S Talbott was first built around the year 1900 in an area of Indianapolis that was heavily settled by German immigrants. For the majority of the 20th century, German families occupied this historic duplex and brought their stories with them.
Two Chicks and a Hammer dug into the unique past behind Talbott St to uncover these stories and this unique home before renovating it.
The property appears in the 1914 Sanborn Map as a two-story duplex dwelling with one-story front and rear porches.
In 1917, one side of the property was occupied by German immigrant John Pippert. This was at the height of anti-German sentiment during WW1, and many cities took steps to expose or discriminate against German residents. The following newspaper article named Pippert and over 700 other residents as ‘alien enemies’ forbidden from being within a half mile of any weapons factories.
Pippert had immigrated to Indianapolis 1883, and remained a resident throughout WW1, working in a meat shop. He became a naturalized citizen shortly after the war. In 1920, census records show that he shared the house with his daughter and her family.
In 1926, one side of the property was occupied by the McCord family, who lost their 15 year old daughter Patricia in April of that year to pneumonia.
By 1927, the house was on the market, advertised with 5 rooms in total. For most of the mid-20th century, the house was occupied by Moses A. Rabb and his family. They were prominent influencers in the German community of Indianapolis. Moses was the president of the United Hebrew school, an insurance broker, and notary public. His sons followed him into public service, as seen in the notice below.
In 1948, the property had been recently remodeled and updated, according to a new real estate listing which put the house for sale at $6,500.
In the 1970s and 80s, the area fell into disrepair and the property was typically rented out. There was a burglary in 1978, which saw a few minor items stolen.
Two Chicks and a Hammer took on S Talbott Street in the fourth season of Good Bones. We successfully renovated and renewed this historic property, making it ready for its next chapter.
