Old Town of Broad Ripple Meeting Minutes #241
posted: Oct. 16, 2025
This historic serial has run on and off in the last 21 years of the Broad Ripple Gazette. The intention is to share the history of Broad Ripple, help people find their ancestors in the text, and to complete the transcriptions of these important early documents.
The Town of Broad Ripple was incorporated in 1894, and started holding regular meetings at that time. In each issue, I will print my transcription of the old Town of Broad Ripple meeting minutes. These are taken from the original, hand-written minutes that contain many spelling errors. I have transcribed all the records as they were entered, including errors. I will make some corrections to the text in brackets [ ]. I will try to include street name changes, such as: Shelby Street became 63rd, then Broad Ripple Avenue, Morgan Street is now Guilford, North is now 64th, Hancock is now Westfield, Light Ave is College. See more of our street name research at
BroadRippleHistory.org - Alan
The original minutes books are at the Indiana State Archives at 6440 E. 30th St.
Here is the two-hundred-forty-first installment
readjustment of the Plat of Shads addition
Broad Ripple Ind
May 4th 1909
Board met in regular session. Roll called as follows
Millard Eaton 1st ward Present
George Sheets 2nd " Absent
B. F. Osborn 3rd " Present
The minutes of the previous meeting was read and approved. Bills were allowed as follows
T.F. Metsger 1 mo. Salary as Marshall 30.00
No further business before the meeting it adjourned
JO Brenneman
Clerk
Benj F Osborn President of Board
Broad Ripple Ind
June 1st 1909
Board met in regular session. Roll called as follows
Millard Eaton 1st ward Present
George Sheets 2nd " Absent
B. F. Osborn 3rd " Present
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were allowed as follows
B.F. Osborn 6 mo salary as Town Trustee 10.00
M.F. Eaton 6 " " " " " 10.00
B.F. Osborn 6 " " " " " 10.00
JO Brenneman 6 " " " " clerk 10.00
Frank E. Watts 6 " " " " treasurer 10.00
JO Brenneman 6 " " " " fire chief 12.00
T.F. Metsger 1 mo. Salary as Marshall 30.00
+ postage stamps 20 .20
____________
Total $92.70
The marshall was ordered to hire teams to haul gravel to fill up holes on Shelby St.
No further business Board adjourned to meet June 8th for the purpose of approving the readjustment of the Plat of Shads addn in Town of Broad Ripple + also for the improvement of 60th St.
J.O. Brenneman as Town Clerk
Benj F Osborn President of Board
Broad Ripple Ind
June 8 1909
Board met in special session for the purpose of considering H.E Shads Plat to the Town of Broad Ripple.
Roll called as follows
Millard Eaton 1st ward Present
Geo Sheets 2nd " "
B. F. Osborn 3rd " "
The plat of "Shads" Broad Ripple add. [rece?] approved + the improvement of 60th Street from College Ave to Monon R.R. was ordered + that the expenses for same shall not exceed 12.56
No further business Board adjourned
J.O. Brenneman as
Town Clerk
Benj F Osborn President of Board
{next issue: Introduction of an ordinance for Heat & Light Co of Indianapolis for a franchise.}
alan@broadripplegazette.com