The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-13
a GASLIGHT LANDMARK
FOR TWENTY YEARS A LAMP AT
FLETCHER'S BANK HAS BURNED.
once q Brilliant Affair, but Now Paled
Into Inesgnfficance- DIR. BuchtePs
Resemblance to Mckinley.

from dusk to dawn every night in the year
it burns 1t burns q. sickly yellow light,
which is either swallowed up by the scores
of electric lights around it or by the pale
light of the moon at times when the cleo
tricity is not in use. Regardless of electric
lights and regardless of the moon it burns
on 1t has come to be recognized a sort
of beacon light which tells of the exist
ence of the bank before which it has stood
for so many years. 1t is sort of sign
post. Of no use as light, it is still a light,
which marks the location of the oldest
bank in the city.
Twenty years ago. when Stoughton A.
Fletcher was alive and managing the bank,
this lamp was erected 1t was with no lit
tie pride that the bank people saw the huge
post and the big lamp placed in position,
and when it was lighted the first night 1t
was pronounced a jewel. Gas in those days
was the best means of lighting, and, COM
pared with the ordinary street lights OF the
day, this big lamp was monster of bright
ness. 1t is about fifteen feet high, and the
burner is of unusually large size, and is
placed within globe of fair proportion TO
the height of the post and size of the burn
err. 1t was, indeed the perfection of the
street lamp of its kind, and it was the envy
of all the merchants along the street.
Street lights paled into insignifcance as
compared with it, and the entrances to the
neighboring stores We're almost in darkness
after passing through the glare of this IA
nous light from this famous lamp.
For six or seven years the lamp was the
most splendid of all those in the city. But
it is now hardly noticed, not that it's own
luster has faded, for it is the same old
lamp and gives the same old light, but be-
cause there have sprung up around it the
more lustrous lights. 1t was about four
teen years ago that the electric lights came
into general use in the city. The Grand
Hotel had used incandescent light in it's
billiard hall for some time previous to this,
and then the Denison House put in a plant
and lighted it's lobby with arc lights, but
for long while such lights were too much
of luxury to be generally used. Then a
few merchants began patronizing COM
mercial company and arc lights, placed
inside the stores or close up against the
show windows outside, were to be seen
scattered along the principal streets. One
of the first to dim the luster of the big gas
lamp that placed in front of Sam Din
Minis saloon, which then occupied the old
frame building on the northeast corner Oh
New Jersey and Washington streets. since
torn down The big gas lamp had pre-
the street But with the advent of the
Dinnin light others came and the old land
mark in front of the bank became less and
less attractive as the electric lights multi
piled about 1t.
But through it all the old lamp burned
on and still burns There is something
of sentiment in the burning of that lamp, =
said Stoughton j. Fletcher yesterday. II
cannot conceive of any real utility in the
old thing and yet I would not think of
giving the order to discontinue the use
of it. 1t is an old landmark and has been
there so long that it would seem almost
sacrilegious to remove it. 1t is lighted
every evening at dusk by the night watch
man and he turns it out every morning
at daylight. He has done it for years and
it is a fixed part of his routine duties.
do not know that he has ever failed to
light it during the seventeen years he has
been with us and / don't suppose he will
ever forget the lamp if he should remain
as night Waterman for as much longer a
time. If I should pass the bank at night
and the light should not be burning L
should certainly feel that there was need
of an investigation"
IF I had money to invest in real es-
tate said a gentleman visiting the city
recently to friend, as they drove by Dr.
Hodges's new apartment house, Penn
sylvania street opposite University Square,
Il should like very much to put 1t in prop
erty surrounding this square / think it
would be as valuable an investment as one
could make at the present. This little
park is destined to attract about it nu-
merous high-class apartment houses and
when that time comes the land will be
extremely valuable. L notice the start has
already been made in that direction by the
erection of the Blacherne and this house
of DR.. Hodges
Yes replied his friend sit does look
that way and the INDICATIONS are pretty
plain. The little breathing spot afforded
by the park will naturally make the loca-
ton the most desirable for such houses.
People who occupy them do SO usually be-
cause of their convenience to the business
part of the city. The streets surrounding
the University Square are convenient and
the property on them is rapidly rising in
value. Already there has been an exodus
OF the old families who formerly occupied
the houses in the neighborhood. They are
moving further out, where they can have
more room and more modern houses. as
well as less of the noise of the city Manv
OF the houses are now nearly all rented
1t is but step from this to the apart
ment house and the step is now being
taken"
That's funny thing" said w B. Sill
travelling man, at the Grand Hotel last
night, as he sealed a letter by the old-fash-
Toned wax method, after having sealed the
envelope in the regular way. ITS funny
that a man should have to seal a letter
which he writes to his wife. A person see
ing me would think was some sentimental
youth writing to a best girl, but it is not
so, have been forced into the habit. and
now If | have anything to say to NV wife
that do not wish all the people of the
village to know, / take the precaution to
seal the letter in this way. We have an
old woman for a postmistress in our viii
IaSe In Ohio, and it is the general belief
that she steams most of the letters which
pass through the Office and reads them No
one has ever accused her of dishonesty and
l do not think she would touch a cent of
money that might be placed in a letter. II
IS simply curiosity. ! have frequently re-
ceived letters which are full of gum and
my wife will save the envelopes for me in
which L write to her. / know thew have
frequently been opened. Strangers coming
TO the town invariably have their letters
opened until their full history and pedigree
is established There's no use to report it