Weekly View » 100 Years Ago

100 Years Ago: July 3-9

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:08:36 +0000

From The Indianapolis Times, Monday, July 5, 1926: Although the Fourth of July was observed yesterday with varied festivities, the usual patriotic observances were reserved for today. Business stood still and public buildings were closed while fireworks boomed throughout the city amid sporadic rain showers which tempered the traditional Independence Day gaudiness. The streetcar strike partially crippled attendance at the principal patriotic program at the Circle Theater. Held under the auspices of the Seventh District Federation of Women’s Clubs, more than 5,000 children and veterans of foreign wars enjoyed a program that included viewing the photoplay, Barbara Fitchie. Indiana Spanish War Veterans held a picnic at Brookside Park while Grand Army of the Republic veterans held a reunion at their hall, Ft. Friendly, 512 N. Illinois. Celebrations ended with the night sky over Riverside Park ablaze with a fireworks display.

100 Years Ago: June 26-July 2

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 05:08:25 +0000

From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, June 28, 1926: The Lincoln Square Co will erect a theater to be known as the Indiana, at 128 to 142 W. Washington St immediately west of the Claypool Hotel, at an approximate cost of $1,252,456 (2025: $23,262,053). The Indiana Theater will be a six-story fireproof building featuring old Spanish style architecture throughout with a front exterior characterized by a gigantic and richly carved terra cotta motif. The entertainment house will contain a beautiful, modern and luxurious motion picture theater, seating nearly 3,500 people at one time, and a magnificent ballroom on the top floor, which, it is believed, will be the largest ballroom of its kind in the Middle West. Lounging and smoking rooms and a children’s playroom will be available on the ballroom and mezzanine floors. The basement will have a bowling alley.

100 Years Ago: June 19-25

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 05:08:50 +0000

From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, June 23, 1926: “The Crossroads of America” as the slogan for Indianapolis was officially adopted yesterday by the publicity committee of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. The slogan conveys a definite idea telling the world that Indianapolis stands at the intersection of the great east-west and north-south national highways and major railway systems which radiate from the center of distribution which demonstrates Indianapolis is not merely watching the world go by but playing an important part in the nation’s activities. An effort will be made immediately to persuade the Hoosier Motor Club to work with the Chamber of Commerce in revamping and standardizing all road signage around Indianapolis to incorporate, as a part of each sign, the new slogan and an arrow pointing toward Indianapolis. The previous slogan, “No mean city,” while flattering, was meaningless.

100 Years Ago: June 12-18

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:08:54 +0000

From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, June 13, 1926: “From producer to consumer” is the slogan of the new producers’ market (farmers’ market) at South and New Jersey Streets which was dedicated yesterday afternoon with a parade over downtown streets. Led by a brass band, twenty-five decorated floats and trucks began the parade at the new market site, looping their way through downtown streets before returning to the market where speeches were delivered by officers of the producers’ association and city and state officials. Covering nearly a city block, the market is being financed and built by the Vegetable Growers’ Association of Indianapolis. It will officially open at 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday with ninety-three producers and twelve retailers with stands offering vegetables. Fruits, berries, poultry, eggs, and butter will be sold by stand holders beginning the latter part of the week.

100 Years Ago: June 5-11

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:08:39 +0000

From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, June 8, 1926: Thousands of Indianapolis citizens who thought they were registered to vote in the fall election by having voted in May’s primary election were mistaken, according to an opinion issued today by Indiana Attorney General Arthur Gillion. Despite Republican county leaders, in striving to bring out a large primary vote, asserting voting in the primary would automatically mean registration for the November general election, Gillion wrote the law clearly states only those who entered their names on the poll books by voting at the last general election and had not moved shall be eligible to cast a ballot. Those having not voted in November 1924 or having since moved must register from Aug 1 to Sept 1 at the county auditor’s office or through political party workers who are authorized to register voters.

