At the February meeting of the Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) Committee for Historic Broad Ripple, Mark Dollase, Vice President of Preservation Services and Director of Central Regional Office, presented the group with a matching grant check from the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. The grant, along with the money raised by the BRVA will be used to apply for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places for the Broad Ripple fire station.

"It's a huge step for the committee and for Broad Ripple to have this happen," said committee chair Chris Carlson.

"Everybody loves the firehouse. Everybody remembers the kids coming here. Everybody remembers Santa coming to the firehouse, and taking a ride on the fire engine," said committee member Karen Brogan.

Connie Zeigler was chosen from a number of respondents to a request for quotation from the committee to prepare the application. The application process can take a year or more. Connie has experience in preparing these documents, which includes doing research on the history of the structure. She will also incorporate research that has already been prepared by the committee as part of its regular historic structure research project.

Funds raised above those needed for register application will be used to procure a plaque to be placed at the firehouse. Possible other uses would be for brochures on the history of the station that would be available to visitors, and improvements available to the community, such as a picnic table and a bike rack. Donations can be made in canisters at several locations throughout Broad Ripple Village after February 26 or at www.discoverbroadripplevillage.com (click on Broad Ripple Village, then Make a Donation). A donor appreciation event is being planned for 2011. If you are interested in preserving the history of Broad Ripple, join us at a committee meeting - the second Wednesday of each month at 6 pm at Old National Bank.

The next meeting is Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at 6 pm at Old National bank located at 6135 College Avenue.