Holliday Park History

 The Pergola at Holliday Park

The Pergola, designed by Alexander Holliday, is the only remaining structure in the park that was here during the Holliday’s time.

Holliday Park Nature Center

 The history of Holliday Park is deeply rooted in Holliday Park, but there is no evidence of any its unique landscape, the bounty of its flora and permanent settlements in the immediate area. fauna and the people that graced it with their The tribes also probably used the abundant lives, their families and their efforts. During seep springs as a source of fresh water. the time that Native Americans roamed the The state of Indiana was admitted to the Union land that would one day be central Indiana, it in 1816, opening up the Northwest Territory was covered with a vast forest of great trees. to settlers. In 1818 Governor William Henry A beech-maple forest spread across the area Harrison signed the Treaty of Saint Mary’s with that would eventually be Holliday Park and the Delaware and Miami Indians. By this treaty much of the early settlement that was to be the tribes ceded the land in the eastern half of Indianapolis. Tulip trees, some 200 feet tall, the state from the Ohio River to the Wabash grew on the higher ground and sycamores to the state of Indiana. The land, known as flourished on the banks of the rivers. The “the New Purchase,” was to be occupied by trees and brush provided dense shade and the Indians until 1821, but the settlers began the ground was covered with a deep mulch of arriving as early as 1819. Indianapolis was leaves. In the springtime, when light reached selected as the state capital in 1821, and within the forest floor, great masses of wild flowers a few years the dense forest was transformed appeared. into a small but busy community.

Animal life was plentiful in the White River Among the settlers was Jeremiah Johnson, who Valley. Waterfowl, fish, small mammals and arrived from Kentucky with three of his sons— songbirds thrived along the river, and wolves, Jeremiah Jr., Samuel and John Johnson—in the elk and deer in the forests. Because of the early spring of 1821. Although this family first plentiful game and abundant freshwater fish, located about two miles north of downtown, Native Americans used the land as migratory Jeremiah Jr. and Samuel later moved farther hunting grounds. The Miami and Delaware north and were the first to own the specific tribes hunted in the vicinity of what is now acreage that makes up Holliday Park. They

 knew the area because of trips they took to Jeremiah Jr. and Samuel Johnson obtained the Seth Bacon’s gristmill. original patent, or deed, for the land that is now Holliday Park from the government on April 24, The Johnson family was the subject of an 1823. Samuel died shortly after obtaining the account of pioneer life in early Indianapolis deed and the land passed to Jeremiah, who then kept by Oliver Johnson, grandson of Jeremiah sold it to Samuel’s son John Johnson in 1827. Sr., and published by his own son, Howard John farmed the land until 1842, when he sold Johnson, in A Home In the Woods. The book it to Augustus Keeler. His son Ira Keeler took relates how the 18-year-old Oliver and a possession of the land after two years, until his younger brother were sent from John Johnson’s death in 1855. Because Ira died intestate, his homestead near what is now 38th and brothers and sisters and all of their heirs were Meridian streets to the gristmill to have corn entitled to a share in the estate. Ira’s brother, ground to meal. Finding most of the nearby Foster Keeler, bought the other heirs’ interests mills engaged, they rode their horses from and continued to farm the property. He what is now 38th Street and Fall Creek (near eventually sold the farm to William Bradley for the current fairgrounds) to Spring Mill (Seth $2,000 in 1859. William sold it in 1887 to his Bacon’s Mill). This mill was located at the top son, John Bradley, who sold it to John Holliday of Crow’s Nest Hill on the west side of Mill in 1892. Road, just south of what is now Holliday Park. The gristmill, which had an overshot wheel, used the old spring that flowed out of the hills. John Hampden Holliday Remnants of the mill site and a millpond are still present on property at the west side of John Hampden Holliday—newspaperman, Spring Mill Road. financier, philanthropist and civic leader— was born May 31, 1846, and grew up in the John Krise, who owned most of the land young city of Indianapolis. His grandfather, directly south of the park, ran a similar mill Samuel Holliday, had settled in Indiana in from 1840 to 1860. This larger and more 1816 before the territory became a state and elaborate mill, located on the east side of served as associate judge of the Madison Spring Mill Road at the bottom of the hill near County Circuit Court. After studying at Miami the river, was also known as Spring Mill, or University of Ohio and Princeton Theological Krise’s Mill. Although the natural springs that Seminary, John’s father, the Reverend William once flourished in the area have diminished A. Holliday, came to Indianapolis in 1833 to with the development of the land, there are still serve as pastor of First Presbyterian Church. small geologic seeps in the park to remind us of He later left Indianapolis and joined the faculty the importance of this land’s past resources. of Hanover College.

