davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

tives necessarily have rules and regula-
tions about the goings and comings Of
those who live in them which chafe the
highly independent spirit.
HOME INSTINCT NOT
DEAD IN WOMEN.
Mr.. Sphinx sensed that regardless of
what was being printed and said about
the modern women losing interest I'm the
home the "homing instinct" was far from
dead In the great majority, even though
their chief object In life might be n
career in business, art or education. WHY
not give them a place where they can
go and come as they please. cook their
own meals and have an opportunity ~
tie up their hair, put Oh an apron and
engage in some genuine, old fashioned
housecleaning by way of relaxation now
and then, reflected the future king Of
the apartment business in Indianapolis
Keep house and go in for a career at the
same time. in other words Such place
necessarily would have TO be Srompact
convenient and attractive. Compact be-
cause the bachelor girl" would not have
time to keep in order large quarters, con-
venient because she was used t. having
things at her elbow at the Office. school
room or studio and attractive because
the greater portion OF modern women do
not care for anything cheap and tawdry
Plans were laid along this lire and in
1916 they were brought to life in the
Latowa. a thirty six apartment build
Ing at 1920 Central avenue. Each apart
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

more than eleven hundred apartments In
the fifty two buildings now owned and
operated by the E. G. Sphinx Compan :
there Is not a single room which does
not have a window opening into. the out
OF doors-not into courts and wells. but
into the real outside, where fresh air
comes from. This means q lot OF win
dows and a lot OF windows cost a lot
Of money. Likewise, in the construction
OF larger apartments houses, it means
that some builders might consider waste
OF valuable space. 1t does not spell
waste to the +. G.. Sphinx Company. It
IS an asset, a step IN giving the tenant
what he wants" It is evidence that the
company has faith. somewhat remarkable
in the modern landlord, that to give the
tenant what he wants" even though II
costs more money. brings the best re-
turn in the end.
We see the business Of supplying
homes developed into a public utility
Thus has the E. G. SPHINX Company made
apartment house history. Europe, par
ticularly France, has known the apart
ment house for centuries. Perhaps
America had the idea long lefore it
took root across the seas. Pueblo In
dians. the elf dwellers" Of the South
west, build upon the apartment plan, but
let it be said al this point that the mod
ern jest about apartment occupants be-
ing "clif dwellers,'' has lost its point
in Indianapolis. That's part of the story
eS the z. G. SPHINX Company's contribu-
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03
SIX YEARS GROWTH
IS FROM 36 TO 1000
FAMILIES SHELTERED
Foresight Has Characterized Building of
Apartment Houses to Care for
Every Type Tenant
MEETS NEEDS OF A GROWING CITY

boulevard and Pearson street. The con-
struction force is kept busy all the time,
the company having had one or two
buildings under way at all times during
the past three or four years. The hold
ings Of the company are valued at ap-
proximately $5,000,00O, representing the
construction and acquisition Of the past
six years. Modern building ideas are
incorporated in each new building as
fast as they are found to be practical.
During the past two years nothing but
fire proof buildings have been erected.
The company has adopted reinforced
concrete and brick construction in prac
tically all Of its late buildings. The
new Jefferson Hotel at 226-230 East
Pratt street. a building permit for which
was issued but few days ago, will be
of this type. The advantage to the pub
lie of such building methods usually is
underestimate. A building is a build
ing to the lay eye. There is a vast
difference however between the building
woth wooden floors and partitions, which
generally are thrown together purely for
investment purposes and the permanent
concrete ribbed structure. 1t costs a
whole lot more to build permanently, but
to the E. G. Sphinx Company the expense
is justified by the greater comfort and
safety to tenants from sound proof, flame
immune building skeletons.
Officials Of the company say they are
building the business to stay. Sphinx
apartments are to be a permanent utility
and so every possible means to insure
the long life and safety Of the buildings
is used.
In order that there may be no long
waits by tenants for answer to com
plants the company maintains its own
repair department, just like any other
public utility. II pipe in the ballroom
leaks there is no exasperating delay until
It is fixed. Spink plumber is on the
job in a jiffy Hundreds Of window
lights were broken in the recent hail
storm, but the repair department had
them replaced with little inconvenience
to tenants in a very short time. Car
penters, paper hangers, wall p. 7er clean
ers and floor polishers are Other work
men on ths repair staff. which is in
charge of &. E. Schenck. superintendent
of repairs @The company has shops al
Sixteenth sfrect and Central avenue.
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

