ANamed Places in Allen County, Indiana
2110 McConnel Drive, New Haven, IN 46774, (260) 493-6585. O.G. “Bud” Steinman founded AAA Auction Service in 1972 and passed away in 2000. AAA Auction Service conducts estate and commercial/industrial auctions and appraisals in the greater Fort Wayne area and throughout the Midwest. Copied from web site History. See Facebook page.
2502 Edsall Avenue Street View photo from Google maps
The Abbott Magnetic Mineral Well by Daniel Beals on YouTube
Near the corner of what is now Edsall and Raymond Avenues, once sat a popular place of healing: the Abbott Magnetic Mineral Well. Hobbyist historian Mark Linehan spent months compiling obscure information after discovering the topic, during his research on the gas boom in Indiana. “In 1888, William T. Abbott… he owned al this land here,” Linehan said, gesturing to large acreage southeast of downtown Fort Wayne. “All the locales wanted to strike a natural gas well, because that’s essentially free power.” Nine deep bore wells were drilled, though no gas was found. But Abbott wasn’t close to giving up. “He was spending a lot of money and time and had experts come out. At one point, the newspapers started to kind of make fun of him for going so deep, and not finding gas,” he added. “Finally at about 1900 feet down — that’s pretty deep — he found a well of artisan water.” Is the first two lines for the video and of the article
21Country: The Abbott Magnetic Mineral Well Fort Wayne’s healing spa between 1888-1913 by Daniel Beals at 21AliveNews.com.
Closed August 8, 2015. Daniel Poore opened the store on East State Boulevard in 1976 after purchasing it from his aunt the real Abby Brown. He took Abby's recipes and shop idea and relocated it from Anderson, IN to Fort Wayne. Daniel died in 2013, then his wife Katie decided to close and auction the store and contents August 15, 2015. See February 14, 2015 Abby Brown's Candy Shoppe Interview on YouTube in its 39th year. Abby Brown's closing next month by Jeff Wiehe publshed March 16, 2016 in The Journal Gazette newspaper and Fort Wayne landmark candy store closing after 39 years by Barb Sieminski published July 18, 2015 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
A November 16, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:
Christmas lights have played an important role in Fort Wayne’s history, from the manufacture of lights by A. C. Mannweiler and the Anthony Wayne Lamp Co., to the lit Wolf & Dessauer Santa and the Fantasy of Lights. Lighting is a relatively new addition to holiday décor. The trend of lit Christmas trees did not take hold until the 19th century. In 1856, President Franklin Pierce displayed the first Christmas tree at the White House, which was lit with candles. The first use of electric Christmas lights can be traced to 1882, when an associate of Edison, Edward H. Johnson, created a display on his Christmas tree. In 1895, the White House featured its first electrically lit tree, and by 1900 businesses began using string lights in shop windows. It was not until the 1930s that the average American was able to afford electric Christmas lights. Through the remainder of the 20th century, Christmas lights increased in popularity, and lighting displays appeared on houses, buildings, and in public places, becoming ever more elaborate and festive. Visit the History Center to see our new temporary exhibit “Christmas Lights.” #sociallyhistory
Manufacturers Histories at OldChristmasTreeLights.comhas a comment stating: Dick Cook visited this site recently, and wrote to offer the following details about the A.C. Mannweiler Company: "I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the A.C. Mannweiler shop was up on the corner from where we lived. Mr. Mannweiler had passed away before I was born, but I knew his only daughter, and everybody called her Mrs. B. She and her husband took over the business after Mr. Mannweiler died. I remember as a child going to their store with my parents where I would get them to purchase some of the Mannweiler miniature based Christmas lamps. I believe Mrs. B and her husband continued to make at least some of the Mannweiler Christmas lamps into 1940 or 1941. As of August, 2001, the building where the company was still stands." "After Mrs. B died, her only living relative gave me her personal papers which has some data pertaining to the Mannweiler Company, including advertising pamphlets and a photograph of Mrs. B as a child with her mother and father alongside a Christmas tree festooned with Mannweiler lamps. Among the papers was a patent number for a design patent for a Christmas candle lamp." Here is a picture of that 1921 patent.
November 27, 2020 post by the Historic 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook:
As we make left-over turkey sandwiches from our Thanksgiving meal, the Christmas season takes flight around us. Did you know that the Historic 07 District has a special place in history for Christmas lights? The building that houses Trubble Brewing was the home of a large light bulb company known as the A.C. Mannweiler Company. By 1920, this company was responsible for the lights on ten thousand trees across the country. The owner at the time estimated the manufacturer created 150,000 lights for Christmas. The story behind the building and the company is fascinating.
When Mannweiller was 15, he became an employee of the Fort Wayne Jenny Electric Company. Through his experience in lamp development, he was able to create his own business. At the time, it was common for fires to start due to candle use on Christmas trees. Mannweiller, seeing an opportunity, started this company on Broadway with his wife. The two of them performed most of the manufacturing themselves. As the demand grew, so did the company; it employed nearly 100 people, including trained glass blowers. Eventually, his daughter, Pauline, assisted in the management of the company.
According to the History Center, “[i]n the 1920s the name of the company was changed to the Anthony Wayne Light Company and . . . [o]n June 6, 1928 Anthony Mannweiler died from a blood clot at St. Joseph Hospital and was buried in Prairie Grove Cemetery in Waynedale, Indiana. Following the death of her father, Pauline Brandenberry and her husband Gregg, inherited the Anthony Wayne Light Company and continued the production of Christmas lights until 1941, when rationing make it difficult to obtain supplies.”
So when you string up your lights for the holiday season, know that our south end of town was responsible for making the world a bit brighter! Remember, for one week the Historic 07 District is selling long-sleeve t-shirts. Order today and receive it by Christmas. The cost is $25 each. As always, all proceeds go to the Historic O7 District neighborhoods for historic preservation initiatives. For more information go to https://historic07district.org/shirt/ (Picture #5 is the Shirt!)
Trubble Brewing
Broad River Neighborhood Association - Fort Wayne
Creighton-Home Neighborhood Association
Picture #1 - Electric Candle Lights (1940)
Picture #2 - Glass Blower From the Company (1919)
Picture #3 - Placing Flaments From the Company (1919)
Picture #4 - Current Picture of Trubble Brewing
Picture #5 – Historic 07 District Shifts
1105 E State Street. Website: https://www.acmebyfullcircle.com/. See East State Village on our Streets of Fort Wayne page. December 12, 2022 post ACME by Full Circle on Facebook has a video stated: Special thanks to Thomas Couch for editing our videos and being apart of the team here at ACME by Full Circle making the 05 proud. Happy Holidays everyone!
while a December 6, 2012
states: Name of instrumental music was “Don’t remember the 70’s”? — We think we should.
Where Neighbors Meet Since 1941.
How did ACRES begin? posted Jun 29, 2018 by ACRES Land Trust on YouTube
Have you ever wondered why ACRES is always capitalized?
Website: https://acreslandtrust.org/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACRES.LT/. Monthly e-newsletter: https://acreslandtrust.org/email-news... Founded March 2, 1960, 1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, Indiana (260) 637-2273, by local environmentalists Tom and Jane Dustin preserving natural areas around the tri-state area allowing them to remain or return to as close to their original condition as possible in dozens of preserves, totaling over 5,000 acres, from Allen County into southern Michigan, northwest Ohio and further south and west into Indiana. These preserves show how the land may have looked when Native American lived here and pioneers arrived for the first time. The Bicentennial Woods Preserve was acquired in 1994 to honor Fort Wayne's Bicentennial as an old growth preserve in Allen County. See web site ACRES Land Trust their ACRES in the news list of Media Relations headlines. or Facebook page. State nature preserves program proves there's more than cornfields in Indiana by Kevin Kilbane published March 20, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Recreating a 1960 photo of ACRES founders by ACRES Land Trust on Dec 29, 2022 on YouTube
ACRES was founded in 1960 by 12 people who each pitched in $5 to protect local land forever. In 2022, the ACRES staff recreated a photo of some of these founding members. Watch to see how we recreated this moment in history!
March 8, 2023 post by ACRES Land Trust on Facebook:
Happy International Women's Day!
Ethyle Bloch, one of ACRES twelve founders, was instrumental in protecting land and waterways in Indiana.
She and her closest friend, Jane Dustin, brought attention to the pollution of Indiana's waterways. They pursued the development of state waterway regulations and water quality standards. Thanks to their efforts, and the efforts of other ACRES members, Indiana's waters are much healthier!
Ethyle also served on the Water Resources Committee for the League of Women Voters during the 50's, was the first woman President of the Indiana Izaak Walton League, was a Board Member of the River Greenway organization, and was President of the Hoosier Environmental Council.
