08/29/2026
The building Funderburgh's Grocery occupied at 102 S. Union never experienced a fire like all the buildings surrounding it at one time or another, even though it was a completely wooden building. However, we did find one fire at this location. Boys playing with fireworks set the awnings on fire and they were completely destroyed. The newspaper article covering it follows.
It makes sense that if you were traveling from Indianapolis to Chicago you would be on the Range Line now known as Union Street. This was the "highway" to Chicago. It also gives you an inkling into the mind of one 14-year old boy in 1940 on a weekend during the school year. Westfield was located on the path "to see the world" he told the Deputy Sheriff. It appears Neil was born in Aurora, IL, maybe wanting to get closer to home.
Range Line was also the very same road used by most former slaves seeking freedom around 100 years prior who came through Westfield.
What happened to Neil? He graduated high school, was working at the Indianapolis Star when he filled out his WWII Draft card, and then enlisted in the Army for the Korean War in 1943. Public records show he died in 1992. Westfield was just one part of the world he saw.
