Franklin Township Historical Society - Wanamaker, Acton, Indianapolis, Indiana

Remembrances - Pentecost Home

By Sylvia Henricks
First printed in the Franklin Township Informer, November 20, 2009

That this beautiful turn-of-the century photograph, so full of people, had a story, I felt certain, but I had trouble finding it. On the back of the photo is written "Pentecost Home - New Bethel." In smaller print is writing I recognize as Velma Ruede's. "South West Corner of Southeastern and Northeastern. Location now a filling station. House was moved to 8803 Harrison St., now owned by Steve Zappia."

The Pentecost name was familiar to me, for William B. Pentecost is one of the property holders listed on the Society's 1889 Franklin Township map. He had 80 acres in the northeast part of the township on what is now Pentecost Road. One of the district schools was nearby on Senour Road, Pentecost School. His name was not listed in the Franklin Township section of Sulgrove's History of Indianapolis and Marion County (1884).

And then I remembered our "House Book" (its correct title is The History of Franklin Township, Marion County, Area Old Houses (1982). The house was not listed on Southeastern Avenue, but it was shown and described on the page for Harrison Street. "This house originally stood at the site of the Standard Station at the corner of Northeastern and Southeastern Avenue. It is believed to have been built in the late 1800s by William B. Pentecost, who was trustee of Franklin Township in 1887. He and his wife Jane celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary here in 1908. . . In 1923 the Wanamaker State Bank, after a fire in their building, continued business in the front room of this house until their new building was erected..." (Other owners and renters are listed.) "It was bought by E.A. Hicks, who operated the feed store and elevator behind it, and moved to its present location when Standard Oil Co. bought the lot on which it stood. Steve Zappia bought it from Elmer Allen in 1978." (Thank you, Velma, for your research and recording of township history. I was honored to be Velma's photographer for the book.)

The above photo was taken by a nameless but skilled photographer, whose idea it might have been to have all the people squeezed inside the picket fence, but whose faces can all be seen. The house looks new, with its elaborate scrollwork at the peaks of the gabled roofs and its fish-scale siding under the eaves. Almost every family in the township must have had a representative in attendance at this happy occasion. Logan's Auto Service now occupies the site.