Polk's Indianapolis (Marion County, Ind.) city directory, 1958, Part 2

Author:
Publication date: 1958
Publisher: R.L. Polk
Number of Pages: 1554

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The plan is a combination of the "spider web" of Versailles and Thomas Jefferson's scheme of the Federal City of regular squares. As first planned, Indianapolis included what is now known as the "mile square"-that part of the city bounded by South, East, North and West streets. In the center of the plat was the Governor's Circle, now Monument Place, which was reserved for the mansion of the Governor. A brick residence was erected there in 1827, but it never was used as a residence.

The first newspaper, The Gazette, appeared in 1822, and in 1825 the Legislature held its first session in the new Capitol. The National Road was cut through Indianapolis in 1830, and in 1836 the town was incorporated. Water power was made available with the building of the canal in 1839, and the city's industrial development began with the establishment of grist mills, woolen mills and paper mills. In February, 1847, the first steam train entered Indianapolis on the Madison Road, an event which fore- shadowed the city's development as a great railroad center. The same year a city charted was granted. The nation's first union railroad station was opened here on Sept. 20, 1853.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Indianapolis had more than 100 manufacturing concerns and rapidly was becoming an important new industrial center. Many of the earliest industries-a meat-packing plant, flour mill, saw works, etc .- continue in business and are today con- sidered among the largest and finest of their kind in the nation.

The period from 1865 to 1873 was one of rapid growth and expansion, when the first street cars were introduced

U. S. Court House and Post Office

and thousands of new homes, many of them unusually fine, were being constructed.

In 1873 plans were made to build a belt railroad and stock yards. But it was not until 1877 that the belt railroad and stock yards, now the largest stock yards east of Chicago, opened for business.

The stock yards gave great impetus to agriculture, al- ready enjoying a period of thriving development.

Indianapolis always has been widely known as a city of beuatiful homes and extensive home-ownership.

By 1900 the city entered another period of expansion. In that year natural gas was introduced, providing cheap fuel for manufacturing and bringing an influx of new industries. By 1900 the city's population had reached 170,- 000, the annual value of manufactured products had reached $60,000,000, and the annual industrial payroll was $10,000,000. Development of interurban electric railroads at that time further contributed to the city's growth and im- portance.

In the first half of the century Indianapolis has had a very steady growth, not only in population, but industrial- ly, commercially and culturally. Among its manufacturing establishments are several which are the largest of their kind in the world.

So has INDIANAPOLIS evolved, in less than a century

213199.8

The Scottish Rite Cathedral was completed in 1927 at a cost of $3,500- 000. This masterpiece of old-world architecture is located on Meridian Street between North and Walnut streets. This cathedral has gained a world-wide reputation for its exterior and interior beauty. Its tower houses an exceptionally fine, especially-de- signed carillon.

INTRODUCTION

Indianapolis Transit System, Inc.

and a half, into the fine and friendly and prosperous city it is today.

The largest city in Indiana, it also is the third largest state capital city, and is not only the political capital of the commonwealth, but its physical, economic and cultural capital as well.

The topography and climate of the city are ideal to continued expansion and development. Carved out of the once wooded plains, there are no natural barriers to orderly expansion of its boundaries.

Just 118 years ago-blacksmith shops, sawmills and a small and crude grist mill comprised the total of Indian- apolis' industrial activity.

Today, 1959, Indianapolis has more than 1,100 firms in the industrial category, giving employment to more than 110,000 persons, in civilian goods production.

Indianapolis long has been blessed with a wide divers- ity of industries and is not dependent on any single industry

or group or related industries. Today this is predominantly an area of branch plants of national corporations, with three-fifths of the area's "export" earnings from manu- facturing originating in these branch plants.

Acme-Evans Co., with its predecessors, represents In- dianapolis' oldest industry, operating four grain milling plants at locations where flour has been milled continuous- ly since 1821.

In 1857, the Atkins Saw Division, Borg-Warner Corp .. the world's largest manufacturer of saws, was founded. This plant has been in continuous operation on the site of its founding although it has spread over a vast area.

In 1863, Kingan, Inc., moved its meat-packing plant to Indianapolis. Today this firm is one of the nation's largest and best-known packers of meats and meat products.

Water power was made available with the construction of the canal in 1839, resulting in the building of the first grain mill.

