Dr. W.B. Fletcher’s Sanatorium, 1140 E. Market St., incorporated from June 17, 1901 to 1943; “to organize an association for the purpose of carrying on health resorts and the erection and maintenance of sanitariums and gymnasiums in connection therewith…[where] shall be employed and kept skilled skilled physicians and surgeons and competent nurses…[to tend to] persons afflicted with suffering from mental, nervous, and physical disorders and diseases who will be administered to by said physicians and surgeons and nurses furnished by said association.” The name of this institution was “Neuronhurst”. The original incorporators were Dr. William B. Fletcher, Dr. Mary A. Spink, Stoughton J. Fletcher, Dr. Urbana Spink, and WilliamB. Fletcher, Jr. In 1908 also included were Dr. E.V. Green, Mary L. Green, and Mrs. Mary Witte. In 1922 the directors were Dr. Mary A. Spink, Elizabeth B. O’Brien, Dr. Urbana Spink, Arthur F. Hall,and Agnes Fletcher Brown. In 1932 the directors were Dr. Mary A. Spink – President & Treasurer, Dr. Urbana Spink – Secretary, Bernard Cunniff, and Bonneventura Cunniff.

Dr. William B. Fletcher – b. 1837 in Indianapolis, IN. His parents were Indianapolis pioneers Calvin and Sarah Hill Fletcher, and he was the seventh of ten children. In 1859 he graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City. During the Civil War he joined the 6th Regiment of Indiana, briefly served as a hospital surgeon at Camp Morton in Indianapolis, and then served as a scout for the Union Army in West Virginia where he was captured by the Confederates on July 30, 1861. He was kept in Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia, where he medically tended prisoners until he was released about three months later. After he returned to Indianapolis in February 1862, he practiced medicine and taught at the Indiana Medical College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons. From 1882 to 1887 he served as superintendent of the Indiana Hospital for the Insane where he initiated modern methods such as the abolishment of the use of physical restraints on the patients.

In 1888 Dr. Fletcher opened a sanatarium for the treatment of women’s nervous disorders in a mansion at 228 N. Alabama St, and in 1902 built a new sanatarium, named Neuronhurst, at the corner of Market St. and Highland Avenue. According to the 1900 Federal Census all of his fifteen employees at the Sanatarium were female, except for the porter. His associate physician was Dr. Mary A. Spink. She was born in 1863 in Washington, IN. She first worked as a nurse at the Indiana Hospital for the Insane with Dr. Fletcher who persuaded her to attend medical school. After she graduated from the Medical College of Indiana in 1887 she joined Dr. Fletcher at his sanatarium as a neurologist. Her younger sister, Dr. Urbana Spink, a graduate of the Women’s Medical College of Philadelphia as a neuro-psychiatrist, joined her at the sanatarium.Following Dr. Fletcher’s death in 1907 Dr. Mary Spink took over as the chief administrator of Neuronhurst. She continued at that position until she died in 1937.

Two other investors in Neuronhurst on E. Market Street in 1901 were Stoughton J. Fletcher and William B. Fletcher, Jr. Stoughton, the president of Fletcher National Bank in Indianapolis, was sixty years old when he signed the incorporation papers; he and Dr. Fletcher were first cousins. He died at his country home in Tennessee in 1909. William B. Fletcher, Jr., the Doctor’s son, was twenty-six years of age at this time and was a clerk at the Fletcher National Bank. He seems to have disappeared from the records after this.

Joining as directors in 1908 were Dr. Elijah V. Green, a Martinsville, IN physician who had graduated from the Indiana Medical College in 1876; Mary L. Green, Elijah’s wife, and Mrs. Mary Witte. In 1922 the directors of the sanitarium were the Spink sisters, Elizabeth B. O’Brien – secretary and treasurer, Arthur F. Hall – a businessman married to Dr. Fletcher’s daughter Una, and Agnes Fletcher Brown – another daughter of Dr. Fletcher’s and the widow of Dr. Randolph Brown. In the 1930s  Bernard and Bonaventura  Spink Cunniff, managers of the hotel company owned by the Spink family, were also directors.

