An image of the Saturday, April 1, 1944 The Beacon newsletter titled Baer Field And Its Boss--1917 Version! shows an aerial photo of a farm house in an article about Korah Micheals who bought a farm in 1917 with fields south of Fort Wayne which became the Baer Field Ariport runways and hangars. An image of the Saturday, April 1, 1944 The Beacon newsletter titled Baer Field And Its Boss--1917 Version! posted
Thanks to our newest partner, the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum, the history of Baer Field and its war time works told through the pages of the base newspaper "The Beacon" will be shared digitally with the public. From 1942 to 1947, the Beacon was published weekly on base containing war news, local troop events, supportive Fort Wayne businesses and organizations and more. Stay tuned for more details to come.
Baker Family Ancestral Home - Allen County, Ind. "The Elam and Sarah Baker Farmhouse (in 1902) built around 1880 and still standing today." in a 1902 photo overlaid with a 2013 photo by descendant Daniel Baker on flickr.
Baker Street Station
Balser Rentals
Don and Marilyn Balser in business 35 years, had a Volkswagon Beetle car on a pole.
Buying fresh food, straight from the farmer, has a 181 year history in downtown Fort Wayne. It is here that we find the beginnings of the Barr Street Market. In 1837, Samuel Hanna donated land to the city for the express purpose of establishing a public market. [See page 331, The First Market House in Griswold's Pictorial History 1917] The name of market was taken from the bordering street, which was itself named for John T. Barr, who co-purchased the original 118 lots of the town of Fort Wayne. By 1855, the market was a vital part of the local economy and a market house had been constructed. In 1910, celebrated local architects, Mahurin & Mahurin designed a new concrete market complex, replacing the half-century old market. Located on the east side of Barr Street, it extended two blocks south from the City Hall Building (today known as the History Center) to Washington Boulevard. Expansion of supermarkets into the suburbs brought an end to the Barr Street Market. The northern pavilion (City Hall to Wayne Street) was demolished in 1957, followed by the southern pavilion (Wayne Street to Washington Boulevard) in 1958.
In 1988, the History Center acquired the Barr Street Market and for the past three decades the museum has faithfully stewarded this oldest public space in Fort Wayne. Since 2005, the History Center and the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana have partnered to revitalize and energize this cherished piece of our community’s shared heritage. Today we celebrate the season opening of the Barr Street Farmers Market on Saturday, which is once again home to farmers and vendors selling directly to the people of Fort Wayne. #sociallyhistory
A beloved summer tradition in downtown Fort Wayne returns for another season. The Barr Street Farmers Market traces its origins to 1837, when the land was given to the town of Fort Wayne by Samuel Hanna. The land was designated for use as a public market in perpetuity and was operated as such by the city until the downtown farmers market lost popularity in the mid-20th century. In 1988, the History Center purchased the Barr Street Market and has stewarded this property as the oldest public space in Fort Wayne for over three decades.
Since 2005, the History Center, in partnership with the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana, has presented the Barr Street Farmers Market each summer. Come and visit our historic market for locally made food and produce each Saturday, May 7 through September 24, 9am-1pm.
A 1950 photo from THIS DAY IN HISTORY: May 31 in photos by Dan Vance posted May 31, 2018 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. Caption; 1950 - In the 1950s, the Barr Street Market was a place to buy plants and flowers as well as all kinds of homegrown fruits and vegetables. Here, on May 31, early-afternoon shoppers had their pick of merchandise. The market was open five days a week, and was at its busiest Friday afternoons and evenings and Saturday mornings.
In 1988, the History Center purchased the Barr Street Market and has stewarded this property as the oldest public space in Fort Wayne for over three decades. Since 2005, the History Center, in partnership with the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana, has presented the Barr Street Farmers Market each summer. Come and visit our historic market for locally made food and produce each Saturday, May 7 through September 24, 9am-1pm. Copied from a May 6, 2022 post by The History Centeron Facebook.
YLNI Summer Farmers Market posted Oct 5, 2022 by YLNIon YouTube Located in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, at the historic Barr Street Market, the YLNI Farmers Market presents a vibrant market experience during the summer months!
The YLNI Farmers Market is a producer-only market, meaning that our vendors personally make or grow the products they sell. Every vendor is local, coming from Allen or surrounding counties. On average, the market connects 10,000 visitors each week with fresh and unique local produce, plants, meats, baked goods, and homemade crafts.
Historical Facts: The YLNI Farmers Market represents an important part of Fort Wayne’s history. It is an ongoing tradition that’s been alive in the heart of our city for more than a century. Here’s why: Located in the oldest public space in Fort Wayne (at the corner of Barr and Wayne Streets); The original Barr Street Market operated continuously from the 1840s-1950s; In its heyday, the Market stretched for 2 city blocks and had several permanent buildings.