Thank you Ethyle for sharing your passion with Indiana and ACRES, your legacy continues to inspire us today!
📷 Left to right: Bill Bloch, Ethyle Bloch, John Klotz, Jane Dustin
July 19, 2023 post by ACRES Land Trust on Facebook:
Thank you Input Fort Wayne for the feature!
Learn more about ACRES history, mission and more
ACRES Land Trust, the nonprofit preserving land indefinitely throughout the region
October 16, 2023 post by Mitch Harper on Facebook:
Nice article on the history of Indiana's Nature Preserves and the role of Fort Wayne attorney James Barrett III (Barrett & McNagney) in the creation of Indiana's statute initiating protections.
Barrett, a founder of Indiana’s ACRES Land Trust, called the areas “living museums,” where people can ponder the “interdependence of all forms of life” and be reminded of human health’s “vital dependence … upon the health of the natural communities.” Copied from DNR celebrates 300 nature preserves, humble beginnings Since John Bacone joined DNR in 1978, the number of nature preserves in Indiana has grown sixfold: from 46 to 300. Leslie Bonilla Muñiz - October 16, 2023.
ACRES Land Trust instrumental in bold 50-year legacy of Indiana’s Nature Preserves Act at ACRES Land Trust
Walpole Colerick, Congressman from Fort Wayne pressured the Indiana legislature to appeal to Congress for a federal courthouse and post office in 1873. Funding by 1882 eventually led to a building opening in 1903 [in the Old Post Office]. On June 30, 1999, the Fort Wayne Federal Building was renamed to honor E. Ross Adair who served twenty years as Indiana’s Fourth District Congressman and Ambassador to Ethiopia. The name was officially changed to the E. Ross Adair Federal Building and United States Courthouse. A ceremony was held on October 27, 2000 to commemorate the renaming of the Fort Wayne Federal Building .
Read more of the history in A Fort Wayne Architectural Landmark by Tom Castaldi published August 27, 2014 in History Center Notes & Queries blog. Photographs of the E. Ross Adair Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana original digital files at The Library of Congress
June 8, 2016 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:
It's Wall of Fame Wednesday Folks! Check out this 8" x 10" glossy photo from The Journal-Gazette article on the Adams Center Landfill in 1984 of Hofer and Davis! While employed by our fathers at that time, we visited the landfill once a month to measure the amout of waste put into a pit to determine when it would be full.
436 East Douglas Avenue. Kachmann Gallery, 1301 Lafayette Street, on the corner of Douglas Avenue, founded in 2000, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanAfrican-American-Historical-Society-Museum-of-Fort-Wayne-Indiana-953479621340167/. See Celebrate the African/African-American Historical Society’s Anniversary! by Renee M. published March 20, 2012 on the VisitFortWayne blog. Was part of a 2009 conference at the Allen County Public Library discussed in Genealogy gathering; 420 expected for conference, library's largest yet by Nick West published October 2, 2009 on The News-Sentinel newspaperon the Internet Archive Wayback Machine . African American Settlements in Indiana at The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
May 15, 2023 post by Indiana Landmarks on Facebook:
At one time, the neighborhood southeast of downtown Fort Wayne was home to many of the city’s Black residents. As the business district expanded following World War II, commercial buildings, offices, and parking lots claimed many of the area’s older houses. One unlikely survivor serves today as home of the African/African-American Historical Society Museum of Fort Wayne, founded in 2000 to share the cultural heritage of Africa and the achievements of Blacks locally and nationally.
Located at 436 E. Douglas Avenue, the duplex that houses the museum’s collection has its own story to tell. It is the only building still standing in Fort Wayne once listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide for African Americans published between 1936 to 1967 to chronicle businesses safe to visit. Listed as “Mrs. B. Talbot’s Tourist Home,” the large Victorian residence offered shelter for Black travelers who were not welcomed in local, white-owned hotels.
The museum includes the area’s largest public collection of African art, as well as documents, photos, and artifacts highlighting Allen County’s Black and African American history from 1809 to present day. Read more about the museum, including how a recent grant is helping protect its collection: https://www.indianalandmarks.org/.../grant-helps-african.../
June 8, 2023 post by Indiana Landmarks on Facebook:
Located at 436 E. Douglas Avenue, the duplex that houses the African/African-American Historical Society Museum of Fort Wayne has its own story to tell. It is the only building still standing in the city once listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide for African Americans published between 1936 to 1967 to chronicle businesses safe to visit.
From an October 25, 2017 discussion about local airplane crashes at Baer Field on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
when the aircraft was east of the airport the wind increased to 60-65 miles per hour with gusts to 85 miles per hour and a heavy rainfall began, accompanied by lightning and severe static.See Accident Description on AviationSafety.net.
Was on Bluffton Road in 1917 across from what is now Quimby Village. Designed by Marshall S. Mahurin. The Genealogy Center blog St. Vincent Villa Sources Online posted February 09, 2015 says The records of the Allen County Children's Home were “lost” many years ago and their
Remembering the Flood of 1913 blog by Dawne posted March 22, 2013 mentions children drowning from the home also mentioned below including sources of information.
See also Allen County Orphan's Home, Allen County Poor Farm, Fort Wayne Children's Home, Fort Wayne Developmental Center, and St. Vincent Villa Catholic Orphanage.
Street View photo from Google map with user submitted photos including The Courthouse Green monument
715 South Calhoun Street - Google map. It is one of two National Historic Landmarks in Allen County.
April 18, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:
The first Allen County Courthouse, built in 1831, was deemed to be a safety hazard and was ordered to be replaced by county officers. In response county officials received plans in 1840 for a new courthouse. This building was to be in the Greek Revival style and be comprised of a central building with wings on either side. On the first floor were an entry hall and a large public meeting room in the middle and two offices in each wing. The second floor was comprised on two more offices in each wing and the courtroom. Though county court officials abandoned the building in 1841, officials decided to not use these plans and instead use temporary quarters, until the completion of a differently designed courthouse in 1847.#sociallyhistory
The current building opening was dedicated September 23, 1902 and is credited as one of the best Beaux Arts courthouses in the nation. The Courthouse Green, a one acre plaza on the east side of the Allen County Courthouse was dedicated on October 15, 1999. It was created when the block of buildings along Court Street were torn down. See Courthouse Green at City of Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation.
September 22, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:
The centerpiece of every Indiana county in the late 19th and early 20th century was the county courthouse. In Allen County it became apparent by 1890 that the 1861 courthouse needed to be replaced. By the summer of 1897, the previous building had been demolished and the new courthouse was begun. At two in the afternoon on September 23, 1902, exactly 120 years ago today, the magnificent new Allen County Courthouse was dedicated to public service. The citizens of Allen County were extremely confident at the turn of the 20th century and built a majestic courthouse on the scale of a state capital. The courthouse is built out of Bedford Limestone and Vermont Granite and is in the Beaux-Arts architecture-style. Interior decorations include four 25-by-45-foot murals by Charles Holloway, twenty-eight different kinds of scagiola (a plastering technique that creates the illusion of marble) covering 15,000 square feet, bas-reliefs and art glass. Each of the court rooms has its own color scheme. The final cost of the new courthouse was $817,553.59, in today’s money that is over $250 million. It is rumored that the budget for decoration of the new courthouse exceeded the total budget for many of the other courthouses in Indiana. #sociallyhistory
Four photos in the Bert J. Griswold Collection of Fort Wayne History in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library are labeled:
January 18, 2019 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:
Here's a gem from our archives: The construction of our current Allen County Courthouse. The c. 1902 Brentwood Tolan-designed building is one of the most ornate county courthouses in the United States. It also known for its high concentration of scagliola; a faux marble material. Indiana Landmarks Visit Fort Wayne Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust Downtown Marathon Downtown Improvement District Ball State Historic Preservation
September 8, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:
Check out these pen and ink drawings including the 1861 Allen County Courthouse, Colerick's Hall, and the Aveline Hotel in Fort Wayne!
These images come from the Bert J. Griswold Collection in our Community Album. Check out the collection here: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/.../collection/p16089coll59 [see links to his online books on our B.J. Griswold section]
Bert J. Griswold was born in 1873 in Osage, Iowa, and died in Fort Wayne in 1927. A gifted illustrator and cartoonist, he came to Fort Wayne in 1902, working for the Fort Wayne Daily News and the Fort Wayne Sentinel. He later left the newspaper to establish his own advertising agency. In the course of his work as a reporter and cartoonist, he developed a deep interest in the history of Fort Wayne and Allen County. He also became a prominent advocate for the City Beautiful Movement, which worked for the establishment of local parks and boulevard improvements. Griswold wrote short columns for the newspaper about area pioneers and historic buildings, and his efforts culminated in 1917 in the publication of the two-volume Pictorial History of Fort Wayne.
