Happy 4th

Today I went with some of my family to my Uncle Tom’s property. This is the uncle who passed away yesterday morning, as documented last night.

Uncle Tom and some of his friends were already planning to meet for the holiday. So, we had a cookout. Mom and another uncle took the time to gather up photographs and other belongings for the funeral service this coming weekend.

That’s the house where Uncle Tom lived.

This is one of the views from his property.

On the way back home, I decided to stop and photograph this old church along State Road 1. It’s called Little Cedar Grove Baptist Church and dates back to before Indiana was admitted to the Union. In fact, it is the oldest church in all of Indiana.

Tonight I’m taking my nephew Jake and some others up to the roof of the building where I work, so that we can watch the fireworks shoot off the top of One Indiana Square. Should be a great show this year, as long as the rain stays away. I’m crossing my fingers.

Moving Work

This weekend my employer will be relocating its offices from above the Hard Rock Cafe in the Mirrison Opera Place to the Gauranty Building on the southwest corner of of Meridian Street and Monument Circle.

A fellow at work sent me a little email describing the history of the Gauranty Building that I’d like to share with you now.

The local architectural firm of Rubush and Hunter designed the Guaranty Building in 1922, with construction completed in 1923. The building’s design was born out of the height restriction controversy of 1921-1922. The 1920s was a decade of new commercial construction that transformed the downtown, particularly Monument Circle. A local ordinance of 1905 limited the height of buildings fronting the Circle to 86 feet or approximately seven stories in an attempt to protect the prominence of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. After much debate, an ordinance passed in 1922 permitting Circle-fronting buildings to rise to 108 feet and allowing for an additional 42 feet through a series of facade setbacks. Rubush and Hunter’s final design conforms to the 1922 ordinance; however, two earlier design proposals for the Guaranty in 1921 called for building twelve-story and seven-story heights. The Guaranty set the standards that decade for other near-identical Circle buildings constructed with Renaissance Revival styling, limestone facades, and nine-story height.

The Guaranty Building was built by William P. Jungclaus Company as an office building with retail use on the first two floors. Early tenants included Western Union Telegraph Company, numerous law offices, and insurance companies. Over the years the Guaranty has retained most of its original design and fabric. The sculpted bas-reliefs on the facade are the work of local Estonian-born sculptor Alexander Sangernebo. The curved limestone facade continues to underscore the importance of its location on Monument Circle.

Outside our windows is a spectacular view of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. I’ll be sure and post some photos when I get the chance, as well as shots of the outside of the building.

All Kuro5hin Entries Posted

I have finished posting all of my old diary entries from Kuro5hin. Here’s a list of the old articles.

• Deer!
• Oni
• It’s Been a While
• Ear Wax
• Recent Favorites
• Jake
• Poopy Pants
• Travelling
• Not a War Diary
• Jeebus
• Cut Off
• Llama Ding dong
• pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
• Wood
• Joke
• In Soviet Russia …
• Who Wants Sloppy Seconds?
• Jokes, Two
• You’ve Got Male
• Everyone Says I Love Me
• Save Ferris
• I’ve Lost My Virginity
• My So-Called Career
• Sperms of Endearment
• Lost in a Sea of Mountain Dew

Some posts have been slightly edited, primarily for grammatical reasons.

Retroactive Posts From Kuro5hin

I’ve been spending the past two hours posting all of my diary entries from Kuro5hin.

The vast majority of them were posted in April 2003 while I was working at Cummins in Columbus, Indiana. They come from a period in my life where I was sleeping rather well and had little stress, as I had probably the easiest job I have ever had.

I’m heading out for dinner with a friend, but I will finish posting them when I get home later.

Please enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed re-reading them.

The Grant Fire

I spent some time last night reading about the Grant Fire, which was a huge multi-building fire in downtown Indianapolis back in 1973.

The Grant Building was in the process of being demolished when a fire started consuming the entire structure. The fire spread to the neighboring buildings, completely gutting the Thomas Building, which was next door to the west and contained business offices. Several other buildings were affected by the blaze, including the former Lincoln Hotel and the Century Building.

In the end, it was a many multi-alarm situation, with a majority of the Indianapolis Fire Department on the scene dealing with all the fires.

There’s a great, lengthy article written by an IFD historian available, as well as a wonderful photographic archive.