Old Northside Historic District
Old Northside Historic District | |
Old Northside Architecture | |
39°47′1.87″N 86°9′14.98″W / 39.7838528°N 86.1541611°W / 39.7838528; -86.1541611 | |
Area | 170 acres (69 ha) |
---|---|
Architectural style | Late Victorian |
NRHP reference No. | 78000049 [1] |
Added to NRHP | March 24, 1978 |
Old Northside is a residential neighborhood near downtown in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is bordered by 16th Street on the north, Pennsylvania Street on the west, Interstate I-65 on the south, and Bellefontaine Street on the east. The Monon Trail runs along the eastern edge of The Frank and Judy O'Bannon Old Northside Soccer Park.[2]
Old Northside was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and is home to many residences from the Victorian era.[1]
History
Old Northside was a prominent residential neighborhood in the late 19th century, when many of Indianapolis' wealthier residents built mansions in the area. Old Northside was home to Benjamin Harrison (23rd President of the United States), Ovid Butler (founder of Butler University) and other notable figures, including magnates of the L.S. Ayres department store. Indiana author Meredith Nicholson was also a resident for many years and wrote his most noted work House of a Thousand Candles while in residence.[3]
Old Northside was also the original location of Indianapolis' Butler University, then named North Western Christian University, which was later relocated to the town of Irvington.[3][4]
The neighborhood began a slow decline in the early 1910s as architectural tastes changed and families built homes further north in Indianapolis. Over several decades, homes were demolished and others fell into disrepair.
In 1937, the Homeowner Loan Corporation (HOLC) classified 73 Indianapolis neighborhoods into four categories based on perceived investment risk. The Old Northside was graded "C", or hazardous, and colored yellow, and was surrounded by redlined neighborhoods.[5] In the late 1960s, residents began restoring remaining buildings of architectural significance, and petitioned the city for historic recognition. By the 1990s, the Old Northside was gentrified, with the population of white residents more than doubling between 1970 and 2016.[6][7]
Old Northside received historic designation in late 1978 after adopting a plan for preserving the architecture and history of the neighborhood. Disagreement arose between those seeking National Register designation and lower-income residents of the Old Northside, who were represented by the Citizens Neighborhood Coalition and feared displacement from their homes. A 1979 IUPUI study determined that minimal displacement had taken place due to the historic preservation of the neighborhood.[8]
Preservation of the neighborhood's history is overseen by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission.[9]
Residences and museums
The President Benjamin Harrison Home and the Morris-Butler House, both on the National Register of Historic Places, are located in Old Northside and are open to the public for tours and special events. In 2010–2011, the former Central Avenue Methodist Church, later known as the Old Centrum, underwent a multimillion-dollar major restoration as a performance venue and statewide headquarters of Indiana Landmarks and is now known as the Indiana Landmarks Center. The former home of Thomas Taggart is now the national headquarters of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.[10]
Parks
There are three parks related to Old Northside, all created with funding from the Old Northside Foundation. Great Oak Commons is a park created by the neighborhood from several empty lots and is landscaped as a Victorian walking park with a central fountain, gas lighting, a gazebo and a sensory garden filled with fragrant perennial flowers. Shawn Grove Park is a children's park with play equipment. The Frank and Judy O'Bannon Soccer Park was created by the city of Indianapolis on the east edge of the neighborhood, with the help of Old Northside Foundation. It is now maintained by Indy Parks. It was reclaimed from abandoned space near the former Monon train tracks and is used by several children's summer soccer leagues.
Neighborhood organizations
The Old Northside Neighborhood Association was created in 1979, and has been active in preserving the historic architecture of the neighborhood and providing cultural and social activities for the neighborhood.[11]
The Old Northside Neighborhood Foundation was created in 1990 to raise funds for neighborhood projects, including funding for the neighborhood parks and conversion of street lights to historically appropriate designs.[11]
Gallery
- Morris–Butler House (1864)
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- Indiana Landmarks Center (1891)
- 1221 N. Delaware Street
- 1229 N. Delaware Street
- Knights of Columbus McGowan Hall
- Windsor Apartments
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References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Old Northside Neighborhood Association - Home". www.oldnorthside.org. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
- ^ a b "Old Northside Historic Plan" (PDF).
- ^ "Ovid Butler Biography". Archived from the original on May 15, 2008.
- ^ Nowlin, Jeramy Townsley, Unai Miguel Andres, Matt (June 24, 2021). "The Lasting Impacts of Segregation and Redlining". SAVI. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Neighborhood Change 1970-2016". SAVI. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Exploring Neighborhood Change, 1970-2016". www.savi.org. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Old Northside". indyencyclopedia.org. April 25, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Tour - Old Northside Neighborhood - PocketSights". pocketsights.com. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved August 1, 2016. Note: This includes Cheri Lynn (July 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Old Northside Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved August 1, 2016. and Accompanying photographs
- ^ a b "Old Northside Neighborhood - Home". www.oldnorthside.org.