ton to the de elopment of communal
homes
In Paris the apartment house has
reached a high degree of elegance and
luxury. This is true of practically every
large American city today. Construction
of apartment houses in the United States
did not begin to any appreciable extent
until the rush TO cities Immediately fol-
lowing the Civil War.
RAPID GAIN IN
POPULARITY.
They have rapidly become popular for
the following reasons:
Congestion of great populations within
limited areas, making separate houses
economically unsound from the position
Of the owner OF real estate.
Advantage Of such common services as
heat, artificial light and hot water in
dependent OF the kitchen range, which
can be supplied 70 a group OF families
cheaper than in single family houses
The modern tendency to move from
place to place seeking better opportuni
ties, which makes city dwellers prefer
the easily vacated apartment TO the more
permanent home.
The smaller amount OF housework up
on the shoulders OF housewife or
servants In an apartment, which is Of
importance in these days when women
Ike to engage in the so-called outside
activity" and servants wages are beyond
the reach of the majority.
In most cities the tendency has been
10 make apartments larger and more
luxurious-and more costly to the
occupant. Mr.. Sphinx struck out upon a
different trail.
Back in 1916 Mr.. Sphinx noticed that
there was one clans for which there were
no adequate housing facilities. He picked
out phase Of the general housing
shortage and set about TO eliminate It.
What he noticed was that the business
woman. the bachelor girl" had no
place to live in which was constructed
particularly TO suit her fancy. There
we're downtown clubs and rooming
houses and homes" where they might
reside, but not under conditions exactly
meeting the desires Of independent young
women making their own way. Practical
IL all OF the existing institutions for
the housing Of young, unmarried women
living away from their parents or rela-
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

plan to furnish living quarters for peo-
pie II all classes and conditions. This
was brought out by the number of com
plants the company received because
children were not permitted in many
of its apartments. Folks without children
were accommodated, but people with lit
tie ones have had a hard time finding
suitable homes since the war. In char
acteristic fashion the Sphinx Company
set about to erect an apartment where
none but families with children would
be permitted to live. The building is
completed and now occupied. 1t stands
al 3704 North Pennsylvania street, full
of fortunate, happy tenants.
CHILDREN'S APARTMENT
Is UNIQUE.
Fifty four families are housed in the
apartment, which has come to be known
ii roughout the city as the children's
apartment" The Sphinx Company is re-
ceivilg recognition throughout the
country because Of the novelty of a land
lord actually seeking tenants with chill
d en-. Each suite has two separate bed
rooms, so the advice Of physicians who
specialize on children that they should
sleep in rooms apart from their elders
may be followed Besides the sleeping
quarters comfortably commodious, there
is living room, kltchenette ana DuUet
dining room in each apartment.
American children cannot be healthy
and happy within four walls. 1t is hard
on the walls as we'll as the children, Mr.
SPHINX realized, and, although the Anish
on the walls is designed 10 stand hard
knocks and at the same time be attrac-
tive. a play space all for the kiddies hos
been provided. In fair weather they can
frolic in the play court inclosed by the
three wings of the building. This IS not
only a useful, but beautiful place. the
central feature being the fountain graced
by Sfyra Richards statue, The Boy and
the Goat"
For bad weather large room has
been fitted up In the Easement to special
" delight the youngsters. kinder
garten, with an instructor employed by
the Sphinx Company. is operated here. The
youngsters can have their fun and go to
school right at home. avoiding the danger
of accidents from automobiles and street
cars
The Sphinx Arms has proven so popular
that its transient patronage IS growing
by leaps and bounds, so that it is not
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

