Our good friend George Wilkins has ended his heroic journey with cancer. George was one of the youngest people I met with vivid memories of growing up near Traders Point. His father had operated a garage and Gulf gas station in the village until it was forced closed in the 1960s by the construction of Interstate 65 and the Eagle Creek Reservoir. George’s father (also George) modified and raced stock cars at IRP. This started young George’s lifelong interest in racing and model cars. George was a professional videographer and was a stringer for national media covering stories in Indiana. He was instrumental in leading Old Pleasant Hill Cemetery to a firmer foundation and helping to arrange the Asher land gift for the cemetery’s expansion. George and I became acquainted when I learned of his wonderful video interviews with folks who had grown up in and around Traders Point. First published as a VHS, George had recently converted the interviews to DVD. Although copies may no longer be available from his website, the Pike Township Historical Society, located within Pike High School, owns a copy. I believe the Pike Township Library also owns a copy.
He leaves behind a young wife with two children. Arrangements are being handled by Flanner & Buchanan’s Zionsville Mortuary with burial in Old Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Flanner and Buchanan’s Zionsville Mortuary will host visitation this Friday December 7 from 4- 8 p.m. Services are Saturday December 8, 11 a.m. also at Flanner & Buchanan, Zionsville.
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About Ross Reller
I am pleased you have expressed interest in learning more about the historic Traders Point area in Indianapolis, Indiana. From 1980 to 1982 I was employed in the PR department at Conner Prairie Museum in Hamilton County. There I learned about William Conner, an important figure in Indiana's pioneer days. A decade later I became interested in the history of the Traders Point area and was surprised to learn that William Conner had been the first land owner in the area. In 1823 he acquired, through the Federal land office in Brookville, a patent for an 80 acre tract carved by Eagle Creek and an Indian trail that was about to be named the first toll roadway through the township (Lafayette Road). Thirty years later a village took shape within this tract. A grain mill on the creek, houses, churches, stores, restaurants, and two gas stations would take shape here in the creek valley hamlet of Traders Point. By 1962 all improvements (except a farmer's co-op) had been removed by the Indianapolis Flood Control Board to make way for Interstate 65 and a new reservoir. This blog is dedicated to preserving evidence of this historic area but I will occasionally use it to discuss related topics.
To activate this follow, simply click the confirm button below. If you don't want to follow, ignore this message and we'll never bother you again. I am also a member of the Old Pleasant Hill Cemetery, a non profit association still selling burial plots for those who would like to spend all eternity in Traders Point, and I am an officer in the Pike Township Historical Society and the Traders Point Association of Neighborhoods.
Historic Traders Point Indiana 