The house at 531 Bright Street was a small shotgun house on a half lot. Throughout the 20th century, 531 Bright Street was occupied primarily by one family. The family consisted of John and Lilly Brown as well as their ten children. 

The Brown Family

John O Brown was born around 1963 in Missouri. He married Lilly Powell on February 24, 1887. They moved to Indianapolis sometime around 1900 and took up residence at 531 Bright Street. Beginning around 1899, John and Lilly had at least nine children, although most newspaper articles say that they had ten. The 1910 census lists eight children ranging in age from William, who was twenty-one, to Claude, who was three. According to the 1920 Census one more child, Lillian, was born around 1911. The four oldest children were born in Illinois, while the remaining five were born in Indiana indicating that the Browns lived in Illinois between their marriage and their move to Indianapolis.

During his time in Indianapolis, John worked as a laborer and, according to the 1910 census, operated a cement business. By 1930, John and Lilly Brown as well as four of their children, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren were living in Chicago. The 1930 census indicates that John was working as a janitor at a school. The Indianapolis City Directory from 1927 shows that John's son, John W Brown, was living in the house before another occupant took over in 1928. John W Brown eventually moved to Chicago to live with his parents. 

From 1928 to 1941, the house was occupied by people outside of the Brown family. However, in 1942, John and Lilly's youngest son, Claude S Brown, moved back into 531 Bright Street. John O Brown died in Chicago on December 18, 1940. Sometime after her husband's death, Lilly Brown returned to Indianapolis to live with her son Claude.

While living at 531 Bright Street, Claude worked various jobs at Pitman-Moore, an animal health company. Additionally, in 1954, Claude opened a seasonal barbeque restaurant in his back yard called Claude Brown's "Under the Stars" Barbeque. In 1959, he even hosted a party for the staff of the Indianapolis Recorder.

As Lilly Brown grew older, her birthdays were often featured in the Indianapolis Recorder. She lived to be 103, dying on June 4, 1966. Claude continued to live at 531 Bright Street until his death on December 23, 1982. Following Claude's death, the house sat vacant for a short time before being demolished. 

531 Bright Street Today

531 Bright Street was demolished in the early 1980s. Today an IUPUI parking lot has taken its place.

Written and edited by Hannah Ryker, May 22, 2020

With contributions by Jessica Petty