CAPTIVATING QUARTERS Famed cartoonist’s home offers link to Irvington literary heritage by Barbara E. Cohen

rank McKinney Hubbard, went on to spend most of his career Fknown to all as “Kin” Hubbard, drawing cartoons for the News, published his first “Abe Martin” according to researcher Kerry cartoon 100 years ago, on Dec. 17, Hubartt of Ball State University. 1904, inaugurating a beloved charac- While covering the presidential ter whose folksy sayings appeared campaign of 1904, Hubbard began in the News and more developing the Abe Martin character. than 200 city newspapers across the Although Martin started as an urban country for decades. figure, by 1905 Hubbard had moved This month, special events him to Brown County and invented in the Irvington neighborhood of a host of additional personalities to

Indianapolis, where Hubbard lived offer opinions that weren’t likely courtesy oftheIndiana from 1909 to 1928, and in Brown to come from Martin.

County, the fictional home of Abe These characters appeared daily Barbara E. Cohen Martin, commemorate the artistry in the News and in a series of annual The Hubbard home today (above) is quite and folk wisdom embodied in the books featuring humorous stories, similar to its appearance in 1915 (right), Historical Society Hubbard caricatures. on the order of contemporaries though it is now surrounded by trees. Born in Bellefontaine, , Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) in 1868, Hubbard was the son of and Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar a newspaper editor. A disinterested Browne), also popular humorists. had become well known from student, he left school before finish- Around 1910, he signed a syndication coast to coast. ing the 7th grade, when he took a deal, and by the 1920s, Abe Martin The success of the Abe Martin Frank Hunter to build an Arts and job in a paint books, in addition to a regular Crafts-style cottage facing Pleasant shop. But in weekly salary of $35, allowed Run Parkway, according to Paul Photo courtesyoftheIndianaHistoricalSociety 1891, he joined Hubbard to purchase a lot in what Diebold, senior architectural the staff of the was suburban Irvington. There historian for the Department Indianapolis he built a house for his wife, of Natural Resources and author of News after a Josephine Jackson, and their “Greater Irvington: Architecture, friend showed children, Thomas and Jane. People and Places on the Indianapo- his drawings Hubbard selected local architect lis Eastside.” (continued on next page) to John H. Holliday, then the paper’s Abe Martin notable quips owner and edi- “We’d all like t’vote fer th’best man, but he’s never a candidate.” tor. Hubbard “Nobuddy ever fergits where he buried a hatchet.”

Kin Hubbard rests on the porch of his “When a fellow says, it hain’t the money but the Irvington home, principle o’ the thing, it’s th’ money.” circa 1915.

20 Unified Neighbors™ Indianapolis| December 2004 Call 317-297-LIST (5478) for the most up-to-date ratings 21 The home, still at the corner Emerson Avenue and East New BBB BASICS of New York Street and Emerson York Street. Now hidden behind Avenue, is now occupied by Pam trees at the top of a mound, the House, who teaches world geography house was originally surrounded Phony cashier’s checks at Arsenal Tech High School. She by lawn. are plaguing the city bought the residence in 1980 without While largely unchanged, knowing about its remarkable histo- especially on the outside, the home by Linda Carmody ry. “I had no idea that it was the now boasts new casement windows, home of Kin Hubbard,” she says. refinished wood floors and updated or months the BBB has warned Don’t do it. The cashier’s check is “I bought it because it reminded me plumbing and electrical systems — Indianapolis consumers about actually a skillful fake. Oftentimes of a house near Terre Haute where all thanks to its current owner. F overseas scams involving counterfeit these counterfeits look so realistic that I lived as a child.” “The house is a modest 30 feet cashier’s checks and stolen credit card even banks are fooled. They credit the Today the structure stands by 60 feet,” House explains. “It is numbers. The rip-offs come from all full $25,000 to your account, and you opposite Kin Hubbard Park, full of lots of small, comfortable over the world — Africa, Europe and keep your share, sending the remain- at the intersection of Pleasant spaces. One of the upstairs bed- especially Canada — and cause der to the overseas buyer. Weeks later, Run Parkway North Drive, rooms was probably originally a gullible folks to lose thousands of however, your bank receives word that bathroom, but the house appears dollars to overseas con artists. the check was a fake, so they notify to be much as it was.” It all begins you to repay the In 1928, Hubbard sold the home when a consumer entire $25,000. centenary and moved to 5437 N. Meridian St., runs an Internet ad You’ve already where he suffered a heart attack to sell a car, boat, ‘The rip-offs come sent most of it to events and died on Dec. 26, 1930. computer or almost Africa or Europe. In his tribute to Hubbard printed any other item. To from all over the Unfortunately, his surprise, a man you’re probably The local celebra- in The New York Times the following world — and cause tion begins 100 years day, Will Rogers compared Hubbard calls or e-mails obligated to repay from overseas, say- the rest. to the day of Abe Martin’s to Thomas Edison: ing he wants to buy gullible folks to lose Swindlers are first appearance in print. “To us folks that attempt to the item. He prom- pulling this trick The exhibit “Hoosier Wit and write a little humor his death is thousands of dollars to Wisdom: The Centennial of Kin ises to pay the ask- on thousands of just like Edison’s would be to the Hubbard and Abe Martin” opens on ing price plus the Americans every Dec. 17, 2004, at the Bona Thompson world of invention. No man in cost of shipping it overseas con artists.’ month. One man Memorial Center, according to Steve our generation was within a to his country. advertised a car Barnett, executive director of the mile of him,” Rogers wrote. Here’s an example: you’re selling for $17,500 and received $92,000 from Irvington Historical Society. “Just think — only two a car for $10,000. A buyer purchases Africa. He was left owing $74,500. The exhibit will feature paper artifacts and other Abe lines a day, yet he it and sends you a cashier’s check, The BBB offers a few tips to help Martin memorabilia, focusing especially on Hubbard’s expressed more origi- but it’s for $25,000 — much more than consumers avoid these traps. First, writing while living in Irvington, which was — and contin- nal philosophy in you requested. He could give any don’t assume that all cashier’s checks ues to be — the home of many artists and writers. ‘em than all the excuse for the extra money. Maybe are genuine. They aren’t. Furthermore, he’s setting up an account in the if someone overpays you for an item, Although Hubbard rarely visited Brown County, the area warmly rest of the paper ❖ , or his secretary sent don’t send any money until you’ve embraced Abe Martin and his fictional friends, proud of the rustic say- combined.” the wrong check. He asks if you can thoroughly verified the check. He may ings Hubbard attributed to the county’s native philosophers. Centenary activities have been underway all year in Brown County under the guise of deposit it in your account, keep your tell a tale tale about how honest he is, ❖ “Celebrating 100 Won’erful Years”— from a Tall Tale Tell-Off held in June in share and send him the difference. but beware. It could be a scam. Nashville, Ind., to skits and musical concerts held in the name of Abe Martin through this holiday season. Carmody is president of the Better Business Bureau, which has reports on thou- For up-to-date information on special events, visit the Brown County Convention sands of businesses. Check the BBB online at www.indianapolis.bbb. and Visitors Bureau’s website, www.browncounty.com, and click on “Abe’s Events.” org or call 317-488-2222. Complaints can be mailed to BBB, Victoria Centre, 22 East Washington St., #200, Indianapolis, 46204. This office serves Indianapolis and central Indiana.

Call 317-297-LIST (5478) for the most up-to-date ratings 23 22 Unified Neighbors™ Indianapolis| December 2004