The building that is Mustard Hall looks so grand and distinguished that it might have been built in the wrong place. Perhaps it belongs closer to downtown and being so tall certainly makes it look classic and quite dignified for vibrant, modern and creative Broad Ripple. So what is the story here? Actually, this building is a long Broad Ripple architectural tradition and here is a little history to prove it.

In 1902, several members of neighboring Freemasonry lodges gathered in the old frame Broad Ripple High School (which sat on the present school grounds) and discussed establishing a Masonic lodge in Broad Ripple. Within two months, the gentlemen had their first meeting upstairs in Light's El Dorado Hall which is still located on the northwest corner of Broad Ripple Avenue and Guilford Avenue. The next year, wealthy Jacob Mustard joined the now-official Masonic lodge and, through a land bequest to the lodge he provided funds for a new Broad Ripple Masonic Temple. Mr. Mustard unfortunately died in 1903, but the building plan went on until early 1908 when the new impressive edifice, officially called J.S. Mustard Hall, was ready for use.

The first floor was used by C.W. Silvey's Grocery Store and an early branch of the Fletcher Trust Bank. The two upper floors were used by the Masons. During the Depression (around 1933), those two businesses moved out, and it was decided that the Broad Ripple Public Library would inhabit the first floor. The library remained in Mustard Hall for 14 years until the new library addition to School 80 was built.

The lodge sold the building in 1990 and moved farther east on Broad Ripple Avenue, but for those of us who were part of the lodge life in Mustard Hall, we can still hear the echoes of gavels rapping and of voices saying, "You may approach the east...".

end of part one