IRVINGTON — The Irvington Historical Society has held an annual Ice Cream Social on the first Sunday in August every year since its founding in 1964. This year’s event is Sunday, Aug. 6, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 E. University Ave. (corner of University and Downey Aves). Since moving to the Bona Thompson Memorial Center over 20 years ago, the society has expanded the event to include live music from the White River Jazz Band. In addition, several local organizations will also be available to provide information about their work in our community. The Black Hat Society will have a bike ride through the area about noon. They will also have activities to keep the children entertained. Ice cream — fudge brownie, graham central station, vanilla, and pink lemonade sorbet — will be available for $4 a cup. The museum will be open with many interesting exhibits including Kin Hubbard (the creator of Abe Martin), The Irvington Group (a distinctive art colony during the first half of the 20th century), Butler University, Howe High School, International Harvester, Angels of West Baden, and the Ghouls of Irvington.
This year’s event also serves as the kickoff to a major fundraising campaign to Better the Bona by modernizing the heating and air systems and completing the renovation of the large area that is an attached annex to the original structure.
After over thirty years of shuffling its collection from numerous storage spots, ranging from the Benton House, the Brown Branch of the Public Library, as well as from several of its members’ homes, in 1999 the Irvington Historical Society was able to partner with generous grantors to raise $1.5M to save the historic Butler University library, the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, and to remodel it into a museum, archive and cultural facility. Since reopening in 2002, the Bona Thompson Memorial Center has served as the home of the Irvington Historical Society, where exhibits and programs have showcased the connection between Irvington’s past and present. The Irvington Historical Society is totally a volunteer organization, and the museum is available to the public with free admission.
In 2022, the Society became the owner of the Bona Thompson Memorial Center and its aging systems need to be upgraded to continue to make the Bona Thompson Memorial Center the safe and accessible community resource the neighborhood deserves. Current improvements include replacement of all lights with energy saving LED bulbs and replacement of the aging UV filters on all of the building’s windows to help safeguard exhibits. Multiple upgrades are still needed to sustain the Bona Thompson Memorial Center for the next 25 years.
The Irvington Historical Society is launching the “Bettering the Bona” fundraising campaign to raise $250,000 for three main projects. Realizing that this is a steep goal, a generous Irvington Angel has offered to match, dollar for dollar, the first $100,000 raised for the Bettering the Bona project. The Irvington Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit and all donations go into a common fund. Your donations may be tax-deductible.
The Bettering the Bona campaign is focusing on three specific projects:
• Climate Control: The Bona’s heating system is antiquated and failing. New units will be more energy, cost efficient, and will keep our guests and volunteers more comfortable and safeguard our Irvington related art and artifacts collection. The stimated cost is $90,000.
• Pipe Works Gallery: The Bona was intended to be a community resource. To realize that commitment, we need to increase our usable space. The Bona has an under-used area that would make a great public gallery and meeting room, but the room needs to be remodeled to make it accessible and useable. We are calling this space “the Pipe Works Gallery” in honor of the piping systems which will remain visible. The space will be one of the largest galleries in the building. The estimated cost is $70,000.
• Greater Irvington Exhibit: The Irvington Historical Society lacks a permanent exhibit which captures the essence of Irvington. The content will revolve around the vision of a community and celebrate 150 years of Irvington’s history. The estimated cost: $100,000.
To contribute, visit https://www.irvingtonhistory.org/bettering-the-bona/ for more details about our plans and projects, or to make a donation. You can also make a pledge to our Go Fund Me account at https://www.gofundme.com/f/bettering-bona-keeping-irvington-history-alive. YOu can also mail a check to the Irvington Historical Society, Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 University Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46219
The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. and donations in cash or card can be accepted when you visit. Go to irvingtonhistory.org for more information about upcoming events.
