Just to hear someone mention Broad Ripple Park and my memory processes jump back 75 years to probably my first visit to that magnificent amusement park. My family resided in Broad Ripple (I was born in Broad Ripple - the youngest of 10 children - and the only one to be born in Broad Ripple - the other nine born in Hamilton County). Five years older than me were my triplet sisters, Mildred, Marguerite and Marian - and these three dressed alike until they entered high school.

So, when I was five and the triplets were ten, my father gave each of us a quarter and on this particular Sunday afternoon we headed on foot to Broad Ripple Park. It was an unusual sight to see three ten year old girls all dressed alike and the ride operators at the park were impressed with what they were seeing - so without exception, invited them to enjoy their particular ride free. It was good for business and many paying customers filled up the ride - and since I was along with the triplets, I was also given a free ride.

As I understand the facts, the park was named White City Park when it was built in 1907 and was co-owned by Broad Ripple doctor, Robert C. Light (the Doctor who delivered me) and was sold to the Union Traction Company in 1911. The traction company had introduced electric street cars to Broad Ripple in 1894. By 1907 the street cars gave passenger service from downtown Indianapolis to the end of the line, where the turn-around loop was located at Broad Ripple Park. This ride from downtown to the park took but 20 minutes.

The Union Traction Company owned the park for eleven years and during this time they built the second largest swimming pool in the world. In 1922 the Union Traction Company sold the park to the Broad Ripple Amusement Company and in that same year the National Swimming event took place in the big Broad Ripple Park pool - the new owners had changed the name of the park to Broad Ripple Park from the original name of White City Park.

end of part one