IRVINGTON —The Irvington Historical Society has held an annual Ice Cream Social on the first Sunday in August every year since its founding in 1964. It began as a purely social event on the Benton House lawn. While it was primarily for the members — and a reminder that it was time to renew memberships — everyone was welcome. Most years had live music. In addition to serving ice cream, members baked all the cakes that were served. Since moving to the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, the society has expanded the event to a street fair which includes many vendors — some familiar, some new, many local. In addition to the vendors, several local organizations will also be available to provide information about their work in our community. The White River Jazz Band will again provide a variety of music for your enjoyment.
This years event is Sunday, August 7, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 E. University Ave. (corner of University an Downey Ave.). Ice cream will be available for $4 a cup – fudge brownie, graham central station, vanilla, and pink lemonade sorbet. All proceeds go to support the Society’s mission of preserving the history, art, and culture of the Irvington community.
Special guests are expected for the Ice Cream Social — the Black Hat Society of Irvington will bike in, plus the IMPD Horse Patrol is scheduled to drop in. The museum will be open with many interesting exhibits including a large exhibit on the founding of Sigma Gamma Rho at Butler University in 1922. It is the only Black sorority in the country not founded at an Historic Black College. Be sure to visit the exhibit which emphasizes the Indianapolis they knew in 1922.
The Irvington Historical Society also hosts permanent exhibits related to Irvington’s unique historical contributions to Indianapolis. Exhibits include items related to International Harvester, which was located on Brookville Rd. and was a major employer; Kin Hubbard and Abe Martin, where the cartoonist lived on Emerson and E. Washington St.; and Butler University, which started in Irvington.
The society was formed to preserve the story of Irvington, founded in 1870 by Sylvester Johnson and Jacob Julian as a suburb of Indianapolis. Since its founding, Irvington attracted artists, politicians and heads of local industry. In 1902, Irvington was annexed by the city. It is the largest protected historical district in Indianapolis, encompassing over 2,800 buildings, with the vast majority of them built before 1960. The Historic Irvington Community Council’s push to have the neighborhood designated a historic district succeeded in 2006, when the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission adopted their neighborhood plan. The buildings and homes in the district offer a wide range of architectural styles, from Bungalow/Craftsman and American Four Square to Second Empire.
