Defense Finance and Accounting Service Building / Schoen Field- 8899 East 56th Street

Year Built: 1953

Architecture Style: Contemporary

Key Features:

• Winged Cover over Entrance
• Banded Windows
• Flat Roof

(Finance building is across the street)

Today, the military maintains a strong presence at the Fort with about 10% of the base still under federal control. In addition to an Army Reserve enclave on the eastern boundary of the base, there is the large building across the street known as the Defense Finance and Accounting Service building, or DFAS. It is the second largest government building next to the Pentagon. It opened in 1953, and by 1957 it employed 5,000 Hoosiers, 77% of whom were women. Although mostly employing civilians, it remains an active duty military post to this day. In this building is the Major General Emmett Bean Center, dubbed the “Home of the Military Dollar,” which functions as the military’s financial headquarters.

In 1922 this area was an Army Air Corps airfield named Schoen Field, dedicated to Indianapolis native and decorated World War I fighter ace Lieutenant Earl Schoen. In the 1930s the airfield was expanded to include 185 acres and for a brief time after World War II, the field and fort were converted to Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base in 1948 but was turned back over to the Army in 1950. The finance building and its parking lot now cover all of the former airfield and no trace is left.

Read this article to learn more about the airfield and other abandoned airfields in Indianapolis: http://www.airfields-freeman.com/IN/Airfields_IN_Indy_E.htm

Directions

We’re going to head back out and head towards 56th street. At 56th St., we will make a sharp right turn onto the sidewalk and stay on the sidewalk in front of “sergeants’ row” which most of you likely saw on your way here – these 13 duplex homes served as non-commissioned officers’ quarters and were built along 56th St. in 1931; although smaller than the officers’ homes, they are identical in style and construction. Once we get to the end of sergeants’ row, we will turn right and head back into the state park to show you Camp Glenn.