 John Hampden Holliday Evaline Holliday

John and his three siblings spent their west of Pittsburgh. During the ensuing 23 childhood in the 1850s enjoying both urban years, the newspaper grew from a circulation and country life in what was by then a small of 1,200 to 25,000 readers. Holliday intended city. The woods that surrounded the city his newspaper to be a family paper attractive provided squirrels, rabbits and birds to hunt to women as well as men. In the beginning he and nuts, berries and pawpaws to collect. In established policies for the paper that included: summer the boys swam and fished in the rivers making circulation numbers available to all and canals, and in the winter they sought out advertisers, refusing to print advertisements ponds on which to slide and skate. as editorial matter, and excluding all Holliday lived in Indianapolis all his life. His advertisements with objectionable content. college years were spent at Northwestern The paper was well written and well edited, Christian University (now Butler) and at and through its editorials the newspaper took a Hanover College, graduating in 1864. Then stand on many causes, including support of the 18 years old, he enlisted in the 137th Indiana adoption of the city charter and the formation Volunteer Infantry shortly before graduation of the Chamber of Commerce. It opposed the and served his 100-day enlistment. After he loan of public money for the construction of was discharged, he attempted to re-enlist the Belt Railroad. It supported sound money in the 70th Infantry but was rejected by the and home rule and opposed the third term for medical examiner. the presidency. The paper was independent of political parties, unusual for a paper of that He turned to journalism as a career and in period. 1869, when he was 23 years old, he established the Indianapolis News, functioning initially In 1909 the federal government filed a as owner, editor and business manager. It was libel suit—related to Theodore Roosevelt’s one of the first two-cents evening newspapers involvement in dealings concerning the

 Panama Canal—against the paper. Although Indianapolis Charity Organizations Society for the trial was scheduled for Washington, the 24 years and as a member of the State Board lawyers insisted that it be tried in Indianapolis, of Charities. He formed the Immigrant Aid where the libel was alleged to have occurred. Association and the Foreign House in an effort The judge’s ruling in favor of the newspaper to improve living conditions for immigrants stands as an early victory for freedom of the and to give them a place where they could press. attend language classes.

John Holliday waged war on corruption during He was active in many civic groups: president the years that he owned the News. An advocate of the Board of Trade, a member of the of good government, he worked for the people Commercial Club (forerunner of the Chamber as a whole and not for any faction or individual. of Commerce), president of the Public Welfare Ill health forced him to sell the newspaper Loan Association, and a member of the in 1892, but after his recovery a year later, University Club, the Indianapolis Literary Holliday and a group of friends founded the Club, the Sons of the American Revolution Union Trust Co, where he served as president. and the Grand Army of the Republic. He was In 1899 his love of journalism led him to one of seven charter members of the local establish the short-lived Indianapolis Press. chapter of the American Red Cross, and during In 1901 this paper merged with the News and World War I he was its treasurer. He was Holliday returned to the Union Trust, where he instrumental in the creation of the Juvenile continued for the remaining 26 years of his life, Court. His long experience with the Charity first as president and later as chairman of the Organizations Society had acquainted him with board. (Union Trust eventually merged with the needs of the children of the poor, and he Indiana National Bank) promoted legislation to help the court in its work for child welfare. John Holliday had met Evaline Rieman in 1874 while vacationing at White Sulfur Springs, He served as president of the board of trustees Virginia. She was the daughter of Alexander of Hanover College and was a member of the Rieman, a prominent Baltimore merchant. board of McCormick Theological Seminary and They married in 1875 and together they built a ruling elder of First Presbyterian Church. a life for their seven children at their home at Evaline Holliday was a loving mother to their 1121 North Meridian Street. seven children, but also was busy with church Concerned for the poor and their children, and civic affairs. She was a member of the John Holliday was involved with most of Indianapolis Woman’s Club, president of the the charities in the city. His philanthropic Indianapolis Free Kindergarten Society, and a activities included serving as president of the member of the DAR and the Indiana Society of

 Colonial Dames. She was instrumental in the trees and a circular drive approached the front founding of the Society of Indiana Pioneers. She of the house. They planted arborvitae, copper was an honorary member of the board of that beeches, a blue spruce and a ginkgo tree and organization and of the board of the Children’s developed a rose garden near the circular drive. Guardian Home and a director of The Teacher’s Their son, Alexander, an amateur landscaper, College of Indianapolis. Both she and John designed a tennis court and formal garden were so busy that she once told her children backed by a pergola and a hedge of Siberian that she looked forward to the Wednesday arborvitae. The pergola and the arborvitae hedge evening prayer meeting at First Presbyterian remain today at the entrance to the nature Church because she had her husband all to center. There were horses, a pony and cart, and herself as they walked to church. a log cabin that was used as a playhouse for the children. They played tennis and croquet. Still, Although both were involved in civic, church the woods were their primary playground, and and social activities, they spent time with their the sandy spring was the site of dams and forts. children. John was an avid reader, and he liked to tell the children stories from the books he The country house was situated on a hill read. He was an excellent storyteller, making overlooking the White River. They called the events in history and fiction exciting for them. house Reka Dom, River House in Russian, after He radiated a love of life, making the children a house in a story by Juliana Ewing that Evaline laugh, and his hearty laugh joined with theirs. had read to the children. They lived in their He sang hymns in a beautiful tenor voice, and country house five months of the year, from May music was part of their lives. to September, entertaining friends and family throughout the summer and particularly on In 1892, while he was recovering from his the Fourth of July. A granddaughter, Elizabeth illness, John Holliday bought John Bradley’s Hitz, recalled one of these annual parties in the 80-acre farm. At the time, the property Indianapolis News in 1969. She remembered included a farm, woodlands with ravines her excitement at seeing the carriages driving leading down to the White River, a number up to the porch on the morning of the Fourth of springs, a brook and a short stretch of with whole families arriving for the celebration. riverbank. Even though this land had been Noon dinner, including platters of fried chicken, farmed for 70 years, it provided a beautiful was served on the porch of the farmhouse. The place for the children to play, swim and enjoy afternoon was spent relaxing or enjoying a game the freedom of the outdoors, just as Holliday of cards or tennis. The boys set off firecrackers had done when he was a boy. or explored the woods. After a light supper The Hollidays built a 23-room frame house and when darkness fell, there were elaborate with porches facing the river. A lane of chestnut fireworks.