During the 1930s the number of patients living at the sanitarium dropped, and it closed after Dr. Mary Spink died in 1937.

by Robert F. Gilyeat, an Indiana State Archives volunteer

M. Sablosky Company, incorporated from October 30, 1906 to 1919, at 806 Massachusetts Ave. After 1919 this home furnishings store was  also located in Fountain Square at the intersection of Virginia Ave., Prospect and Shelby Streets; “to engage in the business of buying and selling merchandise, both wholesale and retail, and conducting mercantile operations”.  The owners were Michael S. Sablosky, b. 1871 in Russia; Tillie Sablosky, b. 1875 in Russia; and David Sablosky, b. 1895 in New Jersey. This  popular, family-owned department store stayed in business until the late 1970s.

Metropolitan School of Music, incorporated from April 13, 1907 to 1930; “to establish a school and institution for the education of males and females in all branches of music, including piano, vocal, cornet, pipe organ and other instruments and forms of music; to conduct such other departments of music and of expression and dramatic art”. The incorporators were: Edward Nell – b. 1867, voice teacher; Flora Hunter – b. 1851, piano teacher; Leslie E. Peck – b. 1865, cornet and trumpet teacher. This school was originally located at the northeast corner of North and Ft. Wayne Streets. In 1929 the school was incorporated into the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music, located at 1204 N. Delaware St., formerly the Lyman S. Ayres mansion. The directors in 1930 were: Edward Nell – President; Arthur Jordan – b. 1855, businessman and philanthropist, Vice-President; Leslie E. Peck – Sec-Treasurer; and Hugh McGibeny – b. 1865, violin teacher. The Conservatory became part of Butler University in 1951.

Meteor Motor Car Company, incorporated on July 12, 1909; “to manufacture, buy, sell, export and generally deal in…self-propelling cars, carriages, wagons, trucks and vehicles”. The incorporators were: Leonard Carter – President of the Henderson Motor Sales Company, located at 742 E. Washington St, Indianapolis; Arthur B. Lathrup – b.1857, physician in Fulton, Ohio; Charles P. Henderson – b.1869, lived in Woodruff Place (an early Indianapolis planned neighborhood), he was the manager of the Henderson Motor Sales Company; Ransom P. Henderson – b.1873, sales manager of the Parry Manufacturing Company that manufactured carriages in Indianapolis; Joseph J. Cole – he began working for the Parry Manufacturing Company in 1888 and in 1904 he opened the Cole Carriage Company. Besides making and selling carriages, he also made motor buggies. In June, 1909, his carriage company was reorganized as the Cole Motor Car Company where he manufactured a small auto named the Cole Model 30. According to a Wikipedia article only 100 of these vehicles were manufactured. The Henderson Motor Sales Company advertised that they were “General Distributors” of the “Cole 30” in 1910. Its interesting that Cole and the Henderson brothers would incorporate the Meteor Motor Car Company a month after Cole incorporated his own automobile company, and that they never manufactured a Meteor Motor Car. But, a Meteor car was manufactured in Shelbyville, Indiana, in 1912 by Maurice Wolfe who continued to manufacture the Meteor in Piqua, Ohio to 1916. Also, the Henderson brothers manufactured their own automobile, the Henderson, in Indianapolis from 1912 to 1915 (a photo of a Henderson car is on p. 45 of the “Traces” IHS magazine, Summer, 2016). And, Joseph J. Cole continued to manufacture very popular luxury cars in his factory located at 742-750 E. Washington St. until 1925. So, even with all this early automobile manufacturing activity and competition, I think its really unusual that Cole and the Hendersons went to the trouble of incorporating their Meteor Company when they did.

