Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood

Stolen Concert Release

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STEVEN STOLEN TO KICK OFF HISTORIC MERIDIAN PARK CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION WITH FREE
JUNE 4 CONCERT

Community recognized as one of the "Great Neighborhoods on the Rise" will also host home and garden tour July 8 and 9

(Indianapolis) -- Renowned tenor Steven Stolen will perform a free concert featuring popular music from the early 1900s on Sunday, June 4.

The concert, which is a collaboration between the Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood Association and Meridian Song Project, will take place at 7 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3248 N. Meridian St. The free, open-to-the-public event will serve as the kick-off for the neighborhood’s 2006 Centennial Celebration.

Stolen, the executive director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and founder and Resident Artist of Meridian Song Project, says his free performance will include turn-of-the-century, nostalgic tunes, music from the American theatre stage, a suite of Stephen Foster songs and other folksongs and hymns as a part of a celebration of Americana.

“It is an honor for me to be a part of my neighborhood’s Centennial plans,” Stolen said of his upcoming “Sunday in the Park with Steven” concert. “Historic Meridian Park is one of Indianapolis’ hidden jewels, and it’s a thrill to help shine the spotlight on this beautiful area.”

Stolen has performed as a soloist with many of the world’s great orchestras and conductors, and his singing has been called “extraordinary.” The former head of Butler University’s music department, Stolen is well-known in Indianapolis due to his work with a wide variety of performing groups and as a community volunteer and board member for organizations that include the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, Educational Advisory for Clowes Memorial Hall and Dance Kaleidoscope.

“To have a performer of Steven’s caliber help us commemorate this special time for our neighborhood, is tremendous. We are so grateful,” said Lorraine Phillips Vavul, president of the neighborhood association. “This free concert will be the perfect start to our celebration. We hope to see not just our next-door neighbors at this event, but also Steven’s many fans who may be less familiar with our neighborhood.”

Just over a month following the Stolen concert, Historic Meridian Park will open its doors to the community with the 2006 Centennial Tour of Homes, Gardens and Vintage Automobiles. Visitors will have the opportunity to see first-hand why the neighborhood was chosen as one of Indianapolis’ “Great Neighborhoods on the Rise” by Indianapolis Monthly magazine.

The tour, featuring eight homes, four gardens and several vintage automobiles, will run from noon to 5 p.m. on Sat., July 8 and Sun., July 9. The “centennial” theme recognizes many of the neighborhood’s homes built between 1906 and 1912 including the nationally-recognized “Tuckaway” home and the historic Huesmann Estate, both of which turned 100 this year. Live music and an outdoor café will create a festive, old-fashioned atmosphere on the near north side of Indianapolis.

On the National Register of Historic Places since 1990, Historic Meridian Park is a small neighborhood bounded by 30th St., 34th St., Pennsylvania St. and Washington Blvd. The area, one of the Circle City’s fist commuter suburbs, features some of the Midwest’s best examples of American Arts and Crafts architecture.

Centennial Tour tickets may be purchased in advance for $10 at Indianapolis-area Marsh Supermarkets and O’Malia’s Food Stores. They will also be sold before and after the Steven Stolen performance. On the days of the tour, tickets will be $13 at Trinity Church, the suggested starting point of the tour.

For more information about the Centennial Tour including a full list of ticket distribution sites, please visit www.historicmeridianpark.org or call 317.727.3301.

Centennial Release

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HISTORIC MERIDIAN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS
CENTENNIAL TOUR OF HOMES, GARDENS & VINTAGE AUTOMOBILES ON JULY 8TH & 9TH, 2006

“Homecoming” Barbeque Planned for Former Residents
on July 9th; Tour includes famous "Tuckaway" and Huesmann estate

(Indianapolis) Historic Meridian Park (HMP), one of Indianapolis pre-eminent early 20th century neighborhoods, celebrates its Centennial in 2006 with two public events. On June 4th, renowned tenor and HMP neighbor Steven Stolen will perform a musical compilation of early 1900s songs. “Sunday in the Park with Steven” -- is a free concert open to the public. It starts at 7pm at Trinity Church, 3243 N. Meridian Street.

