Walking in the Founders’ Footsteps Self-Guided Walking Tour

Missions Building (Private Residences)

Opened in 1910, the former Sarah Davis Deterding Missionary Training School (College of Missions) is the central red-brick building in this complex. A diverse group of prospective missionaries received instruction at the College from 1910-28 when the school moved to Hartford, CT and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) relocated its national and international headquarters to this site. Between 1946-58, the adjacent red brick buildings were added. After the headquarters moved to downtown Indianapolis in 1995, the buildings were converted into 72 senior citizen apartments.

Proceed south on Ohmer to University Avenue, then head west for one block to the northwest Corner of South Butler & East University Avenues.

Butler College Marker

Erected in 1967, the tablet on this boulder commemorates Butler University’s Irvington Campus, 1875-1928.

Main Building

If you were standing here in 1922, you would have been facing the massive three-story red brick Administration or Main Building (4).  The building faced east on what became Butler Avenue. Behind it, the campus stretched westward to Emerson Avenue and was bounded on the north by University Avenue.  It had two turreted wings and a central section crowned by a bell tower. In addition to the university’s administrative offices, the building contained eighteen classrooms, meeting rooms for the literary society and YMCA, and a third-floor chapel.  The building was razed in 1938 after the school had moved to the Fairview Campus.

Burgess Hall

Burgess Hall (5), the science building, stood just south of this spot.

Irwin Observatory

Irwin Observatory a few houses north. All three (4, 5, and 6) were razed in 1938 after the school had moved to the north side of town. Irwin Observatory was located a few houses north of this spot. The telescope from this observatory was purchased in 1889 by Joseph Irwin for $1,200 and could resolve some double stars and offer excellent displays of moon.  

The observatory was razed in 1938. The telescope from this observatory is still in use in the Holcomb Observatory on Butler’s Fairview Campus.

Proceed back along University Avenue to Ohmer Avenue. Turn south until you reach Campus Lane.

Irwin Field

If you were standing at this point in 1922, you would have been looking out over Irwin Field, the school’s athletic field, combining baseball, track and football in a single field.  Irwin field was used for community events such as the annual Pioneer vs. Veterans baseball game which raised funds for the Indianapolis News Fresh Air Fund.  “Abe Martin” creator, cartoonist Kin Hubbard created the cartoon on the cover.

Continue walking south on Ohmer to the corner of Ohmer and Downey Avenues.

Benton House

The house at 312 South Downey Avenue was originally built in 1872 by real estate speculator Nicholas Ohmer. The home was rented out for several years, before it was purchased by Dr. Allen Benton, Butler’s President for 1886-1891. In 1973 the home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This ten-room brick house has restored with fine woodwork and oak floors and furnished as a cultural, historical, social and civic center for community use.

Proceed north on Downey Avenue toward University Avenue, passing the homes of many of the professors who lived along the street.

322 East Ohmer Avenue (Private Residence)

Erected in 1898 for Oliver J. Grubb, this house combines the influences of the Shingle style with the nascent form of the American Four Square. Charles Cross, a prominent Irvington realtor and home builder lived here from 1913-31.

317 South Downey Avenue (Private Residence)

This Georgian Revival style house was built in 1904 by Will David Howe, professor of English Literature at Butler University.  In order to take a position at Indiana University, Howe sold the house soon after construction to Edward Kingsbury, owner of Dockwiler & Kingsbury, manufacturers of fertilizer.

303 S Downey Avenue (Private Residence)

This Craftsman and Tudor Revival style house was built in 1908 by Katherine Merrill Graydon, respected Catherine Merrill Professor and Chair of English Literature at Butler University.

304 S. Downey Avenue (Private Residence)

This Craftsman home was built in 1908 by Elijah Newton Johnson and was his home until his death in 1934.  Known as “Lijah,” “X,” and “Hirsute,” he was professor of Mathematics at Butler University and also served as the university’s treasurer from 1924-29.

270 S. Downey Avenue (Private Residence)

This Cross Gable Queen Anne style house was built around 1905.  It was the home of Wood Unger, assistant professor of English at Butler University, from 1923-26.

Stop at the corner of Downey & University Avenues.

5433 University Ave

In the early 1920s, a stunning Victorian Second Empire style house occupied the large lot on the south-east corner of Downey and University Avenues. Built in the 1870s by James Downey, the house was purchased by Edward and Mary Thompson of Edinburgh, IN so that they might be near their daughter Bona while she attended Butler University.  In 1903, the Thomas Hibben family resided here.  A daughter, Helene, began her career as a noted sculptor in a studio behind the main house.  She also started the Hibben School for Kindergartners on this site in 1917 and continued the school when she moved to her new home at 5237 East Pleasant Run Parkway, South Drive. The house was razed in 1927 and later replaced by multiple houses on the lot.

Proceed a short distance east along University Avenue.

5432 University Avenue (Private Residence)

The large house behind the white picket fence was built in 1889 by W. H. H. Graham, a Civil War veteran, attorney, and American Consul to Winnipeg, Canada.  In 1878 it became a Greek Chapter House in 1921 when the Mu Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority was  chartered at Butler.  D. C. Stephenson, the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, bought the house in 1923 and added the full height Ionic portico.  The house is closely linked with Stephenson’s activities and became infamous following his brutal assault on Madge Oberholtzer which led to her subsequent death.  After Stephenson went to prison in 1925, the newly organized Chi Rho Zeta Fraternity had their chapter house here followed by Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Gamma Chapter at Butler. 

Return to the Bona Thompson Center on the corner of University and Downey Avenues

Bona Thompson Memorial Library

This 1903 Neo-Classical Revival structure at 5350 East University Avenue was built with a $42,000 gift from Edward and Mary Thompson in memory of their daughter who died of Typhoid fever shortly after her 1897 graduation from Butler University. Serving as the University’s Library until 1928, it is the last remaining building from Butler’s Irvington campus. Renovated by the Irvington Historical Society, it serves as the Society’s headquarters and contains its collection of “Hoosier Group” and “Irvington Group” art.

The tour ends at the historical marker located to the left side of the main doors

“Amid racial and gender prejudice, seven Black teachers founded Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority in 1922 at Butler University, which was located here from 1875-1928. The sorority worked to increase opportunities for Black women pursing university degrees, first in education and later all majors. Sigma Gamma Rho grew quickly and, by 1925, hosted its first national convention.”

 “Sigma Gamma Rho incorporated nationally in 1929 and became part of the “Divine Nine,” a council of Black Greek Letter organizations. It advocated for civil rights and education beyond the classroom, including health and finance. Members supported youth in need and, by the 1970s, teenage mothers through project Reassurance. The sorority included 500 chapters by 2021.”