John McGauley photograph IMG_3662 of the Allen County Courthouse posted May 29, 2008 on flickr
John is a local photographer and county official who works in and has created an Allen County Courthouse Album with dozens of photographs
May 10, 2023 post by Genealogy Center on Facebook:
It's #waybackwednesday! Take a look at these then and now photos, courtesy of the Daniel A. Baker Collection in our Community Album. The photos show Calhoun Street south from Columbia Street in Fort Wayne in 1905 and the same view in 2017.
Check out these photos and more in our Community Album: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/
July 6, 2023 post by Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust on Facebook:
Many of the walls and columns of the Allen County Courthouse are made of scagliola, a faux marble. The scagliola found at the courthouse is of exceptionally high quality and variety, featuring 28 different colors and 24 unique patterns.
Master Craftsman Niel Wiffill maintains the scagliola in the courthouse. He makes small repairs every year to prevent the building from falling into disrepair.
To create scagliola, Wiffill dyes plaster with pigment, then adds glue to the mixture to make the plaster tougher and easier to polish. After the new plaster has dried, Wiffill gently sands down the area until it is smooth and shiny.
July 10, 2023 post by Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust on Facebook:
The Circuit Court features 3 colors of scagliola, bas reliefs, murals, pediments, and a stained glass dome. The bas reliefs represent the different aspects of war, the accompaniments of Peace, and peaceful pastimes. The murals were painted by Carl Gutherz and feature the themes “Founders of Laws,” “Justice Prominent,” and “Court as Mediator.” The pediments represent the four seasons.
July 13, 2023 post by Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust on Facebook:
Touring the Courthouse is a great summer activity!
Check out the majestic views and learn more about this piece of local history. Stop by for a personal walking tour, or schedule a guided tour with a trained docent!
The Courthouse is open Monday – Friday from 8:00am–4:30pm Booklets for self-guided tours are available for no cost at the security desk. To schedule a tour with a docent, email courthouse@co.allen.in.us or call (260) 449.4246. A donation of $5 per person is recommended for guided tours.
July 15, 2023 post by the Fort Wayne Museum of Art on Facebook:
Now Open - An American Renaissance In Fort Wayne: Muralists from the Allen County Courthouse
We hope you enjoy this small sample of the incredible work, found far above our heads brought just a little bit closer, and the men who created it.
August 22, 2023 post by Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust on Facebook:
These bas reliefs in the alcove of Superior Courtroom 2 were created by Wm. Barth and Robert Staak and represent the creation of the canal as a new means of transportation.
“Old methods of transportation”
“Breaking ground for the stupendous undertaking of joining the waters of Lake Erie with the Mississippi River by means of ‘the Wabash and Erie Canal’”
“Completion of canal, 1843”
“Shows the new means of transportation by boats”
August 30, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:
It's #waybackwednesday! Here is a nighttime skyline view of familiar landmarks surrounding the Allen County Court House in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This photo is courtesy of the Harter Postcard Collection in our Community Album:
Visit our Community Album to view this photo and hundreds more: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/
This image was discussed August 30, 2023 on Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Private Facebook Group.
September 4, 2023 post by Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust on Facebook:
These bas reliefs in the east alcove of the Circuit Courtroom were created by Wm. Barth and Robert Staak and illustrate peaceful pastimes.
“Hunting”
“Horticulture”
“Fishing”
"Agriculture"
“Pioneer Life”
Lady Liberty | Downtown Fort Wayne Allen County | Fort Wayne, Indiana image by Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership taken September 23, 2007 on flickr
Allen County Courthouse 14-foot statue wind vane of Lady Liberty
Page 3 of the 4 page article THE ALLEN COUNTY COURTHOUSE PRESERVATION TRUST PRESENTS A WALKING TOUR OF THE ALLEN COUNTY COURTHOUSE states: The statue on the top of the dome is Lady Liberty. She is thirteen feet eight inches tall and made of copper. The statue rotates to face the wind. As part of the restoration project, Miss Liberty was taken down, refurbished by the WPC Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. of Fort Wayne and restored to the top of the courthouse in 1998.
A long article with newspaper references: Miss Liberty comes down from her perch Corey McMaken Mar 26, 2020 Updated Jun 6, 2022 in History Journal archives of the Journal Gazette newspaperstates:
On Sept. 27, 1947, steeplejack Joe Miller of Wabash supervised a team of men who removed the statue “Miss Liberty” from its perch atop the Allen County Courthouse. The project took nearly 11 hours as it was removed from the dome and slowly lowered on a cable to a truck parked on Court Street, an area that is now part of the Courthouse Green. It was the first time the copper statue – around 13 feet tall – had been removed from the courthouse since its installation 47 years earlier. It was constructed as a weather vane.Further on in the article:
Over the years, various repairs were made to the works that allowed the statue to act as a weather vane. In the 1960s, the sword Miss Liberty held in her left hand fell to the roof. According to a 1996 Journal Gazette story by Nancy Vendrely, the sword was stored in the basement but later disappeared. It was replaced in 1994, but positioned differently from what is seen in photos from the 1930s and '40s. In the photos, the sword pointed up; the replacement pointed down. The statue was removed in 1995 ahead of a five-month restoration project that repaired damage to its left hand, right wing and left foot. After repairs, including restoring three fingers that had fallen off and fixing what appeared to be bullet holes, she was placed on the first floor of the courthouse while the building was undergoing repairs. Miss Liberty was returned to the courthouse dome in April 2001 – sword pointing up.
January 24, 2017 post by Frank Bougher on Facebook:
Progress being made on Lady liberty 2017. Blocking and assembling is complete. Detailing begins
Frank Bougher by Heather Miller January 10, 2013 on whatzup.com.
FRANK BOUGHER at ACPL Fort Wayne Area Artists.
A discussion February 24, 2023 included this post and more on Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Private Facebook Group.
John McGauley photograph IMG_1830 inside the Allen County Courthouse posted March 25, 2008 on flickr
John is a local photographer and county official who works in and has created an Allen County Courthouse Album with dozens of photographs
Guide to Allen County court house by Bond, Georgiana Wright, 1855-1942, Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, 1953, on Archive.org
CountyLine: Allen County Courthouse: Part 1 published June 1, 2008 by allencountyinfoon YouTube
Short video tour of the Allen County Courthouse, Ft. Wayne, IN. Part 2.
From 1995 to 2002, the county spent $8.6 million, most of it from private donors, restoring the Allen County Courthouse... by Frank Gray published January 17, 2017 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
February 9, 2023 post by Hidden View Photography on Facebook:
A few different angles and edits of Fort Wayne's courthouse.
715 South Calhoun Street, the historical Court Street was vacated to create the Courthouse Green. It was dedicated October 15, 1999. The Courthouse Green is one acre of lush grass and landscaping on the east side of the Allen County Courthouse in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne. See photo of The Courthouse Green monument on Google map.
November 3, 2016 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:
For "Throwback Thursday" we picture "Courthouse Green". BTW... Hofer and Davis,Inc. did the boundary and topographic surveys for RATIO ARCHITECTS, Inc. as found on the plaque below, in 1998.
Showing the October 15, 1999 plaque
Built on Carroll Road in 1989, website http://allencountyfairgroundsin.com/, Facebook. The Allen County Fair started in the 1940s at the old Fort Wayne Speedway, then bounced between Huntertown and Woodburn, until they found a home in the Coliseum, until it expanded and moved to Carroll Road. The Allen County Fair is the only county that does not receive state funding for the fair, as funding is entirely from one week of fair each July.
101 E Superior St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, Phone: (260) 449-7376
Website: http://www.allencountysheriff.org/jail/, Mailing Address for Allen County Jail: 417 S. Calhoun St.
Allen County Sheriff website: http://www.allencountysheriff.org/
Street View photo from Google maps
The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs Publication date 1917 on Archive.org. Middle of page 279 says the log jail stood until 1847 when it was destroyed by fire
.
In 1847, the first Allen County Jail, constructed out of logs, was destructed by fire and no official action was taken to replace it. On April 7, 1849, exactly 173 years ago today, city council ordered the mayor to procure a building to be used as a jail. Subsequently a committee had a jail constructed for $270 on the northeast corner of Harrison and Berry Streets, while plans for a more permanent structure were considered. The new jail and sheriff’s residence was finally completed in 1852 at the cost of $4,955.34 and was located on Calhoun Street across from the current jail. Though there were several escapes from this new jail, it served the people of Allen County for 20 years until its successor was completed in 1872.
Copied from April 8, 2022 Facebook post with photos by The History Center.
See Jailhouse Flats.
