Yesterday's Indianapolis

In this episode of Yesterday's Indianapolis, we speak to Dennis Bodgen, a former photographer for the city of Indianapolis, Dennis grew up on the westside, and after service in the Navy, became a photographer for the city, and was on scene of the November 5, 1973, Grant Building Fire documenting the event and the response of the Indianapolis Fire Department.

Cover image is the photo taken by Dennis of fire fighters engaging with the Grant Building Fire. This is one of many photos he took which are contained in the Indianapolis Mayoral Archives at the University of Indianapolis. This link will take you to photos of the fire which are contained in the archive, many of which were taken by Dennis Bogden: Institute for civic leadership and digital mayoral archives

Link to the photo of Dennis on the USS Saratoga with President Nixon: https://books.google.com/books?id=YVMEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA39#v=onepage&q&f=false

Blog Post About the Grant Building Fire: Indianapolis Fire Department and the 1973 Grant Fire: “The finest moment this department ever had.”

2025 Podcast about the Grant Building: https://rss.com/podcasts/yesterdaysindianapolis/2815298

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa

In 1866 the United States Congress passed the country's first Civil Rights Act, which in addition to establishing rights of citizenship, it also reinforced many basic rights for African Americans, including being able to provide testimony in court, and to sue a white person. In 1866, using this law, two men, Mumford Harris and William Nichols, challenged a policy of the Indianapolis streetcar company which banned African American men to ride inside the car. Instead, they were forced to stand on exterior platforms, no matter the weather. This podcast episode explores the trial of this case.

Class 900 Indy Blog Post: The Indianapolis Civil Rights Trial which Challenged the Street Railway Company

Information about the Civil Rights Act of 1866 can be found here.

Cover image is the headline from the Indianapolis Herald for its report on the Harris/Nichols trial on June 29, 1866.

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa

This episode of Yesterday's Indianapolis explores a bit about the extensive history of the interurban electric trains in Indianapolis, and explores a tragic accident which occurred on the Honey Bee interurban line just west of downtown Indianapolis in 1927.

Honey Bee Line Blog Post: Tragedy on the Honey Bee Line: The Sahara Grotto Interurban Crash of 1927

Another blog post covering interurbans in Indianapolis:

Tracking the Remains of the Indianapolis Northern Interurban Line

Fox 59 Discussion about Indianapolis Flooding History: https://youtu.be/LqK-htd6rRs?si=ZexeCNFk0u9_xwFf

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa

A plaque along Washington Street in downtown Indianapolis memorializes president-elect Abraham Lincoln's stop in the city while on his way to assume the presidency in February of 1861, on the eve of the Civil War. This podcast explores Lincoln's visit and speech, and the history behind how the plaque was established.

Close-up of the plaque on the side of the Claypool Hotel: Abraham Lincoln Plaque - Larry Foster - Indiana Historical Society Digital Images

If you zoom in on this 1955 image of the Claypool Hotel, you can see the plaque in its original location, between two windows of the Claypool Pharmacy and just above the passing streetcar: Claypool Hotel - Larry Foster - Indiana Historical Society Digital Images

News clipping about Marie Stewart: https://indystar.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news-marie-strwart/204439587/

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa

GenCon, the largest convention hosted by Indianapolis, recently ended its 2026 run. Indianapolis has a long history of hosting conventions as a "convention city" well before GenCon arrived on the scene. This episode of Yesterday's Indianapolis looks at this convention history, and how the city worked to attract new conventions with the construction of a dedicated convention center in the city.

Convention Center Grand Opening Flyer: Institute for civic leadership and digital mayoral archives

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa

Indianapolis has used various slogans over the years. The "Circle City" is perhaps the most prominent, while "The Pivot City" had its moment in the sun. The slogan "No Mean City" has a long history of being associated with Indianapolis, and continues to be used to promote the city today. In this podcast we will explore some of the history behind these three slogans, and take a more in depth look at the origins of "No Mean City."

'No Mean City' and Calvin Fletcher" Blog Post - https://www.class900indy.com/post/no-mean-city-and-calvin-fletcher

Pivot City Promotional Brochure: https://archive.org/details/pivotcity00indi/page/n11/mode/2up

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa

Pogue's Run has been a part of the history of Indianapolis since the city's founding over 200 years ago. Often known for its tendency to flood the eastside of the city, and for the excessive amounts of human and industrial waste once dumped into its waters, in June of 1882 it became known as the source of tragedy. This episode explores that tragedy and the general history of Pogue's Run.

Blog post with additional Pogue's Run History: And Then It Was Gone: The Vanishing of Pogue's Run

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa

Roselyn Bakeries was founded in Indianapolis in 1943 and over the course of the next several decades, became a local staple for baked goods with locations all around Indianapolis and the surrounding suburbs. However, in 1999, a brief closure of the chain due to unsanitary conditions at their production facility contributed to the company's eventual closure, and their transition to a wholesaler only model.

Roselyn Bakery Sign at Grant Fire: https://www.digitalindy.org/digital/collection/ffm/id/1461/rec/62

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa

The Union Depot consolidated passenger rail traffic in Indianapolis to one location. Opened in 1853, the depot served the city until 1888 when it was replaced by the present-day Union Station.

Union Depot Architectural Drawing: https://images.indianahistory.org/digital/collection/V0002/id/3969/rec/30

Union Depot as seen from the East: https://cdm15155.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/coll6/id/6695

Union Depot as seen from the West: https://images.indianahistory.org/digital/collection/dc012/id/11800/rec/8

Blog posts about other Indianapolis railroad depots:

• Pioneer Railways of the Circle City: The Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Depot on Mass Avenue
• Pioneer Railways of the Circle City: The Madison Indianapolis Railroad

Poor Farm Lecture Registration: https://attend.indypl.org/event/16102953

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa

Ron-D-Vu Blog Post: https://www.class900indy.com/post/meet-me-at-the-vu-the-history-of-the-ron-d-vu-drive-in-restaurant-in-butler-tarkington

History of the Marion County Poor Farm Lecture Preregistration: https://attend.indypl.org/event/16102953

Want to help offset the hosting costs for the blog and podcast? Leave a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/class900indyhistory.

Also, Venmo can be accessed here: https://venmo.com/u/ejfujawa