My Own Company, 202 S. East Street, incorporated from June14, 1922 to 1927; “to manufacture, pack, purchase and sell foods and food products”. Thomas E. Brick – b.1880,manager, Van Camp Packing Co.; Robert L. Lemon – b. 1886, asst. manager, Van Camp Packing Co.; Henry C. Peachey, b.1888, manager, Van Camp Packing Co. While I understand why these three employees of the Van Camp Company would want to name their packing enterprise “My Own Company”, I think its funny that two of the last names, Lemon and Peachey, were related to food products.

Marmon Motor Car Co. This set of papers date from June 14, 1907 to July 31, 1935, and consists of reorganization papers and Annual Domestic Corporation Reports. The papers state that the company was incorporated on June 24, 1876; extended on June 26, 1913; and reorganized on May 27, 1931. The original directors were: Walter C. Marmon – b. 1872, President; Howard C. Marmon – b. 1877, Secretary; Charles C Hauch – b. 1868, treasurer; Elizabeth C. Marmon – b.1849, mother of Walter & Howard and wife of Daniel W. Harmon. Daniel, b. 1845, had joined the Nordyke company, which manufactured milling machinery, in 1866. His sons, Walter & Howard, built their first automobile in 1902.  Their factory was at 1101 W. Morris St., Indianapolis. The Marmon Wasp, built and driven  by Marmon Co. engineer Ray Haroun, won the first Indianapolis 500 automobile race in 1911. The Marmon Motor Car Co. produced luxury autos and stopped production in the mid-1930s due to the Depression.

Meridian Hills Development Co., incorporated from April 23, 1915 to 1925, and its office was located at 506  Lombard Building. “The objective of the formation and promotion of this corporation is to buy, sell and lease lands, buildings and other structures thereon, and to erect dwellings and other buildings or structures on lands leased or purchased, including the conduct of a publicity campaign to aid in the development and sale of the real estate which may be held by said corporation or others.” Meridian Hills is a two- square mile development of 715 upper-middle class homes on the north side of Indianapolis. The town of Meridian Hills was incorporated in 1937. According to its Wikipedia website: “residential construction began in the town in the early 1920s”. The Development Company’s directors were: Edward J. Robison -b. 1856, coal company operator; Edward D. Kingsbury – b.1868, an Irvington resident, fertilizer manufacturer; Bert G. Boyd – b. 1872, grain broker; Edward G. Hereth – b. 1870, V.P. of a piano company; Walter S. Johnson – b. 1867, real estate agent; Harry L. Robbins – b.1884, real estate agent; J. Edward Morris – b.1881, real estate agent.

The Grand Hotel Company, incorporated on September 20, 1892. The purpose of the company was “the carrying on of a hotel known as the ‘Grand Hotel’.”This luxury hotel was located on the southeast corner of Maryland and Illinois Streets. The site originally was the Mason Hotel, built in the 1850s, but was extensively remodeled and renamed the Grand Hotel in 1875. This hotel became the headquarters for the local Democrat Party for many years. A Steak N Shake restaurant is now at that location, and is across the street from the entrance to the Circle Centre Mall. The incorporators in 1892 were: William Foor – proprietor of the hotel; Chester C. Foor – a clerk at the hotel; David B. Brenneke – proprietor of a dancing acadamy at 82 1/2 N. Pennsylvania Ave. and lived at the hotel; Robert G. Harseim – manufactured overalls at 202 S. Meridian St.; William B. Armendt – a dentist living in Owensboro, Kentucky. A few years later Tom Taggart, the  Democratic Mayor of Indianapolis, became the owner of the Grand Hotel.

