Mapping Old Addresses

In case you did not know, addresses can change over time. My great grandfather, David Louis Osborne, lived at over 20 addresses around Indianapolis between 1876 and 1942. The early years were downtown, then the near northeast suburbs and finally Irvington. Street names and addresses of 100 years ago do not match those of today, old atlases and the city ordinance records are useful reference tools to determine modern addresses.

This is a good example of (mostly) NOT finding what I set out to find.  Over the years of researching my great grandfather, I came to realize he lived at MANY addresses during his adult life.  I thought it would be interesting to see all the old buildings and homes where he lived in my hometown of Indianapolis.

David Louis Osborne, 1848-1942

David Louis Osborne
1848-1942

Addresses of David L. Osborne

Between 1876 and 1942 my great grandfather, David Louis Osborne (DLO), lived at 23 addresses in Indianapolis, I decided to document the current condition of his former homes.

1876

17 Fletcher’s Block

This address does not now exist. Based on information on the 1887 Sanborn Map this address is likely the southeast corner of College and Fletcher Ave. DLO had ‘rooms’ at this address while working as a paper hanger.

1878

218 E. South St.

This is now an empty lot between S. New Jersey St. and Virginia Ave. John Dennis, father of Susie, also lived with the young couple.

1880

338 S. New Jersey St.

This address no longer exists, it is now a part of the Lilly Research Campus. It was just north of E. McCarty St.

1881 & 1890

188 E Washington St.

DLO must have liked this place, he lived here twice. He was a boarder, and probably lived upstairs above the bakery on the main floor. New construction now sits at this site. The modern address is 380 E. Washington, it is a green space next to the Cummins facility.

1882

51 Huron

The modern address is 625 Lexington Ave., the second building west of College. The two huge evergreens in the photo hide a massive garage, not a house. DLO was working as a paper hanger for Cathcart, Cleland and Co.

1883

70 N State Ave.

This address no longer exists, based on the old Sanborn maps it would have been on the southwest corner of State and Market, now an empty lot.

1884

34 N. Walcott St.

This address is now 46 N. Walcott, it’s the southwest corner of Walcott and Ohio, now an empty lot.

1885

317 E. St. Clair St.

This home was next to the firehouse on E. St. Clair, just west of Massachusetts Ave., it’s now a parking lot for the Firefighters Museum. The modern address would be 627 E. St. Clair St.

1891

113 Oak Ave.

This street was renamed Edison about 1900, the house was just north of what is now E. 10th St. This location is now home to an electric substation.

1892

17 Omer St.

Omer was renamed 11th St., this house was not on the 1887 map. The modern address is 1319 E. 11th St., it’s now a new house built in 2017.

1893

100 Stoughton

Street renamed 12th St. before 1898. This address is now 1732 E. 12th St., on the north side of the intersection with Sterling St. According to my grandmother’s birth certificate, she was born at this address. The Oborne children attended IPS #33 across the street.

1895

174 Eureka Ave.

This address no longer exists. Eureka ran between Michigan and 10th St. It was renamed N. Tacoma Ave. about 1898. The modern address is either 910 or 916 N. Tacoma Ave. The duplex at 910 is pictured.

1898

914 N. Tacoma Ave.

This address no longer exists. It’s either the north half of the duplex at 910 N. Tacoma or the house at 916 N. Tacoma. The house at 916 is pictured. DLO lived here from about 1895 (174 Eureka) to 1906.

1907

538 N. Keystone Ave.

DLO lived here about three years, it is now a parking lot for IPS #15.

1910

1102 N. Beville Ave.

The northwest corner with E. 11th St., DLO lived here for about 10 years. Jennie passed in 1918, that’s when daughter Pearl moved in with her husband Earl LaFara and toddler Lois. It is now a new house built in 2015.

1921

5929 Julian Ave.

This is the third house west of Arlington. Living here also are the LaFara’s and daughter Sadie.

1922

105 Johnson Ave.

DLO bought this lot about 1920 and built the house that still stands. He lived here about 5 years with daughter Sadie who bought the house from him for $3000 in 1925.

1926

27 N. Campbell Ave.

Living with the LaFara family. DLO split his time between here and the GAR post. The LaFara’s were at this address for about 4 years.

1928

512 N. Illinois St.

This address no longer exists, there is a large parking garage now. This was ‘Fort Friendly’, the GAR post where DLO was a member and caretaker during this period.

1931

36 S. Ritter

DLO lived here for several years with the LaFara’s, daughter Pearl owned the home that is next door to IPS #57.

1939

33 N. Sheridan

DLO lived here briefly with the LaFara’s after they sold the home on S. Ritter.

1940

115 S. Ritter Ave.

The third house south of Julian. DLO lived here at the end of his life with the LaFara’s, he shared a room with his grandson, Bob. They were renting the home.

1942

Crown Hill Cemetery

The final resting place, DLO purchased 4 plots at the time of Jennie’s death in 1918. The other two plots hold Earl LaFara and Sadie Osborne.

My main obstacle was reconciling old addresses to modern addresses. Indianapolis went through a large scale overhaul of the street naming around the turn of the 20th century.  I found a book online that contained the Indianapolis ordinances up to 1904, there is an entire section regarding street naming changes.

Find this book on Google Play Books: The General Ordinances of the City of Indianapolis

Even with this information I still had some difficulties reconciling all the old addresses. So I searched out old maps. I found two online from the late 19th century that were particularly helpful.