Built in the 1850s, the previous brick jail served from the 1850s until early 1981, when the first section of the current jail opened across the street. The building was razed soon thereafter, and its long history includes being the site of perhaps the county's most notorious public hanging.An estimated 15,000 people watched Samuel McDonald die in the jail's courtyard on Oct. 9, 1883, after being convicted of murdering Louis Laurent. Because the fall did not break his neck, it took McDonald 17 minutes to die of strangulation. The noose used to hang McDonald and the hatchet he used on Laurent are in the collection of the History Center, as is an iron door from one of the old jail's cells.
Copied from Site of old county jail, infamous hanging could be used for downtown development by Kevin Leininger published February 10, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Elevatus has been featured in Fort Wayne Magazine's annual Innovation issue regarding the Allen County Jail project. Justice Leader Tony Vie and President Cory Miller were highlighted in the feature. Find it starting on magazine page 42of the Fort Wayne magazine January 2023. See more on Elevatus Architecture.
February 10, 2023 post by Allen County INfo on Facebook:
Revised site plans for the proposed Allen County Jail are available on the county website at allencounty.us/jail under the “Update” section.
After a meeting with residents from nearby neighborhoods in January, the Board of Commissioners asked Elevatus Architecture to revise site plans in response to neighbors’ concerns. Some of the most significant updates include the building shift of 75 feet to the west for even less visibility to nearby neighbors, the inmate drop off and release point moved to the south end of the building while staff parking moved to the north and fencing was added to create a continuous border from the woods to Meyer Road.
The new plans will be presented at the next Fort Wayne Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 5:30 pm.
ALLEN COUNTY NEWSPAPERS: A SHORT HISTORY of local newspapers back to 1838 by Justin Clark published April 18, 2017 on Hoosier State Chronicles Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program.
Page 525, 1892 Allen County Orphans' Home in The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs, Publication date 1917 on Archive.org
The Orphan's Home is item #88 on Griswold's birdseye view of the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana indexed for ready reference zoomable map at the The Library of Congress with a closeup image posted August 20, 2022 posted by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoronHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook. It is also online as Griswold's birdseye view of the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana indexed for ready reference by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Hixon, W. W Publication date 1907 on Archive.org. Both Birdseye maps are found on our Maps page.
August 20, 2022 post byHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook:
The Allen County Orphans' Home once stood where Indian Village Park sits today. This, as the name states, was a home for children who would be placed with willing parents. Today is a short history of this orphanage.
In 1894 a private, non-profit, charitable corporation was formed by the citizens of Fort Wayne. This voluntary association had shareholders, each of whom paid $1 per share to support what would become the "Allen County Orphans' Home." Seeking a location, the Board led by Thomas Ellison worked with the County to construct a building on the grounds of the then-current poor farm. Ellison, a prominent city attorney, served as an Indiana state senator from 1896 to 1899, helping to author many Indiana laws requiring care for dependent children.
From
November 19, 1894, to April 1, 1920, the expense of maintaining and operating the home for orphans was borne and met by association. The amounts paid to the association by the County for the care of children were barely sufficient and were sometimes insufficient to meet the cost of food alone. To pay all the expenses of maintaining the home, the voluntary association was accustomed to soliciting contributions and help from the public. Unfortunately, it became too much to bear, and the Orphans' Home ceased operations by ceding maintenance and control to the Allen County Board of Commissioners.Shortly after, in 1925, the City and Suburban Building Company purchased the land, which included the poor farm and orphanage. Eventually, while building Indian Village, the Company traded the 10.5-acre area back to the County in exchange for the city funding the swinging suspension bridge across the St. Mary's River. The only known remains of the original orphanage are the brick buildings in the Indian Village Park today and the Waynedale United Methodist Church. The Church purchased one of the buildings, dismantled it, and used the bricks for their future congregation in Waynedale around 1927.
Information From:
In re Lowe's Est., 117 Ind. App. 554, 70 N.E.2d 187 (1946)
Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana
[ Some of this information is in the legal case Most Reverend Noll v. Lincoln National Bank & Trust Co., 117 Ind. App. 554 (1946) Dec. 12, 1946 · Appellate Court of Indiana · No. 17, 422 117 Ind. App. 554 In re Lowe's Estate Most Reverend John F. Noll, etc., et al. v. The Lincoln National Bank and Trust Co. of Ft. Wayne, etc., et al. Rehearing Denied March 6, 1947. Transfer Denied October 8, 1947. at Caselaw Access Project at Harvard Law School. ]
See Fort Wayne Orphan Home, Twenty-Fifth Anniversary, 1908 at The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
See orphan
search results at the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library. Catholic Orphan Home for Girls (St. Vincent Villa Catholic Orphanage?) and Fort Wayne Orphan Home of the Reformed Church appear and need clarification as to where and if any other names?
See also Allen County Children's Home, Allen County Poor Farm, Fort Wayne Children's Home, Fort Wayne Developmental Center, and St. Vincent Villa Catholic Orphanage.
Indiana Orphanages by Indiana Genealogical Society, Inc. April 3, 2023
on YouTube
Apr 3, 2023 #familyhistory #genealogy #indiana This was an IGS Facebook Live Event from February 2022. We discussed Indiana orphanages with Diane Steproe. As an experienced genealogist and researcher, Diane has extensive knowledge of the history and genealogy of Indiana orphanages. During our discussion, we learned about these institutions, as well as the impact orphanages had on Indiana's social history. Don't miss this insightful conversation with Diane Steproe! The Indiana Genealogical Society is proud to host the IGS Facebook Live events, which are held on the first Tuesday of every month. For updates on our upcoming events, please visit our Facebook page at @indianagensoc. And if you have ancestors from Indiana, be sure to check out our website at www.indgensoc.org for more resources and information on how to connect with your Hoosier roots.
Web site http://allencountyparks.org/and Facebook.
Barracks photo in May 17, 1919 The News-Sentinel newspaperposted April 22, 2017 onthe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.
County Asylum also known as the Poor Farm is on page 54 of the History of Allen County, Indiana. Publication date 1880 on Archive.org
See the Allen County Poor Farm Cemetery, Allen County Health Center Cemetery, and Byron Health Center
.
Our History from the Byron Wellness Community on September 19, 2023 stated:
Byron Wellness Community 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.
Although a showplace through the 1930s, the facility came on hard times until 1954 when the Allen County Home, as it was called then, was placed under the direction of a new superintendent, Orville Miller, who lived at the facility with his wife, Sylvia and four daughters. Miller took a vital role in updating the facility and inviting the community to help do so. Miller served until his death in 1965. The facility became licensed as a nursing home in 1966. Tom Kastanis was appointed superintendent in 1965 and the facility’s name was changed to the Allen County Health Center. It was that year that the facility became self-sustaining. This was primarily due to the implementation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
In 1974, the Allen County Health Center merged with the Irene Byron Hospital forming Byron Health Center with a bed capacity at that time of 500. The tuberculosis unit was then closed the following year resulting in a 466-bed intermediate care facility. The Medicaid program, which paid the cost of care for the majority of residents, did not provide sufficient funding to cover these costs. Rates had not increased sufficiently to keep up with inflation. The increasing cost of operating the facility resulted in the need for a subsidy from Allen County. John Mauch became the administrator in 1989. By 1990, the cost to the County approached $1 million and a decision to either close the facility or find another operator had to be made.
In 1995, the Allen County Commissioners signed an agreement with Recovery Health Services to operate the facility and Byron Health Center became the first county facility of its type to ever morph from being governmental in nature to being run as a private, not-for-profit entity in the state of Indiana. A few shorter-term administrators ran the facility from 1993 through 1997 including Ed Reef, Gene Larrabee and Ken Lizer.
Peter Marotti took over operations until his retirement in 2012 when current CEO, Deb Lambert, took over the helm until 2017. With Deb continuing with Strategic Planning, Executive Director, Sarah Starcher-Lane took over of day-to-day operations in July 2017.
Byron Wellness Community moved to its new state-of-the-art facility in May 2020 when it came to be known as Byron Wellness Community, at 1661 Beacon Street, in the heart of the medical corridor of Fort Wayne.
The Poor Farm is item #74 on Griswold's birdseye view of the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana indexed for ready reference zoomable map at the The Library of Congress with a closeup image posted August 20, 2022 posted by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoronHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebookpost. It is also online as Griswold's birdseye view of the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana indexed for ready reference by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Hixon, W. W Publication date 1907 on Archive.org. Both Birdseye maps are found on our Maps page.
