Map page 16
The Broad Ripple Gazette
Vol. 16 No. 09
Including the Cultural Districts and Midtown: Meridian-Kessler, Butler-Tarkington, and Meridian St.
Random Ripplings
Crossword page 13
Apr 26 - May 9, 2019
After three decades of ownership, Steve Ross has retired from The Vogue. The details of the sale are on page 6.
Josh John, president of the BRVA opening the meeting at the IAC.
Spring BRVA meeting held at IAC - new logo By Alan Hague
alan@broadripplegazette.com
Installment Eight
Chapter Seven
From your editor: I have received several requests for a reprint of the 1968 publication “A History of Broad Ripple” by The Junior Historical Society and The Riparian Newspaper, both of Broad Ripple High School. We haven’t published this information since 2004 and many new residents are now in Broad Ripple and have never read it. Where we come from is important. It has some errors. I will try to correct them as they appear. I will attempt to reprint the entire booklet. I will include each section as space permits. -AH
Canal villages thrive Broad Ripple and Wellington, which started out as small river communities, were soon in the process of becoming bustling and growing Indiana towns. In the early 1880’s, the village of Wellington was a thriving community. In this area to the south of the Broad Ripple-Indianapolis Canal were Wray’s Dry Goods Store, Florander’s Blacksmith Shop, the United States Post Office, the Odd Fellows Lodge Hall, the Methodist Church, and Washington Township Grade School Number 14. The village of Broad Ripple on the north side of the canal was at its lowest ebb at this time, however. Two-thirds of this area had been turned back to farmland and only about 35 people lived there. The only remaining business was the KoontzBurke grist mill. Broad Ripple, however, was soon to receive some of Wellington’s good fortune for in 1884 the two villages were incorporated as one town under the name of Broad Ripple. Many additions were made to the prosperous new community. A livery stable owned by Isaac White was built near the corner of Broad Ripple Avenue [NOTE: this was about where Condado Tacos is today] and Marion Road, now known as Compton Street. The town hall was erected at the corner of Westfield Boulevard and Bellefontaine, now Guilford Avenue. This building was also used as a jail, a polling place, and the base of operations for the volunteer fire department. In the early days, the fire engine was a hand-pushed wagon with a hand pump. When Broad Ripple became a part of Indianapolis, the volunteer fire department changed to Indianapolis Fire Station No. 32. This station was enlarged and improved in 1922.
See HISTORY pg. 4
INDEX
www.virtualbroadripple.com
There were about 100 in attendance at the Spring public Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) meeting held April 16th at the Indianapolis Art Center. The food and drink was provided by Broad Ripple Brewpub and Average Joe’s. Throughout the evening, door prizes were given out courtesy of BurgerFuel, Greek’s Pizzeria, Dr. Eve Earley chiropractor, and the BRVA. BRVA president Josh John opened the meeting and discussed the 50th anniversary of the BRVA, the Bark Park and Family Center redevelopment at BR Park, the status of BRHS, Riverwalk, membership changes, and CreateIndy grants. On the Riverwalk, the proposed project to connect Broad Ripple Park with the Monon Trail, Josh announced that the BRVA received at $750,000 matching grant from the city. The BRVA will be working to raise the full $750,000 to be able to double it with the grant. Next Colleen Fanning, BRVA executive director and district 2 City-County councillor, introduced the group from Tomato Fish Marketing to detail the design of the new BRVA Cultural District logos and associated BRVA graphics. Colleen explained that the previous logo became synonymous with the nightlife in Broad Ripple. The BRVA received a $25,000 grant from CreateIndy and, through a selection process, picked Tomato Fish Marketing to rebrand Broad Ripple. The logo, shown here, has several versions, including blue/white and multi-color. There are also seven sub-logos for the seven events the BRVA offers. Those are Farmer’s Market, Art Walk, Duck Race, Carnival, Ripple Effect 5K, Home Tour, and Lights Up. Next on the agenda was Purdue Polytechnic High School (PPHS). Scott Bess, Head of Schools for PPHS, detailed the reasons PPHS exists and the techniques used for student achievement. PPHS will open this fall at 1430 Broad Ripple Avenue [H10 on map], across the street to the east of Flanner Buchanan Mortuary. This was previously CICF. For more information: pphs.purdue.edu Next was Dan Parker, Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW), to talk about street resurfacing and chuckholes. Dan explained that while Indianapolis has 30% of the roadways in the state, DPW only receives only 10% of the state’s road budget. DPW is also responsible for 538 bridges in Marion County. Dan said that street sweeping has been brought back under city control. DPW will start sweeping Broad Ripple four times a week. Colleen announced that in 2020 the entirety of Keystone Avenue will be resurfaced. The final portion of the meeting was Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Deputy Chief Chris Bailey talking about the downturn of crime in general in Indianapolis. He also mentioned returning to smaller beats so the IMPD officers can know better (and be known better) in the area. Currently North District, which includes Broad Ripple, is the size of Fort Wayne, but with one half the number of the officers on patrol. The next public BRVA meeting is scheduled for November 12.
1 Random Rippling Vogue
4 Reader Random Rippling
7 Mistakes winner
11 Poetic Thoughts
14 Wine Scene Jill A. Ditmire
1 History of BR part 8
4 Letter to the Editor
8 Buzzing Around Town
12 Where in the Village?
14 Random Rippling Meridian
1 BRVA meeting
5 BR Brewpub Quiz
9 BR Farmers Market
12 Hidden History
15 Directory / Maps
2 Random Rippling Monon
6 Classified Ads
10 ACR history part 3
12 Sudoku
19 Right in my Own Backyard
3 Random Rippling Eggs
6 Public Notices
11 Random Rippling Macy’s
13 Historic Ad
19 Random Rippling Harold’s
3 Calendar
7 Random Rippling Taste
11 Win BR Art Fair Tickets
13 Crossword
20 Random Rippling RSD