Welcome to the Neighborhood
Welcome to the Herron-Morton neighborhood. We truly hope that you will learn to love this neighborhood as much as we do, as it continues to be vibrant with many community interests. We hope you will find the neighborhood very welcoming to all residents and very friendly as you get to know your fellow neighbors. We pride ourselves in welcoming all new residents, including homeowners and renters alike.
The Association and the Foundation
The Herron-Morton Place neighborhood has two great organizations that represent community interests: The Herron-Morton Place Association and The Herron-Morton Place Foundation.
Our origins as the Herron-Morton Place Association was formed in 1976 to spearhead the renovation of homes, encourage new residential development, and promote the common good and general welfare of the neighborhood. The Association consists of a nine-member Board of Directors, several committees, and members. The Association coordinates beautification efforts, reduces crime, promotes safety, stimulates arts and culture, contributes to historic preservation, and protects and promotes diversity. The Association brings about civic betterment and provides educational, charitable, and social programs for the neighborhood.
The Herron-Morton Place Foundation was founded as a 501C-3 tax deductible organization, and works in concert with the Association to assist and implement activities which protect, revitalize, and strengthen the economy of the district as a well-balanced residential and commercial community. The Foundation consists of a Board of Directors with no less than seven and no more than fifteen volunteers.
The Association supports the Foundation by having moved the majority of its assets into endowment funds with Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). These funds are designated for the use of the Foundation in maintaining and preserving the neighborhood park, and other joint and separate projects as determined by a combined work group.
The Foundation supports the Association by providing an annual working grant, in part so that membership fees do not become prohibitive. This enables a larger group to be served and have a voice in the neighborhood.
Meetings
Members meet monthly on the first Monday of every month (excluding July and December). At meetings, neighbors connect with each other and with representatives from various City agencies. Standing and special committees give reports, and the Assembly conducts old and new business.
- Meetings start at 7:00 pm.
- Meeting locations vary; location is provided with the meeting notice.
- Members receive notice of meetings through the email they provide when joining the Association. Notices of meetings are also posted on our website (herron-morton.com) and social media sites (see below).
Members of the Association are also invited to the Foundation’s annual meeting (usually held in February).
Becoming a Member
Foundation
The Herron-Morton Foundation consists only of a Board of Directors, and does not have an active membership. Donations made to the Foundation are tax-deductible donations. Annually, the Foundation circulates a survey to the Association members, and results of the survey help prioritize investment and fundraising initiatives.
Donations can be made online at herron-morton.com, or can be arranged by emailing herronmortonplacefoundation@gmail.com.
Foundation donation levels are as follows:
| Standard | $25 | |
| Neighbor | $75 | Receives recognition on HMPF website |
| Sustainer | $150 | Receives recognition on HMPF website and in Urban Times |
| Leader | $300 | Receives recognition on HMPF website, in Urban Times, and a brick at HMP Park |
Association
Every resident of Herron-Morton Place is welcome to join the Association. Membership is open to both homeowners and renters. Nonprofit and commercial groups within our boundaries are also eligible to enroll a representative as a member. No dues are required to become a member, but members must pay dues in order to vote on the business conducted by the Association. Dues are $10 per person annually. Being a member of the Association keeps you informed of events in the neighborhood and gives you the opportunity to use your voice to help make the neighborhood a better place to live.
You can join the Association and pay dues either online or with a check:
- To join online, visit herron-morton.com.
- To join with a check, please mail to HMPA | P.O. Box 44166 | Indianapolis, IN 46244.
Volunteer Opportunities
Beyond membership, a great way to meet your neighbors and have fun is to volunteer on one of our committees. Below is a list of the standing committees with a brief explanation for each.
Social Committee
- Provides opportunities for neighbors to connect, organizes events that bring neighbors together for food, fun and friendship e.g. Pizza in the Park, Easter Egg Hunt, Progressive Dinner, TGIF Summer Event. Collaborates with the Foundation for joint events such as Oktoberfest, HMP 500 Rally Day and Gay Pride Parade participation.
Safety and Crime Prevention
- Monitor neighborhood for potential issues which could impact our residents’ safety. Identify opportunities to work with the city and neighbors to improve safety and public health; and work with the Beautification committee to help find ways to keep the neighborhood safe through keeping our neighborhood streets and sidewalks clean and clear.
Budget and Finance
- Oversees the financial health of the Association, monitors expenses relative to the budget and annually creates and recommends a budget to the membership.
Publicity/Urban Times
- Help neighbors by raising awareness of activities in our neighborhood, opportunities for involvement and benefits of membership and participation in the Association and Foundation.
Talbot Street Art Fair (TSAF)
- Coordinates with TSAF Committee for planning and set up; liaises with the city for permits, police support, oversees food vendors. Recruits neighborhood support for set up, trash monitoring, clean up and HMP lemonade stand.
