100 Years Ago: May 22-June 4

From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, May 27, 1920: The appointment by the mayor of an Indianapolis city planning commission was urged in remarks last night by Flavel Shurtleff, secretary of the National Conference of City Planning, before a meeting of the Architects’ Association and the Architectural League of Indianapolis. One of the most important problems in city planning, he said, is the question of districting. Setting aside districts for residence, business, and industries in different parts of the city need not have the same geographical classifications. Some may be large, others so small that one side of a street may be set aside as a business district. Flexibility and future change must be provided for in districting. There should be street paving classifications; minor residential streets need not be entirely paved, just enough for use, leaving parts in grass.

From The Indianapolis News, Friday, June 4, 1920: The plan for the Community Chest of Indianapolis was approved by delegates from several organizations at a public luncheon held yesterday at the Claypool Hotel. The directors of the War Chest drafted the plan proposing that the Community Chest take over and continue the work of raising and disbursing money for civic, benevolent, charitable, and social welfare agencies. In order to promote co-operation and economy, the money would be raised in one campaign. Those present expressed “enthusiastic approval” of the plan and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce declared the work started by the War Chest had proved so successful that it must be continued. Edward Kahn, president of the Indianapolis Retail Merchants’ Association, “heartily favored” the community chest plan if for no other reason than it would prevent duplication of effort.