Barbara A. Downs, 94, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 24, 2023. Barb was born in Duluth on May 17, 1929 to Lillian (Thorsdahl) and Clifford Hay Sr. Barb was a graduate of Denfeld High School and married M. George Downs on June 28, 1952 in the former Central Avenue United Methodist Church in Duluth. Barb was a receptionist for Dr. Barrett’s office in the Medical Arts Building, and then became a Librarian Aide for the Duluth Public Schools. Barb was a member of Asbury UMC where she was a Sunday school teacher, a financial secretary, secretary of the Asbury UMW and was named United Methodist Woman of the Year. Barb was a hard worker, never the leader, but got things done.
Kim McCann, attired in seafaring garb of an earlier era, speaking with the cadence of a shipâs roll, took us into the intricacies of how and why landlocked Indianapolis came to house the Naval Reserve Armory 85 years ago. She spoke of its continuing legacy as a part of Indianapolis Classical Schools, a free charter school, which was honored with the Cook Cup for innovative renovation.
Marking the tenth anniversary of a unique partnership between Storytelling Arts and Indiana Landmarks, McCann stepped onto the Cook Theatre stage at the Indiana Landmarks Indianapolis headquarters and, via Zoom on Feb. 28, transported us across time and spaces from this former home of the Central Avenue United Methodist Church in the Old Northside Neighborhood to the near downtown site of the recently established Riverside High School.