Recently a Historic Indianapolis reader posted a query about the Lincoln Chiropractic College at 633-635 North Pennsylvania Street. She remembered walking there as a child with her father and wondered whatever happened to the building. Being unfamiliar with the college, I did a little sleuthing and found a few answers, but not a complete history, of this marvelous old structure. Hopefully some HI readers will share memories of the building and help answer her question about exactly when and why the structure was demolished.
The Lincoln Chiropractic College operated in Indianapolis between 1926 and 1975. In need of more space, the school moved to 633-635 N. Pennsylvania Street in 1935, and stayed until relocating to 46th Street and Keystone Avenue sometime after 1947.
Courtesy of the Indiana Historical Society, Bass Photo Company 89804
Between 1920 and 1925, the building housed the Indiana Dental College. This private school was purchased by the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1925, and the school moved to its present location on the IUPUI campus in 1933.
Image from Hyman’s Journal Handbook of Indianapolis, p. 217
Anna F. Weaver ran the Girls’ Classical School Residence from about 1907 through 1920. Anna, mother Angeline, and her teacher sisters lived in the school/home and rented out unfurnished apartments, always mentioning the “elegant location” in advertisements. The Second Empire-style house was built as a residence prior to 1887. It looked west across Pennsylvania Street at the park-like setting of the Indiana Institute for the Blind (now the site of the American Legion National Headquarters). Note that the stairs leading to the elevated first-floor entrance were later removed.
Google Street View, July 2009
Based on aerial photographs, the old house/school was demolished between 1972 and 1978. The site is now a parking lot located between the Glencoe Building and the former First Lutheran Church (now a wedding rental hall known as the Sanctuary on Penn).
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Don’t know what happened here, but wish to follow this article…
Thanks bunches, it was fun to revisit, now – last time I was in Indianapolis was 12 years ago, for a 50th high school reunion – went to visit my old home on East 11th St. think the address was 211 – superhuge Victorian frame, painted cream or yellow I think. We lived downstairs, rented out the upstairs rooms to fellow students at Lincoln Chiropractic. Is the house still there?? Not an easy place to live, but I had a lot of fun.
Ann, Are you sure the address for 211? That house has been gone since the early 20th century. I’ll try to get some answers for you if you narrow down the location. What street and landmarks was your house close to?
Hello! I just happened upon your website with much delight. I live in Wilmington, NC for 26 years & was talking about my life in the midwest to a friend & mentioned Lincoln Chiropractic College where my deceased husband earned his degree…she said are you kidding?…my brother graduated from there…so I checked out the website & here you are! I was born in Methodist Hospital & lived at 4162 N. College Ave; moved to 3151 N Park Ave when I was 5 years old. Attended Paul C. Stetson PS# 76 & graduated from Shortridge HS in 1956; was married to a NY man (my deceased husband) in 1959 at Broadway Methodist Church on Fall Creek Blvd. We would go to the “Key Club” to dance, and as a family we belonged to the Rivera Club-can’t remember where this was located)
I know that 4162 College still stands & area is coming back..unfortunately 3151 N Park burned down. Across the street with Schmidts grocery store…what happened to it? This was such a beautiful residential area I’m sorry that it has not seen redevelopment. Thank you for any pictures you could supply of these homes!
Cordially, Suzanne Stanley
Thanks, Suzanne. One of our regular readers should no doubt have some input on this. You might also want to join the Historic Indianapolis facebook page and make a comment there–it would likely be seen by more people since this is an old post. Thanks for sharing!
Tech High Schoo cass of 67
IPS 34 class of 61
Writer; pianist;organist;composer
Beacon Hill Care Center
Adopted son of Rev Arthur B. Mills, Garfield Christian Church, pastor, 1947-1957.
Father’s last name: Heton. Mother’s name: Hazel Clayton Helton Elliott.
I would love to hear from you!
Hi Colleagues,
I am doing Research in history of chiropractic in Germany. If anyone knows where Archive and papers of
Lincoln Chiropractic College were gone, don’t hesitate to send me a mail.
In German history of medicine, we just know about the Palmer College in Davenport, but they had been the first one, but not the most influential college of chiropractics. Lincoln Chiropractic College was really important for improving technique in chiropractics. Yours sincerely Florian Mildenberger
Having grown up in Indy, I know well elements of the recent history of Lincoln and likely can refer you to where the archives are kept. I would have hoped that by now, someone else would have addressed this matter with you. Contact me at the above eml and I will put you in touch w/multiple sources of information.
Next came Indianapolis Electronics School; I was an instructor there until the school was closed, around 1962.
If you have a photo of this fine old building, when it was occupied by Indianapolis Electronics School and a school of dance, please offer it to this nice web site, and to my E-mail address? At the time I was there, as an instructor of electronics, my school used the right side front entrance; a school of dance, used the left side front entrance. I think, above the right side entrance, were the letters I E S. During my employment there, my school was owned by Valparaiso Technical Institute, Valparaiso, Indiana. Also V T I now is out of business, but an alumni association is collecting items, for their museum; please go to also that site, and share your photo with those good folk. A graduate of V T I, is assembling an history, of V T I, and I E S, in addition to the Dodge Technical Institute (D T I), which became V T I. Am ashamed to say, that I did not take a photo, of this Queen of a Building. Too bad that a plastic parking lot, is worth more than a school.
my late husband, dr. Melvin Mooney. attended Lincoln Chiropractic College from 1952 until he graduated
in 1957 and opened his practice in Fortville, Ind. Tiring of snow we moved to Chattanooga and opened a
successsful business here. Unfortunately died from a heart attack in 1987 He is still missed by many.
My grandfather graduated Lincoln and became a Chiropactor. He practiced in Danville Illinois for years and retied in Arizona brfore he passed away. He was Dr. W. E. Finney.