Grave Spotlight of the Month - July 2025 - Lyman Skinner Ayres

 Welcome to another Grave Spotlight of the Month.  This time we are taking a look at the life of Lyman Skinner Ayres, founder of the fabulous L.S. Ayres department store.

Lyman Skinner Ayres was born on September 4, 1824 in Oswego, New York to parents Thomas Floyd Ayres (?-?) and Marian Jones Ayres (?-?).  He had five siblings, though the names of those are not known.

His parents were owners of a farm in Oswego, New York, but Lyman disliked this career and left home in his teen years to take on the life of a peddler, eventually establishing a general store in Chardon, Ohio with partner John Murray in 1843.  He owned and operated this store for 15 years along with a dry goods store in New York for 7 years.  

During this time, he married for the first time to Almira G. Harned/Hamel  Ayres (1829-1857) on December 12, 1851 in Geauga, Ohio.  Unfortunately, she passed from consumption on April 28, 1857 on Montville, Ohio.  She is buried in the Ayres Cemetery in Montville, Ohio, her heading being located behind the old schoolhouse in the woods.  They had no children from their union.  

His second wife, who would eventually bear him three children and move with him to Indianapolis, was Maria Helen Murray Ayres (1837-1911), the sister of his former business partner's sister. They were married in 1862.  Their children were Frederick/Frederic Murray Ayres (1872-1940), Katherine Ayres Smitheram (1880-1949) and Robert Ayres (died in infancy).  They also adopted a child named Emma Murray, who was their niece, when she was just an infant.  

In 1864, Lyman sold his interest in the general store in Chardon, Ohio and moved to Geneva, New York, where he started his new business with partner James G. Thomas.  This new venture was called Ayres and Thomas.  This last until 1872, when he sold his interest and purchased controlling interest in a leading dry goods store called the Trade Palace located on 26 West Washington Street in Indianapolis in "Ray's Stone Front Building".  This was in partnership with N.R. Smith and the business was renamed N.R. Smith and Ayres. His wife and family joined him in Indianapolis just two years later, right before his full success was recognized.

Indiana Historical Society

His business was such a success that his company grew and expanded and in 1875 he moved his business to 33 Washington Street and named it after himself - L.S. Ayres and Company.  

Ayres known for his generosity and careful business practices.  He held great concern and care for his employees, which showed in that his staff grew from 30 to 175 from 1874-1896.  His employees were paid a higher wage than most and he was the first in the city to hold an annual employees' picnic on the Fourth of July.

In 1895, James G. Thomas retired, leaving the entire company in Lyman's hands, making him the sole proprietor.  By this time, the business had grown so much that it was needing an expansion.  Ayres purchased the land at the southwest corner of Washington and Meridian Streets for this grand new location.  But, unfortunately, he would never see his dream come to fruition.  Lyman Skinner Ayres passed away on May 7, 1896 in Indianapolis, Indiana of chronic nephritis.  He was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.  I was lucky enough to be able to stop by his grave and take a few photos.

This, however, may be the end of Lyman's story, but it is not the end of the legacy of L.S. Ayres and Company.  His son, Frederic M. took over the business and built the new store on the property that his father had purchased.   It began construction some time in 1905 and officially opened its doors on October 2, 1905.  

This building was 8 stories tall, the top floor dedicated to the administration of the building.  But these department stores were not what we would be accustomed to today.  Whereas now goods are imported from overseas or other areas, that was a very expensive prospect during this time.  Instead, floors were dedicated to the construction of goods to sell.  On floor was for picture frame and cabinet construction, while another was accommodating dressmakers who made both custom orders and the ready-to-wear items that would be for sale on the lower levels.  The rest of the floors were the actual sales floors where a variety of items would be available for purchase - clothing, shoes, cosmetics, jewelry, accessories and
the like.  There was at one time, even a floor with fabric and millinery.