 Reka Dom — the Holliday residence

In 1916 at the centennial celebration of Indiana of the donation were that the city would take statehood, the Hollidays donated their beautiful possession of the land three years after the country estate to the city of Indianapolis. At the death of the surviving spouse, that a plaque time it was given to the city, the land comprised would be erected with the names of the donors 80 acres on Mill Creek Road (now Spring Mill engraved thereon and that the property would Road) in a section of beautiful country homes. be used for recreation and the study of nature. In addition to the springs and natural forest, In 1921, shortly after a walk in his woods, the property had a garden of flowers, fruits and John Holiday had a stroke; he died one week roses around the house and a grotto. There was later at his country house. At his death he was a farm, maintained by a farmer that produced eulogized by most of the civic and business fruits and vegetables for the family. leaders of the city and state, as well as by John Holliday’s words at that celebration Thomas R. Marshall, former vice president tell us much about the man: “I believe that of the United States. One of the most moving a responsibility of his community rests upon tributes to him was made by the foreign-born every citizen. If he has prospered through the residents who gathered at the “Foreigners’ growth and business activity of the place, he House” to sign a resolution in their native ought to do something to make it better than languages (Greek, Serbian, Rumanian, and he found it.” Bulgarian):

In donating the estate to the city Holliday “The men and women of foreign birth residing expressed his belief that “the land is singularly in the city of Indianapolis have lost their suited to be a place for recreation and the study best friend. He organized the Immigrants of nature and the grounds should be used as a Aid Society and through this organization public park and a playground.” The conditions he and his associates blazed the way for

 “I believe that a responsibility of his community rests upon every citizen. If he has prospered through the growth and business activity of the place, he ought to do something to make it better than he found it.”

John Holliday, 1916 real Americanization. Thousands of aliens, to create small ponds that were stocked with young and old, men and women have been trout and bluegill. The workers built a picnic beneficiaries of the good work done by this shelter along one of the paths near 64th Street organization.” and brought in boulders to construct the path down the ravine, creating what is now the rock Holliday’s sons, Alexander and John Jr., garden. graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. John Jr. died of pneumonia The person chosen to develop the park was during the influenza epidemic that occurred Willard Nelson Clute. Trained as a botanist during World War I. He had been in the and with experience as a curator at several Army just one month and was stationed in botanic gardens, he envisioned the park as one Washington, D.C. The five Holliday daughters of the largest and finest botanical gardens in graduated from Bryn Mawr College. Evaline the country. Clute was an instructor at Butler died in 1929 at her home on Meridian Street, University from 1938 to 1941 and curator and in 1932 the Holliday estate was turned of the herbarium there at the time of this over to the city. appointment. He had no formal academic degree but had experience as an assistant curator of botany at both Columbia University The Botanical Garden and The Arboretum and the New York Botanical Gardens. He In the next few years after the city took taught high school biology in Chicago and possession of the property, two events affected Joliet, Illinois, before coming to Indianapolis. the park and its landscape. One was the His particular interest was ferns and fern presence of the Works Progress Administration allies, and he published several guides to this (WPA) and the other was the appointment of group of plants. He was a founding member of Willard Clute as director of the park. the American Fern Society as well as a member of many other scientific societies, and he also Workers employed by the WPA, an founded the periodicals Plant World, The employment relief and economic stimulation Bryologist and The Fern Bulletin. He wrote 19 program of the Roosevelt Administration, books on various topics in botany, including cleared the underbrush and fallen trees in the a number of high school biology manuals and park. Their bulldozers rearranged the terrain books and essays for the general public on and destroyed many native plants in the park. botanical subjects. However, they also constructed paths and roads in the woodlands. Several small streams In developing the botanical gardens at Holliday that flowed down the ravines were dammed Park, Clute bought, borrowed and swapped in

 his efforts to build up a collection of rare and the planting of beds of common garden plants, exotic plants, which he then distributed along which he felt were inappropriate in a botanical the trails and walks. He designed herbaceous garden. When, in 1941, the Parks Department gardens at the entrance to the park with 86 wanted to plant beds of zinnias, he resigned. varieties of peonies, and he planted a similar While most of his herbaceous gardens have number of varieties of iris near a shallow disappeared, many of the trees planted in the pool. Woody perennials were arranged in arboretum still exist. The Japanese lilacs are phylogenetic order, from the most primitive large and showy trees, and many of the wild plants to the more highly adapted plants. There species that Clute collected still grow in the were more varieties of maples in the park than woodland. existed in any other park in the country. There was a Japanese “red” maple, rare at the time, After Willard Clute left, a series of park and an unusual Japanese lilac. In a sandy area managers were appointed. Most were high in the southeast section of the park, he planted school botany or biology teachers who worked a cactus garden with 43 kinds of cactus and part-time during the school year and full-time many exotics. The construction and collection in the summer. In 1941 Scott McCoy, a botany of plants took eight years to complete, and the teacher at Arsenal Technical High School, was gardens were finally opened to the public in hired to work at the park during the summer 1940. developing and maintaining the flowerbeds. McCoy was an Indiana farm boy who spent one Clute’s insistence that the botanical garden year at Indiana University (1916) before serving should be limited to rare and exotic plants led in the Navy in World War I. After the war he to a dispute with the Parks Department over did not return to college, but was employed

