Woodruff Place (Indianapolis, Indiana)

 neighborhood, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, draw only border, historic district

 Upload a photo

www.woodruffplace.com/news/index.html

Woodruff Place was laid out between 1872 and 1873 by James O. Woodruff. Woodruff designed his Place to be dominated by three boulevards which were bisected by Cross Drive with each intersection centered by a multi-tiered fountain. The wide, grassy esplanades were adorned with statuary and urns placed throughout the neighborhood. The ornamentation was made even more beautiful under the hushed canopy of mammoth, age-old trees. A quiet neighborhood, Woodruff Place was envisioned to be residential community set in a park-like setting, far from the maddening crowd.

Not many homes were built in the early days. Contributing to the slowdown was the Panic of 1873 which put strains on the economy. There was, however, much speculation in the early days with the buying and selling of lots. Often, a lot may have been sold 6 or 7 times before a house was ever built. By 1876, Woodruff Place had incorporated to become its own town. Slowly, the prominent families began to build homes: The Fortunes, Tests, The Steeles are among the notables. In fact, Colonel Eli Lilly coined the term "Woodruffian," based on his observation of the independent nature of the people who lived there. Sadly, James Woodruff died in NY in 1879 and never got to see the full result of his idea.

Around the late 1880's, Woodruff Place began to take hold. Most homes were built between 1898 - 1910. Today there are many architectural examples such as Queen Ann, Eastlake, Victorian, Edwardian, Classic, Colonial Revival, Bungalow & American Foursquare, among others. Most of the early homes were designed as single family homes, but by the early teens, there was more evidence of a rental market, as purpose built duplexes and small apartment buildings appeared.

The neighborhood remained residentially prominent until the gradual migration toward the Meridian Kessler area. During this period, Woodruff Place was negatively impacted by the automobile, WWI and the depression. It held it's own but suffered from the expanding industry and from the soot of the factory-ridden inner city. The affluence waned and now the original single family residences were being broken into smaller units, sometimes 8 to 10 apartments, by speculators marketing to the growing number of blue collar workers.

The inner city of Indianapolis declined economically as the mass exodus to the suburbs began to strengthen post WWII. From then until the 1960's, Woodruff Place descended to its lowest point as it became known as an inexpensive place to live near downtown that had big old mansions. You can almost hear the hippies crying "far out, man" in their realization this this old house is just too cool to pass up! The insult became complete in 1962, when after a lengthy battle with the city, Woodruff Place lost its incorporated status and was annexed under city jurisdiction. And the city didn't see a priority in maintaining the fountains and statues that had been part of the neighborhood for nearly 100 years. Urban decay was well under way.

But the youth and energy of the 60's fueled the quest for urban re-development. Slowly, a few saw the potential of the once-grand homes and began to move in. By the 1970's there were a group revitalized Woodruffians who began to uncover what lie beneath. In 1972, Woodruff Place was added to the National Register.


The 1980's and 90's have seen the beginning of the return to former times. During these years many individuals and families moved in to help the process of restoration and preservation. Real estate has escalated in value during the past several years. The new century has even seen bolder commitments such as the recent inclusion of Woodruff Place under the auspices of Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission. Woodruff Place is now a historically protected neighborhood as of September, 2001.

Today, Woodruff Place attracts a wide variety of people who seek a quiet residential area minutes from downtown Indianapolis. The Woodruff Place Civic League has a large membership that organizes annual fund-raising events like the Flea Market, Victorian Home Tour, White Trash Tour, 4th of July Parade and other social engagements such as the Senior Tea Afternoon and the Children's Halloween Party. And hats off to the legendary W.P. Lawn Chair Brigade, favorites at any local parade.

The Historic Woodruff Place Foundation, a registered 501c3 not-for-profit raises funds for the preservation of the neighborhood. In August of 2001, Woodruff Place was awarded $500,000 from the State Transportation Enhancement Fund to help restore the East Drive esplanades and fountains. As well, the Foundation spearheads property acquisition in the neighborhood and has purchased many homes (13 at last count). The Foundation targets "fixer uppers" then sells them with restrictive covenants that they be returned to the original purpose.

As much as Woodruff Place has improved physically, perhaps the most impressive feature is the sense of community which keeps the neighborhood tight. So don't be surprised when you see new home buyers fresh with enthusiasm, or homes are being restored, or kids climbing trees, or good ol' meet yer neighbors at Town Hall meetings to get the latest news; or just an evening stroll through the neighborhood. Collectively, Woodruff Place is a neighborhood where people with varied backgrounds come together to make it the Place to live. Be a Woodruffian!

Woodruff Place is marked by a variety of domestic architectural styles. Homes found along the four drives range from fifty to one hundred thirty years in age. The most significant homes in terms of architecture date from 1875 to c. 1917. The oldest surviving residence in Woodruff Place, the J. Francis Burt House, was constructed in 1875 and stands as an early example of Eastlake or Late Stick style. Favoring the Victorian styles, there are also many spectacular examples of Queen Anne style homes throughout the neighborhood. The Charles A. Layman House built in 1894 flaunts some very pleasing "gingerbread" from its main gable, as well as a tower over its southeast corner.