Published by The Junior Historical Society and The Riparian Newspaper Broad Ripple High School Indianapolis, Indiana 1968

About the cover

Does this view look familiar? It wouldn't unless you had been in Broad Ripple more than 40 years ago. The Aerial photo, taken sometime between 1913 and 1933, shows the bend in White River and south of it. The dirt road on the left, then called Marion Road, is now Compton Street. To the right of Compton is the school building constructed in 1913. This section of the Ripple building was torn down in 1967 and replaced by a modern addition. The building to the right of the 1913 building was the original school constructed in 1884. This structure housed the bell that is now located in the main office. South of these buildings is the Cottage. Around the river's bend is Broad Ripple Park, then called White City. The roller coaster, ferris wheel, and other midway amusements attracted many visitors annually.

Foreward     Broad Ripple Park, a once great tourist attraction, interurban tracks running through Broad Ripple-these and many more fascinating facts can be read about in A History of Broad Ripple.     This history began as a Lilly Scholarship project by Steve Savage, '65 Ripple grad. Steve spent approximately two years in research and wrote the first detailed manuscript.     At the same time Steve began the project, the Junior Historical Society and the Riparian also began collecting historical data. In 1966, both organizations started the process of completing the history, yet this project was never finished.     Then Marcia Sakowitz and Kris Wilcox took up the project the next year. During the 1967-68 school year, Marcia, along with Christie Hughes and Sandy Satinsky, corrected and completed the history and prepared it for publication.     Serving as supervisors and consultants for the project were Mrs. Ruth Marie Griggs, director of publications, and J. Raymond Hall, Junior Historical Society sponsor. Contents Cover and Forward (current page) 1878 Surveyor's Record of Broad Ripple Chapter One - Coil Starts Settlement Chapter Two - Ripple Linked To City Chapter Three - Canal Creates Rivalry Chapter Four - Villages Start Schools Chapter Five - Religious Life Grows Chapter Six - Social Life Develops Chapter Seven - Canal Villages Thrive Chapter Eight - Trolleys Aid Travel Chapter Nine - Farmer Shakes Jail Chapter Ten - Floods Ravage Town Chapter Eleven - Park Attracts Visitors Chapter Twelve - BRHS Joins City Chapter Twelve - Errata Chapter Thirteen - City Annexes Village Acknowledgements