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Whether you are or aren’t aware of the old story of changing street names in our great downtown, you may not know of who was behind it. (There’s a hint in the title and this photo)
When Indianapolis was first platted by Elias Pym Fordham and Alexander Ralston, all main streets of the first square mile of the fair (future) metropolis of Indianapolis, excepting Meridian, Market and Washington were named after states. Meridian and Market of course, bisected the heart and epicenter of the town and the east-west, north-south and diagonal streets all took names of states (including our own). It wasn’t until the 1894-95 city council season rolled around that the future of some of our fine thoroughfares would be changed.
A ”colored” councilman, John Puryear, “hated the name of Mississippi.” And he must not have been alone, since the City Council removed fellow southern state, Tennessee near the same time they removed Mississippi. Tennessee would be known from that time forward as Capitol Avenue and and Mississippi Street became Senate Avenue.
Though precious little information is readily available about John A. Puryear, his name is often cited in reference to his former neighborhood, Ransom Place, where he lived for many years at 854 (previously 832 Camp Street). He served as a city councilman from 1891-1897 and seems to have run for a seat again later in life. An Indianapolis Star article of May 2, 1921 gave a small synopsis of candidates from the various wards. Under “Councilman, 4th District,” appeared the following: “John A. Puryear, colored, 854 Camp Street. Operates a transfer company at 106 W. Ohio Street. He served three terms in the council from 1891-1897.” There appears to be a discrepancy in which ward he was councilman for, exactly. Greater Indianapolis, by Jacob Piatt Dunn has him representing the 4th ward. His obituary says different:
November 19, 1930- Indianapolis Star:
“J. A. Puryear, Former Councilman, Dies- John A. Puryear, Negro, 75 years old, city councilman from the Sixth ward during the administrations of Mayors Thomas L. Sullivan and Thomas Taggart, 1892 to 1897, died yesterday at his home, 714 North West Street. He was born in North Carolina and came to Indianapolis fifty-two years ago. He was of the firm of Puryear & Porter, house movers. He was a m ember of Columbia Lodge, K. of P., and Lincoln Union, I.O.O.F. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon and burial will be in Crown Hill cemetery. Survivors are a sister, Miss Margaret Puryear of Indianapolis; a brother, Sidney Puryear of Chicago, three nieces and a nephew.”
Puryear and his wife were clearly involved in their community, frequently appearing in the “News of the Colored Folk” section of the Indianapolis Star.
Having so dutifully served his part of town, west of Meridian, one wonders how it came to be that in honor of his years of service, his name should be allocated to a small alley in what is now the St. Joseph Historic Neighborhood. Next time you are driving on Alabama Street within St. Joseph neighborhood, look for this:
Area historian Leah Orr mentioned this many years ago, noting the great irony in the fact that the street named for a man who relocated houses couldn’t inspire such action for the historic homes that once fronted his namesake street. Buildings were demolished rather than relocated. Thanks to Leah for the obituary and Sanborn map (and for all she does for history in Indianapolis).