Also known as the County Asylum. The Allen County “Poor Farm,” as it was originally called, was established in 1853 and was first located in the wilderness of section 29 of Wayne Township (in the area of present-day Elmhurst High School, north of Lower Huntington Road). In that year George L. Parker was employed to keep the paupers at the Poor Farm for an annual sum of $600, and John A. Robinson was retained to build a house for the inmates for $750. These facilities were enlarged in 1854 and again, extensively, in 1860, during the directorship of James M. Read. In these years the director was required to furnish a team of horses, a wagon and harness, four cows and such farming equipment as would be necessary. The county, in exchange, paid Read $800 and furnished clothing and provisions for the inmates.
In 1864, at the height of the Civil War, the entire facility was moved closer to Fort Wayne. An infirmary was built as the centerpiece to the new farm, in the area just west of the present-day Bluffton Road Bridge, in what today is known as the Indian Village neighborhood and the Quimby Village Shopping Center. The new infirmary building was completed in June 1865, for $14,468, and James Read, the former overseer of the Poor Farm, was named Superintendent of the Allen County Asylum, as it was now called.
Expansion of the infirmary space was again required in 1871, and under Superintendent John Spice provisions were made to offer care "for the convenience and better management of the different classes of inmates" (History of Allen County, 1880, p.54). This is the facility that, in 1902, William Johnston came to superintend. Today, in Allen County, the descendant of the old county Poor Farm and Asylum is the Irene Byron Health Center. Behind the Main Building and connected to it with a covered porch was the Insane Ward. North of the Main Building was the Power House and Laundry. South of the Main Building was the Bakery and farther south were the horse and cattle barns, the horse barn being nearest the road.
Copied from I WAS RAISED AT THE POOR FARM posted March 9, 2005 in The Waynedale News.com. Most of the same text is found including photos on Allen County Infirmary at Asylum Projects.org.
July 12, 2020 post byHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook:
Anchoring the Historic 07 District - Fort Wayne is Quimby Village, and it is exciting to see more development occurring with the addition of Crescendo Coffee & More. Although the Clyde opened in 1951, the history of this area extends much further. In fact, most of the land across the Oakdale Bridge was used as the Allen County Poor Farm (1915).
The Allen County "Poor Farm," as it was originally called, was
established in 1853 and was first located in the wilderness of section 29 of Wayne Township(in the area of present-day Elmhurst High School, north of Lower Huntington Road). In 1864, at the height of the Civil War, the entire facility was moved closer to Fort Wayne. An infirmary was built as the centerpiece to the new farm, in the area just west of the present-day the Oakdale Bridge, in what today is known as the Indian Village neighborhood and the Quimby Village Shopping Center.
See also Allen County Children's Home, Allen County Orphan's Home, Fort Wayne Children's Home, Fort Wayne Developmental Center, and St. Vincent Villa Catholic Orphanage.
poor farmsearch of The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River Volume 1 by B. J. Griswold on Archive.org.
The following is a memoir written in 1986 by Carl C. Johnston, a reprint from the Old Fort News 1986, provided by The History Center, Fort Wayne courtesy of Marilyn Horrell. The memoir, which includes some recollections of his aunt, Gladys Marie Young of Fort Wayne, concerns his youth at the Allen County Asylum under the superintendency of Carl’s grandfather, William H. Johnston, who governed the institution from 1908 to 1920.THE ALLEN COUNTY ASYLUM The Allen County “Poor Farm,” as it was originally called, was established in 1853 and was first located in the wilderness of section 29 of Wayne Township (in the area of present-day Elmhurst High School, north of Lower Huntington Road).
The following is a memoir written in 1986 by Carl C. Johnston, a reprint from the Old Fort News 1986, provided by The History Center, Fort Wayne courtesy of Marilyn Horrell. The memoir, which includes some recollections of Carl C. Johnston’s aunt, Gladys Marie Young of Fort Wayne, concerns his youth at the Allen County Asylum under the superintendency of Carl’s grandfather, William H. Johnston, who governed the institution from 1908 to 1920.
The county home is a rapidly disappearing building type in Indiana. Also known as the poorhouse, poor asylum, or county farm, the county home was Indiana’s first unified response to poverty and disability. County homes were built in each of Indiana’s ninety-two counties, but today, over half of these buildings either sit vacant or have been demolished. This thesis includes a survey of Indiana’s remaining county homes, recording forty-eight buildings in forty-seven counties. Information regarding each building’s architectural significance, condition, and current use is noted. Though reuse can be difficult, often due to large building size or rural location, it is possible. Several successful examples of adaptive reuse of county homes exist across the state, as this thesis illustrates.See her 353 page paper with photos THE COUNTY HOME IN INDIANA: A FORGOTTEN RESPONSE TO POVERTY AND DISABILITY A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF SCIENCE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BY KAYLA HASSETT (VERA A. ADAMS) BALL STATE UNIVERSITY MUNCIE, INDIANA MAY 2013.
In 1816, the first Indiana Constitution required counties "to provide one or more farms to be an asylum for those persons who by reason of age, infirmity or other misfortunes may have a claim upon the beneficence of society." Jim Glass.By the 1850s, "poor asylums" (as they were called then) had been opened in all 92 counties. According to Indianapolis-based historic preservationist Jim Glass, most of these residences - which later came to be known as county homes - had an adjacent farm. The houses were adapted to shelter the indigent and elderly; sometimes orphans and people with mental illnesses stayed in them as well. Most of the county homes closed after the creation of Social Security during the 1930s. But ten continue to operate across Indiana to this day.
In the nineteenth century, Indiana’s plan for caring for the poor and disabled centered on the development of poor farms, where people in need could work in exchange for housing and food. All 92 counties created poor farms between 1831 and 1860, but as federal agencies supplanted them, county homes gradually lost their purpose, leaving county governments and private owners struggling to find new uses for the historic complexes. Today, only 47 remain. In 2014, Indiana Landmarks supported a multiple property National Register nomination for all of Indiana’s county homes, paving the way for individual homes to be listed,Copied from a August 27, 2022 post by Indiana Landmarks on Facebook. The status of the 2014 project is unknown.
Poor Farms in Indiana by Indiana Genealogical Society, Inc. April 3, 2023
on YouTube
#familyhistory #genealogy #indiana This was an IGS Facebook Live Event from May 2022. In May of 2022 IGS Facebook Live explored the topic of poor farms in Indiana with Judy Baker. Judy has a wealth of knowledge on the history and genealogy of poor farms in Indiana. The Indiana Genealogical Society is proud to host the IGS Facebook Live events, which are held on the first Tuesday of every month. For updates on our upcoming events, please visit our Facebook page at @indianagensoc. And if you have ancestors from Indiana, be sure to check out our website at www.indgensoc.org for more resources and information on how to connect with your Hoosier roots.
See: IGS Presentation on Poor Farms May 2022 posted May 4, 2022 by Indiana Genealogical Society on Facebook.
ACPL has a web site, Facebook page, videoson Facebook, and a YouTube channel. ACPL is home of the The Genealogy Center, also with a Facebook page, videos on Facebook. The Lincoln Collection at ACPL has Lincoln at the Library Series of videos on Internet Archive. ACPL is the meeting location for the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, Inc.. ACPL remodeled all their county branches starting in 2002, culminating with the May 2004 to December 2006 remodeling and expansion of the full city block main library at 900 Library Plaza, with a grand reopening January 27, 2007. Photos can be seen on Gwathemy Siegle & Associates Architects, Inc. of New York, library architecture wiki Celsus: Fort Wayne Central Library Remodel, and Kinexxions blog at the January 27, 2007 Grand Opening ceremonies. Earlier Carnegie library was torn down in the 20th Century. See Allen County Public Library, List of Carnegie libraries in Indiana on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopediaand INDIANA HAS MORE CARNEGIE LIBRARIES THAN ANY OTHER STATE on HoosierIndiana.com. See videos and more on our Library page.
Allen County Sheriff's Department officers down and Allen County Adult Probation Department officer down from the Officers Down Memorial Page. An October 14, 2022 post about Allen County Sheriffs and Fort Wayne Police by The History Centeron Facebook.
See the Indiana School for Feeble-Minded Youth.
Formed in 1943, in 1947 opens Hanna Homestead School, in 1962 buyrs property at 2722 Fairfield Avenue, in 1985 relocates to current location at 3320 North Clinton Street. In 1989 officially renamed Turnstone Center for Disabled Children and Adults. See their History page for more information. Webpage: https://turnstone.org/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurnstoneCenter/. Turnstone: Celebrating 80 Years Tony Betton, Jr. March 20, 2023 on 21AliveNews.com.
