Libby Cierzniak
@libbycz.bsky.social
Retired lawyer/lobbyist. Kokomo native. Butler grad. Long-time resident of the historic Old Northside neighborhood. If you like Indy history, check out my blog at http://Indypolitan.com or my articles at https://historicindianapolis.com/author/libby.
Corner of Washington & Illinois streets, circa 1950s. If you look closely, you can see the signs for three long-gone hotels - Claypool, Lincoln & Hotel Washington.
September 17, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Corner of Washington & Illinois streets, circa 1950s. If you look closely, you can see the signs for three long-gone hotels - Claypool, Lincoln & Hotel Washington.
The National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War met in Indy in September 1920 during the national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic. Of the nearly 200k Union soldiers imprisoned during the Civil War, only an estimated 400 were still alive in 1920.
August 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
The National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War met in Indy in September 1920 during the national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic. Of the nearly 200k Union soldiers imprisoned during the Civil War, only an estimated 400 were still alive in 1920.
In a 1916 Flag Day speech in Indy, VP Thomas Marshall said there were 2 types of Americans: “the American who wonders what he can do for his country and the American who wonders what the country could do for him.” JKF would later echo Marshall’s words at his 1961 inauguration.
June 14, 2025 at 1:29 PM
In a 1916 Flag Day speech in Indy, VP Thomas Marshall said there were 2 types of Americans: “the American who wonders what he can do for his country and the American who wonders what the country could do for him.” JKF would later echo Marshall’s words at his 1961 inauguration.
OTD in 1777, the Stars & Stripes was adopted as the official flag of the fledgling United States of America. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation recognizing June 14 as Flag Day, and Indy’s citywide celebration was orchestrated by local Elks clubs.
June 14, 2025 at 1:28 PM
OTD in 1777, the Stars & Stripes was adopted as the official flag of the fledgling United States of America. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation recognizing June 14 as Flag Day, and Indy’s citywide celebration was orchestrated by local Elks clubs.
Wow! An entire clinic devoted to treating people who are allergic to Carmel. Fingers crossed it’s in my network.
May 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Wow! An entire clinic devoted to treating people who are allergic to Carmel. Fingers crossed it’s in my network.
The Guaranty Building on the SW quadrant of the Circle was nearly vacant in 1996 and faced demolition before it was purchased at auction and restored. Its neighbor was not so lucky. The building that housed White’s Cafeteria was razed in 1970 following a devastating fire.
May 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The Guaranty Building on the SW quadrant of the Circle was nearly vacant in 1996 and faced demolition before it was purchased at auction and restored. Its neighbor was not so lucky. The building that housed White’s Cafeteria was razed in 1970 following a devastating fire.
The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument was dedicated OTD in 1902. As part of the ceremony, elderly members of every regiment that left Indiana from 1861 to 1865 surrounded the tattered flags they once carried in the Civil War and marched to the Circle.
May 15, 2025 at 11:20 PM
The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument was dedicated OTD in 1902. As part of the ceremony, elderly members of every regiment that left Indiana from 1861 to 1865 surrounded the tattered flags they once carried in the Civil War and marched to the Circle.
Historic Preservation Month-Demolished Landmark #9: The 1878 Hugh Love house at 1804 N. Meridian was the first house north of 18th Street to be built on Meridian. Razed in the early 1930s to make way for a gas station. Source: Indiana Landmarks Wilbur Peat collection.
May 9, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Historic Preservation Month-Demolished Landmark #9: The 1878 Hugh Love house at 1804 N. Meridian was the first house north of 18th Street to be built on Meridian. Razed in the early 1930s to make way for a gas station. Source: Indiana Landmarks Wilbur Peat collection.
Historic Preservation Month, Demolished Landmark #8: With the historic selection of the first Pope from the U.S., it seems timely to mention the 1998 demolition of the 174-year-old chapel at St. Joseph-Holy Cross Cemetery. Indy Star, 4/16/98; Indy News, 4/25/98
May 8, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Historic Preservation Month, Demolished Landmark #8: With the historic selection of the first Pope from the U.S., it seems timely to mention the 1998 demolition of the 174-year-old chapel at St. Joseph-Holy Cross Cemetery. Indy Star, 4/16/98; Indy News, 4/25/98
Historic Preservation Month-Demolished Landmark #7: Meridian-Kessler neighbors were outraged in 1979 when the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church demolished a circa-1900 house at 4010 Washington Boulevard to make way for a parking lot. (Indy Star, 10/28/1979)
May 8, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Historic Preservation Month-Demolished Landmark #7: Meridian-Kessler neighbors were outraged in 1979 when the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church demolished a circa-1900 house at 4010 Washington Boulevard to make way for a parking lot. (Indy Star, 10/28/1979)
But the good news is, the home that Butler University founder Ovid Butler built in the 1840s sits two blocks from the original site of the university and has been beautifully restored.
May 7, 2025 at 1:14 AM
But the good news is, the home that Butler University founder Ovid Butler built in the 1840s sits two blocks from the original site of the university and has been beautifully restored.
Historic Preservation Month, Demolished Landmark #6: The first home of Butler University stood at 14th & College. After the university moved to Irvington in the 1870s, the building was an orphanage & later a medical school. It was razed in 1910 to make way for "modern" housing.