Since 2005, the History Center has partnered with Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana to reenergize and revitalize the 1837 Barr Street Market, which is the oldest public space in the City, into the top-ranked Barr Street Farmers Market. The History Center acquired the Barr Street Market in 1990 and since that time has stewarded and interpreted that beloved public market.
For the second consecutive year the Barr Street Farmers Market was named the best farmers market in Indiana, and this year was also named third in the Midwest and sixth in the nation.
At Columbia and Lafayette Streets, someone vandalized a valuable stone in the June 16, 1907 article in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Battle of Kekionga
There is an historical marker Harmar's Defeat in the Lakeside neighborhood.
See 2017 book The Bones of Kekionga by Jim Pickett, a retired teacher, that blends a historical and fictional depiction of what really happened during the 1790 Battle of Kekionga between American General Josiah Harmar and Miami Chief Little Turtle. Copied from Driven by city history Driver's education course includes tours of downtown by Austin Candor published August 22, 2017 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
See August Becker. The Becker House, located in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, is an outstanding example of the Free Classic Queen Anne style. Designed by architect Harry W. Matson and built in 1886, with a front porch and brick veneering likely added circa 1895, the two-story, cross-gabled, blond brick structure is situated on the south side of West Williams Street midway between Fairfield and Hoagland Avenues. Copied from Section 7 page 4 of the Summary Paragraph of the 34 page NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Becker House 425 West Williams Street at Indiana Department of Natural Resources including 13 photographs of maps, architectural drawing, exterior and interior of the house.
ATC member Arline Nation continuing to improve the Hoagland-Masterson neighborhood. Good to know that the ATC Pigtail Project Porch will have historic status 😉
ATC member Arline Nation continuing to improve the Hoagland-Masterson neighborhood. Good to know that the ATC Pigtail Project Porch will have historic status
Congratulations to the Becker House in Fort Wayne and the Bloomfield School near LaGrange for being listed in the...
Congratulations to the Becker House in Fort Wayne and the Bloomfield School near LaGrange for being listed in the National Register of Historic Places. ARCH was pleased to prepare these nominations.
Built in 1887, this three-story brick Queen Anne has a wraparound front porch and 13 rooms. Its original owner, Mr. August Becker, immigrated from Germany at 18. His first job was driving a team of horses. He learned the baker’s trade and opened a grocery and dry good store on Fairfield Ave. Becker became a director of Tri-State Building and Loan Association, Van Arnam Manufacturing Company, and the Home Telephone & Telegraph Company. And a realtor! We know because the current owner used ARCH’s expertise to document and research the history of her home to list it on the National Register of Historic Places. This service is one of the many things we do in this community to help people learn more about their homes and share in the joy of historic preservation. To learn about this paid service or to become a member of ARCH and support ARCH’s mission please visit our website at archfw.org.
When Arline Nation saw Fort Wayne’s historic Becker House in 2012, she knew she wanted it for her home. However, the...
When Arline Nation saw Fort Wayne’s historic Becker House in 2012, she knew she wanted it for her home. However, the road to owning the 1886 Queen Anne wasn’t easy. After years of vacancy, the foreclosed property was a wreck, with broken plumbing and radiators, damage from frozen pipes, and cracks in almost every window. But, beneath the damage, Nation saw her dream Victorian home. “It took almost a year from the time I put my offer in to get the house in my name and fix to a point it was livable,” says Nation. After years of restoration, Nation plans to safeguard investment in her historic home by donating the property to Indiana Landmarks as an estate gift.
In 1893 Wing and Mahurin began construction on Robert and Clara's Romanesque styled mansion. Same architect as the University of Saint Francis' Bass Mansion and The History Center both in Fort Wayne. Robert served as a state senator, assistant U.S. Commissioner for Indiana, and was a prominent lawyer. Clara helped form the first classes at the Fort Wayne Art School and was the co-founder of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. The couple was originally from the Muncie area but moved up here for business purposes. They were a very prominent couple during their years here in Fort Wayne. Not only did Clara leave her forever footsteps at the Art Museum his law firm is still going strong known as the Barrett-McNagny law firm serving the local area still today. They only had one child Bessie but unfortunately due to illness died at 11 months old. After Robert's death in 1901 the home was sold to William K. Noble who ran a lumber company that operated in 3 states. His family of 3 lived there for 22 years and sold the building for $50,000 to The Klaehn Funeral home. In 1935 the west side addition was added due to high demand. At this time funerals were no longer held in the residents home as they were done in the 1800s. Today there are over 14,000 square feet in this absolutely breathtaking mansion. No detail has gone unnoticed. It remained a funeral home for over 93 years. Until they left the building in 2018 and the Sturm's bought the building in 2020 to preserve its beauty. We want to preserve our precious history first and foremost. History is the reason why we are all here today! Copied from their website: https://thebellmansion.com/. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebellmansion states: The Bell Mansion is a 130 year old gorgeous victorian event center. We also offer tours!!
