3674 Watson Road

Year Built: 1929

Architecture Style: French Normandy

Key Features:

• Tower with Decorative Masonry
• Tile Shingle Roof
• Decorative Timbering

This 1929 French Normandy Revival home was designed by Indianapolis architect Wilbur Shook. The Shooks lived in the home until 1971. Years after the Shooks left, the house was empty and neglected for a period of time. It was bought by a couple in 2011, who saw the potential in it and began the restoration. The hardwood floors have been replaced. The walls and ceiling details have been repaired to their original condition. While keeping the architectural integrity of the house intact, a new heating and air conditioning system has been installed. The home was featured on the Midtown Holiday Home Tour in 2019.

Watson Road was first marketed in 1925, as a place “of the better class” for residential development. It was one of the last streets to be developed in this part of Indianapolis, as houses had already been built all around it in every direction. The features that appealed to homeowners then are still prevalent today. They include mature trees lining the street, the curvilinear flow of the street that follows the original ridge to the west and north, green spaces, deep setbacks, and the architectural diversity of the homes. From the beginning, Watson Road created an image of charm, desirability, and prestige.