May 7, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Historic Preservation Month, Demolished Landmark #6: The first home of Butler University stood at 14th & College. After the university moved to Irvington in the 1870s, the building was an orphanage & later a medical school. It was razed in 1910 to make way for "modern" housing.
Historic Preservation Month, Demolished Landmark #5: Caleb Blood Smith, who served in Lincoln's cabinet, built this stately home at 538 W. New York before the Civil War. Preservationists tried to save it, but the house was razed by IUPUI in 1971. (IndyStar, 5/29/77).
May 5, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Historic Preservation Month, Demolished Landmark #5: Caleb Blood Smith, who served in Lincoln's cabinet, built this stately home at 538 W. New York before the Civil War. Preservationists tried to save it, but the house was razed by IUPUI in 1971. (IndyStar, 5/29/77).
Historic Preservation Month, Demolished Landmark #4. The magnificent Emrichsville Bridge on 16th St. over the White River. Opened in 1907, razed in 1948 to accommodate growing Speedway traffic.
May 4, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Historic Preservation Month, Demolished Landmark #4. The magnificent Emrichsville Bridge on 16th St. over the White River. Opened in 1907, razed in 1948 to accommodate growing Speedway traffic.
Historic Union Station reopened as a festival marketplace on this day in 1986. Although there were a few nice shops and some interesting restaurants, the stalls selling schlocky trinkets and deep fried everything seemed jarring against the historic backdrop.
April 26, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Historic Union Station reopened as a festival marketplace on this day in 1986. Although there were a few nice shops and some interesting restaurants, the stalls selling schlocky trinkets and deep fried everything seemed jarring against the historic backdrop.
Happy National Beer Day to my friends at the Statehouse, who will likely need one at some point today.
April 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Happy National Beer Day to my friends at the Statehouse, who will likely need one at some point today.
A 12-foot model of proposed Statehouse was built to help the commissioners see what the new capitol would look like. It was stored in the Statehouse basement for many years but has long since disappeared.
March 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
A 12-foot model of proposed Statehouse was built to help the commissioners see what the new capitol would look like. It was stored in the Statehouse basement for many years but has long since disappeared.
After Edwin May’s untimely death in 1880, architect Adolph Scherrer was hired to complete the design for the Indiana Statehouse. Scherrer was forced to make changes to May’s original plans (left) in order to keep construction within the $2 million budget set by the legislature.
March 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
After Edwin May’s untimely death in 1880, architect Adolph Scherrer was hired to complete the design for the Indiana Statehouse. Scherrer was forced to make changes to May’s original plans (left) in order to keep construction within the $2 million budget set by the legislature.
Before Edwin May won the contract for the new Indiana Statehouse, the Indianapolis architect had already carved out a niche by designing jails and the state insane asylum. Not that either of those have anything in common with the home of Indiana General Assembly, btw.
March 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Before Edwin May won the contract for the new Indiana Statehouse, the Indianapolis architect had already carved out a niche by designing jails and the state insane asylum. Not that either of those have anything in common with the home of Indiana General Assembly, btw.
OTD in 1878, Edwin May's magnificent design for the Indiana Statehouse was selected over 23 other plans. A few years ago, several of the losing designs were on display at the State Library and showed what might have been had May not prevailed.
March 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
OTD in 1878, Edwin May's magnificent design for the Indiana Statehouse was selected over 23 other plans. A few years ago, several of the losing designs were on display at the State Library and showed what might have been had May not prevailed.
If you’re looking for the perfect Ides of March gift for a loved one, this Julius Caesar pencil holder is available at the Goodwill near Glendale.
March 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
If you’re looking for the perfect Ides of March gift for a loved one, this Julius Caesar pencil holder is available at the Goodwill near Glendale.
On National Pi Day, just a reminder that despite claims to the contrary, sugar cream pie was never adopted into law as the official state pie. However, OTD in 1913, bills were signed that made On the Banks of the Wabash the state song and that set aside one day a year to kill rats.
March 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
On National Pi Day, just a reminder that despite claims to the contrary, sugar cream pie was never adopted into law as the official state pie. However, OTD in 1913, bills were signed that made On the Banks of the Wabash the state song and that set aside one day a year to kill rats.
Also OTD in 1969, the Indianapolis News reported that Paul McCartney had gotten married and George Harrison had been arrested for possession of marijuana.
March 13, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Also OTD in 1969, the Indianapolis News reported that Paul McCartney had gotten married and George Harrison had been arrested for possession of marijuana.
OTD in 1969, Gov. Ed Whitcomb signed the bill establishing Unigov in Marion County, House Speaker Otis Bowen called for a study of Indiana’s tax system & the ISTA said the school funding formula didn’t provide enough $$ for public schools.
March 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM
OTD in 1969, Gov. Ed Whitcomb signed the bill establishing Unigov in Marion County, House Speaker Otis Bowen called for a study of Indiana’s tax system & the ISTA said the school funding formula didn’t provide enough $$ for public schools.
OTD in 1878, hundreds of people who gathered to witness the spectacular demolition of the old Statehouse dome instead were treated to a “puff of dust” when the dome failed to completely implode as anticipated. Construction on the new Statehouse began the following year.
March 12, 2025 at 2:26 PM
OTD in 1878, hundreds of people who gathered to witness the spectacular demolition of the old Statehouse dome instead were treated to a “puff of dust” when the dome failed to completely implode as anticipated. Construction on the new Statehouse began the following year.