Mais Motor Truck Company, located at Lasalle & the Belt R.R., Indianapolis, 1911 – 1914 ; “to manufacture, buy, sell, import, export and otherwise deal in carriages, wagons, cars, trucks, automobiles, motorcycles, launches and flying machines”. According to “The Old Motor Car” website “two fires at the [Indianapolis] plant and other factors ended with the company  entering into receivership and ultimately being sold by the courts. The largest part of the firm was bought by the Premier Automobile Co. [also made in Indianapolis].  Franklin Vonnegut was the company’s receiver. The company’s directors were: Albert F. Mais – engineer, b. 1885 in Germany, immigrated in 1895 to Chicago, he later became a building contractor in Wisconsin; Alfred W. Markham – b. 1883 and d. 1920, engineer. Charles Fisher – car salesman; Emory W. Spenser – b. 1886 in Michigan, graduated from University of Wisconsin, accountant, the 1920 Federal Census listed him as a prisoner in the Wisconsin State Prison, d. 1921. “Automobile Topics”, 1910, Vol. 28, p. 816 listed Mais as working for the Studebaker Corporation in Detroit, Michigan. He also belonged to the Society of Automobile Engineers in Indianapolis along with Harry C. Stutz and Howard Marmon, Elwood Haynes in Kokomo, IN, and Fred S. Duesenburg in Des Moines, Iowa.

Lyman Bros. January 6, 1908 to 1932; “buying, selling and trading in pictures, portraits, picture moldings and materials, glass and mirrors; and also to cut, make and manufacture such pictures, frames and moldings and other such articles of merchandise sold and handled in connection thereof”. Originally their store was located at 203 N. Delaware St., but in 1913 they moved to 223-225 E. Ohio St. In 1933 they relocated to 14 E. Washington St. and began to exhibit works by local painters at their art gallery. The Lyman Bros. Art Store was very popular and they stayed at this location till they closed in the early 1980s. The original directors were: William Lyman – b. 1870 in Hungary and immigrated to the U.S. in 1890; Joseph Lyman – b. 1877 in Hungary/Germany and  also immigrated to the U.S. in 1890; Benjamin Lyman – b. 1869 in Hungary/Germany and immigrated to the U.S. in 1884, In 1932 the company’s directors were: Benjamin Lyman – President; Damian Lyman,b. 1905 in Indiana, V.P; Carl Lyman – b. 1898 in New York, sec-treas, Benjamin’s son; Ottilie Lyman – b. 1872 in Hungary/Germany, Benjamin’s wife.

Lyra Casino, incorporated February 3, 1892 to 1900. “The object of the association shall be the social, mental and physical development of its members.” The directors were Otto Stechan – owned the Otto Stechan & Co. which made Lounges and Parlor Furniture; Carl Van Hake – president of the Indianapolis Coffin Co.; Charles Krause – bookkeeper at the Vonnegut Hardware Store; John Wocher – owner of an investment company; George A. Dickson – proprietor of the Grand, Park and English’s Opera Houses; Frank Bachman – a provision dealer in Chicago; Frank A. Maus – V.P. and treasurer of the Indianapolis Brewing Co.

by Robert F. Gilyeat, an Indiana State Archives volunteer

L.C. Thiele & Co. Incorporated from March 30, 1909 to 1933, at 107 S. Meridian St., Indianapolis; “to manufacture furnaces, furnace supplies and sell the same”. This company is still in business. Its website states that the company began in 1883. The founder, Louis C. Thiele, died in 1908, and his family inherited the business: William O Thiele – brother, Sarah Thiele – Louis’ wife, Louisa McGrath – Louis’ sister.

English Corporation. Incorporated on June 14, 1933 at 142 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis; “to engage in the business of operating restaurants, lunch rooms, dining rooms, cafes, cafeterias”. I’m not sure if this business was somehow supposed to be part of the English Hotel located on the Circle. Incorporators were: Tellas D. Lee, b. 1898, a college graduate, an engraver in 1930 and later became a building materials engineer in Chicago; J. Otto Lee – b. 1886, a clerk at the State Printing Board; Edna F. Lee – b. 1896, Otto’s wife.