Photo of building at 1800 Broadway, corner of Swinney Avenue, was discussed May 12, 2019 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Culled from the comments it was built around 1950 as Brouwer's Firestone and Texaco in the (late) Art Moderne style. It was a combination of tire store, filling station, service garage, and a small hardware-type retail store. The Brouwer family operated on the site prior to construction of the 1950 building, in a smaller Texaco filling station. Until 1965 was Brouwers Tire and Battery where Ray Ditton was the sales manager for Firestone tires. In the 1960s and 1970s it was a Goodyear tire and GE appliance store. TEKVenture maker lab moved to the block in 2014, then in 2017 moved to 1550 Griffin. There is tax sale information for Swinney Avenue Partners LLC 1800 BROADWAY.
Google map photo from Street View.
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN promo reel posted Sep 5, 2013 by ACWMC on YouTube
The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is the tri-state area's leading sports, entertainment and tradeshow facility, hosting over 1,000,000 visitors annually. Serving northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio and southern Michigan, the 80-acre Memorial Coliseum and Expo Center complex is host to the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL), the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA D-League) and the Fort Wayne Derby Girls (WFTDA). The facility also hosts national concerts, family shows, business and consumer events, the area's largest tradeshows and private gatherings. For more information, visit www.memorialcoliseum.com. (Video production by Mission3 Media)
4000 Parnell Avenue, http://www.memorialcoliseum.com/ (260) 482-9502. Designed by Alvin M. Strauss. Ground was broken for Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on January 24, 1950. There was nothing but farms in the area. The $3 million project took more than two years to complete and was dedicated on September 28, 1952, shown in a short video ACPL Presents: Historical Footage Of Allen County - Show 13719 by Access Fort Wayne public television at the Allen County Public Library.
Memorial Coliseum: Dedicated Sept. 28, 1952 with photo, Corey McMaken Sep 28, 2017 Updated Jun 6, 2022 in the History Journal archives of the Journal Gazette newspaper.
How the Memorial Coliseum Was Built from History on their website http://www.memorialcoliseum.com/about-us/history.
The idea behind the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum began in 1944, when the Fort Wayne Junior Chamber of Commerce (now known as the Jaycees) began discussing a proposal "to undertake a project to build a field house in Fort Wayne and dedicate it as a war memorial." Then, buildings in the area were too small to house larger community functions such as sports events and concerts.
The Jaycees, and their wives, worked hard to to garner public support for the project by passing out handbills door to door and distributing buttons to schoolchildren that read "We Want the War Memorial Coliseum." As the country was involved in World War II, the idea of a permanent memorial to Allen County's war heroes appealed to many residents. A county-wide referendum on the Memorial Coliseum passed, despite the $3 million price tag, which was considered a huge sum.
The Allen County commissioners started by purchasing the site - a prime piece of real estate at California Road and Parnell Avenue, near two farms, Johnny Appleseed Park and highway US 30 being constructed nearby (now Coliseum Boulevard). After securing needed financing through a bond issue, the commissioners broke ground for the project in January 1950. Upon completion in September 1952, a dedication ceremony was held, with 24 area veterans' organizations and 10,000 people attending.84-page History Program
Historical Concert List since the first show in 1952 to the present
August 2, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:
In 1944 the Fort Wayne Junior Chamber of Commerce proposed creating an event hall to honor Allen County war heroes. This space, they maintained, would fill a pressing need to give the city a large event venue, unavailable at the time in Fort Wayne. After passing a county-wide referendum, the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum began construction in 1950, despite the $3 million price tag. Since its completion in 1952, the Memorial Coliseum has boasted a long history of hosting a variety of events including circuses, political rallies, trade shows, school ceremonies and numerous sporting events. During the 1980s, the building saw even more growth with the addition of the Expo Center, allowing an even further range of events to be held within its halls. Another renovation came in 2002, increasing the height of the ceiling by 41 feet, 10 inches, the largest project of its kind, providing space for more seats and additional services for disabled visitors. As an iconic fixture of the Fort Wayne community, the War Memorial Coliseum serves as the stage upon which history is made. Exactly 21 years ago today, on August 2, 2002, this piece of cable was used to raise the roof of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Approximately 6,720 feet of cable was used. The latest addition to the structure came in 2015, with the building of the Conference Center. #sociallyhistory
March 9, 2017 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this aerial photo of the Coliseum and surrounding area taken sometime before 1952 (Copyright 1959 is on the map). Our friend Randy Harter (local author and historian) had shared on a Fort Wayne Nostalgia page (You are positvely from Fort Wayne, if you remember...) some good information on the Coliseum and we added this to his post! BTW..... A.K. Hofer prepared a survey of the farm where the Coliseum was built in 1941, or about 7 years before the land was purchased in 1948!
Shared March 9, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
August 19, 2019 post by the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Facebook:
Check out this historical photo of the Memorial Coliseum, taken on August 18, 1950! Taken two years before the facility opened its doors, this photo shows the building in the midst of construction. Look at all that farm land and natural vegetation!
PHOTO: @JGfortwayne
May 15, 2019 post by Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Facebook: Check out these photos of the Memorial Coliseum, taken in May 1951 in the midst of construction! Since the facility opened its doors in 1952, we continue to renovate, expand and even "raise the roof" to provide the best experience for our guests! Photo provided - Journal Gazette
September 28, 2018 post by the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Facebook:
Happy 66th Birthday to the Memorial Coliseum! On September 28, 1952, a dedication ceremony was held upon completion of construction, with 10,000 people in attendance. Check out the photo below courtesy of the Journal Gazette archives.
Happy 70th Birthday to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum! 🎂
We're celebrating with a photo from the dedication ceremony held on September 28, 1952. In attendance were 24 area veterans' organizations and 10,000 guests.
(Photo Courtesy of the Journal Gazette) pic.twitter.com/qyUVNilz4I— @acwmc (@acwmc) September 28, 2022
Similar 70th birthday post September 28, 2022 post on Facebook.
Limited Preview The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum : an address by Adams, Otto H; Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County. cn, 1954, on Archive.org. Complete online version The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, by Otto H. Adams.
For 12 consecutive years, Memorial Coliseum has been named a “prime site” by Facilities Magazine. It was recently ranked 13th in the world for ticket sales among similar-sized venues in the industry’s leading publication, Venues Today.From Team behind Coliseum success Many hands help venue put on events, which boost area economy by Vivian Sade published September 15, 2013 on The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne IN: aerial view with numbers attached. Number interpretation: 1. Coliseum Blvd., 2. bridge over river, 3. city utilities park, 4. baseball park, 5. Johnny Appleseed's grave, 6. Parnell Ave is one of over a dozen Allen County War Memorial Coliseum photos in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.
July 16, 2023 post by Presleyteriana /Elvis Life in Photos on Facebook:
Fort Wayne , Indiana , March 30 , 1957
February 24, 2022 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:
HISTORY JOURNAL In March 1955, Memorial Coliseum was turned into a 38-lane bowling center ahead of the American Bowling Congress. More: Coliseum becomes bowling alley in 1955 Corey McMaken.
#fortwayne #indiana #throwbackthursday #tbt #history #bowling
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum ca. 1952
By Randy Harter Fort Wayne Reader 2017-03-06
In 1944 the Fort Wayne Junior Chamber of Commerce (now known as the Jaycees) proposed building a fieldhouse/coliseum as a fitting memorial to the men and women of Allen County who had lost their lives during both world wars. While the planning and the building of public support was moving forward in 1945, feasibility and location became an issue as plans were announced by a private company to build a sports arena in the Quimby Village area, a project that ultimately never came to fruition, and there were those that felt the building should be constructed closer to downtown in Lawton Park.
Due to the building’s projected expense, in 1946 the project was put to a vote by way of a public referendum in that fall’s election. An extensive publicity campaign was undertaken by the War Memorial Commission, and Jaycees, that besides utilizing traditional advertising media also included dropping thousands of leaflets over the city from a plane as well as a torchlight parade on the election eve. When the votes were counted, the referendum had been approved, with 25,000 for and just 5,000 against.
In 1948 100 acres were purchased at Parnell Avenue and California Road adjacent to what was then called the “Municipal Beach,” and local architect A. M. Strauss (Parkview Hospital, Central Catholic, Lincoln National Bank Tower) was hired to design the building. In January 1950, a 3 million dollar bond issue was floated, and Hagerman Construction Company was awarded the construction contract. Due to steel shortages during the Korean War, work did not progress as quickly as anticipated. However, in September of 1952 the Coliseum was completed and its dedication held with 24 area veterans’ organizations and 10,000 people attending.
Since its completion, the War Memorial Coliseum has undergone numerous changes and upgrades. Not the least of these was the building of the 108,000 square foot Expo Center in 1989; raising the 1,200 ton roof 41 feet, 10 inches in 2001 at a cost of 34.5 million dollars that also included a major renovation throughout; and in 2015 the Conference Center to the south end of the building giving the complex a total of over one million square feet under roof.
