Meridian Street above 38th or so may be where most of the sprawling vintage estates are today, but 100 years ago, they still lined the southern part of North Meridian Street. Here are just a couple of examples from the 1100 block of Meridian in 1897.
First, the home of Orange S. Runnels, surgeon at Runnels Surgical Hospital built at what today would be 1100 N. Meridian (previously 600 N. Meridian).
The second, the home of John H. Holliday (yes, same family as Holliday Park) stood across the street at 1121 N. Meridian (originally labeled 601 N. Meridian).
What do you think it would have been like in the heyday of these homes?
Great photos and stories. Your group posted a photo of the Runnels home on our site, http://www.whatwasthere.com. The fade between then and now shows that the freeway now runs through the site. Do you know if the house was torn down for the freeway, or if it was gone due to other reasons prior to the freeway? Thanks for your help!
Yes, I was one of the early adopters/ supporters of WWT. I am not sure if the house was destroyed for the highway or if it had been destroyed before. Indianapolis was one of the most active bulldozing cities I’ve ever seen or heard of…