Franklin FM

[Bengalsfan]

There was a time that neighborhood held some promise, but as one who has keys to that site, I pray that I never have to go there at night. I can't imagine that property's value is anywhere near what it was 30 years ago.

And as someone who does your NRSC, I have to agree with you!   

[Steppenwolf]

Enough about WXLW! I'm talking about the crooked preacher's Franklin station, the station that is LICENSED to Franklin.

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I'm talking about the crooked preacher's Franklin station, the station that is LICENSED to Franklin.

You have made it hard for us to address your question head on.  By doing so,  we appear to be confirming your assertion that "the preacher is crooked".  Maybe he is. Maybe he isnt. 

Take your choice.  Ask who owns the station in Franklin.....   or....   ask if a particular preacher is crooked.  The second question might belong in another area like "Take it Outside".

[stereolane]

Enough about WXLW! I'm talking about the crooked preacher's Franklin station, the station that is LICENSED to Franklin.

He's never been "crooked" toward me.

And yes, he still owns the Franklin FM.

[N_D_Radioguy]

"Crooked preacher" is a lot like "arrogant salesperson" -- redundant

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

You have made a couple of blanket claims that I must contest.

I've met a few irritation salesmen, I've met a few arrogant salespersons, but I have met a lot of very useful, accurate and helpful sales people. I have been at times in my life a "sales people" and I hope my customers found me to be useful, accurate and helpful.... most of the time.

I have met preachers of every sort, shape, size, temperament and veracity you can imagine.  Some are loud.  some are much too ardent about a mis-constructed gospel they have assembled.  Some are over-bearing,  some are boring,  some preach way too long.  Some are naive.  But most of them have been delightful people.  Very, very few were crooked!  If the only preachers you are meeting are all crooked,  you must be hangin in the wrong places.      (I am currently "training" my 37th pastor and he appears to be rather straight-arrow.)

[Icangelp]

I think WXLW is pretty safe. With the economy in the midwest the way it is, I can't see any developer breaking down the door to buy property in a place as visually unappealing as Indianapolis... Old neighborhoods are blighted, and in disrepair. New residential construction in Indianapolis is very rarely high-end... It's usually vinyl sided, brick only in the front, cheaply constructed crap.

I guess it is all in the eyes of the beholder.

Indianapolis is blessed with a vibrant downtown that has been fueled by the renewal and constrution of downtown residential communities. I visit my hometown frequently, and I am impressed at the number of people walking, running, dining and partying in the downtown area.

Have you taken a trip north from downtown? It is amazing to see how well maintained those older (often very old) homes are.

Of course, there are undesirable areas. But on the whole, Indianapolis has done exceedingly well for itself.

And Indianapolis did it all without a trolley to nowhere.

[ChiefEngineer]

     The last time the WXLW property sold it was North of a million dollars. Money went to an education fund.  Currently the area is low income housing and apartments.

     The old Art Deco looking building for the transmitter is still there. The WXLW letters are above the door, just no neon in them. A paint job in the 1970's is well faded.  The see through glass block appears intact in the windows that have them.  The other windows are a product of aluminum in the pre 1960 style. This is a product of the WW2 era construction.  I have the old RCA blueprints in the back room.  Tired of seeing them fade I had them laminated.  They may not mean anything to most but look impressive in today's world to someone in the business.

     When it was developed by Lyman Ayres in 1954 it was cornfields as far as the eye could see, Interstate? None, 65 was a pipe dream at that point. The old aerial photos had no houses on the multiple prints and most of the roads there were gravel.

     It will take a specific use need to cause the site to be sold.  If an apartment complex wanted to build it would be elsewhere as this area is now rather blighted.  A Marsh that was new when we moved there in 1995 is now in decline.  There was a McDonalds the last time I was through.  The same influence of 38th Street and High School Road exists and this low income inhabitation makes it a less desirable place to live.   When Shirk owned the place it was still an okay area.  I didn't worry about leaving the door open while working there, now though, I wouldn't be there at night.

    Inside the old SX 5 is gone.  If you get the camera and take a trip, take pictures. Transmitter visible through the front window.  The old RCA BT? 5 is gone but the massive ducting for it remains.  There is or was an old MW 5 that was set for backup duty but it was on another frequency, and needed much help.  Still a classy old building.  Needs lots of TLC.  Ground system is original and was repaired in the mid 1980's.  Pattern still held through the late 90's.  I would believe a 58 year old ground system might need some help now. Not sure about the painting of the towers as they had rusted in the late 90's.

     Lots of memories.  Space Station Shirk.

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I guess it is all in the eyes of the beholder.

Indianapolis is blessed with a vibrant downtown that has been fueled by the renewal and constrution of downtown residential communities. I visit my hometown frequently, and I am impressed at the number of people walking, running, dining and partying in the downtown area.

Have you taken a trip north from downtown? It is amazing to see how well maintained those older (often very old) homes are.

Of course, there are undesirable areas. But on the whole, Indianapolis has done exceedingly well for itself.

I've been gone from Indy for almost 14 years now.  18 months ago we made a rush trip to the land of cheese and Harley's for a funeral.  The trip home was not quite as rushed so we come back by way of Indy and spent the night.  A couple of hours of looking up the places where we worked and lived,  and a couple more hours on Sunday morning doing the same. 

Yes,  parts of Indy shine,  particularly that downtown.  Parts of Indy,  including two neighborhoods where we once owned homes,  disappointed us in that they were less than sparkling.  But every city seems to have it's share of that process.  That out-of-control building booms fueled by criminally insane mortgage schemes made it easier to build new than to maintain the old. 

But in this discussion of of WXLW,  it dawned on me that I did not get to the part of town where I once had my own little piece of The Free Enterprise system.  I suspect that a trip to 34th and Moeller might have left me muttering:  "And I thought this little journey down memory lane was good because??"