The Heart of Indianapolis From The Air

INTRODUCTION

Municipal Airport Terminal Area

As mentioned above, the first steam train entered the town, on the Madison Road, in 1847, and prior to 1900 de- velopment of railroad lines entering the city had been re- markable.

Construction of the railroads, new highways and King- an, Inc., pork house-largest in the nation-caused such rapid development of agriculture that in 1875 the new Ex- change Stock Yards was built, supplementing Kingan's own yards.

In 1873, the Board of Trade, an outgrowth of expand- ing grain production, urged construction of a belt railroad

and stock yards, combined. But it was not until 1877 that this huge enterprise was completed and in operation.

Meat packing and processing has grown into one of the city's most important industries, with other firms establish- ing large and fine plants. In 1957 more than 3,077,000 head of live stock were sold at the Indianapolis yards, grossing over $230,000,000 in sales.

However, the metal-working industry-production of parts and finished products-is the city's largest source of manufacturing employment and most important producer of industrial income.

AMERICAN LEGION NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

The American Legion National Headquarters is located at 750 N. Pennsylvania Street, and was erected and presented to the American Legion as its permanent national home. It was built at a cost of $2,500,000 and was dedicated in August, 1950. It augments a similar building, less than half this size, given to the Legion by the people of Indiana shortly after World War I. Both buildings are of Grecian architecture, four stories high and faced with Indiana limestone.

INTRODUCTION

The Indiana Bell Telephone Co's. Administration Building at Indianapolis

THE CITY TODAY

Throughout the first half of the century there was a continual expansion of the city's manufacturing and pro- cessing plants. Development and expansion of utilities -electric, gas and water-together with other service fa- cilities, has kept pace. Favorable rates available here have been an important aid in development of the community's industry.

Today, the great utilities serving the community are investing many millions of dollars in new plant facilities to provide for future needs of the community.

An almost unlimited supply of steam coal is being mined within a radius of 60 to 70 miles of the city, pro- viding inexpensive steam fuel for industrial purposes.

In addition to excellent railroad facilities, a vast net- work of superior highways and splendid air transportation serve the city.

The supply of labor is much more extensive than popu- lation statistics indicate. Manpower from the rural areas, small towns and urban communities within a radius of 25 to 50 miles is available to local industries. Many regu- larly employed workers commute daily by automobile and bus.

The altitude-739 feet above sea level-and temperate climate are healthful and advantageous to business and in- dustry.

The city's location, near the exact center of the na- tion's population, and position between other metropolitan cities, also are helpful to industry.

Indianapolis is a metropolitan community ideally lo- cated between producers of raw materials and rich con- sumer markets and possessing resources and advantages which made it one of the nation's finest and most progres- sive industrial and business locations.

Here, more than 110,000 workers are provided indus- trial employment by more than 1,100 plants, widely diversi- fied as to product.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Area

The Metropolitan Area of Indianapolis includes all Marion County and consists of approximately 402 square miles of level territory. The population, as of January. 1959, was an estimated 655.000.

The area includes Indianapolis, the largest city in the state, and 23 corporate towns. Besides being the state capital and the seat of Marion County. Indianapolis is

INTRODUCTION

Butler University

located in the exact center of the state and covers 65.15 square miles. The December, 1957, special population census for Indianapolis was 461,654.

The topography and climate of the city are ideal for continued expansion and development. There are no natural barriers to the orderly expansion of the city's boundaries and to the development of existing resources. The altitude -739 feet above sea level-and temperate climate are healthful and advantageous to business and industry.

Business activities are divided between diversified manufacturing, trade and agriculture. Transportation facilities of major railways, motor freight and passenger bus lines, transcontinental air transport lines and national highways make it a strong commercial and distribution center, likewise.

The Indianapolis Union Railroad has 76 miles of track connecting all railroads entering the city, thus serving the city and hundreds of industries requiring switching serv- ice. This service has proved to be a vital stimulant to the establishment of more industries and expansion of existing plants and mills.

Although the Indianapolis area is substantially a man- ufacturing center, employment in industry is 36% of the total.

