Article Archives: Building Blocks

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

Nature Calls

March 23, 2023 | by Steven R. Barnett

You’re on the go and nature calls — where to go to go? That is the question. More than a century ago a newspaper article observed, in all “American cities, practically no provision is made for ‘public comfort stations’ outside of saloons. Department stores provide these ‘for customers only.’ Hotels … Read More

Breaking the shackles

February 23, 2023 | by Steven R. Barnett

In the long ugly history of race relations in the United States, there have been a lot of bad actors and finger pointing. Many of the heroes of our nation’s founding and formative years are found to have feet of clay and their role in slavery is a topic everyone … Read More

A Column of Newsprint

January 26, 2023 | by Steven R. Barnett

For decades alongside the columns of news in Indianapolis papers readers could find stories of human interest and opinion written by a variety of nationally syndicated columnists. In 1928, the Indianapolis Times introduced journalist Heywood Broun whose daily column “It Seems to Me” took readers “behind the scenes of every … Read More

Let There Be Light

December 22, 2022 | by Steven R. Barnett

One of the great pleasures of the holiday season is driving around the city and seeing all the joyful outdoor lights. From the few gleaming strands of multi-colored bulbs suspended beneath the eaves of a house to the soaring brilliance of incandescent globes hanging on cables of the “world’s tallest … Read More

Ummmmm Good; A Sweet Story

November 23, 2022 | by Steven R. Barnett

For decades a popular office treat was an alligator. No, not the antediluvian reptile from the Southern swamps, but a coffeecake pastry filled with almond paste and iced with toasted almonds on the outside that was easily purchased with a quick stop at one of the many Roselyn Bakery stores. … Read More