of the grounds. The improvement of the car- riage ways and footpaths began in the spring of 1864, lots, irregular in plan and of various sizes, ranging from a few square feet to half an acre or more, were laid out. The grounds were dedicated in May or June, 1864, Albert S. White, delivering the oration. The first lot sale took place June 8, by auction, the price of lots being fixed at twenty-five cents per square foot as a minimum. The price has been advanced several times at subsequent dates.

INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.

Rules and regulations were adopted for the government of the association and cem- etery, June 4, 1864. Each lot-holder is in- terested in the capital of the association to the value of his lot. The lot-holders choose the officers. No profits or dividends are allowed, and after payment for the ground, (which has been fully made, the loan being repaid to Mr. Fletcher,) all receipts are expended in the care and improvement of the cemetery. No fences or enclosures of lots are permitted, and the erection of great monuments is very properly discouraged. Notwithstanding this rule, the cemetery already shows too much marble for a strictly pleasing effect.

The improvements, consisting of gate lodges, superintendent's cottage, enclosing fences, carriage and foot ways, grading, sodding, grubbing, &c., have been rapidly forwarded since the spring of 1864, cover- ing forty or fifty acres near the hill, and already the cemetery compares well with older ones near other cities. The hill itself- formerly called Sand hill, and now known as Crown hill, giving name to the ceme- tery-covers a base of twelve or fifteen acres, and is over one hundred feet high. It is yet unimproved, and it is proposed to use it as the site for the receiving reser- voir in the contemplated system of water- works. Water is an excellent absorbent of gases arising from the decomposition of decaying bodies, and water consumers would be constantly reminded of their de- parted ancestors, by the taste and smell of their daily beverage.

A line of omnibuses was established to the grounds in 1864, but the facilities for reaching the spot were not thought suffi- cient, and in the spring of 1866, proposi- tions were made to extend the street rail- road from the terminus at the north end of Illinois street, to the cemetery. The resi- dents in the neighborhood, the cemetery board of directors, and the street railroad company finally made the necessary ar- rangements, and the line was completed during the. fall of 1866 and spring of 1867, and opened for travel in April or May.

In May, 1866, the board dedicated a tract. of ground to the government, for the inter- ment of the Union soldiers buried in the vicinity of the city. The grant was ac- cepted, and during the fall and following spring, the transfer of the bodies was effected under the direction of the govern- ment authorities, and the spot dedicated with appropriate ceremonies. On the 30th of May, 1868, under a general order issued by Gen. Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, a grand ovation was paid to the memory of the Union dead. Arrangements had been made by appro-

priate committees. The ladies labored zealously in preparing the floral tributes. A procession marched to the grounds, which were thronged by several thousand specta- tors, and after an address, singing and other preliminary exercises, each grave was wreathed and strewed with flowers by young ladies, and orphans of deceased sol- diers. The demonstration was a grand success, the only drawback being the diffi- culty experienced by many in reaching and returning from the grounds. Business was generally suspended, and the day ob- served as a holiday. It is probable that the ceremony will be continued annually hereafter.

This article may close with a rapid and brief mention of the more important acts of the city government from 1861 to 1867.

The mayor, in May 1862, called the at- tention of the Council to the number of abandoned women incarcerated in the jail, and the bad results arising from such a course toward them. He recommended the erection of a house of refuge to which they could be sent, and in which a reform- atory treatment could be pursued. Noth- ing, however, was done at the time with the project. On the 27th of July, 1863, S. A. Fletcher, Sr., submitted a proposition to the Council, offering to give seven or eight acres of ground south of the city as a site, provided the city would agree to erect the buildings. Estimates, by D. A. Bohlen, architect, were also filed, fixing the cost of the house at $8,000, and a Citi- zens Committee, at the same time, asked that the proposed enterprise should be committed to the care of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. The donation was ac- cepted by the Council August 10th ; $5,000 were appropriated toward the house, which was to be used partly as a house of refuge for abandoned and drunken women, and partly as a city prison for females. Plans were submitted and adopted on the 24th of August. The house was put in charge of the building committee, and a board of three trustees provided for. Con- tracts were let in the fall, and during the next year the basement story was finished in good style. The rapid advance in ma- terial and labor caused great loss to the contractor, and difficulty ensued between him and the city. The work stopped and has ever since been suspended. The en- tire cost thus far being about $8,000. Good faith to the generous donor of the site, and charity to the class provided for by the en- terprise demand the speedy completion of the buildings.

