The Indianapolis journal., 1903-06-21
Unusual Expansion I'm Both a Business
and Residential Way Surprising
TO All Concerned.
FINE RESIDENCE DISTRICTS
MANY BEAUTIFUL HOMES TO BE
SEEN ON FLETCHER AVENUE.
The south Side Improvement Asso.
citation Largely Responsible for
Present Conditions.

During the past few years there has been
a great deal OF talk about expansion. but IL
concerned the growth OF Uncle Sans do
minion and not many people living in In
dianapolis have had occasion to become ac-
quainted with the rapid and noticeable prog
ress of the Hoosier capital However there
has been a wonderful expansion in all direc-
tions, and this is especially true OF the
South Side. 1t was not many years ago
that the mere mention OF this part OF In
dianapolis brought visions OF factories.
smokestacks and other unpleasant features
that make up the industrial portion of
manufacturing center. This condition. how
ever, has passed and now the town below
the Belt bids fair to keep pace with that on
the North Side despite the fact that the lat
ter had the advantage Of being first to feel
the march of progress.
In the early pioneer days. when the van
guard of settlers first invaded this part OF
Indiana and Indianapolis became entitled
to a mark on the map the boundary OF the
city was marked by North. South. East
and West streets. For a long time the wave
of population moved northward and all the
territory below South street was nothing but
marshy woods which. at that time, gave lit
tie or no promise of ever being anything
else. From the corner of South street. where
the Fletcher-place NJ. Z. Church is located.
back about a mile was a dense woods which
was owned by the late Calvin Fletcher. He
gave to each denomination a lot upon which
to build church. with the provision that
when the ground ceased to be used for this
purpose it was to revert to his estate. The
Fletcher-pace Church is on ground donated
by Mr. Fletcher. Another old resident OF
this part OF the city was Joseph Brink
meyer, who purchased a section Of land in
the neighborhood in 1852, from John Wood.
This land was bounded by East and Shelby
streets and ran to Prospect and Pleasant
run, which, at that time, was a large
stream. This territory Of the Brinkmeyer
and Fletcher land the garden spot Of
the farming district of Indiana and also
contained the best forest in the State. Many
of the old residences now standing in this
part Of the city were. built out Of timber
from that forest and have mutely seen the
rapid rise OF the community from a wild
country to the present attractive and pref
ty, thoroughfare of a modern and thriving
city.
WILD AND WOOLLY.
At this time in the history Of the South
Side, when the north part of the city was
seeing the erection of dwelling houses and
beginning to have the appearance of city.
the South Side was a veritable wild and
'woolly west" Opposite the house in which
Mr.. Brinkmeyer lived was situated an In
dian camp and while the men OF red skins
were holding midnight war dances or other
festive occasions the early aristocracy Of
the North Side might have been attending
some gay social function or pink tea" TX
such thing ever took place in those times.
The conditions just described prevailed
until the early part of 1860. when the first
expansion OF the South Side took place
Then the boundary of the city was extended
to the first alley below Prospect street. This
started the ball to rolling, and IL was but a
short time before the first car line was
built in the direction Of the South Side. or
course IL was a mule line and decidedly an
tique at that, but it a means OF con-
Meeting the two parts of town. IL is said
that one trip would require hours and that
the cars frequently showed disposition to
Jump the track, thus frightening passen-
gers much that in many instances they
would neglect to drop their nickel in the
SLOT This line extended down Virginia ave-
nue. to McCarty street and ii was under
the service of the Tom l. Johnson Car Com
pany that operated in indianapolis at that
time. A few years later the line was ex-
tended to Shelby and Prospect street which
is the Oldest line in this part of the city. A
number of interesting things happened
about this time that are yet remembered
by old inhabitants Of the city. Among them
is a big cyclone that passed over the city
and uprooted about 400 or 500 trees. In one
house the gale tore a cook stove from the
kitchen and did a good deal OF damage gen.
orally.
With the advent of the Belt I'm the early
part of 1870 the rapid growth began and the
first hint of the present excellent condition
of the South Side was seen. At this time the
first big manufacturing establishment was
built 1t was the Shaw Carriage Company.
on which site the Bemis bag factory is now
located. Col. b. c. Shaw was the head OF
the concern. which was situated west OF
Shelby street. Just now the impetus that
comes with industries appeared and the
first pretty homes were erected, Raymond
street having the reputation for fine resi-
dences at this time. This was in the early
part of 1878 and Just before the memorable
panic of that period large number OF lots
had been laid out. many Of which are stand
ing now unused. but doubt IL will be but
few years until they will contain modern
homes of the citizens of this thriving COM
munity.
ATTRACTIVE LOCALITIES.
OF late years the residence district has
been on McCarty street. which was named
for Nicholas McCarty. whs owned some
land in this region. StIll later Fletcher avs-
nue. became the much-sought street for
homes. and its attractive features may be
seen from the accompanying picture. Even
in the seventies there relics OF rural
life 10 be found in this section OF Indian
apolis Below McCarty street and Virginia
avenue there numerous ponds. the
most famous Of which was Dickey's pond.
on woodlawn avenue and near East street 4.
This a popular place for the boys TO
swim In during the summer and skate on in
winter Many OF the present citizens who
are now enjoying the pleasures that come
with improved conditions remember
times when they took their best girls skat-
ing on Dickey's pond. the individual In
question. In many cases. being thsir~~iseA