10 by Indiana Bell and, later, at the Indianapolis worked as a forester, planting native trees at Morris Plan. His interest in natural history Eagle Creek Reservoir, which at that time was led him to the Nature Study Club and the not a city park. Indiana Academy of Science in 1928. Eventually After McCoy, there were irregular he returned to college, enrolling in Butler appointments to the position of director or University in 1934. He received a bachelor of park naturalist. The individuals appointed science degree in 1937 and a master’s degree had varied qualifications and interests, and in 1938. He began teaching botany at Arsenal most stayed only a few years. Chester Long, Technical High School in 1937 and he taught who followed McCoy, continued writing the there for 30 years. During his tenure, he columns in the Star and kept the gardens up developed a nature preserve and botanical in the summer. In 1947 a tornado destroyed gardens at the high school, and he published many trees in the park, including some that the a number of papers on ecological surveys of Hollidays had planted around their home. several large tracts of land in Indiana. He was a close friend of a number of local naturalists, Sidney Eaton, who served the park in the including Charles Deem, a famous naturalist 1950s, taught at Broad Ripple High School, who wrote the first book on the trees of Indiana. and was a lecturer in zoology at Butler These associations led to McCoy’s interest University from 1936 to 1951. A naturalist in native plants, and he took on the job of for 30 years, he had been chief naturalist for increasing the number of native plant species the Indiana State Parks and a lecturer for the in the arboretum. He also popularized the State Conservation Department. By this time, park in his column “Happenings at Holliday the Holliday home had been converted into a Park,” which he regularly contributed to the botanic library and museum of natural history, Indianapolis Star. which was used by school children, local garden clubs and community organizations. One of McCoy’s lasting legacies is the number Eaton gave lectures on plants, animals, birds of native plant specimens in the park. He and wildlife during his tenure at Holliday Park, actively planted these specimens in the upper and the park had exhibits of cultivated flowers gardens and along the wooded ravines of the during the summer. park, adding diversity to the original plants that grew there. He resigned in 1947 because of In 1952 Walter Holt was appointed as year- differences with the director of the city parks, round supervisor of the park. A neighbor Paul V. Brown, who wanted to allow boys to and friend of Willard Clute, he was a retired use the park for camping. McCoy believed that insurance executive whose only qualification the arboretum should be protected and that was that he was an amateur gardener it should not become a playground. He later specializing in roses. His main contribution to

11 the park was improvements to the picnic area. meeting facilities for garden clubs and nature study groups and served as a senior citizens’ Also in 1952, the Indianapolis Parks center. Department offered the Indianapolis Art League (now Indianapolis Art Center) the use In 1958 a new development would bring a of the Holliday House for classes, workshops fresh emphasis to the park. It began hundreds and art lectures. The house was also used to of miles away in New York City at the St. Paul exhibit the members’ works. One of the Art Building at 220 Broadway. On the façade of League instructors was Elmer Taflinger. the building, which was owned by the Western Electric Company, were three massive statues made of Indiana limestone. They had been The Ruins created by the well-known architectural sculptor Karl Bitter who had designed part of Throughout the 1940s and into the 1950s, the façade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Holliday Park was maintained as a botanical and the bronze doors to Trinity Church in New garden and arboretum. It contained the largest York City. Indianapolis already had several collection of plants between Philadelphia and sculptures by Bitter, two Herron Art Museum St. Louis. It had formal gardens, reflecting plaques and the DePew Fountain in University pools, five spring-fed ponds in the woods (one Park executed by A. Sterling Calder. was stocked with trout), a boulder garden, picnic area and more than three miles of Since Western Electric planned to build a new marked trails and paths. However, the park skyscraper at the site, the company wanted was not heavily used. It was at this time that to find a new home for the sculptures, which the common names were added to the labels on were referred to as “the Races of Mankind.” the plants and trees. Indianapolis, among a number of other cities and universities that had presented plans for Gradually, during the 1950s, the park ceased use of the statues, was awarded the highly to be maintained as a botanical garden. The prized sculptures, which were valued at about Holliday House was used by the Art League $150,000. In the description of plans for until it was destroyed by fire in 1955. The the statues, the Parks Department, with the library and all the botanical records were approval of Mayor Phillip Bayt, requested lost, as well as the Art League’s supplies and the facing stone, the doorways and the ledge paintings then on exhibit in the house. In 1960 supported by the figures. They also planned a new Holliday House, a contemporary flat- to restore the original base and columns. roofed building, replaced it. The new building The statues were to be placed east of the new contained a 35 by 50 foot meeting room, community center that was under construction library, office and small kitchen and provided at that time. A reflecting pool would be