A society for the amelioration of the condition of fallen women was formed in 1866, with a board of trustees and direc-

HISTORY OF

tors and a list of officers. Aid was also to be extended to worthy and friendless fe- males. A house was rented in the north part of the second ward as a home for the friendless, and a home for those wishing to escape the life of infamy to which they seemed condemned. It was placed in charge of Mrs. Sarah Smith as matron, and has since sheltered many of this unfortu- nate class. Some have been entirely reclaimed, and the institution seems des- tined to effect much good. Material aid has recently been asked from the Council, and it is not improbable that to the society will be given the charge of the house of refuge when that building is completed.

The city ordinance required parties building houses to obtain special permis- sion before obstructing the streets with materials. These applications consumed much time in the council, and to avoid furtlicr trouble from this source, an ordi- nance establishing a board of public im- provements was introduced in the fall of 1863. It remained pending for several months, and on the 19th of April, 1864, another ordinance was substituted and pas- sed, creating a board of public improve- ments, to be composed of three members annually selected from the council. They were to choose one of their number presi- dent, and the city clerk was to be their secretary. All projects connected with the public buildings, market houses, bridges, culverts, sewers, drains, cisterns, street improvements, parks, gas lighting, water- works, &c., were to be referred to them for examination, and all work was to be exe- cuted under their direction. They were to report their action in all cases to the council. Persons intending to build, re- pair or remove houses, were to get permits from the board, giving the location, cost, &c., of the proposed work, and a register was to be kept and reported of the permits.

The board made no annual report for 1864, and the extent and value of the im- provements for that year can not be given ; but in 1865 they reported that one hundred and fifty houses costing $200,000, were built in the Additions, and one thousand four hundred and seventy-one permits is- sued for buildings and repairs in the city. costing $1,860,000. Nine miles of strects and eighteen of side-walks were graded and graveled; one mile of street was bouldered, and four miles of side-walk paved; three miles of streets were lighted. In 1866 permits for one thousand one hun- dred and twelve houses, costing $1,065,000, were issued; eight and one-half miles of streets and sixtcen of side-walks graded and graveled; three and a half squares of strects bouldered, and two miles of side-

walks paved; three miles were lighted. In 1867 one hundred and ninety-five houses, costing $770,470, were built, and five hun- dred and fifty-two permits for repairs, costing $132,050 were issued; four and one-half miles of streets and nine of side- walks were graded and graveled; four squares were bouldered, and twenty-two squares of side-walks paved ; four and one- half miles of streets were lighted. The members of the board receive pay for the time actually employed, and the clerk re- ceives fees for the permits issued.

Under the provisions of the incopora- tion act, the council, on the 1st of October, 1864, nominated L. Vanlandingham, A. Naltner, James Sulgrove, D. S. Beatty and D. V. Culley as a board of city commission- ers, to assess damages and benefits from the opening of new streets or alleys, or the cutting of sewers or new channels for streams. The nominations were confirmed soon after by the common pleas court, and applications of that nature have since been referred to that board.

The many troops and prisoners stationed here had caused uneasiness among medical men for fear of sudden epidemics. The prevalence of measles, small pox and cholera had been prevented by care and prompt attention-small pox cases being treated in a small building on the hospital grounds. In January, 1864, however, cases of small pox became quite numerous not only among the troops, but in different parts of the city; and in February, the government and city authoritics rented ground and built a pest house on the river, two miles north-west of town. Further cases were promptly sent there, and the spread of the disease was soon checked. After the war the government turned the house over to the city, and the ground was afterward bought and deedcd to the city, December 23d, 1865.

