Author Archives: Ross Reller

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.

New flood images from a 1956 8mm movie

Today I went to a Pike Township Historical Society meeting.   Joe Wagle of New Augusta shared a couple of 3 minute 8mm color movies his Dad made in 1956.   One was of the May 1956 flood at Traders … Continue reading

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Photo evidence of the village of Traders Point

source: George Wilkins and the archives of Pike Township Historical Society

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Kappel family retires from operating Farm Bureau Co-op

Bill Kappel retired from operating the Farm Bureau Co-op at the end of 2011.   A fixture in the Traders Point area for several decades, Bill, his wife, and their son Greg, operated the only remaining business in the village … Continue reading

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Order the selected stories of Traders Point (free pdf)

<a href="https://rossreller.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/traders-point-stories-revised-05-07.pdf”>Traders Point stories revised .05.07

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100 year old glass plate negative photos from area – reveal a house and church yesterday and today

This house is located on west side of Zionsville Road across from Pike High School

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Traders Point (Starkey) reference in “Early Life and Times in Boone County – first pioneers to 1886

http://www.amazon.com/Early-Times-Boone-County-Indiana/dp/0788423010

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My favorite Traders Point Photo

Several years ago a neighbor gave me this picture of the flooded village.  I believe this dates to a massive flood from the late 1950s.   It was this flood that led to the construction of an earthen levee along the … Continue reading

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Old Pleasant Hill Cemetery Info

The web address for Old Pleasant Hill Cemetery is http://www.ophc.info Old Pleasant Hill Cemetery is located within Traders Point, one of the oldest and most scenic areas in Indianapolis.  The cemetery dates to the 1820s.  It is a final resting place … Continue reading

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Ford Bridge construction to begin in 2012

Ford Bridge construction to begin in 2012.

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Traders Point Creamery Christmas

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