Chatham Place, 608 E. Walnut St., 1981

Description: On slide mount: Chatham Place, 608 E. Walnut St., CA, South Elev., 3-27-81
Yes
Chatham Place Block706-710 Massachusetts Avenue(also 602-608 E. Walnut Street)1875The unusual form of this three-story, brick building was dictated by the bounds of the parcel of land upon which it was built. Its most distinctive feature is the arcade along Walnut Street and Massachusetts Avenue, the columns and capitals of which are of cast-iron, while the arches are of stone. The original storefronts have not been altered, a testimony to the fine design of Roman arch window and door surrounds. The interesting diagonal placement of the entrances along Massachusetts Avenue probably resulted from a desire for uniform southern exposure. Colorful tile work of the era survives at several of the entranceways. The importance of this imposing Italianate building in defining the urban character of Chatham Square cannot be overestimated.Built in 1875 by Michael McBride, the building was sold the following year to Joseph A. Church. Church (1828-1909) was one of the oldest and best-known millers in Indiana at the time of his death. He was born in Brownsville, Indiana, and began operating a mill in 1854 at Cumberland. He also operated mills at Morristown, Knightstown, and Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Church and their daughter, Mrs. Charles C. Ferguson, lived at 1121 North Park Avenue in the early 1900s.Church sold the building in 1878 to Henry D. Stringer. The building then changed hands frequently until Charles B. Fletcher purchased it in 1894. The Fletcher family continued to own the property until the 1920s when the Service Realty Company purchased it.Commercial enterprises in the building varied over the years. Among the more lengthy residents was James King, a harness and saddle manufacturer and dealer whose shop was located in 706 from 1875 until around 1900. Born in New Paris, Ohio, in 1840, King learned his trade in Greensburg, Indiana, where his parents located in 1885. He also served in the Civil War with the Seventh Indiana Volunteers. Other businesses in the building beside the harness shop included a confectioner, a druggist, a cigar manufacturer, and a bicycle shop.Chatham-Arch Historic Area Preservation Plan, 1982
commercial
Origin: 1981-03-27
Source: http://iuidigital.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/HT/id/1271
Collection: Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission Image Collection
Rights: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Copyright: In Copyright
Geography: Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States, http://sws.geonames.org/4259418/, 39.76838, -86.15804
Subjects: Architecture--Indiana--Indianapolis
Built environment
Historic districts
McBride, Michael
Church, Joseph A. (1828-1909)
Stringer, Henry D.
Fletcher, Charles B.
King, James
Italianate
brick
stone
arches
brackets
keystones
lintels
columns

Further information on this record can be found at its source.