Diversity
- Promotes diversity through advocating fair housing practices, working with local government and community organizations whose objectives align with our values to support affordable housing and work to understand and potentially mitigate the impact of gentrification for our long-standing neighbors.
Beautification
- Organizes and participates in cleanups in our neighborhood with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) twice per year; spearheads “Adopt a Block” and Carbon Neutral neighborhood initiatives.
Membership
- Welcomes new neighbors through NextDoor and in person, provides them with a welcome packet, encourages attendance and involvement with activities in our neighborhood.
Land Use
- Works with Indianapolis Historic Preservation District (IHPD) to insure new and remodeled housing is appropriate within the neighborhood and liaises Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis (HUNI) organization.
If you are interested in joining a committee, please email the Association at herronmortonplace@gmail.com.
You can also support your neighborhood by purchasing Herron-Morton-branded merchandise.
Living in a Historic District
Through the efforts of the Herron-Morton Place Association, the district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and garnered the protection of the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (IHPC) in 1986. This means that all structures, both old and new, in Herron-Morton Place are treated as civic assets in architecture. Maintenance, renovation, and new construction of all structures must be reviewed by IHPC. Some projects do not require an application, but many must complete an application and procure a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from IHPC. The historic preservation guidelines by which the Commission adjudicates applications are unique to Herron-Morton Place, and can be found in our Preservation Plan. (Neighbors commonly refer to this as “the Green Book,” because the print edition was distributed in a green 3-ring binder). The Preservation Plan can be found on herron-morton.com.
To determine if your project requires an application, or to begin a new application for maintenance, renovation, or construction with IHPC, email IHPC@indy.gov. A very helpful Architectural Reviewer will be appointed to you. IHPC Staff offer a wealth of knowledge and experience in good design and historic preservation. Completing work without procuring a COA from IHPC could result in fines and a legal requirement to undo or redo work done without a permit.
The Neighborhood Association also has a Land Use Committee, who participates in proceedings of IHPC as fellow stakeholders. This Committee also partners with IHPC on practices of historic preservation, and meets regularly with applicants of IHPC to review proposals. To attend a Land Use meeting or participate in this Committee, please email herronmortonplace@gmail.com.
Social Media websites
Find out more or connect with other neighbors at the following sites:
- Herron-Morton Place: herron-morton.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herronmortonplace
- NextDoor: https://herronmorton.nextdoor.com
Herron-Morton Place History
Samuel Henderson, the first postmaster and first mayor of Indianapolis, was also the first owner of the land now encompassing Herron-Morton Place. He did not believe Indianapolis would ever amount to much, and later sold his substantial real estate here to pursue the Gold Rush in California. In 1859, Indiana’s State Board of Agriculture purchased what are now roughly 19th to 22nd Streets and Delaware Street to Central Avenue to create a permanent Indiana State Fairgrounds.
After hosting only one State Fair in 1860, the area was requisitioned in 1861 to be the Civil War induction center for Indiana volunteers and troop training and renamed “Camp Morton,” in honor of Governor Oliver Perry Morton. In 1862, it became a Confederate prisoner of war camp, hosting more than 15,000 men through the course of the war. At the same time, much of the southern portion of the current neighborhood was home to “Camp Burnside,” with Tinker Street (now 16th street) as its southern border. Volunteers, and later, invalids and members of the Veteran Reserve Corps inhabited Camp Burnside.
With the Civil War over in 1865, the State Fair resumed festivities here. In the ensuing years, improvements were made. In 1872, the giant Exposition Building—designed by Edwin F. May, architect of the current State Capital—was erected. The fair took place in the same location until 1891, when the State Board of Agriculture purchased and relocated to the Voss Farm, where it has continued until this day. Three businessmen purchased the old fairgrounds: Edward Fay Claypool, Elijah Bishop Martindale and Willard W. Hubbard and divided it into 280 residential lots, renaming the area “Morton Place.” On the main streets of the new neighborhood—Delaware, Alabama and New Jersey—were esplanades, which lined the middle of those streets. Soon after, in the southern portion of the neighborhood, the Art Association selected the “Old Tinker” homestead as the site for a new art museum and school. Famed Hoosier artist, T. C. Steele had been residing at this property for a number of years. Art association sponsored classes began out of the old home, which was eventually razed to make way for the Vonnegut & Bohn designed John Herron Art Institute building.
Morton Place quickly became one of the most elite and desirable neighborhoods in Indianapolis. It would become home to multiple leaders in all aspects of Indianapolis life: lawyers, doctors, politicians, artists, architects and many of the most successful businessmen of the time. Unfortunately, the proliferation of the automobile and subsequent expansion of Indianapolis lured the well to do further away from the heart of the city. The automobile is also to blame for the removal of the esplanades on Delaware and Alabama Streets in the 1920’s. When the Great Depression began, many of the large single-family homes were carved up and re-purposed as multi-family dwellings. Between 1950-1970, a number of homes were lost to fire or neglect and subsequent demolition.