Diversified Industries

Unlike many other cities, Indianapolis is not depend- ent on any single industry or group of related industries, but enjoys the advantage of wide diversification of in- dustrial resources. This is shown by the fact that there are

JOHN HERRON ART INSTITUTE

The John Herron Art Institute, ad- ministered by the Art Association of Indianapolis, is the largest organiza- tion of its kind in the state, and recognized throughout the country for the importance of its art collection and the quality of its instruction. It is supported by memberships, endow- ment, special gifts and municipal funds. The Art Association was or- ganized in 1883. Through the bequest of John Herron, the present site was purchased and buildings were erected in 1906. The collection of paintings, sculpture, pottery, etc., has grown steadily, and now includes items from all parts of the world. It is located at 16th and Pennsylvania streets.

INTRODUCTION

THE INDIANA WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL SHRINE BUILDING

The Indiana World War I Memorial Shrine Building, in the center of the World War I Memorial Plaza (in Indianapolis), is the main building in the plaza. The base of the shrine building, alone, is 230 feet wide and 400 feet long. The halls and corridor of the basement and first floor provide space for a large museum and an auditorium seat- ing approximately 600 persons. Above the auditorium is located the shrine room, de- clared by many architects and artists to be one of the most stately and beautiful halls ever created by man. In it are hung oil paintings of all the great Allied military and naval officers of World War I, and around these are massed the battle flags of the Allies. The cornerstone of the shrine building was laid July 4, 1927, by General John J. Pershing, on the 151st anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. In the right foreground is the obelisk, erected of black Berwick granite which rests in a pink Moose-a-bec granite base and rises to a height of 100 feet. The fountain base of the shaft is built of pink Georgia marble and the floor is paved with terrazzo. At night the fountain sprays (not shown in this picture) are illuminated with multi-color lights

more than 1,200 industrial plants in the city, some of them the largest of their kind in the world, which produce around 1,200 different commodities.

Among the items produced here on a large scale are airplane and truck engines pharmaceuticals and biologicals; ferrous and non-ferrous castings; phonograph records; radio and television sets; sound, electronic and electrical equip- ment; food products; canning and meat-packing; power transmission devices; rubber products; road-building and earth-moving machinery; truck bodies; saws; wood prod- ucts, heating and ventilating equipment; paper products; transportation equipment; trolley cars; trucks; buses; cloth- ing; and many others.

Indianapolis Industries

Among the larger home-owned industries in Indian- apolis are:

Acme Evans Co., Inc., American Art Clay Co., Ameri- can Bearing Corp., American Foundry Co., Inc., Ansted Corp., Hugh J. Baker & Co., Barbasol Co., Beveridge Paper Co., Bookwalter Co., Inc., Bowes "Seal Fast" Corp., Wm. B. Burford Printing Co., C & G Foundry & Pattern Works, Inc., Continental Optical Co., Electric Steel Castings Co., Engineering Metal Products Corp., Esterline-Angus Co., Inc., Fairmount Glass Works, Inc., Herff-Jones Co., J. I. Holcomb Mfg. Co., Holcomb & Hoke Mfg Co., Inc., I. D. E. A. Regency Division, Indianapolis Glove Co., Inland Container Corp., Insley Mfg. Co., Eli Lilly & Co., Lilly

Varnish Co., P. R. Mallory & Co., Inc., Marmon-Herring- ton Co., Inc., George J. Mayer Co., Inc., Merz Engineering. Inc., Paper Art Co., Inc., Paper Package Co., Peerless Corp .. Ransburg Electro-Coating Corp., Republic Creosoting Co., Rock Island Refining Corp., Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc., Stokely-Van Camp, Inc., Stark-Wetzel & Co., Inc .. Thomas & Skinner, Inc., and U. S. Corrugated-Fibre Box Co.

Among the important manufacturing plants which are part of national organizations are:

J. D. Adams Division, Le Tourneau-Westinghouse Co .: Allison Division, General Motors Corp .: American Can Co .: Atkins Saw Division, Borg-Warner Corp .; Bemis Bro. Bag Co .; Best Foods, Inc .; Bridgeport Brass Co .: Bryant Mfg. Co .; Chevrolet-Indianapolis Division, General Motors Corp .: Chrysler Corp .; Continental Baking Corp .: Cornell-Dubilier Electric Co .: Diamond Chain Co .: Ford Motor Co .: Ginn & Co .: Glidden Co .; Heppenstall Steel Co .: W. J. Holliday Co .. Division of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp .: Jones & Laughlin Stainless and Strip Division: International Harvester Co .: Kingan Division, Hygrade Food Products Corp .: Linde Co. (two plants); Link Belt Co. (two plants): McQuay-Norris Mfg. Co .; Mouldings Division, Thompson Industries. Inc .: National Lead Co .: National Starch Products. Inc .: New York Central Railroad; Omar, Inc .; Oval & Koster Division of Messenger Corp .: Peerless Pump Division. Food Machinery & Chemical Corp .: Pennsylvania Railroad: Pitman-Moore Division of Allied Laboratories: Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co .; Radio Corp. of America: Richardson Co .:

