The neighborhood James O. Woodruff planned on his original 77 acres has withstood the test of time. The neighborhood started off life in 1872 as an elegant retreat from the bustling city of Indianapolis, boasting a variety of architectural styles, and mostly affluent neighbors (Booth Tarkington took his inspiration for his novel The Magnificent Ambersons from Woodruff Place). After some hard times when many homes were neglected, a big effort was made to bring the streets and houses back to life. Woodruff Place re-emerged as a beautiful neighborhood in the heart of the city thanks to the hard work of its residents.
In 1972, 100 years after it was platted, Woodruff Place was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and the Woodruff Place Civic League took up the challenge of preserving a sense of history and community, but also moving the neighborhood forward to a brighter future. Countless hours of meetings, volunteer elbow grease, diligent research, and creativity have gone into the renaissance of Woodruff Place.
The Historic Woodruff Place 2015 Home and Garden Tour June 27 and 28 provides an opportunity for non-Woodruffians to peek inside some of the beautiful old homes in their neighborhood. Held every other year, the Home and Garden Tour is different every time, and this year’s tour has some beautiful and unique properties. Visitors can walk through an “in progress” restoration of a Queen Anne, or an Arts and Crafts bungalow, a home brought back from a devastating fire, and a lovingly preserved Town Hall. For only $15 (day of tour; cash-only advance tickets $12 at Crimson Tate, 845 Mass Ave. and Tim & Julie’s Another Fine Mess, 2901 E. 10th St. or credit card sales online at www.woodruffhometour.eventbrite.com), visitors can appreciate the beauty inside the homes as well as their lovely exteriors. In addition, visitors can step into gardens created as retreats, outdoor entertainment centers, and places for families to gather. Admission to the tour also includes a vintage fashion show at 2 p.m. each day of the show, showcasing the looks from the 1950s and 1970s. Hours of the tour are noon-5 p.m. each day.
Residents welcome hundreds of people to their neighborhood for the tour, and a taxi service set up by volunteers between homes and gardens will be made available at the Woodruff Place Town Hall, 735 E. Drive to help cut down on traffic congestion. Visitors can buy their tickets at the Town Hall the days of the tour (and don’t forget to go inside to see displays of historic photos of the neighborhood).
Better yet, park and walk through the streets from home to home. Along the streets there are beautiful fountains and statues, plus old trees to provide shade. For more information about the Woodruff Place Home Tour, the many year-round activities in the neighborhood, and much more, visit http://woodruffplace.org