Enterprise Iron & Fence Co., incorporated in 1931, “to manufacture, sale and erection of iron & wire fences and ornamental iron work”. Incorporators were: Julian Bobbs – retired in 1929 as president of the Bobbs-Merrill Publishing Co., in 1935 he retired from the fence company to pursue other interests; Kurt F. Pantzer – lawyer; Samuel R. Harrell – Supt. of a flour mill.

E-Z Toon Radio Co., incorporated from December 3, 1924 to 1945; located at 3234 W. Washington St, Indianapolis; “the manufacture and sale of radio supplies and all accessories thereof”. The incorporators were: Charles Sparks – b. 1880, trained as an electrical engineer, lived in Fortville, IN, with his wife Lena; Charles R. Butler – b. 1877, started work as a machinist, he developed as a manufacturer of automobile components.

The Indiana Gas Company. (originally named the Electric Lighting, Gas Heating and Illuminating Company of Indianapolis). Incorporated from January 10, 1881 to 1946. “The object of the formation of the corporation is the manufacture and sale of electric light and illuminating and heating gases and their products.” Its name was shortened to The Indiana Gas Company in 1907. Apparently a New York organization took over the company in the early 1900s, but by 1920 it was again owned and operated by Indianapolis businessmen. The original 1887 directors were: George R. Root – owned the G.R. Root & Bro. Coal & Coke Company; E.(Elijah) B. Martindale – lawyer and real estate developer; Allen M. Fletcher – b. 1853, son of Stoughton A. Fletcher, Sr. who was the founder of the Fletcher National Bank, and nephew of pioneer lawyer Calvin Fletcher; by 1900 he was the president of the Indianapolis Gas, Light and Coke Co., later was V.P. of the Fletcher National Bank, then retired and moved back to Vermont, his family’s home state; N.S. Bryan – physician?; Francis Churchman – b. 1833, banker and associate with Stoughton A. Fletcher, Sr.; Frederick M. Ostermeyer – b. 1827 in Prussia, wholesale drygoods merchant;  John R. Elder – was the publisher of the Indiana State Sentinel, and in 1881 was the treasurer of a railroad; George F. Branham – b. 1848, coal and coke dealer.

International College of Healing & the Alansing B. Melville Infirmary. Incorporated on October 11, 1900, at 330 N. Delaware St.;”the art of healing shall be taught , including magnetic and mental healing, in which shall be taught personal magnetism, hypnotism and the occult sciences”. Also, “the conducting of an infirmary and sanitarium. Alansing B. Melville, b. 1857; in 1881 Alansing and his brother, Americus, attorneys, were prosecuted by the U.S. Dept. of Interior and debarred in the State of New York. They had obtained the pension for a Civil War veteran, and then kept over half of the money for services rendered. Lansing was listed as “magnetic healer” in the 1900 Federal Census, as a general practioner physician in 1910, and as a osteopath physician in 1920. He died in Miami, Florida in 1929. Elizabeth Melville was his wife.

Indianapolis Tribune Publishing Co., July 27, 1927 to 1938. Its name was changed to the Indianapolis Crusade Publishing Co. in 1938. Its purpose was “to print, publish, and circulate a weekly newspaper”. The proprietors were Frank R. Beckwith – December 11, 1904 to August 24, 1965; he was a prominent African-American attorney in Indianapolis and a civil rights activist; he ran for President of the U.S. in 1960 as a Republican. E. Louis Moore – 1879 to 1966, an Indianapolis African-American attorney. Albert F. Moton – 1896 to ?, secretary.

