Article Archives: Building Blocks

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

Ellenberger Park

April 28, 2016 | by Steven R. Barnett

Not all of the building blocks that make up our neighborhoods are brick and mortar. There are woods and meadows — green space to ease the eyes and refresh the soul. When my mother came to Indianapolis from the gritty industrial city of Akron, Ohio — Rubber City — she … Read More

EASTGATE: Suburban Main Street

March 24, 2016 | by Steven R. Barnett

Today it’s simply “THE ROC,” a two-story massive windowless white-painted stone sprawl surrounded by an asphalt parking lot, an array of solar panels, and a low, gray cement block perimeter wall. The Regional Operations Center (ROC) is the home of the Indianapolis Homeland Security Department and its state-of-the-art security equipment … Read More

Fidelity Farm Transformed

February 25, 2016 | by Steven R. Barnett

“What’s going on with all those trucks?” is a question that I often hear in connection with the row upon row of semis filling the lots at the old International Harvester (Navistar) facility along Brookville Road at Ritter Avenue. Once the production site for International truck engines, today only about … Read More

Irvington’s Faulty Tower

January 28, 2016 | by Steven R. Barnett

Each day a multitude of vehicles pass by a 140 year old landmark on the southwest corner of South Emerson Avenue and Brookville Road. Once a grand Second Empire style house, today the Horner House stands as a poor shadow of its former glories. Abraham Horner, an Ohio Buckeye and … Read More

East Side Field of Dreams

December 24, 2015 | by Steven R. Barnett

“Don’t forget the batteries,” was probably among the parting remarks from Mrs. Claus to Santa before he made his recent magical yearly trip. For five decades many of the batteries that powered mechanical toy wonders beneath the Christmas tree and ran the cameras that captured memorable holiday moments came from … Read More