12 The Races of Man in the park

League for six years, and from 1914 to 1922 he was art director and stage manager for the Broadway producer David Belasco, designing costumes and sets for Belasco’s New York productions. For a time, sponsored by Belasco, he traveled between Florence and New York, studying in both cities. Returning to Facade of St. Paul Building with The Races of Man Indianapolis in 1928, he joined the printmakers George J. and Gordon B. Mess in their studio located between the building and the statues, and taught at the Circle Art Academy. In 1934 and two geysers of water would rise from it. he established his own studio at 158 East 14th Indianapolis artist Elmer Taflinger submitted Street, where he taught life drawing classes. drawings of the site, and the city estimated that He taught at the Indianapolis Art League it would spend $25,000 on the installation. until 1965. Taflinger illustrated a textbook on The description of plans stated that funds classical anatomy by George Bridgeman, but he were available for the erection of the structure worked primarily on frescos and murals. One of and that Taflinger would supervise the entire his murals, done in 1968, was at Manual High installation. School. He had many interests besides art, including mathematics, photography, history, Elmer Taflinger became the driving force in the architecture, electricity and engineering. development of what came to be known as “the Ruins.” Taflinger was a native of Indianapolis When Taflinger conceived a work, it was always (1891–1981) and a graduate of Manual massive in scale. In 1959, having been asked to Training High School, where he had been a help with decorations for the Beaux Arts Ball, student of Otto Stark and George Bridgeman. he painted a mural symbolizing the conflict During his high school years he also worked of traditional and modern art that was 78 feet as a stagehand at the Murat Theatre and the long and 21 feet high. It was shown for only one English Opera House, then on Monument night and remained rolled up in his studio for Circle. He attended the New York Art Students many years.

13 Incomplete Constitutional Mall about 1977

Taflinger was vocal, and often contentious, During the next few years, as older buildings about the arts in Indianapolis throughout in Indianapolis were demolished and pieces his later life. In one case, he argued that worthy of salvaging became available, they were the commission for the design of Indiana’s incorporated into the design. Thus, a horse contribution to the Chicago World’s Fair trough formerly located at the base of a historic should have been awarded to a Hoosier artist monument in Fountain Square is found today rather than to Thomas Hart Benton. His most in the reflecting pool west of the statues. prolonged campaign, over 20 years, was for the Taflinger redesigned the pool also, adding 26 appropriation of funds that would allow him Greek columns, remnants from the demolition to carry out his ever-expanding design for the of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Convent. Ruins. The original, rather simple and classical These were purchased by the Indianapolis design, called for the statues to be positioned Star and donated to the project. They were on the reconstructed façade of the building and installed around the reflecting pool and topped included a reflecting pool with a fountain. At with urns filled with plants. A wrought iron one point in the negotiations, Taflinger wanted fence surrounded the pool and the area was to have jets of water spray out “V” for victory landscaped. Still later, Taflinger obtained four and “Peace” in Morse code every 40 minutes. of the eight statues of Greek goddesses that That feature was soon cut from the proposal for had stood for many years above the façade of lack of funds. the Marion County Courthouse. These were

14 Map of the Holliday Park Ruins and Constitutional Mall - 1978 As designed by Elmer Tafflinger

A “Adam” Tree Faces east to the dawn of the future B “Eve” Tree To Left of Adam, thus closer to his heart C 9 Stones Members of the Holliday Family

HOLLIDAY D The Religion Tree HOUSE Also the Living Christmas Tree E 6 Trees Six territories of the “Old West” Y F Peach Tree, Punch RUINS G Pear Tree, Perseverance

Y H Plum Tree, Patience I 12 Yuccas, with Religion Tree, represent “13 Creeds” in New York City in 1789 J Tulip Tree State tree of Indiana K 13 Trees 13 little colonies growing into 13 big states L Statue looks to Africa M Department of Parks and Recreation Tree N Statue looks to Asia O Statue looks to Europe P Indianapolis Tree Q Statue of Justice to all races

R Grass Stage, St. Paul Church Altar S 3 Stones Three branches of government: FOUNTAINS Legislative, Executive, Judicial Twin Jets of Water: The Spirit of American man and woman reaching far beyond the stars. Intersecting Jets: The life force of the races of man mingling T 50 State Trees Laid out in paths of western expansion of 26 COLUMNS the Union From the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Convent. Five represent continents, 20 the world’s major islands and the 26th marks man’s leap from earth to moon U Grass Stage, St. Paul Chapel SCULPTURE GROUP V 19th Tree, Indiana Tree From the entrance of the St. Paul Building (left to right: African, Caucasian, Asian) A trinity laboring in unity W Dedicatory Stones THREE STONE COLUMNS X Washington, D.C. Tree Also from the St. Paul Building. The source of Man’s life giving water Y Reflecting Pools POOLS East reflecting pool: The New World Pool West inner pool: The Common Pool of Mankind 15 Taflinger Medallion in the Ruins positioned on either side of the Ruins. Only columnar oak, which also served as a sundial, two remain in 2007, the result of weather, time was planted at the eastern edge of the mall to and vandalism. Two capitals from columns represent Washington, D.C. or the Washington originally at Broadway Christian Church and Monument. Giant slabs of rough Indiana a stone table once part of an altar at St. Paul’s limestone were inscribed with the first few Church were later included. words from the Preamble to the Constitution:

