Posted in: General When Saks came to Indy

If you like a spot of shopping or just window wishing at a high end retailer, this one’s for you. Saks Fifth Avenue is home to some of the most extravagant items available in Indiana’s...

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Posted in: Historic Miscellania A Bathing Revolution at the Indiana State Fair

The Locomotive, 1853. (Photo Stephen J. Taylor from the collections of the Indiana State Library.) You might have a hard time imagining Abraham Lincoln taking a shower — and not just because the wild-looking man...

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Posted in: Historic Miscellania Curb Cooties and Their Moveable Porches

Ever wonder about the history and folklore of cooties?  Around 1950, these mysterious critters evolved into a fictitious bug or imaginary microbe infesting American elementary school playgrounds.  Getting cured had nothing to do with proper medical...

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Posted in: Sunday Ads Sunday Adverts: Geisendorff… Just Milling Around

This postcard, found recently on eBay, was from Geisendorff & Co. woolens factory, a 19th century manufacturer once located on the near-west side of downtown Indianapolis on land that is now the White River State...

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Posted in: Then & Now Indianapolis Then and Now: College Hall and the Daguerreotype of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Fletcher

1856 daguerreotype of Calvin and Keziah Fletcher. This is the only known image of Fletcher’s second wife. Note that the brass mat is embossed in the corners “W. H. Weeks” and “Indianapolis.” Click for larger...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name – H. Lauter Lofts

photo by Ryan Hamlett Location: West Washington and Harding Streets Named for Herman Lauter, Furniture manufactuer The former home of the H. Lauter Company is now condominiums on the city’s near westside. Herman Lauter was...

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Posted in: Then & Now Indianapolis Then and Now: 500 Block of West Washington Street / Eiteljorg Museum

This 1953 view shows the 500 block of W. Washington Street as it appeared in 1953. (Courtesy of The Indiana Album: Photographed by J. Parke Randall) This week we share another 1953 photograph of Indianapolis...

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Posted in: Vintage Flats Flats Saved: Heier’s Hotel

The Heier Hotel, located at 12-18 South New Jersey Street, is named after original owner Fred Heier. Heier had multiple business ventures, including Heier & Shea and Heier & Son. Heier & Shea, with partner...

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Posted in: Sunday Ads Sunday Adverts: Charles Mayer & Company

Ad Courtesy of Private Collection of Bradley Keen In 1840, German immigrant Charles Mayer opened a small store at 29-31 West Washington Street.  Originally called “Charles Mayer”, it started as a grocery and general store....

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Posted in: Sunday Ads Sunday Adverts: L. E. Morrison & Co

“TRUNKS.  BEE HIVE TRUNK FACTORY.  GOODYEAR’S RUBBER GOODS. RUBBER”  lined the top of the window at 27 West Washington Street. This L. E. Morrison & Co. advertising postcard, circa 1910, shows a wide variety of...

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Posted in: Building Language Building Language: Cast Iron Façade

East Washington Street at Southeastern Avenue, Cast Iron Storefronts Cast Iron Façade. The cast iron façade is common to late 19th century and early 20th century commercial, storefront architecture. Made of galvanized steel and cast...

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Posted in: Sunday Ads Sunday Advert: Manicures in the 1890s

Today’s advert brought to you by Single. Women. Entrepreneurs. by Erin Albert  Check us out, Indianapolis, blazing a fashionable trail in the 1890’s! In the 1890, 1891 and 1892 Indianapolis city directories, it appears Indianapolis...

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Posted in: Indianapolis Collected Indianapolis Collected: Miracle on Washington Street

Long before Ralphie told a bearded man in a red suit about his secret desire to own a Red Ryder BB Gun, American children have been sharing their Christmas lists with department store Santas. The...

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