The Indianapolis City Market is a miniature model of the world, according to Market Master Frank J. Murray.

With foods ranging from tiger tongues to turnip greens, and a daily mixing of people from different ethnic, social and economic groups and problems, Murray isn't too far wrong.

The history of the market dates back to 1821, when six lots on Market and Wabash streets, with a frontage of 195 feet on both Delaware and Alabama streets, were set aside for use as a public market.

At that time six other lots in the same area were sold for a total of $431.50, according to records of the Union Title Company.

Today, across from the City-County Building, the City Market site is one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in Indianapolis.

In 1831 the market site was turned over to the city by the state, although the final transaction didn't take place until 1950 when Governor Henry F. Schricker signed papers granting the deed to Indianapolis.

Although records aren't entirely clear, the first City Market Building appears to have been completed August 11, 1832.

On September 29, 1832, a citizens' meeting was held at which trustees for the market were selected and a market master was hired at the salary of $30 a year.

Historic Tomlinson Hall was built on the western part of the site in 1886 with proceeds from the sale of land bequested to the city by Stephen Decatur Tomlinson. It was destroyed by fire in 1958.

Back in the days when "we ate what we raised and raised what we ate," Murray said, the market was only open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

That was because the farmers harvested their products one day and brought them into the market for sale the next morning.

The variety of produce available until about 1900 was limited to what a farmer could haul to market overnight with a horse and a wagon.

One of the first and most important changes in the market took place in the early 1900s with the development of refrigeration, Murray said.

Freight trains could then bring in fresh fruit, vegetables and other products year around, from all over the country.

And a general refrigeration system was installed in the market at that time which the stand owners used to store and preserve their products.

The antiquated general refrigeration system was scrapped in 1968 and individual units, paid for by the stand owners, were installed after Murray was appointed by Mayor Richard G. Lugar.

Another improvement in 1968 was the arrangements of a trucking system to carry garbage to the dump regularly instead of allowing it to pile up in the alley behind the market.

That eliminated the rats and insects which had plagued the market for years, Murray said.

Attempts have been made several times in the history of the market to use the land for other purposes.

In 1883, Mayor Daniel W. Grubbs and again in 1907, Mayor Charles A. Bookwalter tried to use the site for a new city hall.

Judges Daniel W. Howe and Vincent Carter, respectively, ruled that in essence, the city was only a trustee of the City Market.

Judge Carter ruled that when the city accepted the market site from the state in 1832 it also accepted the obligation to maintain it as a city market, the purpose for which it was dedicated by the original town plats in 1821.

Both Judges granted the market owners permanent injunctions restraining the city from using the market place for any other purpose.

After Tomlinson Hall burned, a parking lot was added and part of the market was refurbished.

And near it the $32.5 million sports arena-business complex is now under way. Started this year, the future home of the Indiana Pacers and possibly a professional hockey team eventually, the 18,000 seat arena will straddle East Market Street, between Alabama and New Jersey streets.

Murray, 75, said "we haven't even scratched the surface of the market's potential yet." The last four years have been only "deferred maintenance and housekeeping," he said.

In the next four years, he wants to work on restoration of the building and improving the retail operation with an eye to attracting visitors from the convention center and arena.