In 1970, twelve years after the project had been “We the people of the United States in order to initiated, concern about the lack of progress on form a more perfect Union . . .” the structures and the landscaping led Mayor In 1975, even before this portion of the design Richard Lugar to request that the Department was completed, Taflinger again proposed of Parks and Recreation complete it. The Ruins expansion. This time he wanted a stage and were finally dedicated in October 1973. amphitheater—to be used for historical, As the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration artistic and musical performances—and this approached, Elmer Taflinger proposed an time there was loud public opposition to expansion of his design that would convert the further expansion. Neighbors objected to the Ruins into a symbolic panorama of American added traffic, noise and disruption that such history. Constitution Mall, dedicated in performances would produce. The Hollidays September 1977, symbolizes the American voiced their objections also, noting that such Republic, in which men and women of all functions “would not be in keeping with the original intent of the donor.” The Parks races are united in working for freedom and Department did not approve any further justice. The elaborate plan, which was mostly development. completed, includes a large reflecting pool at the east side of the original statues. Each But Elmer Taflinger was not finished. During element of the design had historic symbolism the discussion of the terms of the deed, (see figure with details), and extensive he discovered that the plaque recognizing landscaping was part of the design: long Holliday’s gift had never been erected. He lines of European hornbeams, one for each designed a new park entrance on Spring state of the Union, and groups of evergreens Mill Road west of the Ruins and placed a representing the 13 original colonies. A single tablet there in memory of the Hollidays.

16 Fragments of the façade of for weddings and receptions the Indiana National Bank in warm weather. Some roads were incorporated here also. were also repaved and rerouted In 1978, 52 years after John Holliday Commemorative Plaque at this time. Holliday’s death, the entrance In the late 1980s problems and plaque were dedicated. developed in the park. Neighbors were afraid Two of the three conditions of the deed had to visit, and schools were reluctant to bring been met. The park had been handed over classes for environmental studies because to the city three years after the death of the of its reputation as a place that was unsafe surviving member, Evaline. A plaque honoring for children. Several nearby residents led by their gift had been placed in the park years Pat Lynn, a longtime supporter of the park, later. The third condition, that the property gathered to discuss their concerns. At the first be used for recreation and the study of nature, recorded meeting, in January 1990, the ten was still unfulfilled. There was no playground, people who attended decided to develop an and nature programs were nonexistent into organization of volunteers to maintain and the 1980s. preserve the park. One of the first projects was a spring cleanup in April 1990 with 75 enthusiastic workers. The Playground and the Nature Center By June of 1990 the Friends of Holliday In the next few years, John Holliday’s Park had been organized. They wrote bylaws vision began to come to fruition. The Parks and elected a board of directors and officers Department, recognizing the growing need for (Appendix I). They obtained a state charter and environmental education, included Holliday in 1991 the federal government granted them Park as one of its centers for such studies. not-for-profit status. Through surveys they In 1982 the Parks Department upgraded the conducted, the Friends and the Department park, remodeled and landscaped the Holliday of Parks and Recreation determined that the House, and labeled and replaced trees in the neighborhood wanted a playground that would Arboretum. It also constructed the Wedding bring children and families to the park. Circle, a round wood and brick gazebo surrounded by formal plantings that was used Funding was a challenge. In September 1990

17 there was only $1,000 in the treasury, money parks. The playground was dedicated in May that had been raised from donations and 1992. Springtime brought happier times to the from the sale of ice cream at an Indianapolis park as people came to play and picnic at the Symphony concert held in the park. The board, state-of-the-art playground. composed of entrepreneurial individuals experienced in dealing with city agencies and The planning committee of the Friends realized dedicated to park improvement, initiated a plan the need for a master plan for the park and, to raise money for constructing a playground. with the approval of the city, contracted with In July 1991 the children of Janet Noyes Ayres Fred Kellums to develop such a plan, which Adams donated $350,000 for the playground was completed in 1991. Holliday Park was the in memory of their mother. Another $40,000 first city park to have a master plan that fit was raised from individual donors, and the with the city’s new emphasis on environmental playground was closer to becoming a reality. education. In addition, Indy Parks appointed A portion of the funds was set aside in an Janice Krupa as park naturalist. Among her endowment for future maintenance. accomplishments was the creation of two nature interpretive programs for preschool A site was selected and a playground design of children: “Two’s News” and “Natural wood and other natural materials was chosen. Moments.” Both classes are still being offered. Fifty volunteers helped with the construction on two weekends in September 1991. By In 1993, as part of the Building Better December, the contractor had completed the Neighborhoods Campaign, the city spent sidewalks, landscaping, fences and drinking $800,000 to revitalize the park’s trail system. fountains. At the annual meeting of the Friends Stairways leading down to the White River of Holliday Park in March 1992, Mayor were repaired; wooden walkways were Stephen Goldsmith recognized the Friends’ constructed to protect delicate woodland wet contribution as an important model for other areas; and a spring-fed pond was re-dammed neighborhood groups working in other city to create a nesting area for waterfowl. The

