Mass Ave

Posted in: Indianapolis Collected Indianapolis Collected: Bringing the masses to Mass Ave

On the surface, George J. Marott would seem to have nothing in common with Ray Kinsella, the fictional farmer in Field of Dreams who built a baseball diamond in the middle of his cornfield. First...

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Posted in: Penny Post Penny Post: Mass Ave at Night

Postmarked: INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – AUG 1-, 1913 – 6-PM Message: 230 South Illinois St. Indianapolis, Ind Hello Everything fine. will write in a few days. Am going to stay a few days Orrine (?) L...

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Posted in: Vintage Flats Flats Lost & Saved: Two Alamedas and the Avenue Hotel

The 400-block of Massachusetts Avenue is one of the most interesting blocks in the city – historically and architecturally. Doesn’t it seem like it’s been neglected in history, compared to the blocks just northeast and...

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Posted in: Sunday Ads Sunday Ads: The Mass Ave Hotel that Was

There was talk of a boutique hotel joining the Massachusetts Avenue scene where the Fire Department currently stands. While that particular plan wasn’t selected, the implementation of such an idea on the avenue would not...

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Posted in: Vintage Flats Flats Lost & Saved: Mass Ave & Vermont Street

The Sanborn map above is of the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Vermont Street, and Alabama Street in 1914. Originally, the 400 block of Mass Ave was set aside for ‘religious purposes.’ However, by 1870, the...

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Posted in: Friday Favorites Friday Fave: A Mass Ave Shop for The New Year

Have you ever daydreamed about owning your own shop or business of some kind? And if your dreams include our beautiful capital city of Indianapolis, where do you picture it? If you’re a downtowner, chances...

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Posted in: Friday Favorites Friday Favorites: Indy’s Oldest Shoe Store

What would you say if you were offered the chance to travel by time machine to Indianapolis in the 1890’s? Would you do it? If so, where would you go? Who would you see? Where...

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Posted in: A Room with a View Room With a View: Stout’s Baldwin Flyer

Ever wondered what the view from the top looks like? From the perspective of the Baldwin Flyer, the famed pulley0and-crank basket system installed at Stout’s, you’re looking at it. As an extra touch, the baskets...

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Posted in: Sunday Ads Sunday Adverts: Stouts Shoes, 1898

Hard to believe Indy has a retail shop that has continuously served the citizenry for over 125 years. Long gone are the cobblers, and few and far between are the shoe repairers, but long may...

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Posted in: Sunday Ads Sunday Adverts: Stout’s Shoes & the Circular Nature of Styles

This article and a portion of this website is generously sponsored by Stout’s Shoes If someone asked you to name the oldest business in Indy, what are the chances that Stout’s Shoes would come to...

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Posted in: A Room with a View Room With a View: Indianapolis Fire Museum, Mass Ave

If you’ve never been before, you may want to check out the remodeled Fire Station 2. The Indianapolis Fire Museum at 748 Massachusetts Avenue is a compact treasure trove/ memorial to all the brave souls...

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Posted in: A Room with a View Room With a View: The Davlan to Mass Ave

Mass Ave has come to be known as one of the favorite stomping grounds in greater downtown, and I don’t know about you, but my favorite views always include the older buildings on the Ave....

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Posted in: Friday Favorites Friday Favorite: Coca Cola Bottling Co. on Mass Ave

First thing you might think about today’s favorite: “Just hop on the bus, Gus…” and while there may be “50 Ways to Leave your Lover,” there doesn’t seem to be ONE for getting the school...

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Posted in: A Room with a View Room With a View: Downtown Marsh to Mass Ave

What fun, to head over to O’Malia’s (that’s what I still call it, but ok, it’s actually a Marsh now) in search of some Hoosier Momma Bloody Mary Mix and find a horse and carriage...

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Posted in: Friday Favorites Friday Favorite: The Murat

“…What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…” Uhhh, not so fast, Romeo. I just can’t embrace calling this place the name of some bank....

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Posted in: Friday Favorites Friday Favorite: Chatham Arch

Anyone else love just randomly wandering the streets of our fair metropolis? In an historic neighborhood, of course… This one caught my eye some weeks back as I was meandering through the streets of Chatham...

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Posted in: Building Language Building Language: Window Hoods

Window Hood on 1336 North Delaware Street Hood. You might see hoods every day, but not realize the feature has a specific name and purpose. A hood is the piece found above window openings, typically...

Posted in: Building Language Building Language: Battlement

Battlement on 725 Massachusetts Avenue Battlement. Although you might associate this term with medieval buildings or a castle, Indianapolis historic buildings feature battlements as a decorative motif. Historically, battlements served in a defensive function for medieval castles,...

Posted in: Friday Favorites Friday Favorite: Chatham Arch Beauty on Broadway

Before our weather took a turn for the cold and wet, I spent a few hours cruising the streets of Indianapolis just looking around and getting better acquainted with her. Wandering and weaving through the...

Posted in: Then & Now Then and Now: The Little Depot and the Interstate

Although a psychic once told me that I “don’t have a psychic bone in my body,” as a local historian I sometimes see ghosts of Indianapolis’ past. Such was the case last week as I...

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