Robert C. Bell and William Nobel House at ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) starts with: The residence of Robert C. Bell was built in 1884. The distinctive Richardsonian style was one of the earliest designs of the prominent Fort Wayne architectural firm of Wing and Mahurin (who also designed the Old City Hall and the Elektron Building). The stone used for the exterior of the residence is native Indiana limestone. The wood used for framing and support, along with interior decorations came from the Jacob Klett & Sons Lumber Yard & Planing Mill which contradicts the 1893 date above and below.
Landmark on West WayneKlaehn, Fahl and Melton One of the finest examples of a well preserved downtown Fort Wayne structure is “The Home” located at 420 West Wayne Street. Spanning a full century and portions of two others, it was the stately residence of Robert C. Bell who built it in 1893. For the past eighty years it has been occupied by the Klaehn, Fahl & Melton Funeral Home. posted September 8, 2015 (Fort Wayne Monthly “Along the Heritage Trail with Tom Castaldi” – July 2010 No. 68) on the History Center Notes & Queries blog.
It was in 1888 when Clara Wolfe Bell, young wife of a prominent attorney and aspiring politican, persuaded John Ottis Adams to travel weekly to Fort Wayne from Munice to take charge of a painting and sketching class in a second-floor room at the southwest corner of Calhoun and Wayne Streets. from Historical Highlight: Mrs. Hamilton's Carriage House Suzanne Slick, Collections Information Specialist July 25, 2018 by KThompson on the Articulate From the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
Lace up your rollerskates! We are headed to Bell’s Skating Rink on Indiana 930 for our Throwback Thursday post. Bell’s may have the distinction of being the oldest roller rink in Indiana. Joseph Bell turned the Lincoln Highway Dance Hall into the rink in 1926. Previously the dance hall had been an open air pavilion and the floor was dirt. Joseph and Anna Bell were Italian immigrants. The rink has stayed in the family. Over the years the rink has been updated with new murals and a switch from pipe organ music to popular songs. The brick house attached to the rink likely dates back to the 1930s or1940s.
Belmonte Stores
Local "dime" store chain went out of business when the big box stores came to town.
Berghoff Brewery
The Herman Berghoff Brewing Company on Fort Wayne Beer.comhas the history of the company.
The brewery was completed in 1888 at the cost of $140,000. Above the main entrance in stone was a Star of David, a strange symbol for German Catholic's to use unless you know that King David was reported to be the first brewer. The Brewery was turning out Dortmunder Beer by the first week of June. Discussed March 21, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
A most German town is an apt description of Fort Wayne during the late 19th century and along with that heritage came the demand for German beer. One German family to answer this demand was the Berghoff family. The Berghoff Brewery was established in April 1887 by the Berghoff brothers: Gustav, Henry, Hubert and Herman. They brewed German beers with the names, Dortmunder, Salvator and Bock, that reflected their Germanic homeland. Berghoff survived the era of Prohibition by making soft drinks, but by the time beer production resumed in 1933, the Berghoff family had sold most of their interests in the business. The Falstaff Brewing Corporation of St. Louis purchased the brewery in 1954; in December 1988 it was acquired by the S&P Company of California. In January 1990, the brewery closed its doors for the final time. The closure of the former Berghoff plant, Fort Wayne’s last major brewery, brought an end to the tradition of large-scale beer production in our city.#sociallyhistory
Daniel Baker "Famous Berghoff Beer" taken on July 7, 2014 on flickr.
The Berghoff Brewery was founded in 1887 by four brothers who had immigrated from Germany. It was located east of Fort Wayne on Grant Avenue near Memorial Park. One brother, Herman, brought the beer to the Chicago's World Fair in 1893 and did so well, he opened a cafe that evolved into the Berghoff Restaurant (which is still open).
The Volstead Act (1919) was the end for many breweries, but others were able to adapt. Indiana boasted 33 breweries in 1918, but saw only 17 survive to Prohibition's end in 1933. Berghoff switched gears and began producing a root beer called, "Bergo's" and a Malt Tonic. As the end of Prohibition became more apparent, the Berghoffs (wanting an edge) began the switch back to making beer and dumping the product into the sewer. Legalization of alcohol under 3.2% ABV came April 7, 1933 and the Berghoff Brewery was ready. It was the first in Indiana to get their beer to market. 15,000 cases of Berghoff beer were on the trucks by 7am that same day.