18 north entrance was moved to align it with 64th maintenance, gardening and landscaping. Street, resulting in improved parking areas and Working closely with Indy Parks’ Stewardship more useable space in the park, in addition to and Planning Sections, Schaust applied for a making this entry point safer. grant from the Indiana Department of Natural In June of the same year, John Schaust Resources (DNR) to complete an accurate began an 11-year tenure as park manager inventory and map of the Arboretum at and Holliday Park naturalist. A naturalist Holliday Park. The installation of numbered educator with 14 years experience, eight of tags on the trees, the creation of an Arboretum those in Indiana state parks, he brought brochure, and development of a long-term to Holliday Park a wealth of practical management plan were to be additional knowledge in program development, park products of this grant. In March 1994, DNR management and volunteer recruitment. He approved the grant, which was matched by also had professional stature as a naturalist the Friends of Holliday Park and the in-kind interpreter, having served as a board member, services and labor of Indy Parks personnel. regional director and vice president of the The resulting database and Arboretum map/ National Association of Interpretation (NAI). brochure have encouraged greater use of this The immediate effect of his leadership was resource by teachers, schoolchildren, scout an increase in nature and environmental troops and other visitors. programming for children, adults and families. Under his tutelage, volunteers were recruited In 1993 a rock garden, previously unknown and trained to be naturalist assistants and to staff and visitors, was discovered in a trail monitors, as well as to help with trail natural ravine, where, over the years, erosion,

19 ivy, euonymus and honeysuckle had buried complicated by the location of the Ruins. The the rocks and stones. With the support of first renderings by Cunningham Architects of an energetic corps of volunteers and the Dallas, Texas, proposed that it be constructed fundraising efforts of the Friends, who obtained at the site of the Holliday House and that the a grant from the Indianapolis Foundation in Ruins be reconfigured to accommodate a lake 1994, the rock garden was brought back to life. and marsh area to be located outside the nature center. A number of vocal supporters wanted Garden club meetings and senior activities to preserve the Ruins—an integral part of the continued in the Holliday House, and a park’s history—as Taflinger had designed it. section of the main room was converted This and other questions led potential donors to into a colorful, child-friendly area for nature suggest a study by an outside organization. In activities. However, the building, which had July 1995 the Friends and Indy Parks contracted been constructed in 1960, was in need of with BBC Research and Consulting of Denver, many repairs. The cost of renovation and the Colorado, to address the feasibility of building unsuitability of the building for environmental and operating an interpretive nature center education convinced the Friends that a new in the park. They conducted interviews with nature center should be built. Presented personnel of 19 nature centers in other states, with the opportunity to shape the future of key people in the Indianapolis community Holliday Park, Schaust researched and wrote and members of the Friends and held an open “The Nature Center at Holliday Park: A meeting with the public. In a report presented Conceptual Plan and Scope,” which provided in December 1995, the reviewers agreed that the the framework and justification for the plan was economically feasible and should prove development of the center. The Friends of to be a benefit to the community. The report Holliday Park embraced the concept, and their recommended that the Ruins be maintained. ambitious goal was to raise $4,000,000 to A more desireable site, near the trailheads and build and endow the center. close to the area of the original Holliday family The selection of a site for the nature center was complex was chosen.

20 The Campaign for the Nature Center resulted and Art Burke, Director of Environmental in an outpouring of support from many Education for Indy Parks. It displays the individual donors, neighbors, corporations and history of the park, the White River, and the foundations. Over time, the campaign goal plants and animals that call the park home. had increased to $5,000,000 and the city of It sparks the interest of all age groups, from Indianapolis assumed responsibility for site preschool to adult. The hallways were designed preparation, contributing $1,300,000 to the for use as art galleries to display the work project. By the summer of 1998 the fundraising of nature artists. Bird watching has never goal had been met, and the long-awaited been so comfortable as in the indoor wildlife groundbreaking ceremony occurred in October. viewing area, and the research library next Jungclaus Campbell served as the general door offers a collection of nature-related guides building contractor and construction manager. and children’s books, compliments of the Karl Steegmann, a Friends board member Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. experienced in construction, volunteered An auditorium and classrooms are available to serve as project manager throughout for nature programs. This extraordinary nature construction. After many months of site center is a tribute to the unique partnership preparation and construction, the Holliday Park between the Friends of Holliday Park and Indy Nature Center opened its copper doors on April Parks. 15, 2000. The Friends continue to serve the park in From the inception of the project, John Schaust countless ways. In 2001 they initiated a new served as the primary liaison between Indy fundraising event called the Holliday Park Trail Parks and the Friends and, with his staff, Run. This five-mile race, which follows a course coordinated more than 200 volunteers who from Holliday Park to Marott Park via the Sol devoted untold hours in the planning, designing Blickman Educational Trail, has proved to be and fundraising for the nature center. The very successful in gaining sponsor support as attention to detail is immediately apparent to well as promoting the park. Indy Parks and visitors approaching the building. The rough the Friends installed totally new playground stone exterior blends into the surrounding equipment in 2006 and 2007. Plans for the woods, and the lobby windows focus on the maintenance and improvement of the park magnificent 200-year-old white ash tree. The continue. The Holliday Park Endowment “quote wall” panels made of a variety of Indiana Fund initiated in 1991 continues to grow, woods greets visitors with quotations from John and distributions are targeted for program Holliday, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson and development and maintenance. others. The innovative exhibit hall was designed by John Schaust, Naturalist Vickie Prusinski