Repeated complaints of the inefficient drainage on Illinois street and elsewhere, and of the damage caused by Virginia river, Pogue's run and Lake McCarty, had been made to the council. Various plans for improving the drainage at small ex- pense, had been proposed and considered at different times without result, and sew- ers had been advocated on particular streets. The council in July, 1865, selected James W. Brown, F. Stein and L. B. Wilson as a board of engineers to take levels on all the streets, and devise a general system of sewers for the city. Money was appro- priated for the work, and the survey and profile was made during the fall. The cx- pense involved had hitherto prevented the building of any regular sewers, but a tax of fifteen cents was levied in May, 1868,

INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.

for a sewerage find, and the council is now considering the propriety of building sewers to drain Lake McCarty and provide against floods in Virginia river. The res. idents in the seventh and eighth wards along the course of the last named bayon have been repeatedly drowned out. The trouble is increasing every year with the rapid settlement and improvement in that section, and large claims for damages are now pending against the city, with the prospect of many more in future. Some of them have already been decided against the city by the courts.

A large number of additions adjoining the corporation limits had been thickly settled, and the parties who lived in them were doing business in the city, and had the advantages of the city government and improvements without contributing by tax- ation to the city finances. It was proposed in 1865 to annex them to the city, under the provisions of the incorporation act, and an ordinance to include the additions on the north line of the city was intro- duced in the council, but while it was pending a remonstrance from the parties interested was presented against the meas- ure, demanding that all the additions should be included. A new ordinance, therefore, was drawn up and introduced in December, 1865, providing for the annexa- tion by name of forty five separate addi- tious adjoining the city on the north, east and south sides. The measure was resist- ed by the people of the additions, and the council, after consideration of the expense involved for police and other items for the new territory, let the matter drop for the time.

During 1865, several former railway en- terprizes, suspended by hard times or by the war, were revived, and in May, 1866, petitions, largely signed by the citizens, were presented to the council, asking a sub- scription by the city to the Vincennes, In- diana & Illinois Central, and Crawfords- ville lines, to enable them to construct their roads. The petitions being laid over for additional signatures, they were soon ob- tained by committees, and on the 21st of May, the council voted to issue $150,000 in twenty year bonds, in sums of $1,000 each, to be divided as follows: $60,000 to the Vincennes road, $45,000 to each of the other lines, and at a subsequent date the same amount was voted to the Junction road. The companies were first to finish forty miles of road inside of three years, favor the city in freights, and comply with other conditions. Work was afterward be. gun, and has been actively prosecuted on all except the Indiana and Illinois Central, the Junction road being completed, and

the Vincennes well advanced at the present time.

Several serious accidents having occurred by collisions between street cars and other vehicles, with trains on the Union track, the council on the 5th of February, 1866, ordered the employment of flagmen by the railroad company at each crossing: it he- ing their duty to constantly watch the trains, and warn all parties of their ap- proach. The company at once complied with the ordinance, and since that time few or no accidents have happened.

During the summer of 1866, to get rid of the heavy charges made for boarding city prisoners in the county jail, the coun- cil determined to build a station house, and after examining various sites, bought a lot in September, on Maryland, between Penn- sylvania and Meridian, at $4,000. No subsequent effort has been made to build the house. Propositions were made at about the same time to reut buildings for the city offices, or sell lots for the site of a city hall. The Second Presbyterian church was offered at $15,000, in bonds. The Journal company offered to build a block next their office, and Andrew Wallace ten. dered bis building. The council declined all these proposals, and resolved not to build a hall till the debt was paid.

On the 29th of October, 1866, the coun- cil passed the eight hour law. The ques . tion arose, (but was ignored,) whether it applied to the officers and police. It was applied by the street commissioner in bis department, but as he reduced the wages in the same proportion, trouble ensued with the employees, who resisted the re- duction in their pay. The commissioner applied to the council for instructions, but was advised to use his own discretion in the matter. The ten hour system has since been restored.

The names of the streets were ordered to be put on the lamps in November, 1866. In December, propositions for an alarm tele- graph were received from several parties, but declined, and the arrangement was finally completed in 1867-'68, as stated in the history of the fire department. In February, 1867, the Vincennes railroad and Indianapolis Furnace company, were au- thorized to lay tracks on Kentucky avenue.

The corner stone of the Catholic Cathe- dral, on Tennessee street, was laid with appropriate ceremonies, on the 20th of July, 1867, in presence of a vast audience. The building will be of brick, with white stone facings, and is in the regular gothic style, with nave, transept, center and side aisles, high altar, and great eastern win- dow. It is about 56 by 195 feet, will be very solidly built, and is to have the high-

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HISTORY OF

est spire in the country. The walls are now being constructed, but several years will elaps- before its completion. The es- timated cost is over $300,000. It will be the largest religious edifice in the State.