By the 1940s, The Berghoff family began selling their holdings and the brewery was purchased by Falstaff Brewing Corp. in 1954. Falstaff modernized the brewery and produced their own label until it closed in 1990. That ended a 103 year old legacy and was the last of the big Fort Wayne breweries.
-Ankenbruck, John. (1975) "Twentieth Century History of Fort Wayne." Fort Wayne, Indiana. Twentieth Century Historical Fort Wayne, Inc.
Daniel A. Baker Ft. Wayne, Indiana
-http://www.falstaffbrewing.com/
A 6,800-square-foot home on Fort Wayne's southwest side is for sale. PHOTOS:
Interesting story of the Covington Manor Farms at 3333 W Hamilton Road South built by John and Mary Berghoff in 1931. It was first listed as “Covington Downs” in the 1932 Fort Wayne City Directory.
Let's take a step back in time to 1900 when the building at 1501 E Berry Street was built. In 1902, the confections manufacturer Heit-Miller-Lau Company moved in, producing Mary Wayne Chocolates (aptly named after Anthony Wayne's wife).
In 1930, ownership shifted and the name of Heit-Miller-Lau Company was changed to something a bit more familiar, Wayne Candies. They continued making candies, such as vanilla cream nut clusters, and in 1947, Wayne Candies copyrighted the name "Bun Bar", and the candy as we know it was officially born!
The Wayne Candies factory went through many new owners after that, from the makers of Whopper's Malted Milk Balls to Nabisco, until finally in 1995 the local plant was closed down and production moved to a plant in Pennsylvania.
Today, the Olde East End building has been refurbished thanks to the City of Fort Wayne Commercial Facade Grant, and it is now home to many businesses, including Summit City Brewerks and Hair Candy Fort Wayne. It's also directly adjacent to Indiana Tech student housing. And it could be home to your business, too
Want a piece of history? Sturges Property Group is offering Suite 107 and 205 for lease within Olde East End, so make sure to find the listing on our website and call today for more information on this historic and iconic piece of Fort Wayne's story!
A 30-by-50-foot log cabin, made of squared-off tulip tree logs dating from at least the 1850s and likely used by federal Indian agents engaged in removing native tribes from Indiana. It is a log cabin getaway spot run by Klare Stech that ended up on more than 40 acres of land in Cedar Creek Township at 18017 Devall Road outside Spencerville. It used to be on land that had been a turkey farm off Maysville Road near St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, which traces its founding to 1838. Information copied from website and Retreat into the past 1800s cabin rented out to lodgers after years of restoration work by Rosa Salter Rodriguez published March 17, 2013 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Bicentennial Woods Preserve
340 E. Shoaff Road, Huntertown, Indiana. Street View photo from Google Maps has over 600 photos
From their website: PRESERVE DESCRIPTION This is hill country, carved by glaciers and covered with towering oaks, hickories and sycamores, some more than 200 years old. This area was shaped by water gushing from a rapidly melting glacier more than 10,000 years ago. The meltwater dumped its sediment load at Bicentennial Woods, creating the preserve’s sandy hills.
This nature preserve is part of the Cedar Creek Corridor, the largest forested corridor in the region. The mature forests found here are uncommon in our region today. Some of the largest oak trees in Bicentennial Woods sprouted during the Civil War.
A variety of woodland birds can be seen and heard in spring and summer. Spring wildflowers include wild blue phlox, wild geranium, bloodroot and Jack-in-the-pulpit.
Bicentennial Woods October 17, 2022 Maxamillian Studio on YouTube
Bicentennial Woods is a nearly 80 acres of nature preserve on the northern side of Allen County, IN protected by Acres Land Trust. These amazing trails are filled with the colors of fall and are a perfect spot to enjoy some nature bathing.This was shot with the DJI Mavic 3. Hope you enjoy!
Our stewardship team updated a few signs at Bicentennial Woods! This property continues to be one of our most visited preserves. More people = more potential for misuse. Let's work together to keep this space beautiful for generations to come. Be sure to adhere to all preserve rules!
- Open dawn until dusk
- Stay on the trails (that means stay out of the creek)
- Take nothing, leave nothing
- Foot traffic only
- Dogs are on leashes (and you're holding the leash)
Founded in 1880 by John G. Birkmeier, a Delphos, Ohio teacher who started the business as a way to increase his income while raising six children. In the first few decades after its founding, larger memorial monuments were set using a horse-drawn cart with an elaborate system of pulleys.
