The Homes of the Indianapolis Auto Barons

The names of Fred Duesenberg, Harry Stutz, and Walter Marmon readily come to mind. Other men’s names are not so well known. Harold T. Ames, who took over the reins of Duesenberg Motors after Fred Duesenberg’s untimely death 1932, is not so well known. Neither is William N. Thompson, who followed in the footsteps of Harry C. Stutz after Stutz lost control of his company to the banking establishment. For his part, Stutz returned to automobile manufacturing with a car bearing his initials, the H.C.S.. His house, built in 1923, is still standing long after his death from appendicitis while driving back from Florida in 1931. Another name from the Classic Era is Walter Marmon, who with his brother Howard C. Marmon, built great motor cars up through 1933. The Marmon home was constructed in 1929, just as the economy started its downward spiral into the Great Depression. Lastly is the magnificent home of Fredrick M. Parry, who built the Overland and Pathfinder automobiles prior to the Classic Era. At the end of the 19th century, the Parry Manufacturing Company, was the largest constructor of carriages and buggies in the United States, turning out 5,000 units per month. His grandiose 21,000 square foot home in Golden Hill, then a suburb of Indianapolis, was built in 1907. Scheduled for completion in 2014, the home is being brought back to life, after many years of abandonment and disrepair, at a cost exceeding $2,000,000. Parry died an untimely death, caused by a virus he contracted in the Orient on a round-the-world trip in 1914. The outbreak of the Great War and his inability to enter Russia caused the trip to be cut short. His health deteriorated after coming home, and he died in 1915 with his entire family surrounding his bedside.

The Duesenberg home was built on Fall Creek Boulevard in 1922 following Fred’s move from New Jersey. He wanted to be closer to the racing scene at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway while building a new eight cylinder motor car, the Model A. Harry Stutz, being a friend of Fred Duesenberg, admired the layout of the Duesenberg home. In 1923 Stutz built a similarly designed home using a tan brick which he had used in his Stutz Manufacturing facility on North Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis. This brick had earlier been used by William N. Thompson in his Meridian Street home built in 1920, presently owned by CCCA Member John Klein. In the garage of this home is a 1931 Duesenberg 8 convertible Victoria by Rollston, a 1937 Packard 12 1507 formal sedan, and a 1937 Packard 12 1507 convertible Victoria. The home was the Indiana governor’s mansion from the mid-1940s to the 1970s.

Within a few blocks of the Klein home is the former home of Harold T. Ames, who occupied this residence for just over one year. Ames was a key executive in the Cord Empire. His wise counsel with E.L. Cord at the beginning of Cord’s career made him a very valuable asset to the company during the Classic Era. He had a hand in the Auburn speedster and the 1936-37 Cord 810/812. In 1934, E.L Cord called him back to the corporate office in Chicago, since Duesenberg was barely treading water financially by then.

Walter Marmon started to build his magnificent mansion just as the Marmon 16 was coming into production. This home is presently occupied by CCCA member Chris MacAllister and houses a 1933 Marmon 16 Victoria coupe, a 1939 Lincoln 12 Model K limousine, a 1932 Duesenberg 8 Beverley sedan by Murphy, and two Cadillac V-16s. This home has been meticulously maintained over the years.

All of the homes so outlined are in remarkable condition except for the former home of Harry Stutz. It is presently owned by the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. It has undergone several changes over the years by commercial clients and is presently unoccupied.

There is one additional picture of the original corporate headquarters of Duesenberg Motors Co. The signage was recently painted and restored by the present corporate owner, Indy-Go, the local transit company. This building was occupied in 1922 with the start-up of the 1922 Duesenberg Automobile. The preservation of the past of the heritage of the city is now continuing with the newly formed Indiana Automotive Historical Society, an affiliate of Indiana Landmarks. Indiana CCCA director Andy Wolf is serving as the Society’s president. George Maley, Indiana region CCCA Publications chairman is a board member of this entity. Hopefully through many new efforts of the various historical and preservation groups, the rich heritage of Indianapolis will be a part of the City’s future while remembering its glorious past.

Captions

1. The Klein 1937 Packard 12 convertible Victoria pulls into the former William Thompson residence.
2. The Duesenberg Factory in 2014.
3. Built in 1907, Fredrick M. Parry’s immense 21,000 square-foot mansion is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation that is due to be completed in 2014.
4. Walter Marmon began construction on his home as the Marmon Sixteen was beginning production. Owned by CCCA member Chris MacAllister, it has been maintained meticulously through the decades.
5. Located on Fall Creek Boulevard, this 1922-vintage home was built by Fred Duesenberg, who wanted to be closer to the action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
6. Cord Corporation executive Harold T. Ames lived in this north-side home for a little over a year. He was recalled to the Chicago corporate office in 1934.
7. The “car that made good in a day” was built for many years at this factory on the near north side of Indianapolis. Current owner Turner Woodard has restored the Stutz factory to its glory and repurposed it as a business center.
8. The William Thompson home is a familiar place for Indiana Region CCCA members. We know it as the home of John and Elaine Klein. In its time as the governor’s mansion, it played host to U.S. Presidents, Senators, and a number of movie stars.
9. The former home of Harry Stutz could use a little upkeep. Built in 1923, it used the same tan brick as in the Stutz factory and a design similar to Fred Duesenberg’s house.