Several sets of large apartments, embody-
Ing the same ideas of compactness, con-
venience and attractiveness as insured
the success Of the smaller homes, were
erected. Sphinx service was carried out
In all OF the new ventures.
MEETS NEED FOR
FAMILY HOTEL.
Mr. Sphinx was meeting the housing
problem in the residence districts but
there was still another phase which in
vited expansion. This was the need for
a real downtown home for busy people
family hotel The Sphinx Arms Hotel
was the next step. The first unit was
started in the spring Of 1919 and opened
In 1920 Its popularity led to the erec
tion of the second unit which was opened
for occupancy last week. The Sphinx
Arms represents something new in a fine
hotel. the effort to give the tenant what
he wants still being the guiding thought
There are 236 apartments in the hotel,
ranging from one to four rooms. Each
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03
APARTMENTS BUILT
BY E. G.. SPHINX ARE
REALLY UTILITIES
Tremendous Enterprise, With Investment of
More Than S5,OOO,OOO, Must Be Run
Like Public Corporation.
SYSTEM IS
COMPLETE IN ITSELF

No better example Of foresight and en-
terprise in a business organization Is
available than the progress in homebuild-
Ing made during the past six years by
the E. G. Sphinx Company. From a mod
est acorn Of one apartment with thirty
six tenants, the oak has grown until to-
day more than a thousand families en-
Joy its shelter
indianapolis has needed nothing more
than homes for Its fast growing popuIa-
tion IN the past decade and no one or
ganization has done more to meet the
need than has the f. G.. Sphinx Company.
glimpse at the steps taken during the
war period when a place to live in was
the most sought after thing affords a
cross section of the spirit Of public
service which has guided the E c. Sphinx
Company to its dominating position in
the home rental field OF Indianapolis.
CONTINUED IN
SPITE OF HIGH PRICES.
As everybody knows labor and ma
terials were scarce and high priced.
Nevertheless the Sphinx Company in
creased its program OF apartment house
construction in the face of these and other
obstacles 20 the lasting benefit of the
public IS well as itself.
In the rise TO prominence Of E G.
Spink and the men who surround him
lies q story of unusual accomplishment
on q truly humanitarian basis.
Mr.. Sphinx is the president of an
apartment construction and operation
company. II would be better TO call
him the president Of the newest form
of public utility, for such has the en-
terprise become. as truly as the bust
ness Of furnishing electricity, gas, water.
telephones or transportation. If the
business OF supplying places for people
to live in is a utility then It must be
said Of the Sphinx Company that It IS
truly a remarkable public service CON
cern. for the principle upon which MIR
Sphinx has operated from the beginning
is Civ, the Tenant what he wants as
far as prudent business sense permits. a"
It is not Inaccurate. too. to say that
he has given the phrase prudent bust
ness sense" a broader Interpretation, with
more consideration for the happiness
and welfare of customers, than have
many men with similar responsibility.
For instance. it is a fact that in the
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

suite has a kftchenette, carrying the
home atmosphere right into downtown
hotel. You can cook in your apartment
or dine out. The hotel has main dining
room and five private dining rooms as
we'll as tearoom and coffee shop. 1t ia
rapidly becoming one OF the most popu
lar meeting places for people who care
for quiet elegance.
The furniture and appointments Of the
Spink-Arms were selected and arranged
by ]. Guy Haugh, manager, who gath
cred his education in the hotel business
from observation as a hotel guest in
Europe and America. His belief that
the fine hotel Of the future will be the
one with the most home like atmosphere
has influenced the equipping and oper-
alton of the institution. Mrs s. NJ.
Marshall, who is in charge of the din
ing room, has had experience in handling
catering, banquets and social affairs.
One weak spot remained in the SPHINX
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

meGt was compact, consisting of an airy
living room, kitchenette and bath; con
Went because Of the in door bed which
folded ont Of sight when not in use and
the kitchenette equipment of small gas
range, sink, cabinet, collapsible shelf
table and refrigera tor all reached with
out moving out OF ones tracks and at
tractive because Of hardwood and tile
floors. tasteful wall paper and woodwork.
This was made available to the "bache
lor girl' for so a month, which included
cost Of telephone, gas and electricity and
ice.
The young women fairly locked into
the new building, the demand far ex-
ceeding the number of apartments, con
irming the vision of Mr.. Spink.
NEWLYWEDS
LIKE THEM
1t soon developed that the oachelor
girl was not the only person who liked
compactness and convenience in the
home, for newlyweds took to the idea.
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