Originally located along the banks of the Miami-Erie Canal in Delphos, Ohio, John G. Birkmeier’s grandson, Alexander C. Birkmeier expanded the business to Fort Wayne, Indiana selling cemetary monuments and headstones from his bicycle and sending orders to the Delphos-based operation. In 1927 he built a home for the Fort Wayne business to simplify operations for the family. That same Spanish Eclectic-style building is still used today and is located at 2323 W. Main Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Located directly across the street from the city's largest cemetery, Lindenwood Cemetery, the building sat on the main highway leading west out of Fort Wayne. The route of U.S. 24 was later moved south of the building which sits on the old bed of the Wabash and Erie Canal. Read the rest of their history at www.birkmeier.com/?page=history archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. The current About Us page is different: https://www.birkmeier.com/who-we-are/history-and-staff
Location, location, location: It’s the mantra in deciding where to buy. In this case, proximity to Lindenwood Cemetery...
This post was shared April 1, 2021 by Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana. A comment March 9, 2024 asks about any relationship with the Birchmier family that came from Switzerland to Ohio sharing this link: History of the Birchmier Familycompiled by Muriel Birchmier and Marjory Birchmier Pulaski, Iowa - Davis Co. July 1979 starting with the family of Jakob Birchmier 1776-1812 married Maria Annae Kuenzi in Switzerland before moving to Ohio.
At the 1:40 minute mark this video claims the 1992 Amore book shown above says it was invented in Colorado. The History of the Kmart Blue Light Special - “Attention Kmart Shoppers” posted Feb 22, 2021 by Retail Rewindon YouTube Beginning in 1965, possibly an idea created by menswear department manager Bob Anderson, Kmart became known for their Blue Light Specials. A Blue Light Special was a random announcement of a sale highlighted by a rotating blue light and an announcement via the intercom system. The Blue Light Special was successful for a couple of decades but as Kmart began struggling by 2000, the Blue Light Special made a couple of comebacks in hopes of rekindling nostalgia and memories of what Kmart once was.
ATTENTION K-MART SHOPPERS! 🛒 Back in the 80 & 90s, a former @Kmart employee saved a private collection of original in-store background music cassettes from being lost to history. Take a nostalgic stroll through the aisles at Attention K-Mart Shoppers by Mark Davis (And Others). Copied from an April 16, 2023 post by Internet Archive on Twitter.
Blume, Martin, Jr., Farm
7311 Flutter Road, Martin Blume Sr. born in Germany, immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1835. In 1863 Martin Sr. moved to Allen County and acquired a large section of land, which he cleared and farmed until he retired. He sold 157 acres of land in 1878 to his son Martin, Jr.. Brief post May 6, 2017 on You know you've lived in Fort Wayne too long when... Private Facebook groupmentions this property has a National Register of Historic Places Registion Form including 8 photos and on page 8 mentions the large two story brick Italianate house of Henry Young on Trier Road that dates to 1885, the 1865 two story Italianate house of William Shordon on Maysville Road and 1880’s brick Victorian Jacob J. Vonderau farm house on Wheelock Road.
Who thought old bottles found in strange places could be interesting history?
Dewy’s Bottle Museum (antique bottles found) posted Jun 24, 2022 by Daniel Beals on YouTube. Dewy began researching county archives, connecting with other bottle hunters over the internet, to learn where forgotten dumping grounds once were. “All old dumps are located behind, or near water and cemeteries,” Dewy learned, “around railroads they’d also dump, because of old railroad stations, they’d throw their trash somewhere so they would just throw it on a hill or anywhere and just bury it.” His most interesting trip, was to an old privy. He tells us he has only been lucky enough to take part in one dig so far. “If you don’t know what a privy is… it’s a place where the outhouse was,” Dewy said, “you dig into these holes and find glass where they put their outhouses at, because that’s where they put their trash at.” “It tells a story of that family, or whoever was there,” he finished. Copied from the longer description also at 21Country: Dewy’s Bottle Museum on 21AliveNews.com.
The Bowmar Brain came out in the Autumn of 1971, with four functions and an eight-digit red LED display, for $240 from Calculator at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
A final technological innovation associated with Fort Wayne is the hand- held calculator.
The Bowmar Instrument Corp. was formed in Fort Wayne in 1951 by Edward and Joan White. He earlier had been head of the electron-mechanical section of the Farnsworth Television Co. At first a one-employee operation in a barn loft at Smith Field, the company grew to 30 employees by 1953, and by 1957 had expanded to occupy the site of today's operation on Bluffton Road.
In 1971, the company introduced the first hand-held calculator called the "Bowmar Brain." The technology developed at Bowmar, which included the familiar red "LED" (low energy diode) readouts, enabled American business to regain from the Japanese the lead in calculator electronics.
