Located at 2101 North College Avenue (across from another to-be-featured prayer property) are two very old brick buildings–one Italianate that faces 20th Street and this larger and more grand building facing College Avenue. Facing College, we see the name of our famed Civil War era governor “Oliver P. Morton School” etched into the arch, with flanking “No. 29” on either side. Both buildings are lovely but look in dire need of help. Through the grapevine, we have heard that this property is being used as a private residence, and a glimpse towards one of the windows looked like it may have had home-like furnishings. An interesting choice, and who doesn’t love creative adaptive reuses? The roof–particularly on the smaller Italianate building–looks in dire need of help. Thrilling that it’s still part of our streetscape. Do you know anyone who attended this school? Can’t seem to find a ready answer as to when this discontinued service as a school.
College side entrance
Indiana Historical Society has a photo of the 8th grade graduating class of 1908 showing the same lovely limestone arch way in the background
College Avenue, Former School No 29
It would be wonderful if someone would write a history of some of Indy’s public schools of yesteryear. It is wonderful that some have found new lives as residences and other useful purposes. My own short IPS history – one year of kindergarten – is with me to this day. I went to IPS School 62, near 10th and Bosart, nearly across from the concert venue Emerson Theater. I remember it’s big tall windows and transoms over the doors, big wide planked floors. Later I would attend summer school art classes – I loved sitting in a classroom in a pair of shorts and a t-shrt, such a luxury for a kid who wears a uniform the other 9 months of the year. My beloved Calvin Kendall School number 62 sat, dilapidated and overgrown for well over 20 years until it was torn down to make way for a church a few years ago. Nice to see something shiny and new – and the memories, well they are mine forever.
Wish to stay with this type of blog about formerly used school buildings!
My grandfather, Homer L. Barton, graduated form this school in 1915 I have a program and diploma with other student names I would be happy to upload.
I attended this school from Kindergarten to the 6th grade. This school offered us as children a inclusive education. We learned how to play instruments, we had art classes, when had chores, gym in addition to our regular courses. This was a segregated Black school in a segregated Black community which was thriving. When this school closed it killed the community over time.