Old Northside Historic District
Encyclopedia
Old Northside is a residential neighborhood near downtown in Indianapolis, Indiana, and located between 12th and 16th streets, and Pennsylvania and Bellfontaine Streets. Old Northside was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and is home to many residences from the Victorian era.
(23rd President of the United States), Ovid Butler
(founder of Butler University
) and other notable figures, including magnates of the L.S. Ayres
department store. Indiana author Meredith Nicholson
was also a resident for many years and wrote his most noted work House of a Thousand Candles while in residence.
Old Northside was also the original location of Indianapolis' Butler University, then named North Western Christian University, which was later relocated to the town of Irvington.
The neighborhood began a slow decline in the early 1910s as architectural tastes changed and families built homes further north in Indianapolis. Over several decades, homes were demolished and others fell into disrepair. In the late 1960s, residents began restoring remaining buildings of architectural significance, and petitioning the city for historic recognition.
Old Northside received historic designation in the late 1978 after adopting a historic plan for preserving the architecture and history of the neighborhood. Preservation of the neighborhood's history is overseen by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission.
and the Morris-Butler House
, both on the National Register of Historic Places
, are located in Old Northside and are open to the public for tours and special events. In 2010-11, the former Central Avenue Methodist Church, later known as the Old Centrum, underwent a multi-million dollar major restoration as a performance venue and statewide headquarters of Indiana Landmarks and is now known as the Indiana Landmarks Center. The former home of Thomas Taggart
is now the national headquarters of Delta Sigma Phi
fraternity.
train tracks and is used by several children's summer soccer leagues.
History
Old Northside was a prominent residential neighborhood in the late 19th century, when many of Indianapolis' wealthier residents built mansions in the area. Old Northside was home to Benjamin HarrisonBenjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
(23rd President of the United States), Ovid Butler
Ovid Butler
Ovid Butler was an attorney, newspaper publisher, and university founder from the state of Indiana, United States.-Personal life:...
(founder of Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
) and other notable figures, including magnates of the L.S. Ayres
L.S. Ayres
L. S. Ayres & Company was an Indianapolis, Indiana, department store founded in 1872 by Lyman S. Ayres and taken over by his son Frederic in 1896...
department store. Indiana author Meredith Nicholson
Meredith Nicholson
Meredith Nicholson was a best-selling author from Indiana, United States, a politician, and a diplomat.-Biography:...
was also a resident for many years and wrote his most noted work House of a Thousand Candles while in residence.
Old Northside was also the original location of Indianapolis' Butler University, then named North Western Christian University, which was later relocated to the town of Irvington.
The neighborhood began a slow decline in the early 1910s as architectural tastes changed and families built homes further north in Indianapolis. Over several decades, homes were demolished and others fell into disrepair. In the late 1960s, residents began restoring remaining buildings of architectural significance, and petitioning the city for historic recognition.
Old Northside received historic designation in the late 1978 after adopting a historic plan for preserving the architecture and history of the neighborhood. Preservation of the neighborhood's history is overseen by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission.
Notable Residences/Museums
The President Benjamin Harrison HomeBenjamin Harrison Home
The Benjamin Harrison Home, in the Old Northside Historic District of Indianapolis, Indiana, was the home of the Twenty-third President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison. Benjamin Harrison had the house built in the 1870s of red brick, and it had sixteen rooms...
and the Morris-Butler House
Morris-Butler House
The Morris-Butler House is a Second Empire-style house built in 1864-65 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is part of Old Northside Historic District of Indianapolis. It is preserved as a museum home by Indiana Landmarks...
, both on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, are located in Old Northside and are open to the public for tours and special events. In 2010-11, the former Central Avenue Methodist Church, later known as the Old Centrum, underwent a multi-million dollar major restoration as a performance venue and statewide headquarters of Indiana Landmarks and is now known as the Indiana Landmarks Center. The former home of Thomas Taggart
Thomas Taggart
Thomas Taggart was a U.S. political figure, serving as mayor of Indianapolis and influential in state and national politics.-Early life and family:...
is now the national headquarters of Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi is a fraternity established at the City College of New York in 1899 and is a charter member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. The headquarters of the fraternity is the Taggart Mansion located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
fraternity.
Parks
There are three parks related to Old Northside, all created with funding from the Old Northside Foundation. Great Oak Commons is a park created by the neighborhood from several empty lots and is landscaped as a Victorian walking park with a central fountain, gas lighting, a gazebo and a sensory garden filled with fragrant perennial flowers. Shawn Grove Park is a children's park with play equipment. The Frank and Judy O'Bannon Soccer Park was created by the city of Indianapolis on the east edge of the neighborhood, with the help of Old Northside Foundation. It is now maintained by Indy Parks Management. It was reclaimed from abandoned space near the former MononMonon Railroad
The Monon Railroad , also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway from 1897–1956, operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana...
train tracks and is used by several children's summer soccer leagues.