INTRODUCTION

Marion County Court House

Smith Agricultural Chemical Co .; Standard Brands, Inc. (Margarine and Salad Dressing Division); South Wind Divi- sion, Stewart-Warner Corp .; United States Envelope Co .; U. S. Naval Avionics Facility; U. S. Rubber Co .; Western Electric Co.

Trade

Indianapolis is justly proud of its fine retail and whole- sale districts. The city's stores and shops are outstanding. In appointments, selection, variety and quality of merchan-

dise and in service given to their patrons, the city's retail establishments rank among the finest to be found in any large city.

Department stores in the downtown area are consider- ed by national retail authorities to be among the nation's best.

Here is located the second largest "exclusively-shoes" store in the U. S.

Products sold at wholesale are greatly diversified, and extensive wholesale districts now serve a vast area extend-

STAND

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

INTRODUCTION

ing 70 miles or more in every direction. The popu- lation of the wholesale trade area is 2,117,100.

Since the end of World War II, the city's three largest department stores have been extensively enlarged and mod- ernized through new building programs.

During the same period a very large part of the down- town shopping and financial district has undergone a vast improvement program through modernization of scores of store fronts, building exteriors, and store and office build- ing interiors.

All of Indianapolis' largest department stores now have branch operations located in suburban shopping plazas. The metropolitan area has 15 shopping plazas worth $1,000,000 or more.

The aggressive Merchants Association and Better Busi- ness Bureau, enjoying the co-operation of a large number of the community's business firms, works constantly to insure for those who live and trade here, fair dealing, reasonable prices, and goods that fulfill all advertised promises.

Those who may attempt unfair trade practices in In- dianapolis will soon find that they are unwelcome. The stores and shops which value their good reputations, de- veloped from excellent customer relations, thrive and ex- pand, while any who will not conform to good business practices find the spotlight of unfavorable notoriety focus- ed upon them.

Education

INDIANAPOLIS, as a community, offers splendid edu- cational advantages in all of the usual and many special fields.

Here, beautiful grounds and fine buildings with supe- rior training facilities enhance the pleasure and satisfaction of pursuit of knowledge in fields of letters, sciences, arts, professions and vocations. And opportunities for education from the pre-school age through the university are prac- tically unlimited.

This fine system of schools, libraries and other educa- tional institutions, both public and private, brings all levels of education within the reach of Indianapolis residents.

In this progressive city, public school management is relatively free from any undesirable political influences. A Citizens' Non-Partisan School Committee has elevated se- lection of members of the public school board above all such considerations.

Here, 89 free kindergartens, well located, provide pre- school age training. There are 87 elementary public schools, two public special schools, 35 parochial elementary schools, eight public high schools and five parochial high schools.

More than 61,000 students are enrolled in the public elementary schools. Parochial elementary schools provide for 17,000 more, which include the Lutheran and Seventh Day Adventist schools.

More than 16,000 students attend public high schools, with 3,800 more in parochial high schools.

Outside the city limits, the 61 grade and high schools which constitute the Marion County School System have an enrollment of more than 27,000 students.

Two other incorporated towns in the Metropolitan area, Beech Grove and Speedway, have their own city school systems. Beech Grove has approximately 1,500 en- rolled in the grade and high schools, while the Speedway schools are attended by more than 1,900.

Indianapolis schools are widely and favorably known for the operation of an extensive program of adult educa- tion, largely in the night classes and in on-the-job training programs.

Through the Indianapolis Goodwill Industries and other service organizations co-operating with the city, state

and federal educational programs, an extensive service in training physically handicapped in vocational fields is carried on.

Improved teaching methods, high standards for selec- tion of teachers, careful supervision and the alert and active parent-teacher organizations have aided in keeping effi- ciency of the schools on a very high level.

The library system is operated by the city school ad- ministration. It includes a central library and 19 conve- niently located branches. A state library, in Indianapolis, houses an abundance of historical and reference material.

