Labor Day Parade

Saturday morning people gathered downtown for a parade to celebrate the working man. It ran the gamut among electricians, truckers and communications workers; street workers, firefighters and aircraft maintenance people; welders, hotel and restaurant personnel. In addition to the high school marching bands that took part, the musicians' union provided three or four bands -- Dixieland jazz, blues, and rock -- for entertainment along the way.

They are all people whose work and presence is taken for granted, who are all but invisible to "big business" until they are no longer there to perform their jobs. They are people who take pride in their work and in doing it well.

They feel a deep pride in their country and resent that their work has, in many cases, been so devalued that it's been sent abroad, "outsourced" by corporations seeking even larger profits -- 98% of the working population of the United States being marginalized by the wealthiest 2%.


But no mind -- the little kids sat on the curbs with their parents, exercising the "three-second rule" as they gathered treasure troves of candy thrown to them by people on the gaily decorated trucks and mechanical displays passing by. They collected little flags and coloring books, too. Given that the temperatures were in the mid-90s, there were also bottles of water to be had and gratefully consumed.

The people present came from various political persuasions, religious preferences, genders, ages and racial backgrounds. Nobody wore a suit.

Take a Walk Around the Block ...

... but beware of the flying Rottweiler.

Aack! And the screaming, naked monkeys!!!

This house must offer the best treats at Halloween,

but only if you are brave enough

to walk past the welcoming committee.

I prefer little, tiny birdhouses.

Field Trip: Takin' It To Church

I needed more information about one of the buildings I photographed a few weeks ago and made arrangements to visit the Indiana Landmarks Center library for research assistance. I was met by Suzanne Stanis, the Center's Director of Heritage Education and Information. After she helped me locate materials I needed for my project, Ms. Stanis very kindly showed me around the newly restored and renovated headquarters.

For many years, I'd passed by the old building as I traveled east on I-65 on my way to Ohio. It was in sad shape, but that did not hide it's unique design and character. When I visited for the first time on Thursday, I had no trouble locating it as the tips of it's golden spires literally gleamed in the sun. I was surprised to see how beautifully it had responded to its restoration.

A view of the Grand Hall, looking towards the south.

The Central Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was, for many years, home to the largest Methodist congregation in Indiana. Built in three stages in 1891, 1900 and 1922, in Romanesque Revival style, the result is to my eye not so much ornate as it is beautifully crafted. Using only the best materials, there was nothing about the building that wasn't well done. From its red brick and limestone exterior, to its stained glass and extensive woodwork and paneling, the building is an example of the best that man's hand can create. This appearance fitted with the congregation's social philosophy, which was deeply involved in efforts to improve the lives of people in the community. Among other things, members were responsible for the establishment of Methodist Hospital and Wheeler Rescue Mission.


Originally one of the city's first suburbs, the area now called Indianapolis' "Old North Side," itself fell victim to population shifts and the congregation merged with another and left the building. Despite the well-meaning efforts of other organizations, it became neglected and in danger of being destroyed. The Indiana Landmarks Foundation stepped in in 2010 and, with financial support from the Cook family of Bloomington, was able to restore and re-purpose the building at a cost of $10 million.

A section of the balcony railing

  

The "Old Centrum" organ, built in 1892
by Thomas Prentiss Sanborn, has been completely restored.

The pipe organ has been completely restored and will be rededicated with a concert in the Grand Hall on Saturday, September 18th at 3 p.m. Four organists will perform, accompanied by piano, trumpet, violin and choir.

Chandelier located in the center of the Grand Hall ceiling,

As pleased as she was with the Grand Hall and other sections of the building, Ms. Stanis especially wanted me to see the "Sunday School." As much as I enjoyed the restrained elegance of the Great Hall, I frankly wondered what could be special -- no, make that "more special" -- about a place for little kids to get their lessons.

Oh. Wow. 

Completely paneled in dark wood, yet light and airy, the circular room (actually, it's octagonal) has a small stage with a blue velvet curtain on its north side and is surrounded with two tiers of class rooms which look out onto the open central area. Now known as the Cook Theatre, the woodwork gives the room a feeling of warmth and intimacy.

The central light of the Sunday school area.

The open area of the Sunday School, surrounded by
two tiers of classrooms.

Both the Grand Hall and the Cook Theatre are available for special occasions such as weddings and banquets, as well as concerts and corporate seminars.

Theme Day: Perspective

Indy '500' Day May 2011

I suppose how one feels about anything, what one's perspective is, so to speak, depends on how it's first experienced. The above photo was taken just before the start of this year's Indianapolis 500-Mile Race looking south, down the front straight towards Turn One.


