For those of us who are overly sentimental and who also happen to live in historic homes, it seems a common practice–maybe even a point of pride–to refer to the home not with the surname of the current owner, but one of years’ past. Today’s Friday Favorite is commonly referred to throughout Herron-Morton Place as the Wishard Mansion, since this was the home of the Dr. William Niles Wishard family from 1907-1941. And since we recently learned that the beloved Wishard name is to be erased from the revered hospital bearing the name, we’re going to have to insist that this gorgeous home always be known as the old Wishard home, estate, mansion or homestead–please! 
Sadly, it had been carved into many apartments at one time–as many in the area were. But we wonder what life was like here for the Wishard family? Dr. Wishard is widely accepted as one of the most well-respected and well-known doctors in Indianapolis history.
2050 North Delaware was recently renovated–and though it looks like a brand new mansion inside, the outside has been meticulously restored, beautifully preserving that part of its historic character. It is going on the market any second and the romantic in me hopes a well-respected doctor moves in.
It’s interesting to note that Dr Mansur (of Hume-Mansur Building fame next to the former Board of Trade Building, where I have shot pool in their billiard room downstairs, where the “AFNB Tower” is now located) farmed north of Fall Creek, west of Meridian Street, which was later developed as part of the North Indianapolis district. More trivia about another noteworthy Indianapolis doctor…
I wasn’t aware there was a Dr. Mansur–when I briefly researched those names, I didn’t come across a doctor. In fact, I seem to recall anecdotally that it was the wives that ‘built’ Hume-Mansur building–unless I’m confusing it with Meyer-Kiser (sometimes get those mixed up). I just looked in Blue Books of that time, no mention of a Dr. Mansur; I’m wondering if this Dr. Mansur was of an earlier era?
Apparently so; from an earlier era; he “rented out” some of his farm north of Fall Creek, west of Spring Mill Road (North Illinois Street) to the US Army for a temporary camp during the Civil War, so that may have been an earlier era…
I have been looking for any one remembering much about the interior of the Board of Trade Building. My father worked in that building when I was growing up until he had to move due to the building being torn down. I remember loving to walk around that building. I would walk up and down the big stair case from the lobby over and over again. I would always ask the man at the front desk what had been down in the basement. He said there used to be a pool hall down there. I was very young at the time and didn’t even know what a pool hall was! The security guard let me go down and look at it one time although it was pretty empty and basically just being used for storage. I also went up and down on the elevators over and over and over and over again.
Very fond memories of that building. Wish someone had some interior photos!!
A friend of mine and I used to shoot pool in that billiard room downstairs; not often, but once in a while. We also shot pool in a pool hall on 16th Street, between Central and College; that hall has been closed “for years”, like many inner city businsses; even one further north on 38th Street west of Keystone was one we shot pool in that’s been closed at least since the mid 1970s; that area has acquired a number of “inner city” characteristics itself…
It’s already on the market, for OVER a milllion dollars…if I’m not mistaken (may very well be).. wasn’t this home for sale/in foreclosure not too long ago, like the last couple of years? (before the remodel obviously).
Shawn, it’s not my taste either, but for those who like the look of historic on the outside but brand new on the inside, it’d be a great choice. The home has very expensive, high quality finishes. And I do think it was in foreclosure a few years ago, but clearly a few hundred thousand dollars has been put into the property. The 2nd story balustrade was recreated and replaced, the curb cut and other exterior issues renewed or remedied, and much more. I’m sure you know that properties are priced based on other properties prices. And this home is almost 8,000 square feet, plus carriage house (which could be made into an apartment out back) and a side lot in addition to being completely redone. It’s more than what I’d ever want to pay for a home, but there are people out there who do. It will be interesting to see what it does sell for…guess we’ll see…
I agree they used expensive finishes…. as well as many people (mysef included) liking historic “looking” outside with modern inside. That said, I think they used too many different expensive finshes, and it throws off the continuity, IMO. Whatever my opinion is, rehabbing is almost always better than having it sit vacant 🙂
I love the looks of the outside!
The outside photos made me smile; the inside photos made me cry.
When I see interiors like that, the cynic in me can’t help but think of how quickly it will be considered dated. “That kitchen is so 2012!”
If you look on Google maps, you can see what it looked like before restoration.