As it turned out, Bowmar lost the calculator in the marketplace because it was unprepared for the huge popularity of the new item. Borrowing heavily to increase production and determined not to use cheaper foreign labor, Bowmar found itself unable to compete in the calculator price wars of the mid-1970s. In addition, the Bowmar product was hurt by having to deal with its chief rival, Texas Instruments, for basic components - many of which, it later was learned, were defective or held up in delivery. Bowmar, like ITT and Magnavox of Fort Wayne, withdrew from the consumer market and has concentrated instead on government and industrial contracts
1302 East Creighton Avenue, last used as headquarters for the Fort Wayne Police Deaprtment was orginally the headquarters of the S. F. Bowser & Company, founded in 1885 by the man who invented the world's first self-measuring pump. Sylvanus Freelove Bowser was one of the city's top three or four industrialists in the early 20th century.
We now have monthly employee publications of Bowser Inc. (Fort Wayne) available within our Community Album. Check back as new materials are being added regularly.
Bowser, Man and BuildingS. F. Bowser, inventor of the automobile gas pump, built his 1917 company headquarters in Fort Wayne with an eye for quality and workmanship. His legacy there, however, is a fading one. with photos on Indiana Landmarks .
RTV6 - WRTV Indianapolis TV August 8, 2017 posted a 30 second video of the Bowser Pump history on their Facebook page.
Bowser, Man and Building S. F. Bowser, inventor of the automobile gas pump, built his 1917 company headquarters in Fort Wayne with an eye for quality and workmanship. His legacy there, however, is a fading one. Published May 18, 2017 by Indiana Landmarks.
Happy #WaybackWednesday! Check out these then-and-now images from the Daniel A. Baker Collection featured in our Community Album
Circa 1917, Sylvanus Freelove Bowser posed in front of his SF Bowser company headquarters, where he pioneered the invention of the automobile gas pump.
Fast forward to early 2017, and the last remnants of SF Bowser & Co. were demolished. Dale McMillen, Sr. acquired the headquarters, later leasing it to Phelps Dodge Company and the Fort Wayne Police Department for several years.
In celebration of reaching the 100-year milestone, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel dedicated improvements to Bowser Park today along with Fort Wayne Deputy Mayor Karl Bandemer, park and neighborhood representatives and public officials.
The park sign now proudly displays a Centennial Legacy Park insignia. In addition, an art mural by artist Lyndy Bazile evokes civic pride in the park and neighborhood and stands just yards away from the original stone marker provided by Sylvanus and Sarah Bowser in 1923. The stone is inscribed “for the comfort and pleasure of our neighbors and their children for all time to come.” Interior and exterior upgrades to the pavilion feature updated restrooms and walkways to make them accessible to people with disabilities, concrete improvements and a new roof.
204 West Main Street corner of South Harrison Street, west of The Landing one block south of Promenade Park. 2019 Street View photo still shows construction site from Google maps with over 260 photos. Born of Midwestern charm and modern design sensibilities, The Bradley is a true reflection of the city it calls home, immersed in Fort Wayne’s genuine spirit of community, industry and creativity. Evoking a sense of comfort and warmth, The Bradley has been collaboratively designed by Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of the iconic lifestyle brand, Vera Bradley, and Provenance, known for its collection of award-winning boutique hotels. Copied from About The Bradley at Visit Fort Wayne
Broadway business association has completed improvement projects over the last several years. Local businesses, such as Mad Anthony Brewing and George's International Grocery, and attorney Steve Shine, whose law office is on the Broadway Plaza. www.broadwayfortwayne.com.1014-1016 Broadway row of c. 1890 commercial buildings were purchased in 2010 by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage).
Broadway State Bank --Fort Wayne, Indiana filmed August 11, 1976 when it was The Palace and The Scorpion dancing pool hall live music bar business posted November 11, 2016 by the Allen County Public Library on YouTube. This clip is a short piece that is part of a longer series of Fort Wayne landmarks documented on open reel video tape in the 1970s. The series was made possible by the Fort Wayne Public Library, now the Allen County Public Library. This segment was recorded August 11, 1976 at 1930 Broadway in Fort Wayne, IN.
Camera and Editing by Steve Fortriede.
2441 Broadway. June 11, 2022 photo posted on Facebook: A little throwback for you today. This was the theater as it stood in 1926. Opened as the Broadway Theater on November 5, 1923. It was renamed Indiana Theater in 1934. From the 1970’s this theater last operated as Cinema Blue, an X-rated theater which closed in 1985. The building became home to a restaurant in 1998, called the Catablu Gourmet American Grill. In May 2009, it became a jazz club known as The Philmore on Broadway. By 2017 it was an entertainment & events venue. And coming in 2022 it will re-open as the newly renovated Chateau On Broadway!