Inter-State Car and Foundry Co., November 6, 1925 – 1935, 3823 Massachusetts Ave (Massachusetts Ave & Sherman Dr.); “to make metal castings and other work relating to the foundry business, and repair of railroad cars”. The Interstate Castings Co. is still located at that location. According to the company’s website: “Founded in 1883, Interstate Castings began by manufacturing complete railroad cars. Since that time we have evolved into a high quality supplier of gray and ductile iron castings.” I found the Inter-State Car Co. listed in the 1904 Indianapolis City Directory as located at W. Morris St. & the Belt R.R.; also there are a few pre-1925 listings on the internet for orders to manufacture railroad cars by the Inter-State Car Co. The “Railroad Car Builders of North America” website states “at this time [1925]  the Inter-State Car and Foundry Co. was primarily doing rebuilding of [railroad] cars.” The incorporators were Louis R. Meyer – foundry supt. who worked with this company till he retired; Frank B. Stout – manager, he formerly was in the real estate business; George J, Diver – manager; James Rocap – attorney.

Lilly & Stalnaker Hardware Company, (Later, in 1917, changed to Lilly Hardware Co.) Incorporated on July 26, 1897, with their location at 114 E. Washington St. About a year later Clemens Vonnegut and his family opened their  hardware store in a new building situated at 120 E. Washington St., practically next door to Lilly & Stalnaker’s. Vonnegut’s had been in the hardware business in Indianapolis since 1852 at various locations on E. Washington St., and Lilly & Stalnaker had run their store at 64 E. Washington St., since 1888. Surely Lilly & Stalnaker knew the Vonnegut’s were planning a site next to where they planned to move. So, why would they move their business next door to their more established competition? Good question! Per a letter written by Franklin Vonnegut, Vonnegut’s “absorbed” the Lilly store in 1925, after the owner died. (This Lilly family was not related to Col. Eli Lilly’s.)  Proprietors were James W. Lilly – b. 1863 in Indianapolis. He was the nephew of John O. A. Lilly who was the founder of a very successful varnish manufacturing business. Maybe James specialized in his uncle’s products, a retail outlet for his uncle’s varnish?  Frank D.Stalnaker – an accountant who later became a bank president. Augustus B. Kern – a salesman and later V.P. of the business. George Lilly – older brother of James, and a salesman. George Stebel – a clerk and later a buyer for the business. James D Jacobs – a salesman.

Interstate Historical Pictures Corp. Incorporated on January 27, 1916, “to produce and exhibit motion pictures and to make historical and educational pictures to be shown in connection with the State Centennial Celebrations”. These young men did shoot motion pictures of Indiana’s Centennial Celebrations but, sadly, they have been lost.   William H. Fryer – electrician; Alfred H. Smock – electrician; Henry H. James – bookkeeper at a printing company.

Inter-City Finance Corporation of Indianapolis, October 20, 1928, “for the purpose of buying and selling securities”. The incorporators were: Henry J. Richardson, Jr., 206 Walker Building – in 1928 Richardson had just received an L.L.B. from the Indiana Law School in Indianapolis, and began a long and distinguished career as a civil rights advocate in Indianapolis. Marcus C. Stewart, 518 Indiana Ave., 24 years old – his father, George P. Stewart , the founder of an African-American newspaper, the Indianapolis Recorder, died in 1924 and his mother continued the newspaper as its publisher. Marcus attended Butler University in 1927-1928, but quit to become the editor of his family’s newspaper. The Indianapolis Recorder has continued to this day as an important voice for the Indianapolis African-American community. Lucas B. Willis, 512 N. West St. – a prominent African-American funeral director. He was born in 1877 in Frankfort, KY, graduated from the Massachusetts College of Embalming in 1898, and moved to Indianapolis in 1900. In 1928 his undertaking business was located at 510 N. West St. Orlando W. Rodman, 525 Minerva St. – an Indianapolis Postal Clerk, born in Frankfort, KY, in 1891. Martin Morgan, 942 Burdsal Parkway – born about 1889 in Ohio; he owned Morgan’s Hardware Store at 1359 Senate Ave. This document is a “who’s who” of Indianapolis African-American history.

