I spent most of grade school attending School 55 in Indianapolis till we moved away at the start of 6th grade in 1963. Our family lived at 5227 Guilford. My father was a lawyer and my mother was a homemaker. I'd like to ask you to help me solve a minor mystery from my grade school years; it involves the Lux family and Lux Laundry.

Right behind our house was a house and a fine arts gallery owned by Herb Kapper; his mailing address was 5238 Winthrop. (I always thought of his last name as Kapper or Capper but old records make me think this spelling was wrong and it was Kapher or Kappherr.) Across the street from his property was Lux Laundry at 5301 Winthrop.

I understand that in 1951 before I was born there was a big fire at the Lux Laundry but by the time our family moved to Guilford Avenue (1957) there was no evidence of there having been a fire and I never heard of one, so the fire plays no part in the mystery.

Instead, the mystery involves what I think was a plastic toy that could be seen in the ledge of the plate glass window at Lux or perhaps it was resting on a shelf or counter that was waist-high. The toy or object was purple or indigo (that is, bluish purple) and it was something like a rocket, a robot, a spaceman, a dinosaur or an animal and I thought, at my young age, that it was wonderful.

Can you tell me anything more about it? Do you have a photo of it or a newspaper article about it? Who did it belong to? Was it just a knickknack or did it have some special meaning?

I am a retired attorney. I live in Washington State, three hours behind you. If you know anyone else who might know, please pass this letter along to him or her.

On another Northeast Indianapolis subject: for years the head of the children's section of the Broad Ripple Library was Miss Dorothy Gray (no relation). I met her when I was midway through third grade and she changed my life. She recommended book after book to me and these were all books I loved (mainly science fiction and fantasy) and within a few years I had changed from a child who barely read to one who never took his nose out of a book. She was the most important person in my young life other than my parents.

Do you have memories of Miss Gray? If so, I'd love to hear them. Also, I had the Central Library establish a special collection related to her; please send them a copy of your memories of her and let friends who remember her know about this. She was great!

Thanks for your help,

Jim Gray

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