The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08
REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY
JAMES o. wOODRUFFss SCHEME HAS
PROSPERED AT LAST.
Prices Are High for Lots in His Resi-
dence Park-Representntive
Sales of the Week.

Woodruff Place is now in the most pros
porous condition it has been since the
plan was made for the residence park For
years it seemed that the venture of James
o. Woodruff. who expended a half million
dollars on the grounds. would prove a fall
ure, but the depression which ollowed the
first boom has now entirely disappeared,
and Woodruff Place property ranks with
the best on the rea1-estate market In the
last year more building has been done In
Woodruff than in any other district Of its
size in Indianapolis. The vacant lots now
on the market range in price from N,TO 10
$500. They are all so feet front by 10 feet
In depth, and sometimes are purchased by
two persons in partnership.
Twenty-Five or thirty years ago Woodruff
Place was improved with Nicholson pave
ments, statuary and fountains. The land
was first owned by the Rev. Rein Ham
mond. who purchased 1t in the New Pur-
chase" at BroOkville, in July, 1921. The
eighty acres that now make such a beau
tiful dwelling place were heavily wooded
with large beech trees. 1t remained with
out improvements until purchased by
James o. Woodruff, in 1872, who came to
Indianapolis in 1870 to construct the first
water works for the city. He paid the
heirs Of Mr.. Hammond $4,000 for the
eighty acres, and at once expended S25O,OOO
mora on the grounds.
In those days there were but few houses
IN the place and it was a favorite picnic
ground. Additional expenditures that were
made after the improvement started are
said % have bankrupted Mr.. Woodruff. y
few years later the property began to
deteriorate, the pavement became worn.
The lots were sold a few at a time, how
ever, gradually new houses began to dot
the woodland and a slow but sure impetus
was given 70 sales and Investments. In the
last five or six years the place has been
fepaved with asphalt in all of the drives.
Cement sidewalks border every property
line and a sewer system has been provided.
One OF the complaints against the place
was damp cellars. but with the new sewer
age this complaint vanished.
XXX
Among the sales of the week was a lot in
~Irvington, through the w. ]. Friday
Brown. Mr.. Porter also sold TO Mr.. Brown
q forty-acre farm near Poali, in Orange
county.
William. Cline. ST.. OF the Cline agency,
sold 800 acres OF land in Wichita county.
Kansas. to George w. Brown. of this city.
for William Bussey. and the former decided
10 Mr.. Bussey the ten-room dwelling at
8131 Broadway, the property at 2i42 HOvey
street and a lot on Cushing street, all in
this city.
The w. ". Winston agency sold to a
company composed Of Indianapolis capt.
talists the Boneta glass works at Cicero.
The purchasers will incorporate this week
with a capital stock OF $4,000 and begin
manufacturing at once.
The Cross & Brown agency sold the
rug and carpet factory at Thirteenth street
and the canal to T. J. Cotlinger. of Sey-
mOur. who will reside with his family in
tbs city. The former owner was William
Mack.
William NJ. ROsengarten yesterday pur-
chased of Catherine Niehaus a house and
Dot at the corner of Poplar and Wright
Streets for $500.
The Indiana National Bank yesterday
purchased two lots on Ohio street, near
New Jersey street. and a property on West
Market street, near Missouri street, Of Cora
b. Hinkle for s7.975.
The Feiber & Reilly agency has recently
sold a number Of lots in the south and
southeast part of the city to laboring men.
Lots and properties ranging in price in this
district are readily sold for $1,000 TO $3.50
The agency reports that properties in that
part OF the city seldom remain its it's hands
more than twenty-four hours until they are
sold. Purchases are usually made by labor
ing men who have saved enough to buy a
home.
xxx
a choice district at the present time fol-
real estate investment is in the north part
of the city, in the vicinity of Broadway
Park avenue and Talbot avenue. above
Twentieth street. Lots there are selline
from $500 10 5000 each. During the last
week there has been little demand for other
residence property on the North Side. In.
vestors are asking for downtown business
property, but options cannot be secured.
d. B. Sullivan has leased ground on Ohio
street. near Meridian. and will erect there.
on a substantial brick building, 4OxI2O feet
for the storage and repair Of automobiles
The firm will be Sullivan * Merz.