As other apartments OF the same type
were put up they were eagerly sought
by young married people. 1t is undoubt-
edly true that the Sphinx apartment
helped many a pair shorten the period
of waiting until financial worries were
eliminated to be united. The rent was
considered very low and 1t did not re-
quire much capital to furnish a living
room-all the others being equipped by
the Sphinx company. Young, inexperienced
women also looked upon the task of
caring for a small apartment with much
less misgiving than the work involved
in keeping a house In order.
Then the demand spread to older
couples, those who were childless and
those whose children had grown up and
gone to homes of their own. These were
attracted by the same features as the
youngsters.
There were still other fields in the
housing business to be explored and the
E. G. Sphinx Company went into them.
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

beautifully complete as stands the Sphinx
Arms today, Is art. Mr.. Haugh, ms man
ager for the SPink- Arms Hotel Company.
and f. G. Sphinx, owner and builder, and
the men associated with them In the en-
terprise are attaining their end not by
seeking to do the unique entirely. The
underlying privilege goes deeper, as in
all of the f. G. Sphinx Company apart
ment house enterprises the ideal Give
the tenant what he wants" is the slogan
in the SpinkArms Hotel. Give the ten
ant what he wants-a hotel to live in
not just place to stop in and II 1t
can be done In a different and more at
tractive way than the other hotel have
done 1t, so much the better. That is what
has been done in the development OF the
Spink-Arms, one decides after wander
ing through the amazingly different lob
bies, loungirg, dining and tearooms on
the first floor and the seven floors Of de-
hghtful homes above them
The frst unit Of the Spink-Arms was
completed in 1921. Demands for its ac-
mmoda tions were so great that the
f. G. Sphinx Company entered into the
erection Of a similar unit on the north
half Of its property on North Meridian
street opposite the site Of the Plaza and
War Memorial to be built by the State
Of Indiana which undoubetedly will be
one Of the beauty and show places of
indianapolis.
Tie second unit was open to the public
April ], making the building In its
architecture and equipment one OF the
finest plants, either residential or COM
mercial, in the Middle West With the
second unit in use, the Sphinx Arms has
237 apartments. 131 of which are for
transient G.aI,. It is possible for the
visitors IN indianapolis to enjoy his stay
more on account of quarters which meet
the standards Of his own home.
1t occupied & frontage OF one-half
city block and is a splendid type of
Gothic architecture. 1t is two blocks
outside the site generally regarded as the
Continued Page Two, Second Section.
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03
With SIS I VIII Make o. Home
of Your COLOrless Apartment
The Same Masters Touch Has Been AppIied
to the Sphinx Arms Hotel.

Mr.. Thompson was paying $50 a month
for furnished apartment. Ii was filed
with fne, costly carpets and furniture,
but IL did not satisfy him. As there
was nothing about the place to pull you
through the door the instant you opened
it and invite you to sink down into the
marvellous davenport and sigh, Home at
last"
The dissatisfied renter appealed to
friend. The friend made a brief sur
vey Of the apartment. He tells the rest
Of the story himself.
Mr.. Thompson had some rooms and
some furniture and nothing elsa. The
apartment lacked color, IT lacked the
woman's touch. Every hotel and apart
ment house without a woman on It's stan
makes the greatest mistake OF its life.
Il said, you have no books, no covers
no pictures. Give me s. and I'll fix your
ROOM Here is s. and I'll make Il SO
II necessary he replied.
$50 I took the So and went to a ten
cent store. With IS we made a home out
OF that $50 apartment. I bought two
candle sticks and red candles in the ten
cent store. I went to another store and
bought a bowl, theL some flowers 20 90
IN It. 1 stopped a. a news stand and
bought some colorful magazines. I put
these magazines on the table and placed
the candle sticks and flowers. and as soon
as you entered the room you knew some
one lived there"
The man who tells this story is = Guy
Haugh. manager and half owner OF the
Spink-Arms Hotel Company. Il illus
trates what Mr.. Haugh has done in the
past two years and is planning to do in
the future TO make the Spink-Arms one
Of the most unique residence hotels in
the country. There is nothing quite Ike
1t anywhere. It might, with propriety.
be called a step forward in American art,
for surely the assembling Of two mill
lions Of dollars worth Of building ma
terials. furnishings. decorations, me-
chanical cOutrivances and service so
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03
Mr. Santa Claus, Shake
Hands With Mr. Sphinx
Saint Would LoUe to Meet Man Who Has Done
So Much for Children.

