Article Archives: Building Blocks

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

An Old Landmark

February 26, 2026 | by Steven R. Barnett

An old Irvington landmark is gone. On the cold snowy evening of Sunday, January 18, 2026, a fire, probably started by squatters, swept through the vacant commercial building at 5235-39 E. Washington St. By the time firefighters from Station House 25 arrived on the scene, dense smoke and flames were … Read More

The Classic Suburb…And Note

February 5, 2026 | by Steven R. Barnett

Every day the sound of music rings out across Irvington as the chimes of the Methodist Church proclaims the hour and on Saturday summer evenings at Irving Circle Park the sweet sounds of Audio Diner and other local musicians waft across a crowd of gentle listeners. Every October, Irvingtonians look … Read More

The Classic Suburb in Word

December 18, 2025 | by Steven R. Barnett

Visual arts are often the most prominent examples of culture, frequently overshadowing the written word. However, like its rich heritage in paint, Irvington has a significant literary tradition that has deep roots in journalism. Grace Julian Clarke, the daughter of former U. S. Congressman George W. Julian, came to Irvington … Read More

Irvington The Classic Suburb

November 26, 2025 | by Steven R. Barnett

Irvington was recently designated one of the cultural districts of Indianapolis, an official recognition that Irvingtonians have known for decades for the name “Irvington” proclaims culture. For 150 years Irvington, once the site of Butler University, has been known as the Classic Suburb, the home of artists, authors, and musicians. … Read More

The old southside

October 23, 2025 | by Steven R. Barnett

The Old South Side in the 1950s ran from South to Raymond Streets, White River to East Street and was a community of German immigrant heritage — Protestants, Catholics, and Jewish. My wife grew up on Talbott St. in a family of German ethnicity that had moved to the south … Read More