The Philmore on Broadway at CinemaTreasures.org has an October 9, 2009 comment with a decent amount of history such as: The newly built Broadway Theater was to develop a reputation for showing the best silent movies in a pleasing atmosphere. The building had a stage, an auditorium that had an arched ceiling which provided better ventilation and acoustic properties, contained an orchestra pit and three sets of balconies, it could seat 600 people, the ladies room provided space for parking baby buggies, and the screen was made of the best gold fiber. The film featured at the Grand Opening of the Broadway Theater was Back Home and Broke starring Thomas Meighan, a poplar leading actor of the time. Everyone attending on opening day was given a rose (New Broadway Theater). Referencing two newspaper articles: “New Broadway Theater.” The News-Sentinel 3 November 1923. Pond, Cindy. “Indiana Theater Closes Nov. 9.” Journal Gazetter 27 October 1969. November 5, 2022 post by The Chateau on Broadway discussed November 5, 2022 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook. Century old Broadway theater will now be the Chateau on Broadway by Jamie Duffy posted: Jan 18, 2023 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15.
Episode 166: Bass Mansion published December 20, 2021 by Granite Ridge Builders on YouTube One of Fort Wayne's hidden architectural gems: the Bass Mansion, located on the campus of the University of Saint Francis. Join the BTS crew as we explore the ornate styles of the mansion, plus a bit of football action with Johnny the Saint Francis Cougar!
Brookside wins prize for outstanding restoration an Indiana Landmarks YouTube video. Published on May 1, 2013. Their About statement: Rather than opt for modern updating, the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne completed an all-out $4.5 million restoration of historic Brookside, earning the 2013 Cook Cup for Outstanding Restoration.
Brookside was finished in 1891. John Bass, a successful businessman, ran the Bass Foundry and Machine Works, which covered 20 acres of land on South Hanna Street. Brookside was considered the family's country getaway; their city home was at West Berry Street and Fairfield Avenue. In 1902, the original Brookside burned in a fire sparked by a gas explosion. By 1903, the home was completely rebuilt in stone, concrete and steel. It has six bedrooms for family and guests and three for servants; 13 fireplaces; three staircases; and a ballroom on the third floor with a mural in the skylight depicting the nine dancing Muses of Greek mythology. In 1944, the Sisters of Saint Francis of Perpetual Adoration bought the home for $60,000 to house St. Francis College, which had originally been in Lafayette. The house served as the college and living space for the sisters until 1948, when expansion began with construction of Trinity Hall. Throughout the restoration of the home, the school took care to preserve the historic integrity of the building while modernizing it. Copied from Wearing its holiday finest, former Bass Mansion on USF campus open to public The Christmas in the Castle event takes place this weekend and next. By Cindy Larson of The News-Sentinel newspaper Wednesday, November 28, 2012.
Tours of Brookside at University of Saint Francis. They moved what was then Saint Francis College from Lafayette, Indiana to Fort Wayne. The mansion served as the college library until the university opened the Lee and Jim Vann Library in August 2006."
Brookside - The Bass Mansion Renovation a WFWA TV39 Fort Wayne PBS Special | 57m 4s Brookside, also known as the Bass Mansion, was added to the National Register for Historic Places in 1982. Renovations on the former residence of industrialist John Henry Bass were completed in 2009-2010. The mansion is currently an administrative building on the University of Saint Francis. Aired: 10/01/10 Rating: NR. Description of Brookside the Bass Mansion Renovation highlights of the rennovation.
Historic buildings often have interesting architectural features that are not seen on modern buildings. Today we are featuring some examples of grotesques, which are sculptured or painted ornament involving fanciful distortions of human and animal forms, sometimes combined with plant motifs. These types of carvings are often mislabeled as gargoyles and while they are very similar in appearance, the main difference is that a gargoyle functions as a waterspout from the roof gutter of a building while grotesques do not serve that function. The John H. Bass Mansion in Fort Wayne (Allen County) is an excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque located on the campus of the University of Saint Francis. The current mansion was built after a fire destroyed all but the foundation of the previous home in 1902. The house was rebuilt with many fire-proof features and modern systems in place including electricity, steam heating, a telephone intercom system and a burglar alarm which was activated by pressure on the rugs scattered throughout the house. The exterior of the building features ornate carvings of all types around the entire perimeter, but some of the most interesting are the grotesques around the main entry. Photos: John H. Bass Mansion, Fort Wayne, Allen County. Copied from an October 29, 2022 post by Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology on Facebook.
Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company
Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company provides insurance for churches and related ministries. Founded in Grabill in 1917, Brotherhood Mutual is a provider of property, liability, workers compensation, commercial auto and foreign travel insurance for churches and related ministries. The company, which serves more than 40,000 churches and ministries in 43 states and the District of Columbia, has been recognized as one of the best places to work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for five straight years.