I first visited the track when I was about sixteen. When we entered the property through the main entrance on 16th Street, via the tunnel beneath Turns One and Two, I thought I was looking at the main straight. I was impressed with the massive stands and smooth expanse of asphalt. In fact, it was only the eighth-mile Short Chute between the turns; until that day, I hadn't seen anything larger than the half-mile oval at my local fairgrounds.

Speedway Turn One during the early morning, before the race.
The pavement just inside the green band of grass is the
warm-up/pit exit lane, while the third, wider band is,
essentially, Turn 11 of the road course used by motorcycles.

When I moved to Speedway over thirty years ago, one of the first places I visited was the track. It was a cold, snowy day. The gate at 16th Street and Georgetown was open, there was no one there to say otherwise, so I walked up into the Turn One grandstand. Even though it was covered in snow, I felt as though the track were alive, a breathing thing. Somewhere in the distance I heard an engine, growling and rumbling. It could have been an engine being worked on in Herb Porter's garage in Gasoline Alley or a motorcycle on the street, I don't know. I did know I'd found my home.

Outside IMS on Georgetown Road looking south.

The picture above is the way the place looks on most days of the year, a gray expanse of concrete and steel that harbors legends, has for a hundred years been the scene of dreams achieved and dashed to ashes, of astounding achievement and great tragedy. It is a place where men and women challenge themselves and each other, to have their likeness added to the Borg-Warner Trophy. It is more than the money, it is the honor of having one's name associated with so many great drivers.

A section of the SAFER Barrier. First installed at the
Speedway in 2002, it has since become the standard

The picture above shows a section of the SAFER barrier in Turn One. Developed by engineers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, under the sponsorship of the Indy Racing League, it was first installed in all four turns of the Speedway in 2002 and has since been installed on all tracks where the IRL and NASCAR compete. As of 2010, most tracks in the country over a mile in length have the SAFER barrier in place because its technology has proven to decrease the severity of driver injuries, absorbing and dispersing the kinetic energy from the crashes.

A spectator, maybe in his 30s,
but more likely about 3.

Last of all, I apologize for not having pictures of the cars. My camera is small, not powerful enough to catch cars at speed, so I rarely bother with them. In a few weeks though, I expect to add a lot more car porn to my posts -- for myself as well as anyone else who might care. But mostly for myself.


To view other photographers' interpretation of today's theme, click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

The Last Petunia ...

... Maybe. 

I'm not discounting the ones in planters, inserted purposely into specially prepared soil by landscape contractors. I'm just giving a shout out to this little volunteer, peeking from a fissure in the sidewalk. It's survived in spite of being so close to the drive, in danger of being squashed by a car or drowned by the rain in the gutter, or from very little rain at all.

And here is the creek near the Speedway. It bisects a grass-covered lot as large as some family farms. During race weekends, the lot becomes a camping area for RVs. A lot of people choose to park near the grove of trees lining the creek, finding shelter in their shade. I go there at least once a week to check for turtles sunning themselves on rocks, red-winged blackbirds or the occasional heron. I've marked the seasons with pictures taken of the creek and its trees. 

In the middle of the city, it's my little piece of wild.

TLC Needed

While walking along Massachusetts Avenue, one can see a lot of buildings, carefully and lovingly restored and repurposed. Unfortunately, this building has yet to find someone sufficiently inspired with both money and vision to give it a new life.

It is an old church which has stained glass windows

as well as a lot of decorative details to give it interest.

Flowers Everywhere!

One hot day last July, I left Roberts Photo on South Meridian and happened to look up at one of the buildings across the street. It was in the process of being restored and adapted for use as offices or condos. 


Good! 


The building's surface has been cleaned, it's red brick practically gleaming in the hot sun, bringing out the floral details of its cornices.


So far, I haven't been able to find much more information about it. I think in a previous life it had been the long-time location of a party novelty company which moved to another location many years back. The main business currently at the site is the Old Spaghetti Factory, located at 210 South Meridian Street. The building is among those located in the Warehouse District of Indianapolis, which began its existence in the mid-1800's as a place where shoppers could go to purchase goods previously available only out of state.

Cleaning has revealed details of the beautiful structure

The area thrived until the Great Depression, when businesses struggled and failed, leaving the buildings to become decrepit and dour. Since 1995, astounding results have revealed the beauty of many of the old buildings, giving them new lives as restaurants, hotels and condominiums 

210 South Meridian Street is the address for
 The Old Spaghetti Factory, it's main entrance under the OPEN sign.