Throughout the building’s 65-year history it has only had four general managers, Don Meyers, Bob Tenbarge, Phil Olofson, and since 1988, Randy Brown.
Those whose names are now enshrined at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum are Allen County citizens who lost their lives in World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
(Image courtesy Craig Leonard Collection)
Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne Historian and author of two books on local history.
Posted March 7, 2017 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
March 9, 2017 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this aerial photo of the Coliseum and surrounding area taken sometime before 1952. Our friend Randy Harter (local author and historian) had shared on a Fort Wayne Nostalgia page (You are positvely from Fort Wayne, if you remember...) some good information on the Coliseum and we added this to his post! BTW..... A.K. Hofer prepared a survey of the farm where the Coliseum was built in 1941, or about 7 years before the land was purchased in 1948!
Hofer shared this image March 8, 2017 in a comment to the Randy Harter Fort Wayne Reader post on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook:
This is a Sidwell aerial from our company files that predates the 1952 photo you shared, as the Coliseum is not yet completed and construction of the Gerberhaus has not been begun. However, you can see the Standard Oil gas station at the corner of California and Leo Roads, which still is in existance. Your question on the building in your photo, Randy Harter, at 11:00 was a mystery???? We have a survey done in 1959 and recorded in Deed Record 554 pages 283-285 by my father, Carl A. Hofer identifying the building in question as the DELUXE-MARINE company! BTW.... we have a survey in our files, prepared by my grandfather, A.K. Hofer in 1941, of 77.17 acres, which was the farm before the Coliseum was built. We started keeping field note records in 1948 or so, can't figure out who it was for!
One comment noted the:
Municipal Beach went across the roadRandy Harter commented:
Very cool Hans. I love that it shows the old feeder canal bed. Nice!Another conversation: Randy Harter:
Hans, are these Sidwell's part drawing, part photograph? How were they produced?Hans Hofer:Randy Harter , yes part drawing and part photograph. We have three Sidwell books that were bought before I started working in 1975. When an area got developed with more subdivisions, they would send an updated version of the map, deleting any of the photography. The books downtown and surrounding area have no photography at all, since they are developed. However ,the books out in the country are still aerial photos, sometimes the whole Section, and sometimes a Quarter Section. Pretty sure the Sidwell Company still exists out of Chicago, although we no longer have a contract with them, with County GIS, etc.
the 43,680-square-foot roof of Memorial Coliseum was raised 41 feet and 10 inches. It took almost five hours. by Corey McMaken published March 28, 2019 in the JGHistory Journal of The Journal Gazette newspaper
Raising the Roof at the Memorial Coliseum by ACWMC July 20, 2010 on YouTube
Time lapse video of the roof raising of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana
February 28, 2023 post by Hidden View Photography on Facebook:
June 7, 2023 post by Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Facebook:
Have you ever wondered if a musical artist or band has performed at the Memorial Coliseum?
Check out the Historical Concert List on our website!
VIEW THE LIST: https://www.memorialcoliseum.com/about-us/history
Click on "Concert History of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum"
Al Glick started Alro Steel in 1948. See History and Philosophy - Alro Steelon YouTube from their Alro Steel web site. 70th anniversary on January 1, 2013.
Hotel and restaurant photos including newspaper article from June 27, 1909 page 30 in The Journal Gazette newspaper August 7, 2017 and several photos August 27, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Newspapers.com shows that article and another article on page 12 in the July 12, 1913 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. An August 8, 1909 photo in The Journal Gazette newspaper was posted October 28, 2017 in the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.
April 26, 2021 post by Inside INdiana Business on Facebook:
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry says Amazon’s decision to locate a third fulfillment center in Allen County, this one with a commitment for nearly 1,000 jobs, was fueled by investment in quality of place amenities and infrastructure improvements. READ MORE: Henry: Quality of Life, Airport Helped Land Amazon
105 East Lewis Street, taped August 11, 1976 American Legion Lincoln Post --Fort Wayne, Indiana
published 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 105 East Lewis in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Camera and Editing by Steve Fortriede.
American Legion post 47, opened in 1919, was located on the north side of Wayne street, between Webster and Harrison. A photo from the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Librarywas posted for discussion May 5, 2019 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. The legion post moved to Reed Road. A Facebook page Restoration 226 established in January 2014 has many photos of the building at 226 Wayne Street that was torn down in June 2014 to build the Ash Skyline Plaza that opened June 1, 2016.
Year book / The American Legion Department of Indiana by American Legion. Department of Indiana Publication date 1930 on Archive.org
1212 E. California Road. See October 2, 1962 photo of brand new building for Allen County Chapter and Regional Blood Center for 43 Indiana and Ohio chapters in The Journal Gazette newspaper posted April 20, 2017 by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook.
75th anniversary was on January 1, 2013. Inception in 1938, is a sales/service distributor in the weighing equipment business with sales and service capabilities. Headquarters in Fort Wayne with branch offices in both South Bend and Toledo Ohio serve customers within a 75 mile radius of either location. Web site: http://www.antibus.com/
The nine-story, 263-rooms opened in Februry 1908 at 128 West Berry corner of Harrison Street. In 1947 leased to F. Harold Van Orman, president of Fort Wayne Daisies women's baseball team, along with Ernie Berg and Ramon Perry, was the original backer/owner of the newly formed (1952) Fort Wayne Komets. Hotel rebranded as the Van Orman until 1968, rebranded the Anthony and imploded January 13, 1974. See history and discussion posted November 7, 2016 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authorand postcard discussion October 7, 2017 and several ACPL photos March 13, 2019 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
203 East Berry Street, Street View photo from Google Maps
A 15-story office building in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne. From the top floors looking east on a clear day you are able to see the windmill farm in Van Wert County, Ohio. Read about rennovation bringing in new businesses and condos in Rebirth of Anthony Wayne Building’s rehab pleases tenants by Dan Stockman published February 24, 2013 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. See our Anthony Wayne page.
September 8, 2023 post by Sturges Property Group on Facebook:
Today is the last day of FUN
FACT
...For now.
So, let's go out with a bang and make a *mad* dash to Berry Street to find the Anthony Wayne Building!
While the exterior has not changed much from its construction in 1963, the interior has seen many renovations and tenants.
It all began in 1917 with the Morris Plan Company, which helped middle-class individuals obtain loans. After World War II, Morris Plan Co. restructured into the Anthony Wayne Bank.
In 1964, the company moved from its original space in the Elektron Building (currently home to Barrett McNagny) to the Anthony Wayne Building right next door.
The Anthony Wayne Bank stayed until 1987 when it was absorbed by Summit Bank, which was subsequently absorbed by Chase Bank.
Since the 80s, tenants have moved in and out, and the building experienced nearly complete emptiness for a short time.
But a resurgence in downtown Fort Wayne developments has brought new life to this iconic building.
In 2012, the entire building was renovated to include four floors of office space, seven floors of condominiums, and ground-floor retail space. Along with the renovation, the building's name was officially changed to the First Financial Center at the Anthony Wayne Building.
Today, you can find The Hoppy Gnome
gastropub on the first floor, along with Premier Bank, J R Interiors, TriCore,
One Eleven Design, and Snow & Sauerteig.
And Suite 107 is available for sublease!
Want to be a part of the ever-evolving downtown scene AND have a piece of Fort Wayne history? Call our brokers John Caffray and Andrew Eckert today for more information, and see our exclusive listing down below!
Downtown Fort Wayne Office Sublease
#sturgespropertygroup #downtownfortwayne #dtfw #commercialrealestate #fortwaynehistory #fortwayne
Historic image credit to Allen County Public Library. See more here:
On West Wayne Street, 1917-1933 was a co-ed business school. During the Great Depression it served as local headquarters of the WPA, the Works Progress Administration, which provided jobs to depression era unemployed who compiled useful genealogy records of births, marriages, and deaths found on the shelves of the The Genealogy Center, and would build the runways at Fort Wayne’s Smith Field, and the pavilions at Foster Park. It was torn down in 2014 to build the Asher Brokerage world headquarters. No longer online in Doomed Building Played Major Role in City History by Eric Olson March 28, 2014 of Indiana NewsCenter.
The former 'Anthony Wayne Motor Company' dealership was built in the mid-1920s at the SE corner of Lafayette Street and E Washington Boulevard, along the Lincoln Highway. It was home to the Ford and Lincoln brands. After having sat vacant for a number of years, it was demolished (along with the old 412 Club behind it) in September 2017 to make way for the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission. Fort Wayne, Indiana
. Copied from August 25, 2018 photo taken August 7, 2016 posted by Dan Baker on Facebook.
