Article Archives: Building Blocks

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

In Flanders’ Fields . . .

November 15, 2018 | by Steven R. Barnett

Sunday, November 11, 2018 marks the centennial anniversary of the Armistice that brought an end to carnage that was known as the Great War. When the guns fell silent across the ravaged land of the Western Front a hundred years ago at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of … Read More

“I Had a Little Bird . . .”

October 18, 2018 | by Steven R. Barnett

Along with the cool days of fall and as predictable as the changing leaves are the public service announcements reminding people to get their flu shots. Such was not the case a century ago when the great pandemic swept across the United States and the world, leaving many today with … Read More

Good news of youth

September 27, 2018 | by Steven R. Barnett

High school; yes, those were the days. For most of us, memories of this time in our life were captured in the yearbooks that we scurried around on the last day of school to secure autographs of our classmates and teachers. Today, most of these receptacles of our “precious memories” … Read More

Dignified, Yet Newsy

August 23, 2018 | by Steven R. Barnett

Today, we text and tweet. A student told me Facebook is for grandparents, and if you want to get your message out use Instagram. She also said if the phone rings, it’s not “Hello,” but “Who died?” The contemporary world is all about instant news. However, there remains a few … Read More

Pioneers & Veterans

July 26, 2018 | by Steven R. Barnett

While summer is not the only time of year for events benefiting charities, hardly a weekend passes during the season without a walk or run or a bike (pedal or motorized) ride. Even an occasional neighborhood lemonade stand appears. Whether it’s an event organized by hundreds and involving thousands or … Read More