Brown, W.B., Company
From ARCH Facebook March 30, 2013 EventWorld-class manufacturer of Arts and Crafts Mission style furniture, electric lighting fixtures, and store interiors from 1906 to 1923, the W.B. Brown Company, known locally as the "Chandelier Factory", was one of northern Indiana's most successful design-manufacture firms during the peak of the American Arts & Crafts movement of the early 20th Century.March 30, 2013 brochure on ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) on Facebook.
Today Mayor Tom Henry, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel, community representatives and additional public officials dedicated the new paved pedestrian trail and picnic shelter at Buckner Park in southwest Fort Wayne.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighted some of Buckner Park’s unique geographical areas, including grass prairies, wetlands, stream crossings, woodlands and vistas. This ¾ mile trail to the new picnic shelter will wind through these areas and offer bench seating made from recycled materials at scenic spots.
Bueschings Peat Moss
Website: https://www.bueschings.com/ In 1998 - Dan Buesching was digging up peat in the pond for the family peat buisness and hauled up a mastodon tooth-filled skull, leg bones, part of a pelvis, two large leg bones and other parts. IPFW students soon joined in the excavation, and in the end it turned out Buesching’s find was one of the most complete mastodon skeletons ever found in this part of the country. Read about the mounted skeleton now on display as Fred the Mastodon on our 1998 Timeline. Bueschings donated the fossil to the Indiana State Museum where they have it on display. You can also visit the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and at Science Central in Fort Wayne, Indiana to see the casting. Copied from Bueschings Peat Moss & Mulch About page.
For "Throwback Thursday" we share another Mastodon found! This is at Buesching's Peat Moss on the Cook Road. In 2004 IPFW celebrated their 40th Anniversary and local businesses painted these Don's in tribute. BTW...it was at Bueschings they unearthed a Mastodon!
RINGENBERG STORE In 1928, John Ringenberg and his wife, Ruby, opened a grocery and dry goods store in the Schepelmann building on the north side of Main Street next door to the Drug Store. They featured the Little Elf products which were distributed by The Bursley Company. An interesting fact about the "Little Elf" brand name was that it was designed by Marion Lochner, one of the first graduates of Woodburn High School. Mr. Lochner was vice-president of The Bursley Company in 1955.
From page 177, Business and Professional Home Community, U.S.A. published by The Woodburn Days committee of 1954 in the Woodburn History section of the Members Only section of the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana website.
In 1963, the company acquired the Food Marketing Corporation of Fort Wayne, Indiana, which traced its roots to the early 1800s, as Bursley & Company. SuperValu (UnitedStates) on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Elf brand products were sold in Maloley's Fine Foods and other local grocery stores in late 20th century Fort Wayne area.
American Trade-Marks and Devices: G E Bursley & Company, Fort Wayne, Indiana (litho) 7198405 American Trade-Marks and Devices: G E Bursley & Company, Fort Wayne, Indiana (litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: G E Bursley & Company, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Illustration for A Book of American Trade-Marks and Devices compiled by Joseph Sinel (New York, Alfred A Knopf, 1924). Media Storehouse.
Byron Health Center
Intersection of Lake Avenue and Beacon Street - Street View photo on Google map in October 2022 was still showing Byron Health Center under construction in 2019.
Byron Health Center has its roots as the Allen County Poor House, built in 1853 in the Waynedale area. In 1916, the facility was moved to its current location and Fort Recovery, an anti-tuberculosis tent hospital was established. This later became known as Irene Byron Hospital. The facility was named to honor Irene Byron, who died while serving her country in World War I and was an executive secretary of the Anti-Tuberculosis League. Copied from Our History page of the Byron Health website. Formerly at 12371 (12101) Lima Road, from 1919-1976, there was an Umarked Cemetery discussed on our Perry Township Cemetery page. The new facility at Lake Avenue and Beacon Street broke ground in 2018 and moved to new home in 2020.
While we moved to our beautiful new home on Beacon Street in 2020, seeing this building be torn down is definitely bittersweet for our staff and residents, as well as Greater Fort Wayne. Byron has a long history of serving Allen County in a unique way and while this physical location will no long exist, our beautiful memories and the life that was lived and celebrated within these walls will never leave us.
Let us know your favorite memory of the old building in the comments!
Grateful to our friends at WANE 15 for this this thorough reporting. As it says in the article, we moved to our new home in 2020, where we have a beautiful mural that showcases our long history and dedication to serving those in Allen County.
If you are interesting in coming to have a tour of the new building, contact us at info@byronhealth.org!