Article Archives: Bumps in the Night

Greenfield: The Great Flood of 1913

July 10, 2025 | by Al Hunter

This column originally appeared in March, 2013. Oh, how it rained! For 48 straight hours, it rained. Martha Duncan stood on the porch of her house, located on the north side of Fourth Street between State and Pennsylvania, wondering if it was ever going to stop. It was Monday March … Read More

Good Fellas, Henry Hill and eBay

July 3, 2025 | by Al Hunter

This column first appeared in July 2009. Editor’s Note: Henry Hill died in June 2012. This is a story for guys. It has little to do with Indiana or her fair capital city, but it is well worth noting for the irony of its subject’s content and the ability to … Read More

Harry Houdini and Abraham Lincoln

June 26, 2025 | by Al Hunter

This column originally appeared in June 2017. Magician Harry Houdini had a very unlikely boyhood hero — a hero adored by a generation before Houdini’s 1874 birth and a hero worshiped by generations hence. Harry Houdini’s hero was Abraham Lincoln. Houdini’s devotion to Lincoln could be found on stage during … Read More

Nazi Ideology on the Eastside; a Contnuance

June 19, 2025 | by Al Hunter

Last March, I wrote a two-part article on Eastsider Charles Soltau, the “Nazi at Arsenal Tech”. This Saturday (June 21st) at noon, I will revisit those articles on Nelson Price’s “Hoosier History Live” radio show WICR 88.7 FM. Nelson, a longtime friend of Irvington, has a personal connection to that … Read More

Grave Goods — You Can’t Take It With You

June 12, 2025 | by Al Hunter

This column first appeared in May 2016. Grave goods, in archaeology and anthropology, are defined as items buried along with the body. In ancient times, grave goods were seen as offerings to the gods. In modern times, they are usually personal possessions or supplies designed to smooth the deceased’s journey … Read More