The basement of the store was an economy area, with items of lower cost and quality as well as marked down items and a large soda fountain, coffee and snack room.  But, the highlight of the downtown store was the Tea Room.  This room, which operated in this store from 1905 until the year before the store officially closed in 1991.  While there was a sofa fountain and a coffee shop in the basement, the Tea

Room was a formal setting that catered to the female shopper.  Several models would roam the gathering spot, showing off the current fashions available for purchase.  The menu boasted consistent fare such as chicken pot pie, chicken velvet soup and special desserts for the children.  The Tea Room was eventually re-created in the Indianapolis State Museum and is open seasonally. 

Ayres also became somewhat of a destination store for its holiday displays.  If you have ever seen the PBS/BBC production of "Selfridge", then you would have seen a glimpse into the life of L.S. Ayres.  They would have been very much the same in the displays and the sales floor and the like.  

On the corner of Washington and Meridian Streets there was a massive clock that hung out into the

road.  On the night before Thanksgiving 1947, a three foot tall bronze cherub appeared on top of the clock.  This stayed in place until Christmas, starting a tradition that lasted for years.  They had elaborate Christmas window displays that people would travel to see.  There even added a Santa's Workshop at one point.  

After World War II, they offered a phone call with Santa and live television broadcasts.  From 1958-1961, they offered children a ride through the Christmas displays on a miniature electric train called the Santa Claus Express.  In the early 1940s, they offered visits with the Easter Bunny and later in the late 1950s, there were barnyard animals included with your visit with the bunny.  

In 1958, Ayres opened a store in Lafayette, Indiana and one in Glendale Shopping Center in Indianapolis' north side.  In the 1960s and 70s, they opened branches in Greenwood Park Mall and one in Fort Wayne.  In 1972. Ayres was acquired by Associated Dry Goods of New York City.  Additional stores were opened in Lafayette Square Mall, Washington Square Mall, South Bend, Muncie, Southlake Mall in Merrillville, Mishawaka, and Bloomington, Indiana.  

Things seemed great for the L.S. Ayres Company until the changing position of shoppers in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  L.S. Ayres started to struggle in the economy.  The stores that they had opened in many locations in the American Midwest started to see a decline in sales and some had to close, being sold off to other companies such as JC Penney.  This change included the budget basement in the flagship location.  Needs changed and people began shopping at the separate budget store, Ayr-Way.  (I remember shopping at Ayr-Way when I was a kid!  Ayr-Way later became Target in many locations.)

The company was acquired in 1986 by the May Company.  This was around the time that there were some serious discussions within the upper echelons of the company.  Stores in Cincinnati were closed as well as stores in Louisville.  Indianapolis was working on a new mall location downtown called Circle Centre Mall.  This new mall was meant to be a destination mall with several levels, underground parking and lots of restaurants.  Unfortunately, it was decided that the mall would not include the flagship location.  And it was announced on October 25, 1991, that the flagship store would be closing.  That same year, Ayres Company merged with Famous-Barr, a May division location in Missouri.  In 1994, they were acquired by Federated Department Stores and were turned into Macy's.  

It was the end of an era.  The end of the elegance of shopping and the experience of a destination store.

My grandmother shopped at the original store in Indianapolis.  She bought her fabric there for making my mom's dance costumes and special occasion outfits.  She ate at the Tea Room.  She took my mom and my uncle to see the displays.  I never got to go the original store.  I never got to see the displays or the magnificence of the 8 stories.  I did, however, work at the Bloomington location for a few years when they were taken over by Famous-Barr.  I remember how strange it was because as L.S. Ayres, we still did the huge Christmas displays and set up the entire upstairs for the holiday.  We decorated the downstairs, especially the entrance with huge trees and lights and garlands.  And that all ended when it became Famous Barr.  I don't know if that was a thing on their part or just the shopping climate.  

Whatever the reasons, the loss of L.S. Ayres and Company was felt strongly.  The shopping experience was forever changed.

Rest In Peace, Lyman S. Ayres.  And know that you are not forgotten.  And your store will live on forever in our hearts and memories.

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RESOURCES:

Wikipedia - Lyman S. Ayres

Encyclopedia of Indianapolis - Lyman S. Ayres

Lost Indiana - Lyman A. Ayers

Indy Star - Remembering Ayres

Wikipedia - L.S. Ayres

Indy Today - The tale of the clock and the cherub