The author regrets that he has failed to procure the facts connected with the organ- ization of the several Catholic churches, schools, and societies in the city, and will therefore give generally such information as he has obtained.

St. John's Church, on west Georgia street, a small, plain, brick edifice, bnilt. about 1850, is the oldest one here. It has a large number of communicants, and is in charge of Rev. August Bessonies, who suc- ceeded Rev. Daniel Maloney. St. Mary's Church, under Rev. Simon Seigrist, was built in 1858, on east Maryland street, near Delaware, and has many communicants, mostly Germans. St. Peter's Church, on Dougherty strcet, near Virginia avenne, was built about 1865, and is in charge of Rev. Joseph Petit. Flourishing Sabbath schools are attached to each of these church- es, and a number of church and charitable societies are also directly or indirectly con- nected with them.

St. John's Academy for girls, in charge of the Sisters of Providence, is situated on Georgia and Tennessee streets, adjoining the Cathedral and St. John's Church. The buildings, (erected about 1860, ) are well de- signed, and the school is large, well con- ducted and prosperous. St. John's Acade. my for boys, east of St. John's church, is in the care of Rev. August Bessonies. St. Mary's Academy for boys, on the alley south of St. Mary's church, is of brick, and three stories high. A school for young children in charge of Mrs Keating, is sup- ported by the St. Peter's church congrega- tion.

The writer neglected to state in its pro- per place, the fact that a very large and flourishing private German school has been conducted for ten or eleven years past, on east Maryland street, between Delaware and Alabama streets. The school-house, (originally small.) was much enlarged, and improved in its arrangements two or three years since. Several hundred pupils are in attendance.

The Saturday Evening Mirror, a literary weekly journal, was first issued December 22d, 1867, from. an office in Schnull's building, by Harding & Henry : George C. Harding, the former noted war correspond- ent of the Cincinnati Commercial, and the local editor of the Journal and of the Sen- tinel, at subsequent periods, being editor. It was published on Sunday for a short time, but the Sentinel beginning the issue of a Sunday paper, the publication day of

the Mirror was changed to Saturday. J. R. Morton subsequently bought Henry's interest, the office was removed to Tilford's building, on Circle street, and the paper is now issned by Harding & Morton, with G. C. Harding and W. B. Vickers, as editors. It has been much enlarged, is well con- ducted, and has steadily advanced in pub- lic favor.

The commissioners in the original sur- vey made no provision for a public park, and with the exception of the squares or parts of squares, reserved for State, Coun- ty, Hospital, University and Market pur- poses, no public square was designated. So long as the town was openly built, and the wide streets properly shaded, the want of public grounds was unfelt, but in recent years, with the crowding of population and the paving of the streets, the increased noise, dust and heat, drew attention to a want formerly unconsidered. The city took possession of the Circle, University square, and military grounds, in 1860, and since that date has expended considerable sums in the improvement. and planting of each as public grounds, but the limited area af- forded by these tracts will not supply the. future demand for a properly constructed and ornamented park. To supply in some measure this public want, and as a memo- rial of Calvin Fletcher, Sr., the heirs of that gentleman, in the spring of 1868, of- fered to donate thirty acres in a triangular form, adjoining the Bellefontaine railway at the north-east corner of the city, for a public park ; the city in case of accept- ance, to expend the sum of $30,000 on it in improvements within a given period. The offer was at first favorably considered by the council, but unexpected opposition arose, partly on account of the location, partly on account of the expenditure to be incurred, and partly from the jealousy of the sections not thus favored. After long consideration, the city council coupled other conditions with the acceptance of the donation, and the offer was withdrawn. This result is to be regretted, for such tracts will ultimately be needed, not only in that neighborhood, but elsewhere, and they should be secured while the ground is comparatively cheap.

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Logan's Indianapolis directory, 1868, Part 59

Author: Publication date: 1868 Publisher: Logan Number of Pages: 416

Author:
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: Logan
Number of Pages: 416