The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-14
j. G. SIPE, I D1R%SSD 81
Rooms 2, and 4. IS1z North Meridian ST.
Indianapolis, Ind.
MR.. VIII. SHANK'S TOWN
HE HOLDS THAT HIS LAND Is NOT A
PART OF IRvINGTON.
A Peculiar Condition of Affairs That
Is Said to Exist in the
suburb.

Now that Irvington is practically part
OF Indianapolis there is included within the
city limits family and its property com
posing town in itself. not amenable to
city ordinances and not required to pay city
taxes. II they desired, it is said. the MEM
bers OF the family. five in number. might
hold town election all to themselves. fill
ing most OF the offices which are usually
at TIE disposal OF citizens in a small COM
munity. collecting town taxes from each
other. passing town ordinances TO be eff
fective within the two acres of ground
which constitute the town site and per-
forming all the other functions of town
officials. IL all the members of the family
were occupied In filing the offices there is
left the family dog to perform the duties of
simple citizenship. obey the ordinances and
keep the peace.
The family is that OF w. H. III. Shank.
who lives at the northeast corner OF Wash
tngton street and Arlington avenue. in Irv-
ington- The two acres. or. to be exact. the
1.4 acres. upon which the family residence
is situated is surrounded on all sides by
land which has been annexed by the Irv-
ington Town Board but Mr. Shank holds,
and IL seems that he has good ground for
his opinion. that his property is not a part
annexed legally. The fact that he has not
paid town taxes for several years and has
never been placed on the list OF delinquents
apparently indicates that the town authori-
ties agree with him in the contention that
he is the sovereign power within the two
acres where his house Is placed. The ex-
PLANTATION OF his unique position. which is
similar In many respects 10 that of the
community in Woodruff Place is explained
by Mr.. Shank as follows
In 1873. before any action was taken by
Town
erty, he plated part of the ten acres of
ground which then constituted the family
property. The part plated was the western
division. Mr.. Shank retained for the fam
fly grounds l94 acres, unplatted few
months later the Irvington Board passed
an ordinance taking the whole property,
Including the 194 acres, into the corporate
limits OF the town. Mr.. Shank made no OBJ
lection 10 the act and for a number of
years considered himself a citizen of Irv-
tngton. paying town taxes. and even hold
ing the office OF treasurer OF the School
Board of the town. Then the question of
paving the eastern end of Washington
street came up, with the assessments fol-
lowing, and Investigations convinced Mr.
tngton.
He found. he states. that. while the Town
Board had the legal right TO annex the
section OF his property which he had
plated and subdivided into town lots it
NAMED unplatted and which he uses for
his residence grounds. He found. he states
that IL required special act OF the County
Commissioners 10 give the Town Board
the right and that the Commissioners had
never acted on the matter Accordingly
he ceased TO consider himself a citizen Of
the town and discontinued the payment OF
town taxes. HIS property Is surrounded on
all sides by land recognized 10 be a part
OF IrvingtOn
Now. that Irvington will become a part
OF the city OF Indianapolis Mr. Shank
holds that his position is unchanged and
mat his property Will. like Woodruff Place
be a town within a city