21 Holliday Park Trail Run Playground gardens

No matter what the season, activities abound surrounding counties come for spring and fall at the park. In spring, hikers of all ages field trips. The nature center welcomes nature explore the trails looking for wild flowers and groups, such as the Audubon Society, Sierra birds. Summer finds children enjoying the Club, Hosta Society and Daylily-Iris Society, to playground, working in the children’s garden conduct their meetings and offer educational and attending summer day camps. Students programs for the public. There are summer wander through the Arboretum collecting outdoor concerts in the shadow of the Ruins leaves in the fall. Neighborhood children sled and nature art exhibits year-round. on the hill behind the nature center on snowy winter days. Year-round interpretive programs In 2007, we can safely say that John Holliday’s bring adults and families to the nature center, vision of a park dedicated to recreation and the and schoolchildren from Indianapolis and the study of nature has been fulfilled.

22 Acknowledgements

Those who love this park are forever Hitz Rhodehamel, granddaughter of grateful to John and Evaline Holliday John and Evaline Holliday, has kindly for their foresight and generosity. We loaned documents and photographs thank the City of Indianapolis and that contributed to this history. Joe the Friends of Holliday Park who have Komenda of American Legion Post developed and preserved it. We salute 186, the John Holliday Jr. Post, shared the many staff and volunteers who his research on John Holliday, Jr. over the years have given so much to make this park a special place. Most of the unpublished notes and articles written about the history of the This history is the work of many park are held in the office of Holliday people. It began as an update of the Park Nature Center. Kathy Hubbell brochure that Margaret Brooks wrote and John Schaust provided early in 1989. Her work is summarized in minutes of the Friends of Holliday the brochure “Heralding the History Park meetings. Tom Hiatt offered of Holliday Park.” Another brochure, great insight into the early Friends “The Ruins: A Brief History,” author plans, as well as the fundraising efforts unknown, summarizes the history of to underwrite both the playground that project. and the nature center.

I am indebted to others who have I would like to thank Mary Bergerson contributed their notes on parts of for her continued support and efforts the history: John Schaust and several to have this history published and Jane assistant naturalists; Tim Cassidy and Graham and Katie Neill for editing Kendall Stark; Sherman McMurray, the manuscript. Thank you to Amy for the early history of Friends of Kirchner for the handsome design of Holliday Park; and Ed Fleener and this book. Karl Steegmann, for the research on the gristmills in the vicinity. Evaline Catherine G. Palmer 2007

23 References

Berry, S.L. For The Sake of Art: The Johnson, Howard. A Home in the Woods: History of the Indianapolis Art Center. Pioneer Life in Indiana. Bloomington: Indianapolis: The Indianapolis Art Indiana University Press, 1991. Center, 1999, pp. 26, 37. Palmer, Cay. “The Holliday Children,” Bodenhamer, David, and Robert Winter 2004; “The Races of Man,” G. Barrows. The Encyclopedia of Winter, 2005; “The Friends of Holliday Indianapolis. Bloomington: Indiana Park: The Early Years,” Winter 2006. University Press, 1994, p. 1316. Holliday Happenings: Newsletter of Friends of Holliday Park. Brooks, Margaret. Heralding the History of Holliday Park (Holliday Park Palmer, Cay, and Karl Steegmann. “Two brochure), 1989. Spring Mills.” Holliday Happenings: Newsletter of Friends of Holliday Park, Dennis, James M. Karl Bitter: Summer 2006. Architectural Sculptor 1867–1915. University of Wisconsin Press, 1967. Schevill, Ferdinand. Karl Bitter: A Biography. Chicago: University of Ewing, Juliana Horatia. “Mrs. Chicago Press, 1917. Overtheway’s Remembrances.” Aunt Judy’s Magazine, December 1866; Elmer Taflinger Archives of the Indiana January and February, 1867. Historical Society. Indianapolis, Indiana.

Holliday, Alexander R. “A Formal The Ruins: A Brief History (Holliday Garden Designed by an Amateur.” Park brochure, author unknown). American Home and Garden, April 1909, pp.152–153.

24 Appendix I

Friends of Holliday Park Founding Board Members

Thomas A. Hiatt, President Philip Snodgrass Sally Demars Stuart Stinette Howard Hoffman Edward Taylor Kathryn Hubbell Thomas Townsend Miles Kappes Cheryl Venturi Thomas Kellum Tamara Zahn

Department of Parks and Recreation representatives:

Charles Beard Paula B. Kutcher

25 Photo Credits

Casey Cronin Cover, inside back cover, page 10

Tom McCain Cover, inside back cover, back cover, pages 19 and 22

Catherine G. Palmer Inside front cover, pages 2, 3, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25

John Schaust Cover, inside back cover

26

Holliday Park History