The listing of Herron-Morton Place in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 helped preserve the majority of the remaining structures. New Jersey Street retains the original esplanades, and thus provides the best example of what the east half of the neighborhood once looked like.
Herron-Morton Place Events
Exact dates are determined as the event gets closer and will be posted on herron-morton.com, Facebook, and NextDoor.
Spring
Easter Egg Hunt in the Park
Neighborhood Spring Clean-Up
Trike Race – Memorial Day weekend
Summer
Talbot Street Art Fair (June)
National Night Out (August)
Fall
Oktoberfest (September)
Biannual Herron-Morton Place Home Tour (September)
Halloween Pizza in the Park (Halloween evening)
Neighborhood Fall Clean-Up
TGIF
Winter
Neighborhood Progressive Dinner (February)
If you have an idea for another event you’d like to see in the neighborhood, please share it at the monthly Herron-Morton Neighborhood Association meeting!
Local Restaurants, Bars & Coffee Shops
Tinker Street
NE corner of 16th & N. New Jersey
402 E. 16th St
http://www.tinkerstreetindy.com/
The Foundry
NW corner of 16th and Alabama
236 E 16th St
http://www.foundryprovisions.com
Bocca
On 22nd at Talbott
122 E 22nd St
Loco
NE corner of 22nd & Delaware
2205 N. Delaware St
Scarlet Lane Brewery
NW corner of 17th & Bellefontaine
1702 Bellefontaine St
Liftoff Creamery
SE corner of 16th & Penn
111 E 16th St
Gallery on 16th Pastry Shop
SW corner of 16th & New Jersey
319 E 16th St
Mashcraft Brewery
NE corner of 22nd & Delaware
2205 N Delaware St
Baby’s
SE corner of 22nd & Talbott
2147 N Talbott St
West Fork Whiskey
SW corner of 17th & Bellefontaine
1660 Bellefontaine St
Goose the Market
NE corner of 25th & Delaware
2503 N Delaware St
A Taproom
NE corner of 25th & Delaware
2505 N Delaware St
Tea’s Me
On 22nd at Talbot
140 E 22nd St, suite B
Isuka
NW corner of 16th and Penn
32 E 16th St
City Services & Information
Residents can connect with representatives from City agencies at monthly membership meetings. Attendees from IMPD, Marion County Public Health, and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office are regularly in attendance, as well as our Neighborhood Advocate from the Mayor’s Office. Other City services and information can be found at herron-morton.com or indy.gov. You can also email herronmortonplace@gmail.com for help connecting with City representatives.
Be a good neighbor! In order to keep all areas easily accessible, please put your trash and/or recycle bins away after pick up.
Heavy Trash Collection
- Heavy trash collection is on the fourth Thursday of every month.
- Up to two items of heavy trash will be collected each month.
- The following items are acceptable for heavy trash:
- Large yard waste: Tie limbs, shrubbery cuttings, etc., in bundles no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet. Each bundle counts as one heavy trash item.
- Bags of trash and bags of leaves: Each bag counts as one heavy trash item.
- Mattresses
- Tires with rims
- Appliances without freon gas: Stoves, water heaters, and water softeners
- Lawn mowers: Drain of all fluids.
- Disassembled bicycles and swing sets
- Television shells: Remove all tubing inside.
Recycling
If your weekly trash is collected by DPW and you would like to subscribe to curbside recycling, call Republic Services at 317-917-7300.
Fall Leaf Season Collection
- Each household is permitted 40 bags of leaves for weekly disposal.
- Place leaves in large plastic trash bags, specially-built large paper lawn-waste bags, and/or bag leaves and place your regular trash cart.
- Place the leaf bags out by 7 a.m. on your regular trash day.
- Keep all leaf bags at least three feet away from cart collection areas to ensure trucks can service the carts.
Christmas Tree Disposal
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works teams up with Indy Parks to offer residents several drop-off sites throughout the city to dispose of their live Christmas trees this season.
From December 26th until January 31st, trees can be dropped off from dusk until dawn at the following Indy Parks locations. DPW and Indy Parks would also like to remind residents to make sure all ornaments, tinsel lights and other non-organic decorative materials (including tree stands) have been removed from trees before dropping off.
A friendly reminder that DPW does not do curbside pick-up for Christmas trees. Drop-off locations for tree disposal are
- Broad Ripple Park (1610 Broad Ripple Ave.) south lot
- Ellenberger Park (5301 E. St. Clair St.) west of pool in main parking lot
- Garfield Park (2432 Conservatory Drive) MacAllister Center
- Gustafson Park (3110 Moller Road) near the front entrance
- Krannert Park (605 S. High School Road) north parking lot
- Northwestway Park (5253 W. 62nd St.) near the recycling bins
- Perry Park (451 E. Stop 11 Road) soccer field parking lot
- Riverside Park (2420 N. Riverside Drive) tennis court parking lot
- Sahm Park (6801 E. 91st St.) soccer field parking lot