Once again, we kept Jim Bradford busy in the kitchen [at the Whistle Stop] making biscuits and gravy for the History Saturday gang. We had a number of new vistors this month. Les Duvall joined us for the first time. His father was former Indianapolis Mayor (1926-27) John Duvall. Les graduated from School 80 in 1938 and from Broad Ripple High School in 1942. He has lived in two houses of note. For one year he lived with his grandparents at 6372 Guilford Avenue which is now home to Peggy Taylor's Salon & Spa. "I was eight years old," recalled Les. "The Monon train would go by and the dishes would rattle."

Les also rented half of a white frame double located at 6322 College Avenue. This was the southern-most of the two houses recently razed for Flagstar Bank. Former Broad Ripple Shell owner "Kick" Frazier lived two houses north.

Jack White, another first-timer, brought so much Broad Ripple history information to us that we were unable to record it all. Jack's father owned The White House radio and record store, which was once located at 910 Broad Ripple Avenue. He brought in several 8x10 black and white photos from 1946 of Santa arriving in Broad Ripple via the train.

A third new face at our gatherings was Ann. Her father, John McCord, worked at Patterson Printing, which was razed for the Reserve at Westfield. She brought us a hand-drawn map her father drew. It identifies many businesses in Broad Ripple in the 1950s.

The fourth new attendee was Mrs. Gleichman (maiden name Hitchcock). Her house was at 824 63rd Street (now Broad Ripple Avenue), next to Zivien's Department Store. It was moved to Carrollton Avenue when a car dealer wanted the property for his lot.

Dr. Tom Connell brought a collection of Broad Ripple Park items from the amusement park days. He had an original three-fold brochure of the park that showed many of the rides and attractions. Dr. Connell also brought in various park membership cards from the 1930s.

Bill Wendling came in with a box of old photos. Several were for an upcoming article on the 1936 BRHS/Shortridge football game. He also had two school 80 graduating class photos. The one of the 1933 class was printed as a postcard; It is the image at the top of this article.

Our train expert, Jay Williams, brought in a copy of Jerry Marlette's book on Indianapolis railways.

Thanks to everyone. See you on January 15, 2005.