We had a big turnout for the October gathering of Broad Ripple History Saturday, October 16, 2004. There were visitors from the north side and from the south side. Dick Frost came from Carmel to see what was happening and to get a back issue of the Gazette. He also brought a 1943 school 80 graduation class photo, that was complete with names.

Our local train expert Jay Williams brought two more old photos of the Monon on the tracks in Broad Ripple. These were scanned into our computer and added to the Gazette's Broad Ripple train collection. We had some newcomers today. John O'Drain dropped by with a picture of an interurban station. John lead one of the Broad Ripple walking tours in 2002. Elizabeth and I attended that tour. Boy was that a hot day!

Lifelong Broad Ripple resident Doris King brought an amazing collection of Broad Ripple and Warfleigh postcards. Doris said that she wrote a history of the former amusement park at Broad Ripple Park and would bring us a copy. Elizabeth interviewed her at length, recording memories of shopping and recreation, friends and neighbors, and life in Broad Ripple. Doris thinks she may have several photographs of the Broad Ripple area and agreed to look for them.

There was a mini-reunion at this History Saturday. Paul Walker brought his wife and daughter. Paul, our history columnist, has written about Yorick the dog, the Fresh Air Taxi, and, most recently, the Rippleite of Distinction. Paul's brother Phillip joined us, as did special guest, Rippleite of Distinction Bill Earle. The stories were flying fast and furious, mostly wild tales of the antics that the three boys used to get into. Unfortunately for the Gazette reader, most of these stories are unprintable, as they are either too risque or too embarrassing!

Bill Earle mentioned that he has some photos of the interurban trains that used to run up College Avenue. He will try to bring them to the November meeting. He also has a video of the interurban running on the tracks from downtown.

Thanks, as always, to Jim Bradford and the Whistle Stop Deli, 901 E. 64th Street, for providing complimentary coffee, now Chock Full 'O Nuts, for all of our history participants.