Visit the online IUPUI University Library’s Sanborn and Baist Map Collection

With these reference tools I was able to assign modern addresses to those from over 100 years ago. Next, I went looking for the buildings and homes. What I found was at first disappointing, then I decided to have a sense of humor about it given the facts could not be changed. Of the 22 addresses I have for my great grandfather in Indianapolis, 13 are vacant lots, parking lots or modern buildings. The houses still standing are the most recent addresses from the 20th century.

Click on the pins on the map below to see current images of each address.

1876 - 17 Fletcher's Block

1876 17 Fletchers Block
This address does not now exist. Based on information on the 1887 Sanborn Map this address is likely the southeast corner of College and Fletcher Ave. DLO had ‘rooms’ at this address while working as a paper hanger.

1878 - 218 E. South St.

1878 218 E. South St.
This is now an empty lot between S. New Jersey St. and Virginia Ave. John Dennis, father of Susie, also lived with the young couple.

1880 - 338 S. New Jersey St.

1880 338 S New Jersey
This address no longer exists, it is now a part of the Lilly Research Campus. It was just north of E. McCarty St.

1881 - 188 E Washington St. (and 1890)

380 E Washington, Cummins green space and parking garage.DLO must have liked this place, he lived here twice. He was a boarder and probably lived upstairs above the bakery on the main floor. The modern address is 380 E. Washington it is a green space beside the Cummins facility.

1882 - 51 Huron

1882 51 huron
The modern address is 625 Lexington Ave., the second building west of College. The two huge evergreens in the photo hide a massive garage, NOT a house. DLO was working as a paper hanger for Cathcart, Cleland and Co.

1883 - 70 N State Ave.

1883 70 n state ave
This address no longer exists, based on the old Sanborn maps it would have been on the southwest corner of State and Market, now an empty lot.

1884 - 34 N. Walcott St.

1884 34 n walcott
This address is now 46 N. Walcott, it’s the southwest corner of Walcott and Ohio, now an empty lot.

1885 - 317 E. St. Clair St.

1885 317 e st clair
This home was next to the firehouse on E. St. Clair, just west of Massachusettes Ave., it’s now a parking lot for the Firefighters Museum. The modern address would be 627 E. St. Clair St.

1891 - 113 Oak Ave.

1887 map of oak st
This street was renamed Edison about 1900, the house was just north of what is now E. 10th St. This location is now home to an electric substation.

1892 - 17 Omer St.

1319 E 11th St, new house
Omer was renamed 11th St., this house was not on the 1887 map. The modern address is 1319 E. 11th St., it’s now a new house built in 2017.

1893 - 100 Stoughton

1893 100 stoughton
Street renamed 12th St. before 1898. This address is now 1732 E. 12th St., on the north side of the intersection with Sterling St. According to my grandmother’s birth certificate, she was born at this address. The Oborne children attended IPS #33 across the street.

1895 - 174 Eureka Ave.

1895 174 eureka
This address no longer exists. Eureka ran between Michigan and 10th St. It was renamed N. Tacoma Ave. about 1898. The modern address is either 910 or 916 N. Tacoma Ave. The duplex at 910 is pictured.

1898 - 914 N. Tacoma Ave.

1898 916 n tacoma ave
This address no longer exists. It’s either the north half of the duplex at 910 N. Tacoma or the house at 916 N. Tacoma. The house at 916 is pictured. DLO lived here from about 1895 (174 Eureka) to 1906.

1907 - 538 N. Keystone Ave.

1908 538 n keystone
DLO lived here about three years, it is now a parking lot for IPS #15.

1910 - 1102 N. Beville Ave.

1102 N Beville Ave, new house
The northwest corner with E. 11th St., DLO lived here for about 10 years. Jennie passed in 1918, that’s when Pearl moved in with her husband Earl and toddler Lois. It is now a new house built in 2015.

1921 - 5929 Julian Ave.

1921 5929 julian
This is the third house west of Arlington. Living here also are the LaFara’s and daughter Sadie.

1922 - 105 Johnson Ave.

1922_105johnson
DLO bought this lot about 1920 and built the house that still stands. He lived here about 5 years with daughter Sadie who bought the house from him for $3000 in 1925.

1926 - 27 N. Campbell Ave.

1925 27 n campbell
Living with the LaFara family. DLO split his time between here and the GAR post. The LaFara’s were at this address for about 4 years.

1928 - 512 N. Illinois St.

1930 572 n illinois
This address no longer exists, there is a large parking garage now. This was ‘Fort Friendly’, the GAR post where DLO was a member and caretaker during this period.

1931 - 36 S. Ritter

1931 36 s ritter
DLO lived here for several years with the LaFara’s, daughter Pearl owned the home that is next door to IPS #57.

1939 - 33 N. Sheridan

1939 33 n sheridan
DLO lived here briefly with the LaFara’s after they sold the home on S. Ritter.

1940 - 115 S. Ritter Ave.

1940 115 s ritter
The third house south of Julian. DLO lived here at the end of his life with the LaFara’s, he shared a room with his grandson, Bob. They were renting the home.

1942 - Crown Hill Cemetery

1942 crown hill cemetery
The final resting place, DLO purchased 4 plots at the time of Jennie’s death in 1918. The other two plots hold Earl LaFara and Sadie Osborne.

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