Kokomo Radio Corporation, incorporated on January 16, 1936. The purpose was to make Crosley radios and parts in Kokomo, IN. In 1935 Crosley Radio Corp. began to make radios for Chevrolet in Kokomo, but was bought out by General Motors and changed the name to the Delco Radio  Division in 1936. Maybe Crosley intended to continue to manufacture radios in Kokomo, but I don’t think it happened. The incorporators were: Powell Crosley, Jr. – President & Treasurer, Cincinnati, Ohio; he was a wealthy entrepreneur and inventor who once worked for Fisher Automobile Co. in Indianapolis, IN. He manufactured and sold the affordable Crosley Radios, founded WLW Radio & Television in Cincinnati, and owned the Cincinnati Reds. He later made the Crosley Automobiles. Lewis M. Crosley – Powell’s brother and business partner. J.P. Rogers – Accountant? Charles Sawyer – Attorney. William B. Griese – engineer & foreman. L. A. Kellogg – V.P. Crosley Distributing Corp. and sales director.

H.D. Shipp Corporation, incorporated on October 24, 1940. “to be engaged in the manufacturing business, in the selling wholesale and retail of an article known as ‘sneakers’, said article being an assembled glass for the taking of liquids internally, to eliminate obnoxious tastes, and the making of the taking of the liquid more pleasant, said liquids to include oils, medicines, liquors and other liquids and drinking materials”. This seems to be a prototype of a medical feeding tube. the incorporators were: Harry D. Shipp -b. 1901, drug salesman. Patricia Shipp – b. 1903, Harry’s wife. L. Ert. (Lemuel Ertus) Slack – attorney, formerly U.S. District Attorney.

Kola Celery Pepsin Co., October 8, 1912 – 1916. 2546 Ashland, Indianapolis. “the manufacture of beverages and patent medicines”. Maybe the weirdness of the ingredients of this beverage made it seem more medicinal? The incorporators were Solomon Von Binzer – b. 1864 in Hungary, a dry goods proprietor. Isaac Von Binzer – clothing store manager, later an auctioneer. William L. Schaumburg – a cigar merchant, later a salesman for a steel company. The Von Binzers dropped the “Von” during WWI.

Kruge-Frey Television & Electronic Corp. December 4, 1930 – 1931.                                                        “to generally deal in & with all kinds of electrical supplies, machinery, articles and appliances, including telephones, television, radios, batteries, lamps, and mill factory supplies”. This is a very early date to be selling televisions retail to the public; I don’t think there was a television station in the area. Maybe Kruge and Frey wanted to impress the public that they were modern, cutting edge electricians. Anyway, the business didn’t last. The owners were: August W. Krug – 42 years old, earlier worked for an electric supply company, and later got a job as an engineer for the Omar Baking Company. Helen Kruge –  36 years old, August’s wife. Lewis W. Frey – 36 years old, earlier  worked for the National Car Company as a machinist, and I think later moved to Detroit, Michigan,  to work for an auto company.

An Archive volunteer came across a Civil War burial card for Pvt. John Auten. Auten enrolled at South Bend, Indiana, on April 17, 1861, five days after the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter, the beginning of the Civil War. He joined the 9th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Co. L, commanded by Indianapolis native, Brig General Thomas Morris. They engaged the Confederates at Laurel Hill, Virginia, the first land battle in the Civil War. Auten was killed  on July 10, 1861, when the 9th Regiment charged the Confederate breastworks, becoming the first Indiana soldier killed in the Civil War. The burial card noted he died at nearby Belington, VA, (now West VA). Three days later his funeral was held at the South Bend, IN, Courthouse.

H. Lauter Furniture Industries, 1907 – 1932. “for the purpose of manufacturing furniture”. This business was located at 55 South Harding St, at the corner of West Washington Street and Harding Street. This was the largest furniture maker in Indianapolis at the time, and its building now houses the H. Lauter Lofts, Luxury Condominiums. This company was earlier started by Herman Lauter, a German immigrant, who was also instrumental in the founding of Manual High School.  I think the company mainly made office desks. Herman died in 1907,so this incorporation must have been a reorganization of the Company’s directors : Alfred Lauter – 35 years old and the son of Herman. Six female family members were also designated as directors.

