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Making up for Lost Time in the Neighborhood
Making Up for Lost Time in the Neighborhood
*Ed. Note: This is blog post is part of a series written by graduate students in the IUPUI Museum Studies Program. They have spent this semester surveying, documenting, and researching the collection of artworks and artifacts at the Madame Walker Theatre Center, for more info go here: /blog/mwtc-partners-with-iupui-museum-studies-class.
Today’s post is by Jake Sheff
I first heard of the Ransom Place Neighborhood when my parents moved there from Indianapolis’ northern suburbs after my brother and I had left for college. My parents explained that they wanted to be closer to downtown and in a neighborhood with charm. Ransom Place was not a name I was familiar with, but as a history major, my interests were piqued so I began to look into the story of the neighborhood.
I was surprised to discover that Ransom Place was once home to a thriving African-American community. Being a lifelong resident of the Indianapolis area, I assumed that I had a reasonably in-depth understanding of this city’s history and formation. However, I quickly realized that I had little knowledge of Indianapolis’ African-American history.
Ransom Place was once home to many influential businesses and people in Indianapolis’ African-American community. African-American owned businesses dotted the area, providing services to the neighborhood that would not otherwise have been available. Some residents of the neighborhood were professionals: teachers, lawyers, and businesspeople. Many residents were employed at the Madame C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, which was located near the neighborhood on Indiana Avenue.
Freeman B. Ransom, the namesake for the neighborhood, was a prominent lawyer, civil leader, and the general manager of the Walker Manufacturing Company. Today, Ransom Place and the Walker Theatre are the two most prominent physical reminders of this area’s storied history.
Of course, the expansion of the IUPUI campus dramatically altered the landscape of the area. Campus buildings, medical facilities, and parking lots replaced hundreds of single-family homes that once lined the streets of the near-Westside. However, the portion of Ransom Place that still stands looks somewhat similar to the neighborhood of the past.
In its current form, the Ransom Place neighborhood sits in a roughly six-square block area. St. Clair Street bounds the neighborhood to the south. To the north it is bounded by 10th street, to the east by West Street, and to the west by Paca (PAY-ka) Street. Although the houses may look similar to when they were built, the people living in them have changed.
After World War II, the Ransom Place area began to decline. Urban decay blighted the area, and the city took action. During the mid-20th century, the city demolished buildings and gave IUPUI more room to expand. Recently, the demographics of the neighborhood have also shifted. The neighborhood’s proximity to IUPUI, IU Health, and downtown has caused a revitalization of the area. What was once a predominantly African-American neighborhood is now home to students and professionals of all backgrounds. It was my hope that in this demographic shift, the history of the neighborhood is not lost.
Through being involved in researching the neighborhood’s history and helping to tell its story, I hope to bridge the gap between what the neighborhood once was and what it has become. Indiana Avenue’s days of a vibrant jazz scene are gone along with many legendary and historic buildings, but the neighborhood has become worth celebrating: A diverse place, lined with beautiful homes and filled with welcoming people -- many holding on to a deep connection to the past. I hope that when people look at what our class is doing, they see that we are working to celebrate what the neighborhood was yesterday and is today. By changing our perspectives we can write a fresh story of redemption.
To help us better understand the area and the people living in it, our class will host an open night at the Walker Theatre Museum titled “Indiana Avenue Collects.” This open night will occur on April 26th from 6:00-8:40pm. Residents who have objects related to Ransom Place, Indiana Ave., Madame C.J. Walker, or the community’s history are encouraged to bring those items with them. Our goal is to better understand the area through a close reading of the objects, and this is your chance to help. All are welcome, and bringing an object is not required for attendance. More info on this soon.
