Parking Lots and Empty lots and generic pharmacies...

It's one of those things we take for granted these days, like freedom (but that's a topic for a different blog)--parking lots, empty lots, and the all too pervasive fast food joints and ubiquitous pharmacies taking up land that once held beautiful, quality structures. Ever consider what was there before? Preceding the Walgreens (at 16th & Meridian) it was Fredonia Allen's Tudor Hall School for Girls, for example.

When a person gets killed on a highway, people leave flowers and teddy bears,crosses, the occasional balloon and the odd photo of the dearly departed. I think we need to institute this same custom in places where architectural murder has been committed...because we have ALL lost something irreplaceable.

A flea market purchase this past weekend lead me to the 2600 block of Illinois. I couldn't recall if Fall Creek was north or south of 26th on Illinois, and was sickened by the sight of a sea of cars where once stood this gorgeous home:

Now the site of an Ivy Tech parking lot

I know, I mentioned this issue before in reference to my obsession castle, the Bates-Allen-McGowan mansion, but it bears repeating...


Another blighted smudge on Delaware's street scape may be found on the southeast corner of 11th and Delaware Streets. You've passed it hundreds of times, and undoubtedly didn't notice it at all. I'd be willing to bet if this gorgeous Vonnegut & Bohn temple were still standing there, you would have. I understand that Jim Jones briefly occupied and subsequently burned this beauty to the ground. Do you embrace Jim Jones' vision for our city?

Looking at the southeast corner of 11th & Delaware Streets

The view from 11th street, head on look

I know, lots of people will say: "well, it's gone, so forget about it." Doing that only gives credibility to something detestable. This is why so many people dress like vagrants, have forgotten the power of the words please and thank you--amongst others--and are so comfortable being rude and disgusting in their general comportment.
I for one, refuse to forget about the power of old-fashioned manners and dress, the incalculable sacrifices and contributions made by the generations preceding the present one in power and the truly spectacular buildings that once existed here. Our society is so disposable nowadays, and I find it sad and unflattering since we are capable of so much better.

Until a better path is figured out, you'll find me in dusty archives, in front of microfilm machines, examining historic surroundings and cheerleading for places like the old Central Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, henceforth, Indiana Landmarks Center and putting the likes of Bill and Gayle Cook on my list of heroes.