L.A. Share Company, incorporated on January 26, 1903, “for the purpose of manufacturing, buying and selling Wood Rings, Saddle Reeds, Boxes, and other articles”. The directors were: Horace O. Wright – wholesale dry goods merchant.                                   David Wright – merchant. Louis A. Share – woodworker. Fletcher Hines – grandson of Calvin Fletcher, Indianapolis pioneer, lawyer, banker, large land owner in Marion County. At this time Hines was a horse breeder at Millersville, just northeast of Indianapolis. He might have been living at his uncle’s, Stoughton Fletcher’s, mansion in Millersville, Laurel Hall. There was a horse stable there for many years, through the 1970s, across the street from Laurel Hall.

An Archive volunteer, working on the records of the Soldiers and Sailors Childrens’ Home in Knightown, IN, came across a photo of a the Home’s van made by Indiana Truck. The van is sitting in front of the Home’s original administration building and the photo is marked “ca 1920”. Indiana Trucks were made in Marion, IN, from 1910 to 1933. The company was owned by George C. Harwood and Charles G. Barley.

Jenny Electric Motor Company, in business from January 17, 1890 to ca 1910.  “the manufacture and sale of electric motors”. This Indianapolis company manufactured direct-current dynamos for large machines. Its factory was located on the east side next to the Belt Railroad. The directors were: Charles D. Jenny – President. He had an 1882 patent for an electric-arc lamp, and an 1884 patent for an Automatic Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines. Edwin W. Jenny – an electrician and older brother of Charles D Jenny. Amos K. Hollowed – V.P. and Treasurer of the D.H. Rank Publishing Co., and Treasurer of the Nordyke & Marmon Co. Albert A. Barnes – Proprietor of the Udell Wooden Ware Works.   Addison Bybee – President of the Woodburn-Serven Wheel Co. Julius F. Pratt – Treasurer of the Consumers Gs Trust Co., and V.P. and Treasurer of the Woodburn-Serven Wheel Co.

Joseph P. Deery & Company, established on January 16, 1914.                                                           “to conduct the business of painting and decorating houses & structures of all kinds, upon the interior and exterior”. The Directors were: Joseph P. Deery – 22 years old, decorator, later became a salesman for Sherwin-William Paints. Kenneth K. Wooling – 22 years old, later became an architect.James New – 22 years old, became a druggist. Bowman Elder – 25 years old, realtor. He was a descendent of Indianapolis pioneer John Elder, and was very active in Indiana’s Centennial Celebration in 1916.

Jones-Hogue Company, incorporated on April 17, 1903. “to promote, finance, construct, equip, rent and operate  in the State of Indiana and elsewhere, street and interurban railroads and plants for the creation and distribution of electric and other heat, light and power”. The mammoth Traction Terminal Building, located in Indianapolis at the n/w corner of Market & Illinois Streets was erected in 1904. Maybe this company was organized to bid on the Terminal’s construction. The Directors were: H. Whitford Jones – President. He was a building contractor. George A. Taylor – he was a railroad engineer. Arthur B. Hogue – V.P. and General Manager. He became the proprietor with William M Prosser of the Terminal Station Saloon. George A. Hogue, 2nd V.P. – A carpenter. Edward E. Elliot – Secretary. A machinist. Lucie L. Green – Bookkeeper?

The Joseph Eastman Hospital, in business from July 1, 1905 to 1921; “to establish and maintain a general hospital for the treatment of sick, wounded and injured persons, giving medical, surgical and obstetrical treatment thereto…and to establish and maintain a school for the education and training,of nurses”. This medical clinic was located at 331 N. Delaware St. in downtown Indianapolis. This was probably a name change from the Joseph Eastman Sanitorium, which was located at the same address. The Directors were:  Thomas B. Eastman, Physician. Joseph Rilus Eastman,  Physician. Mary K Eastman, Secretary.