Last month, I met local food blogger Benson for a tour of his old stomping grounds, an Indianapolis neighborhood called Brightwood. Our outing didn’t provide us with too many doors, but it was interesting. I suppose it was nostalgic for him and I really enjoyed his perspective, with personal details. We were there midday when the sun was high, so we had peculiar light. Thanks to Cee I’ve recently learned this not an ideal time to take photos outdoors. Unless you’re doin artsy sorta stuff…Mother Nature’s own filters can be pretty.
Benson took me to Brightwood’s former main street.
1940’s
Photo from: Historic Indianapolis
It doesn’t look like that now. I wish I’d taken a long shot like this, as a before and after, but regret is a waste of our time. Pay attention to the bank there on the left side of the old photo, we’ll come back to that.
There were some noteworthy doors.
I think we can agree from the photos, security takes priority in Brightwood these days.
The neighborhood is full of litter, very few homes are cared for, many are boarded up. The one good thing you can say about it is what Benson said, “The streets are clear and that means people are at work.”
A man of many years nodded to us from his porch.
We encountered a woman in her nineties, out tending her patch of yard. I reckon she’s a good neighbor because she asked us what we were doing. She said she’s lived there since the late 60’s and watched the neighborhood fall into ruin. She said, “It breaks your heart, but what can you do?” Y’all, she was dressed head-to-toe in layers of purple and I could’ve listened to her all day.
There’s a big church with a grand entrance.
And in old places, there’s a lot more variety in texture.
Old homes, especially those made of wood, are always appealing to me. There’s life in old wood.
But I kinda fell in love with that old bank building from the black and white photograph.
Ain’t she sweet?
I discovered a squirrel in the tree, and you know how I do, I hadda commune and snap. Don’t look too closely, it might make you dizzy.
Anyway, it was a great DoorScursion, and we finished it with some tasty food. I could regret that I didn’t photograph my food, but I was too busy eating it to care! I had fried okra, mac n’cheese, greens, and peach Faygo. I might write about that some other time.
#ThursdayDoors is part of an inspired post series run by Norm Frampton. To view other interesting doors, click the link and see what others are posting today.
joeyfullystated 
Sensational ! Fantastic and wonderful. It is so nice to read something about the old ‘hood that does involve crime. Thanks so much for the sharing. I see you got a nice shot of my old garage. Cool. Thanks again.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank YOU! One of these days we’ll get another sunny day and we can take another DoorScursion 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking forward to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find it very sad when neighbourhoods are left to deteriorate. That poor old bank building looks like it’s been abandoned for a long time 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do too. I wonder how long it will be until people start revitalizing it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like your photos. They do justice to the beauty that remains in the area. I agree about the bank. It’s lovable, but looks lonely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. The whole street is lonely. I bet we had it to ourselves the better part of an hour.
LikeLike
Interesting post that made me think and look up that area on a map. I love learning something new, so now I need to know what Fago is because all I could find was slang. Okay, back to the doors. The bank is amazing, and I love the plywood doors painted white and needing some upkeep. Peeling paint is kind of like wrinkles and that I know a lot about. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Faygo is a brand of soda, very popular in my youth, and kinda regional, since it’s made in Michigan.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and looked it up on the map 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this idea!! I agree with you, the old bank is beautiful architecture. It sounds like the town was really something in its “hey-day” I really enjoyed the post, it was nice to be taken away to discover something new 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this…you photographed it well and make it look inviting, rather than dilapidated. Good Job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLike
Most neighborhoods go through their boom and bust periods and then eventually rebound. Here’s to hoping Brightwood bounces back soon. That bank building is lovely and it wouldn’t take too much TLC to bring it back to its former glory. Good post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’d be nice to see it restored. Thanks Norm 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that weatherbeaten texture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like that old woman you encountered would have some great tales. Definite character fodder for you fiction there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oops…meant to write for YOUR fiction, not you fiction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She was a character, fersure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s too bad about the neighborhood, how the buildings have not been cared for. I could envision how fabulous that area could look with a little refurbishing, paint and elbow grease.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, but the money’s all gone from there, since the railroads aren’t what they used to be. Hopefully young urbanites will bring new money one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the bank building! I also like the old wooden buildings. When I took my daughter to my old neighborhood in Pittsburgh, we ran into just such an old lady. Guarding the street. We parked, and she immediately asked us (politely) what we were doing. I told her that I grew up on that street, and she encouraged us to walk around, said we would be fine and that she would watch our car. I love people like that – they are the neighborhood.
I wish I had a magic wand and could fix up all these old places.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree, those people are the neighborhood. I’m glad you understood me so well.
I would be glad to crinkle my nose while you wave your magic wand — Let me know when we can pick up our super powers; I’m sure you’ll know about it before I do. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
These old streets usually get revitalized in time. I hope this one does. It’s been happening here in Ireland in lots of smaller towns, where the houses were abandoned for large plots of land in the surrounding countryside during the boom time. Nowadays, a lot of people are looking for the convenience that a town has to offer, especially with the very high cost of running/maintaining/taxing/insuring a car in this country.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so too. Much of the inner city is like this, in all four directions. But urban growth is still a thing, so I hope…
Why is driving so costly there, Jean?
LikeLiked by 1 person
We import all our diesel/petrol. The government charges a lot of tax on older cars with higher emissions as the E.U. expects it to and newer cars are pricey because they are also imported. As for insurance, pure greed I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is just so evocative- lovely writing and lovely pictures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 🙂
LikeLike
Fantastic and interesting doors post, Joey. I find paint peeling off buildings, “appealing” maybe due to vintage photographs and the way it harks back to the “good old days,” Joey. I liked the bank building a lot. I also liked the garage doors with paint which looked rather modern art-like. I also liked the shed which could be stripped and painted. I admire you for getting a time and place together with a fellow blogger. I have hinted towards some, but I will always remember if I head to Indianapolis, you said I would be invited to dinner. That was the nicest and friendliest thought ever from a fellow blogger. I still have my friends from college, Rich and Laurie Cunningham, not to be mixed up with Happy Days Richie, either! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, if you’re ever in Indy, the offer still stands.
I’m glad you enjoyed my post today 🙂
LikeLike
I like how you went through this area and still found the good! I try to do that wherever I am – there is always something interesting with texture or color.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I, too, hope that the area can be revitalized and the buildings refurbished. It’s expensive, though, and often older sections of town just continue to deteriorate. I like the bank building, too.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: SoCS — Taste the 80s | joeyfullystated