100 Years Ago: May 22-June 4

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:08:44 +0000

One Hundred Years Ago — From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, May 25, 1926: The Indianapolis Park Board has taken the first steps toward converting Brown’s Triangle, northwest corner of Emerson Ave. and Washington St., into a beauty spot and memorial garden. Trees have been trimmed, underbrush cleared away, an outdated transit shelter has been removed, and the grass has been cut. A memorial stone, a granite boulder that once stood at the entrance to the Butler University athletic field, Butler and University avenues, and was known to a generation of students as a meeting spot, has been placed on this site with a bronze plaque imbedded in its surface commemorating the life and death of Lieutenant Hilton U. Brown, Jr. The memorial stone inscription will be unveiled in ceremonies Sunday afternoon under the auspices of the Hilton U. Brown, Jr and Irvington American Legion Posts.

One Hundred Years Ago — From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, May 29, 1926: The Indianapolis city council, in special session today, passed a daylight-saving time ordinance by a vote of 6 to 1 and transmitted it to Mayor John Duvall who has ten days to consider it. Should the mayor sign the ordinance, it would become effective on the first Sunday in June and continue until the last Sunday in October. Thereafter, daylight-saving time would become effective on the first Sunday in May. Republican councilor Otis Bartholomew proposed the ordinance, and Republican councilor Claude Negley cast the only “nay” vote. Petitions with several thousand names supporting the daylight-saving plan were presented to the council and several employers told the council their employees favored it. Dr. William H. Foreman, a former city health board member, said daylight-saving time was “vicious to the health of the community.”

100 Years Ago: May 15-21

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 14 May 2026 05:08:00 +0000

From The Indianapolis News, Friday, May 21, 1926: All Butler University classes were dismissed today so students could attend the annual May Day exercises, which were held this year at Fairview Park, the future site of Butler. Many alumni, former students, and friends thronged to the park to witness the morning athletic events and then joined in to enjoy the noon luncheon. The afternoon program saw young men and women students pulling a plow, the handles held by Hilton U. Brown, chair of the board of directors, breaking ground within lines drawn for the first proposed new campus building. The day’s activities at the park concluded with a flag raising, community sing, a pageant consisting of 350 students, and the crowning of Mary Miles Coate, the May Queen. Festivities closed with an evening dance in the Claypool Hotel’s Riley Room.

100 Years Ago: May 8-14

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 07 May 2026 05:08:40 +0000

From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, May 8, 1926: “Ethiopia at the Bar of Justice,” a pageant depicting the achievement of Negroes, will be presented at Caleb Mills Hall on Thursday. A large audience is expected to see 150 performers portray a cross section of Negro life in America with emphasis on the difficulties in the struggle to reach citizenship. The principal characters are Ethiopia, Opposition, Justice, Miss Indianapolis, Prophecy, Love, History, and Mercy. One of the most interesting features will be impersonations of Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington. The colored Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A., the Indianapolis N.A.A.C.P. chapter, the National Federation of Club Women, and the National Musicians Association will be part of the production. The performance benefits the Elizabeth Carter Council of Federated Clubs which is raising funds for the Frederick Douglass Home, a colored women of America shrine.

100 Years Ago: May 1-7

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:08:27 +0000

From The Indianapolis Star, Saturday, May 1, 1926: The Indianapolis school board, in special session yesterday afternoon, voted 3 to 2 to build the new Shortridge High School at 34th and Meridian streets. While a board majority had favored a 46th St. and Washington Blvd. site, board president Theodore Vonnegut said it was useless to continue to oppose the 34th St. location and he was surrendering to public opinion. “The people want the school at 34th Street,” Vonnegut said. “I think it’s a mistake, but the whole town is tired of this subject and so am I. Public opinion unquestionably favors the 34th Street location, and it is not for me to say how I think the people will feel later. This site has many disadvantages which have been outlined before and in voting for it I surrender an ideal.”

100 Years Ago: April 24-30

Steven R. Barnett — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:08:10 +0000

From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, April 26, 1926: The first broadcast of the opening Indians baseball game from Washington Park will be made Thursday through special arrangements by The Indianapolis Star and radio station WFBM. Fitting festivities will welcome Ownie Bush and his Indians back in town to play their first game of the season before the home folks. It will be a return series with the Kansas City Blues with whom the Tribe was victorious when the American Association opened there on April 13. W. Blaine Patton, The Star sports editor, will be at the microphone for the broadcast and will give an entertaining and realistic play-by-play account of the game. Every Indiana baseball fan who is unable to see this game from the stands can hear a graphic description of every detail by tuning into The Star’s program.