External links
- Indianapolis, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Old Northside Neighborhood Association's Web Site
- Old Northside Neighborhood at NPS.gov
- Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission
- Ovid Butler Biography
- Old Northside Flickr Photo Pool
- v
- t
- e
- Brendonwood
- Camp Edwin F. Glenn
- Central Court
- Chatham–Arch
- Cottage Home
- Cumberland
- Emerson Avenue Addition
- Fletcher Place
- Forest Hills
- Fort Benjamin Harrison (Boundary Increase)
- Garfield Drive
- Golden Hill
- Haughville
- Herron–Morton Place
- Holy Rosary–Danish Church
- Homecroft
- Indiana Avenue
- Indianapolis Union Station Wholesale District
- Irvington
- Irvington Terrace
- Laurel and Prospect
- Lockerbie Square (Boundary Increase)
- Massachusetts Avenue
- Meridian Park
- New Augusta
- North Meridian Street
- North Pennsylvania Street
- Northside
- North Irvington Gardens
- Old Northside
- Oliver Johnson's Woods
- P.R. Mallory Company Factory
- Ransom Place
- Riverside Drive
- St. Joseph Neighborhood
- St.Philip Neri Parish
- Shortridge–Meridian Street Apartments
- State and Prospect
- Town of Crows Nest
- Virginia Avenue
- Washington Park
- Washington Street–Monument Circle
- Watson Park
- Woodruff Place
- Allison Mansion
- Anderson–Thompson House
- Askren House
- Apple House
- Bals–Wocher House
- Bates–Hendricks House
- Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
- Benton House
- Byram–Middleton House
- Campbell Mansion
- Cole House & 1925 Cole Brouette No. 70611
- Cotton–Ropkey House
- Flanner House Homes
- Fletcher House
- Glossbrenner Mansion
- Graham House
- Hanna–Ochler–Elder House
- Haverstick Farmstead
- Hill House
- Hollingsworth House
- Horner–Terrill House
- Hubbard House
- Jamieson–Bennett House
- Johnson–Denny House
- Julian–Clark House
- Kuhn House
- Levey Mansion
- Lustron House
- Mattison House
- Meier House
- Millikan House
- Moore House
- Morris–Butler House
- Nicholson–Rand House
- Oldfields
- Pierson–Griffiths House
- The Propylaeum (Schmidt House)
- Prosser House
- Recker House
- Riley House
- Schnull–Rauch House
- Sommer House
- Stewart Mansion
- Stumpf House
- Thompson House
- Tobey-Normington House
- Tomlinson House
- Wheeler–Stokely Mansion
Apartments
and Flats
- Alameda
- Alexandra
- Ambassador
- Baker
- Blacherne
- Burton
- Cathcart
- Chadwick
- Colonial
- Dartmouth
- Delaware Court
- Delaware Flats
- Devonshire
- Emelie
- Glencoe
- Grover
- Harriett
- Lodge
- Martens
- Massachusetts
- Mayleeno
- McKay
- Myrtle Fern
- Oxford
- Pennsylvania
- Plaza
- Rink
- Savoy
- Shelton
- Sid-Mar
- Spink
- Sylvania
- St. Clair
- Vienna
- Wil-Fra-Mar
- Wilson
- Wyndham
Apartments
Libraries
- Administration Building, Indiana Central University
- Arthur Jordan Memorial Hall
- Central Library
- Crispus Attucks High School
- East Washington Library
- Hawthorne Branch Library
- IPS 13
- IPS 33
- IPS 36
- IPS 58
- IPS 66
- IPS 82
- IPS 84
- IPS 97
- Indiana School for the Deaf
- Indiana State Library
- Riverside Branch Library
- Old Southport High School
- Spades Park Library
- Shortridge High School
- Architects and Builders Building
- L.S. Ayres Annex Warehouse
- City Market
- Fame Laundry
- Fidelity Trust Building
- Hammond Block
- Indianapolis News Building
- Jackson Buildings
- Kahn Tailoring Company Building
- Lombard Building
- Majestic Building
- Marott's Shoes Building
- Merchants National Bank and Annex
- Morrison Block
- Reserve Loan Life Insurance Company
- Rink's Womens Apparel Store
- Selig's Dry Goods Company Building
- Taylor Carpet Company Building
- Tee Pee Restaurant
- Test Building
- H. P. Wasson and Company Building
- William Buschmann Block
- Fort Harrison Terminal Station
- Indianapolis Union Station
- Marion County Bridge 0501F
- Michigan Road Toll House
- P.C.C. & St. L. Railroad Freight Depot
- Stout Field Administration Building and Hangar
Theater
- Circle Theater
- Foster Hall
- Indiana Theatre
- Madam C. J. Walker Building
- Rivoli Theater
Recreation
- Broad Ripple Park Carousel
- Bush Stadium
- Highland Golf and Country Club
- Butler Fieldhouse
- Hillcrest Country club
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Woodstock Country Club
- Bethel A.M.E. Church
- Beth-El Zedeck Temple
- Big Run Baptist Church and Cemetery
- Christ Church Cathedral
- Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church
- Our Savior Lutheran Church
- Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church
- St. John's Church and Rectory
- St. Mary's Catholic Church
- St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
Civic Groups
- Athenaeum
- Christamore House
- Colored Knights of Pythias Castle Hall
- Columbia Club
- General German Protestant Orphans Home
- Independent Turnverein
- Indiana State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs
- Indianapolis Athletic Club
- Indianapolis Masonic Temple
- Maennerchor Building
- Oriental Lodge No. 500
- Scottish Rite Cathedral
- South Side Turnverein Hall
- University Club
Spaces
- Archeological Sites 12Ma648 and 12Ma649
- Caleb Blood Smith Historic Site
- Crown Hill Cemetery
- Crown Hill National Cemetery
- Indiana World War Memorial Plaza
- Indianapolis Park and Boulevard System
- McCormick Cabin Site
- Military Park
- Nurses' Sunken Garden and Convalescent Park
- State Soldiers and Sailors Monument
- University Park
Entries in italics have been removed from the registry