New Orphans Home Almost Completed

From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, November 22, 1924:  The new Colored Orphans’ Home, erected by the Marion County board of commissioners, is scheduled to open January 1.  The new facility at 25th St and Keystone Av, consisting of four brick fire-proof buildings, will replace the old home at 21st St and Boulevard Pl which has been in use since 1869.  Designed by architect Donald Graham, the complex includes a two-story administration building with offices, dining room and kitchen, isolation ward, and two schoolrooms in the basement; two cottages, one for boys and one for girls containing eleven rooms each; and a powerhouse with a laundry room.  The home for colored orphans was established in 1869 as a result of a movement started by the Friends church and supported by Quaker contributions.  The county took over the home two years ago.

“New Orphans Home Almost Completed,” The Indianapolis News, 22 November 1924, p. 4:1

Club is Organized by South Irvington Folk

From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, November 18, 1924:  The South Irvington Community Club met last evening and selected R. O. Shimer, who earlier was elected president, chairman of the board.  Over 200 residents met last week at school No. 82 to organize the club whose first objective is to obtain a streetcar line extension along English Av, the old mule-car right-of-way which carried Butler students to the Irvington campus.  Pavements in English Av has been completed on both sides of the proposed extension.  Many residents of South Irvington are one mile from streetcar lines.  A second objective of the South Irvington Community Club will be street and sidewalk improvements, an adequate sewer system, and a modern schoolhouse.  The area along the south side of English Av has waited many years to be redeemed from the forlornness of frustrated early hopes.

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“Directors Selected for Community Club,” The Indianapolis News, 18 November 1924, p. 30:1

“Club is Organized by South Irvington Folk,” The Indianapolis News, 11 November 1924, p. 33:5

Ralph Hill Memorial Fountain is Unveiled

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, November 10, 1924:  A fountain, The Pioneer Family, cast in bronze of a dark green, was dedicated in a simple ceremony yesterday afternoon in Fountain Square before a crowd which packed the place.  A gift to Indianapolis from Phoebe Hill in memory of her husband former Congressman Ralph Hill, the fountain, designed by local sculptor Myra Reynolds Richard, is a striking work of red slate and marble with green tile in the base topped by the figure of a father holding a musket, standing behind a mother with her Bible in her arm.  The little boy, shouldering an ax, looks straight ahead, while his more timid sister, with her doll, stays close to her mother.  Mayor Lew Shank and other civic leaders made appropriate remarks, with music provided by the Indianapolis Police and Firemen’s band.       

“Ralph Hill Memorial Fountain is Unveiled,” The Indianapolis News, 10 November 1924, p. 19:8