Old Town of Broad Ripple Meeting Minutes #247
posted: Jan. 22, 2026
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-seventh installment
Broad Ripple Town Minutes - Book 2 - Pages 79 and 81
Town Board lists assets
Broad Ripple Ind
Dec. 9th 1909
Board met in special session to take action on Ordinance fixing salaries of all Town Officers.
Roll called as follows
Millard Eaton 1st ward Present
George Sheets 2nd " Present
Benj. F. Osborn 3rd " Present
All members present.
The report of the committee on the Ordinance fixing salaries of all Town Officers was reported on favorable + recommended its passage with the following amendment which was concurred in by amending Section 2 Line 3 by striking out the word "thirty" + inserting the word "forty", inserting the salary of the Town Treasurer and on 2nd reading a motion to suspend the rules and the ordinance was on 3rd reading put upon its passage. The members voting upon the passage of the ordinance as follows:
Millard Eaton of 1st ward voted "Yes"
George Sheets " 2nd " " "Yes"
Benj. F. Osborn " 3rd " " "Yes"
All members voting yes the ordinance was passed + ordered that a copy be posted in each ward.
No further business board adjourned
J.O. Brenneman
Benj F Osborn President of Board "Town Clerk"
The present Board has this day Jan. 1st, 1910 turned over to the new Board the following property
One gasoline fire engine + hose cart
8 sections of ladders
2 - 50 gal coal oil cans
1 - coal stove
300 ft of new hose
1 - fire proof safe
Town Hall furniture
1 fire cistern
10 - driven fire wells
1 - town jail
1 - town hall
{next issue: new Rules and Regulations}
alan@broadripplegazette.com