INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Avenue was the center of Indianapolis' Black culture, but most of the buildings that could tell that story are gone. The best reminder is a small group of houses that are federally protected from the wrecking ball.
Ransom Place is all that remains of a once-sprawling neighborhood of homes and businesses built by Indianapolis' Black elite. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
The district was named after Freeman Ransom shortly before it achieved historic status. Ransom lived in the neighborhood and served as Madam CJ Walker's lawyer and business manager.
The homes in Ransom Place date back to the 1880s and are located near Indiana Avenue and the Walker Theatre. The remaining historic neighborhood is bounded by 10th, West, St. Clair, and Paca Streets.
Susan Hall Dotson of the Indiana Historical Society said it was extremely unlikely for the homes to survive after the urban renewal and demolition that hollowed out Indiana Avenue.
"Universities and medical centers all took homes, businesses, and land to expand their dreams. The land all around [Ransom Place] was not spared," Hall Dotson said. "Was it renewal or was it erasure?"
The homes were protected largely because of the efforts of Jean Spears, who formed the Ransom Place Neighborhood Association in 1991 and led the charge for the district's historic status.
"She preserved this place because it was necessary to remember correctly who had been here and how," said her daughter, fellow preservationist Claudia Polley.
Hall Dotson said Spears' mission helped save the homes and tell the complete story of Indiana Avenue's history.
"In spite of all of the things that were there to keep the neighborhood back including urban renewal and progress, they stood firm," Hall Dotson said.
-
Southwest Airlines unveils new checked bag fees and basic fare options
Starting May 28, Southwest Airlines will charge for checked bags and introduce a new basic fare tier, aligning with industry standards and enhancing revenue growth.
With warmer days ahead, Hoosier parents are thinking about summer camp sign-ups
As warmer weather approaches, Hoosier parents are thinking about summer camp sign-ups for their kids. It's serious business—“It’s harder to get in here than it is to a Taylor Swift concert.”
Pedestrian struck in morning crash on I-465 causes major traffic delays
According to ISP, a pedestrian was struck on I-465 northbound at Rockville Road this morning, causing traffic delays. Lanes are back open, but the condition of the person hit remains unknown.
Crash claims life of motorcyclist
A crash involving two vehicles near E. Thompson Road and Camden Street, claimed the life of a motorcyclist Monday evening.