A children's museum, one of the first in the U.S. which through distribution of many education exhibits and maintenance of a large museum building, serves as a valuable adjunct of the educational system.

BUTLER UNIVERSITY, established here in 1855 as the Northwestern Christian University, moved to a beauti- ful, 246-acre wooded tract in 1928. Today Butler is an integral part of the community. It occupies six stately and modern educational buildings, the J. I. Holcomb Botanical Gardens and new Garden House, and possesses an excep- tional athletic plant, a field house seating 15,000 and a stadium capable of seating 20,000.

A fine new building to house a library and a new building for the School of Religion are among structures planned for the near future.

During recent years, Butler University has recorded an average enrollment of approximately 4,000 students. Instruction is offered in colleges of liberal arts and sciences, education, business administration, pharmacy and school of religion, as well as the professional fields. Music is offered through the Arthur Jordan College of Music, and art through the affiliated John Herron Art School.

INDIANA CENTRAL COLLEGE, incorporated in 1902, is managed by a board representative of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in southern Illinois and Indiana. A liberal arts college, it has very strong departments in business, teacher training, home economics, art, music, religion and science, as well as the pre-professional courses. Enrollment averages between 700 and 750, and the faculty of outstanding educators provides fine leadership in main- taining high social and moral standards.

The college is presently engaged in an extensive ex- pansion program, including a recently completed $1.500,- 000 academic hall and a field house seating 6,000.

MARIAN COLLEGE, a liberal arts college founded in 1937, became coeducational in 1954. Conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis, it is the only Catholic college of its kind in Indiana and has an enrollment of over 500. Three new buildings have been added in the past several years.

The college confers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, with 15 areas of study including teacher training and pre-professional courses.

The school is located on a 64-acre campus, formerly James A. Allison's Riverdale estate, surrounding a private lake, on the northwest edge of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis has numerous preparatory and private schools, and important branches of Indiana's two State- owned universities.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S famed schools of medicine and dentistry and branches of its school of law. business administration and other schools are located in the Uni- versity's large extension division here.

PURDUE UNIVERSITY, in its extension division here, conducts many important classes, especially in engineering and technical fields.

OTHER SCHOOLS: Widely and favorably known are the Park School for Boys, Ladywood School. Tudor Hall,

INTRODUCTION

Orchard School, the Central Business College, Lain Busi- ness College and other specialized schools.

Also, at Indianapolis are located three State schools for blind and deaf persons. These are the School of the Board of Industrial Aid for the Blind, the Indiana School for the Deaf and the State School for the Blind. Each is a leading institution in its field.

Miscellaneous Facts-Indianapolis

Air Lines, scheduled 6

Air Lines, daily schedules 172

Airports 3

Altitude 739 feet

Area 65.15 square miles

(Above figures do not include Indianapolis Municipal Airport). Distance north and south, 12.68 miles; east and west, 9.28 miles.

Assessed Valuation (1958) .. $ 1,123,174,365

Banks-Number of 6

Bank Clearings (1957)

.$ 4,403,070,000

Bank Debits (1957) $13,516,738,000

Boulevards-Miles of 90

Building and Loan Associations-Number of Resources $ 1,215,767,610

Building Permits-Number of (1957) 38,014

Value of Building Permits (1957) $

134,309,944

Carloading (outbound, 1957) 111,895

Carloadings (inbound, 1957)

168,487

Churches, all denominations-Number of.

540

Climatic Data-Average January

temperature (75 years) 28.4 degrees

Average July temperature (75 years)

75.7 degrees

Clubs-Country 9

Clubs Downtown

Clubs-Luncheon 45

Electric Service Customers

(December, 1957)

207,376

Gas Customers (December, 1957)

152,324

Golf Courses (18-hole)-5 municipal, 9 private; (9-hole) 1 municipal, 2 private 17 Hospitals (major) 13 Hotels 72

Latitude 39 degrees, 46 minutes, 10 seconds

Library-700,500 volumes-19 branches .... ....... Longitude 86 degrees, .09 minutes, 45 seconds Manufacturing Establishments 1,150

Monument-Soldiers' and Sailors'-Begun,

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Polk's Indianapolis (Marion County, Ind.) city directory, 1958, Part 2

Author: Publication date: 1958 Publisher: R.L. Polk Number of Pages: 1554

Author:
Publication date: 1958
Publisher: R.L. Polk
Number of Pages: 1554