Article Archives: Building Blocks

Building Blocks is a monthly feature by historian Steve Barnett about historic properties on the east side of Indianapolis.

Christmas Memories – Irvington

December 19, 2024 | by Steven R. Barnett

Today, Christmastime in Irvington is an early December Friday evening of local holiday shopping, picking out a tree at the Methodist Church lot, and Luminaria open houses before families and friends gather around the Christmas tree in homes to exchange presents all the while keeping in mind the idyllic image … Read More

Part Two —The Weeklies

October 24, 2024 | by Steven R. Barnett

Readers of The Weekly View are continuing an Indianapolis newspaper tradition that began two centuries ago. The View is one of the more recent weekly publications to bring news and other items of local interest to a specialized readership. Most of the early Indianapolis newspapers were dependent on the mail … Read More

Read All About It!

September 26, 2024 | by Steven R. Barnett

“  READ ALL ABOUT IT!” once the youthful cry of newspaper carriers has, in recent years with the decline of printed journalism, been replaced with the electronic media squawk, “BREAKING NEWS!” Sitting down at the breakfast table, sipping a cup of coffee, and reading the morning paper was once a … Read More

Solidarity Forever!

August 22, 2024 | by Steven R. Barnett

Hoosier philosopher Abe Martin, through the pen of Kin Hubbard, asked, “What is a laborin’ man?” and answered, “A laborin’ man is a feller or woman that works in a stone quarry, or a bank, or a foundry, or a grocery, or livery stable, or a millinery store, or one … Read More

Indy’s Belt of Iron

July 25, 2024 | by Steven R. Barnett

Like a medieval wall encompassing an ancient city, an earthen elevation that nearly surrounds the old city of Indianapolis allows limited access through several underpasses. Atop this barrier from time to time roll freight trains over the iron rails of the old Belt Line Railroad. On Friday afternoon October 1, … Read More