Irvington Historic District (Indianapolis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Irvington Historic District
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Bona Thompson Memorial Library, the last remaining building of the old Butler University campus
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 Location in Indianapolis
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Ellenberger Pk., Pleasant Run Creek, Arlington Ave., B & 0 RR tracks, and Emerson Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana |
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| Area | 545 acres (221 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Bungalow/Craftsman, American Four Square |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001031 |
| Added to NRHP | May 29, 1987 |
Irvington Historic District is a special historic area in Indianapolis, Indiana. It's part of the larger Irvington neighborhood, which was named after the famous writer Washington Irving. This historic district covers about 545 acres and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it's recognized as an important place with a rich past worth protecting.
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A Historic Indianapolis Neighborhood
Irvington was started in 1870 by Sylvester Johnson and Jacob Julian. It was planned as a quiet suburban town just outside of Indianapolis. The streets were designed with winding paths, like something from a romantic painting. It was a peaceful place where artists, leaders, military figures, teachers, and business owners lived. In 1902, Irvington became part of Indianapolis.
Location and Transportation
Irvington is located about five miles (8 km) east of downtown Indianapolis. It sits along Washington Street, which is part of the historic National Road. This road was once a major route across the country. In the early 1900s, a trolley system connected Irvington to downtown Indianapolis, making it easy for people to travel.
Protecting History
Irvington is the largest historic district in Indianapolis that is protected by local laws. It includes around 2,800 buildings. Many homes in Irvington were built before 1960. In 2001, local groups began working to protect the neighborhood's history. The Irvington Historic District Neighborhood Plan was officially approved in 2006.
Butler University's Early Home
From 1875 to 1928, Irvington was home to Butler University. The university helped shape Irvington into a college town. The campus was located in the southwest part of Irvington.
Campus Buildings
Over the years, the campus grew to include several buildings. These included the Main Building, a Science Building, and a Women's Dorm. The Bona Thompson Memorial Library was built in 1903. There was also a gymnasium from the World War I era. By the 1910s, more than a thousand students attended Butler University here.
What Remains Today
Most of the original Butler University buildings were later taken down. However, the Bona Thompson Memorial Library and the President's Home are still standing. The President's Home is now the Irvington United Methodist Church. The Bona Thompson Memorial Center is home to the Irvington Historical Society. It holds the society's art collection and historical papers. You can see art shows there, and it's also used for events like meetings and weddings.
Fun Events in Irvington
Irvington Halloween Festival
The Irvington Halloween Festival started in 1947. It's a non-profit event that brings together residents, groups, and businesses. The festival lasts for the week leading up to October 31st. It ends with a big street festival on the last Saturday. During the street festival, East Washington Street is closed through downtown Irvington.
The festival has many exciting activities. These include a 5-mile (8 km) run, a pageant, live music, and contests. There are also Halloween-themed movies, storytelling, and ghost tours. You can enjoy live theater, roller derby, and a haunted puppet show. Many other events happen throughout the festival week.
Arts and Culture
Irvington is known for its art history. It was the birthplace of the Irvington Group, a unique art movement in Central Indiana. In the early 1900s, these artists lived, met, and showed their art in Irvington. Many of their homes and studios are still in the community today.
Places like the Irvington Lodge, Bona Thompson Memorial Library, and The Studio School & Gallery offer art classes and displays.
Irving Theatre
The Irving Theatre was built in 1913. It first opened as a nickelodeon, showing short films for a nickel. In 1926, it was greatly improved with more space and a second story. Over the years, the theater was used for different things. It closed in the mid-1990s but reopened in 2005.
Today, the Irving Theatre is a popular spot for live music, movies, and community events. It's one of the biggest all-ages music venues in the city. It can hold over 700 people and tries to attract bands that might not otherwise visit Indianapolis. The theater also hosts WOOT-FM Community Radio Project, a local radio station that plays music from local artists.
Historic Churches
Irvington has several historic churches. One of the oldest is Irvington Baptist Church, formed in 1887. It is one of the oldest African-American churches in Marion County.
Other churches, like Downey Avenue Christian Church, first met at Butler University. They built their own church in the 1890s. Presbyterians and Methodists also formed churches in the early 1900s. Catholics started Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in 1909. All these churches still have their historic buildings.
Schools and Libraries
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Irvington is home to several schools and a branch of the Indianapolis Public Library. George Washington Julian Elementary School #57 is part of the Indianapolis Public Schools. There are also four charter schools: Irvington Community School (K–5), Irvington Middle School (6–8), Irvington Preparatory Academy (9–12), and Thomas Carr Howe Academy (9–12). These schools provide public education for all grades. Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic school for grades K–8.
Irvington has a long history of libraries. The Bona Thompson Library opened in 1903 for Butler students and the public. Later, the Hilton U. Brown Library opened in 1956. In 2001, a new, modern Irvington Branch Library opened. The old Brown Library building is now used for early education.
Important Historic Buildings
Irvington is important for its architecture and culture. It has great examples of many American building styles from 1870 to 1950. These include Italianate, French Second Empire, Victorian Gothic, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Tudor Revival. Irvington is especially known for its Arts & Crafts style buildings. It even has a house designed by Gustav Stickley, which is the only one known in Indiana.
Washington Street has several historic business buildings. These include the old bank, the former Irvington Masonic Lodge, and the Irving Theatre.
Benton House
The Benton House was built in 1873. It was the home of Allen R. Benton, a former president of Butler University. In 1966, a group was formed to buy and restore the house. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is the only house on the National Register on the East Side of Indianapolis that is open to the public.
Stephenson Mansion
The Stephenson Mansion is also on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1889 for William H. H. Graham. In 1923, it became a sorority house for Butler University students. Later that year, D. C. Stephenson bought the home and changed its look. This house is one of several in the neighborhood that people find interesting because of stories about haunted houses.
Parks and Green Spaces
Ellenberger Park
Ellenberger Park is in northern Irvington. It was named after John Ellenberger, who owned the land. The city bought the first part of the park in 1909. More land was added later, making the park 42 acres. Landscape architect George Kessler designed this park and Pleasant Run Parkway in the early 1900s. His design kept much of the park's natural feel.
In 1930, a pool was added to the park. An ice rink was installed in 1962, but it closed in 2009. The park also has two playgrounds, tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, a football field, and a fitness trail. There's also a beach volleyball court and a hill perfect for sledding in winter. Ellenberger Park hosts outdoor movie nights in the summer. The Pleasant Run Trail greenway connects Ellenberger Park to Garfield Park, the oldest park in the city.
South Irvington Circle Park
At the center of Irvington is South Irvington Circle Park. It's surrounded by a round-about street intersection. The park has a fountain, a statue of Washington Irving, and paths made of personalized bricks. Band concerts are often held here during the summer.
Pennsy Trail
In 2009, the Pennsy Trail opened. It's a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) path for walking, running, and biking. It was named after the Pennsylvania Railroad that used to run through this area. The trail mostly runs next to homes. It also connects to the Bonna Shops and the Irvington Charter Elementary school.
Famous People from Irvington
- Grace Julian Clarke, who fought for women's right to vote, a writer, and journalist
- William Forsyth, a well-known artist
- Johnny Gruelle, the artist who created Raggedy Ann
- Helene Hibben, a sculptor and teacher
- Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard, a cartoonist and writer
- George W. Julian, a politician, lawyer, and writer
- Gertrude Amelia Mahorney, a translator and teacher, the first African-American woman to graduate from college in Indiana
- Dorothy Morlan, an artist
- Constance Coleman Richardson, a painter
- Clifton Wheeler, an artist
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