Tom Keesling has created a beautiful print that captures some of Broad Ripple's past. The print is part of a long series Tom has produced on Indiana History.

Tom got his degree in urban planning at Ball State University and had worked for many years in water quality management planning for the State of Indiana. Tom and his wife Nancy have lived in the area for almost 30 years. In 1999 he started a photo restoration business, specializing in removing damage from 80 to 100-year-old photographs. The idea for the history prints came to Tom two years ago.

"While working to restore vintage photographs, I ran across some collections of old Indiana items that my family and friends had saved," said Tom. "There were two old city directories, one from the 1880's and one from the 1900's." The historic collections also included a large number of vintage postcards dating from 1905 to 1915. "Some of the images on the old cards are amazing," said Tom. "They are snapshots of the past in incredible detail with great colors. Those images inspired me to create the Indiana history print series." Tom combined a few of the images from the old city directories with some postcard images to create what he called, Indianapolis Horizontal 1 (see page 10).

Tom produces his 17" by 22" prints of the original artwork using archival inks and paper. He arranged with several frame shops on the north side and downtown to sell the prints. This first set included about eight prints. The history series was off and running. The collection has grown to over 40 prints. Subjects in the Indianapolis area include various business districts, monument circle, city parks, Union Station, architecture and Broad Ripple. There are collages from Evansville, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Muncie, Richmond, and Peru. Statewide prints are available on subjects such as, Indiana's interurbans, railroads, early autos, hotels, schools, covered bridges, and churches.

Tom entered a sample of his series in the Fine Arts competition at the Indiana State Fair. We found the framed prints hanging in the Home and Family Arts building.

Tom's prints are available at a number of frame shops around Indianapolis. Each shop has a different mix of prints on hand. The best place to see the prints is at Picture This, 6245 Allisonville Road, where many full-sized prints are available. "We keep a number of Tom's history prints on hand," said Ed Smith, owner of Picture This. "We try to keep the Broad Ripple print in stock since we are just down the street." A few prints are available at Frame Design, 49th & Pennsylvania Street. Editions Limited, 838 E. 65th Street, has a catalog of prints that can be ordered. Jean Easter, Easter Conservation Services at 644 E. 52nd Street, carries Tom's prints. All of the prints in the series can viewed at www.countyhistory.com/historyprints.

"I didn't grow up in Indianapolis," said Tom, "but I have learned a lot about its history over the last two years." Each print requires extensive research into the subject. As Tom learns about each subject he consults old maps, city directories, postcard collections, and early newspapers. "It is amazing," said Tom, "almost every town, no matter how small, has postcards from the early 1900s. I have had the good fortune to become friends [via the research] with many avid postcard and paper collectors around the country. They often loan me their collections of vintage images for my prints."

The Gazette thanks Tom for his work. It is important to preserve Indiana history and to display it so that new generations can find it and learn about their past. And just maybe, they might get as hooked on history as we are.