On Sat., July 8 and Sun., July 9 from 12 noon to 5 p.m., Historic Meridian Park presents a “Centennial Tour of Homes, Gardens and Vintage Automobiles.” The tour features eight homes, four gardens and several vintage automobiles. The 2006 Centennial theme recognizes many homes built between 1906 and 1912. Three of the tour homes turn 100 this year including the nationally-recognized “Tuckaway” home, the Huesmann home built by architect Howard Van Doren Shaw for Indianapolis businessman and philanthropist Louis Huesmann and the Scott home. Also recognized is the importance of the automobile to the development of Historic Meridian Park, one of the Circle City’s first commuter suburbs.

“While the Neighborhood is best known for the abundance of its beautiful Arts & Crafts architecture, we are also featuring outstanding examples of Colonial Revival, American Four-Square and French Eclectic architectural styles,” said Tour Co-Chair Lee Ann Smith. Another important component of the Tour will be the display of vintage automobiles. “Our neighborhood grew as the people of Indianapolis began buying cars,” said HMP resident and vintage car buff Mark Webb. “When neighbors began research to put the neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Webb, “they learned that many of the early home owners were automobile executives. In light of this heritage, and the overall importance of automobiles to early suburban development, we have incorporated vintage automobiles into our neighborhood tours.” Several vintage automobiles owners have informally committed to display their car at the Tour, weather permitting, including several Model As and Model Ts, a 1931 Cadillac Limousine, and a 1906 Cadillac.

On July 9th, following the Tour, Trinity Episcopal Church will sponsor the Historic Meridian Park “Homecoming” Barbeque to welcome back former residents to the Neighborhood. “We want to encourage former residents to bring copies of old photographs of the neighborhood as well as their personal stories about life in Historic Meridian Park when they lived here,” said Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood Association President and Centennial Tour Co-Chair Lorraine Phillips Vavul.

Sitting within the Mapleton Fall Creek Neighborhood on the near northside of Indianapolis, Historic Meridian Park is bounded by Pennsylvania Street and Washington Boulevard from 30th to 34th Streets. The neighborhood was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Homes on the tour include: 3145 N. Washington Blvd., 3339 N. Washington Blvd., 3060 N. Delaware, 3043 N. Pennsylvania St., 3105 N. Pennsylvania St., 3128 N. Pennsylvania St. (Sunday only), 3148 N. Pennsylvania St ., and 119 E. 33rd Street. Additionally, the sanctuary of Trinity Church will be on tour.

Gardens on the tour include: 3171 N. Pennsylvania St., 3259 N. Pennsylvania, 3233 N. Pennsylvania St. and the Columbarium Garden of Trinity Church.

Advance tickets are available for $10 at Indianapolis-area Marsh Supermarkets and O’Malia’s Food Stores, Hamaker’s Pharmacy (4901 N. Pennsylvania), Hubbard & Cravens Coffee Company (4930 N. Pennsylvania & 6229 Carrollton Ave.) and Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corp. (130 E. 30th St.). On July 8th & 9th, tickets may be purchased on-site at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3243 N. Meridian St. for $13. Trinity Church is the suggested starting point for the tour.

Smith concluded, "In addition to the fabulous homes, beautiful gardens and vintage automobiles on display, we will feature live music from several groups and an outdoor café to create a festive, old-fashioned atmosphere during the Centennial Tour. We are striving to showcase Historic Meridian Park as the jewel it was at the turn of the century and the jewel it still is today."
The profits from the tour will benefit neighborhood beautification as well as ongoing neighborhood projects, according to Vavul. She added, “We’re very appreciative of our Centennial sponsor BLS Construction as well as silver sponsor Blice Edwards Studios, for their generous support of our tour and neighborhood.”

Those interested in more information about the tour or for a full list of locations selling tickets, please visit Historic Meridian Park’s Website at http://www.historicmeridianpark.org or call 317.931.9236.