W. N. Wolfe Groceries, Flour, Feed, and Produce, Indianapolis, Indiana, circa 1881

Description:	Employees and boys pose near a horse-drawn delivery wagon, barrels, produce, and a well pump under a porch connecting two brick buildings adjacent to a house to the left. The African-American man to the right wears an apron and holds a basket. The sign reading Groceries, Flour, Feed, and Produce is signed by painter N. ?. Knotts, probably Nimrod K. Knotts, a painter listed at 270 Massachusetts Avenue in the 1880 city directory. Signage on the building to the right reads Flour & Feed Store / 275 / Meal, Graham, Buck Wheat, Rye, Cracked Wheat.This business was owned by grocer William N. Wolfe (1844-1914), listed at 275, 277, and 279 Massachusetts Avenue in 1880-1885 city directories. He also resided here with his wife Susan. In 1880 the grocery at 277 Massachusetts Avenue was listed as Wolfe and Parr, in partnership with Henry Parr. The post-1898 address for this site is 735-741 Massachusetts Avenue.An Indianapolis News article, September 6, 1902, p. 3, states that the buildings had been part of the Johann Heinrich Henry and Elizabeth (Francke or Frank) Kettenbach homestead since 1856, when Henry opened a general store in the building to the right (737 Massachusetts, on the alley). The Kettenbach well, located under the sidewalk, was dug and walled with stone in 1856 by Henry Kettenbach. It supplied drinking water to neighbors for many years and was a Massachusetts Avenue landmark. After Henrys death in 1868, sons Henry and Edward, along with son-in-law Julius A. Neumeyer/Newmeyer, took charge of the business. They were succeeded by brother William Billy Kettenbach. Directories and newspaper advertisements indicate that the family leased out the buildings beginning in about 1875, but his widow and children continued to live in the house on the left (279 Massachusetts Avenue, later renumbered 743). In 1902 heirs sold the property to Dr. Thomas Gasaway who planned to replace the structures with a modern building. It was demolished between 1866 and 1972. In 2002 the New Arts building was built on this site.Photographer Daniel C. Redington, was known to have have owned a studio in Indianapolis, with a branch in Cincinnati, in about 1881. His studio was not listed in the 1881 or 1882 city directories and he was likely in business for a short period.
Origin:	1881, circa
Created By:	Redington, D. C., 1840-1900
Source:	http://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/BACA0EA2-F6EA-400F-9DB2-721291017430
Collection:	Indiana Album
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Geography:	735-741 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States
Subjects:	Deedee Davis Collection Grocery stores Feed stores Produce stands Storefronts Delivering Houses Chatham Arch Neighborhood (Indianapolis, Ind.) Massachusetts Avenue (Indianapolis, Ind.) Indianapolis (Ind.) Marion County (Ind.)

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