live in #. Fifty little girls and boys
make the place ring from morning till
evening. The misguided person who loves
dogs better than children had better stay
a long distance away from there.
Imagine a modern apartment house
with string Of baby carriages lined up
in a recess in hall made especially for
them. Add to the picture a spacious
play court, where the youngsters may
romp amid beautiful surroundings free
from the danger of injury or death from
street cars and automobiles. Paint in
kindergarten room where a teacher en-
ployed by the f. G. Sphinx Company starts
the fifty little minds on the path to
knowledge every school day morning.
Top it all of with a custodian who has
nothing to say when little Tommy and
Mabel tear down the hall shouting at the
top Of their breath, thereby earning the
reward Of being hailed "Hi, SAM" by lit
tie girls and boys from all the windows
as he walks through the court.
kiddies' paradise, yes. And a reg
ular heaven for distracted mothers and
fathers who we're at their wits end be-
cause they had committed the error
Of bringing Tommy and Mabel into the
world.
There are three types of apartments IN
the building, all unfurnished. Oae has a
living room, two bedrooms, a dining al
cove, a kitchenette and three roomy clos
cts. Another consists of a living room,
four bedrooms, kitchenette, dining room,
two baths, four closets and a hall. A
regular" family can live in these. The
third type has a bedroom, kitchenette,
dining alcove, bath, four closets and
living room.
To the passerby the chief feature of
the place is the playcourt. This is en-
bellished with walks, stone benches and
grass plots and a central fountain, the
chief figure of which is Myra Richards
figures, THE Boy and the Goat"
The building is three stories high and
of fireproof construction.
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

When Santa Claus makes his next an
nuaI cheer distributing junket he ought
to stop in indianapolis for a day or so
and get acquainted with a leading citi-
zen with qualities right after his own
heart. He ought to call upon f. G. Sphinx,
president OF the E. G. Sphinx Company.
and congratulate him for having done
more for the kiddies than he himself
has done.
For Santa Claus, wonderful and In
dispensable man that he is, brightens
the life OF the youngsters for only a
month or so a year. The E. G. SPHINX
Company is on the Job the year around
whereas Santa Claus leaves a doll. top
toy dishes or a popgun, the e. G, Sphinx
Company has put roofs over the heads
of the children and built chimneys for
Santa Claus to climb down.
If Santa Claus does not know about
the childrens apartment, built by the
Sphinx Company at 3704 North Pennsyl-
vania street, especially for people with
children, some one ought to tell him
about it right away.
In the construction of the one-room
apartments which the E. G. Sphinx Com
pany has specialized on the company
constantly encountered the fact that they
were entirely unsuited for people with
children. They met the needs Of newly
weds, bachelor. girls and other couples
without offspring, but three people could
not find room to live comfortably in
them.
Mr. Sphinx realized that people with
children have TO live somewhere and the
outstanding fault in the housing situa-
ton. beside the fact that there were not
enough living quarters for everybody.
was that there was a particular SHORTAGE
Of places where children were permitted
and welcome to live. SO the Children
Apartment was planned and completed a
few months ago. 1t is one of the happiest
spots In town today Fifty lone families
Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03

Upper Left-E G. Sphinx president of the E. G. Sphinx
Company, builders of the highclass apartment
houses
Upper Right-W. X Eldridge architect for the E.
G. Sphinx Company who designed many of the Sphinx
apartment houses
Lower Left-C J. Schulz secretary and counsel of the
Sphinx Company.
Lower Right-A H. DeHart, superintendent of con-
struction of the E. G. Sphinx Company