New Anthony Wayne Washer shown on age 415 of The Iron Age 1889-03-14: Vol 43 Publication date 1889-03-14 on Archive.org
Was mention on page VII in the 1897 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog from 4 mentions on page VII, II, 9, and 10 in Anna, Washing Poems by Ted Genoways, 2008
Over 30 photos of various washing methods including Anthony Wayne Washers were posted June 28, 2022 by on Facebook. The first photo in the post was Anthony Wayne Washers showing the cover of a 26 page publication The New Improved "Anthony Wayne Washer." Publication: Buffalo: CM Dunston Lith,1892, was offered for sale, but marked sold in 2022 by Buckinghambooks.com states: 24 mo, 3-1/2" x 5-3/4" pictorial wrappers, 26 pp. (including the covers), illustrated. The Anthony Wayne Manufacturing Co. is in Fort Wayne, IN. The company claims to make their washing machines the best, most efficient, and most valuable washing machines in the country keeping their high standard of excellency that they've gained during the past six years. The Anthony Wayne Washer was first produced in 1886 and in a five year time period 65,000 units have been sold. The front cover is a lithograph of a woman cooking while her oldest child is running the Anthony Wayne Washer while reading, along with a toddler sitting on the floor, creating a happy family atmosphere. The rear cover is a lithograph of another manufacturer's washer and total chaos. On the inside front cover there is an illustration of The New Improved "Anthony Wayne Washer." There are illustrations and descriptions of the following: The Western Star Washer, The New Improved "Western Star Washer," Different Parts of the Gearing, Interior View of No. 2 & 3 Anthony Wayne Washers, and Interior View of No. 1 Anthony Wayne Washer. There are 16 pages containing satisfied dealer and customer testimonial reviews. There is another illustration of The New Improved "Western Star Washer" from a different angle on the inside rear wrapper. Stamped twice with the name Stockton & Allen, General Hardware in the body of the text, else a fine, bright copy of an elusive item.
Page 64 of the September 16, 1893 The Metal Worker shows the price at $42.00 per dozen.
Rankin House: Little House, Big History by ARCH Inc., posted August 11, 2020 on YouTube/
ARCH Inc. presents a virtual, video tour of the historic Rankin House. This tour is possible because of the support of the Community Foundation of Greater Foundation and our generous donors to the #GivingTuesdayNow project. Join them in supporting ARCH Inc. and its historic preservation work in the Fort Wayne area by visiting archfw.org. Invest in history for our future.
ARCH Inc. presents a virtual, video tour of the historic Rankin House. This tour is possible because of the support of the Community Foundation of Greater Foundation and our generous donors to the #GivingTuesdayNow project. Join them in supporting ARCH Inc. and its historic preservation work in the Fort Wayne area by visiting archfw.org. Invest in history for our future.
Website: www.archfw.org, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/archfw/, YouTube: ARCH Inc. - Architecture and Community Heritage since 1975. ARCH Endangered Structure List of 2012’s most endangered structures, with the number decreasing from 10 to eight since last year. Topping the list is the Merchant-Huxford House at 520 Tennessee Ave., the home of one of Fort Wayne’s earliest mayors. According to legend, the house contains timbers from the last fort in the city. The list also included the S.F. Bowser building on Creighton Avenue vacated by the Fort Wayne Police Department, then torn down in 2016. From ARCH endangered-structure list dips to 8 by Sarah Janssen of The Journal Gazette newspaper November 16, 2012.
November 22, 2022 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:
Our books make great Christmas presents! To order, go to https://archfw.org/product-category/publications/
21Countryat
21AliveNews.comnow on Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
At 1415 West Washington Boulevard. In 1994 it was included on the "Fort Wayne Bicentennial Heritage Trail" as one of the outstanding homes in the celebrated West Central Neighborhood.
From An Archbishop’s Home by Tom Castaldi, local historianpublished January 29, 2015 in the History Center Notes & Queries blog.
Website: www.armstrongflower.com, Facebook page, founded by Helen M. Armstrong who worked until age 90 and lived to age 100. In Memory of Helen M. Armstrong November 14, 1914 - April 3, 2015 obituary at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home.
1117 Broadway, www.aaronsorientalruggallery.com, handmade rugs, Where every rug is a masterpiece. 40th anniversary was January 1, 2013.
List of public art in Fort Wayne, Indiana at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. This list applies only to works of public art accessible in an outdoor public space. For example, this does not include artwork visible inside a museum. Most of the works mentioned are sculptures.
303 E Main Street, Street View photo from Google maps
In 1961, the architect Louis I. Kahn was commissioned by the Fine Arts Foundation to design and develop a large arts complex. ... By the summer of 1970, Kahn’s office had completed the working drawings for the theatre, and construction proceeded shortly after. In the end, only the Theatre of Performing Arts was completed out of the nine proposed buildings for the Fine Arts Center of Fort Wayne. The theatre was officially inaugurated in 1973, a year before Kahn’s death in 1974.
See Fort Wayne AD Classics: Arts United Center / Louis Kahn by Evan Pavka published April 16, 2018 on ArchDaily.com. The path of Kahn Famed architect's imprint on Arts United Center unmistakable with several photos by Miriam Morgan published December 09, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Fort Wayne hasn’t shown any great love for architectural accomplishment. There is only one small Frank Lloyd Wright building in town, and other famous architects seem to have generally taken the bypass around our city. However, shortly before his death, Albert I. Kahn designed the exquisite Arts United Center, first known as our Performing Arts Center. Some of the most remarkable buildings on the planet bear Kahn’s signature, and we are fortunate to have one of them. But the “Kahn” name also shows up in at least one other Fort Wayne building of note – the former International Truck Engineering Center at 2911 Meyer Road [Street View photo], proposed site of the new Allen County Jail. A plaque on the building proclaims that the structure was designed and built by Albert Kahn Associates, a firm noted around the world, particularly among vehicle manufacturers. Copied from Proposed, current jail sites spur thoughts on aesthetics by Richard B. Hatch posted December 9, 2022 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Had 5 stores, 3 closed in 1975, the other 2 in 1977. See January 15, 2017 discussion on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
888 S Harrison Street, Suite 900, Street View photo from Google maps, user submitted photos
Website: https://www.ashbrokerage.com/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshBrokerage.
June 27, 2014 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:
This our "Bird's Eye View" of the new Ash Complex being built right across the street from our office at 203 West Wayne Street Suite 316, Fort Wayne, IN.
First photo from their 136 photo Album: ASH CHRONOLGY showing the site June 27, 2014 from demolition through building the new Ash building April 15, 2016.
Was shared March 26, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
April 27, 2015 post on Facebook: Check out our latest snapshots from downtown Fort Wayne! We know construction moves quickly - be sure to look at the Weigand Construction webcam for nearly up-to-the-minute views of progress.
http://www.ashbrokerage.com/blog/skyline/
Post is from the Ash Brokerage's albums: Ash Skyline Project Our new Headquarters is going up in downtown #FortWayne and we can't be more excited as the construction goes on!
Follow along as we add progress pictures of the parking garage and our new headquarters: http://www.ashbrokerage.com/blog/skyline/
February 19, 2016 post by Downtown Fort Wayne on Facebook:
Downtown got a little bit brighter tonight.
May 27, 2016 post by Ash Brokerage on Facebook:
Ash Brokerage's albums: Ash Skyline | We've Moved In! The whole family is now here! After two weeks of moving in, all Fort Wayne employees are now at the new national headquarters. It's been four years in the making, but we're finally here. You can read all about the move in our latest blog here: http://www.ashbrokerage.com/blog/skyline/were-home/
Weigand Construction Msktd & Associates, Inc. City of Fort Wayne - Municipal Government Design Collaborative Downtown Fort Wayne
February 25, 2019 by Visit Fort Wayne on Facebook:
— with Ash Brokerage at Ash Brokerage.
September 23, 2021 post by Milan Center Feed & Grain on Facebook:
Beautiful turf does not always grow on the ground. Check out the Skyline Park Rooftop of the Ash building! We are thankful for the opportunity to provide Endure fertilizer for such a cool space! #milancenter #visionscapes #ashbuilding #downtownfortwayne
February 17, 2023 post by Hidden View Photography on Facebook:
Who even knew this was up here? Downtown #fortwayne
535 W. Wayne Street, founded in 1974, founder Tim Borne and president Tom Borne still maintain highly visible roles even after they sold the business to a holding company based out of Tennessee a few years ago. Website: asheragency.com
14808 Minnich Road, Hoagland, New Haven area, 58th anniversary on January 1, 2013, website: www.aspytire.com
Started as a Kendallville ice cream factory in 1922, opened two Fort Wayne stores in 1956 at 3235 North Anthony Boulevard and 211 E. Tillman Road. Atz ice cream plant closes, but Fort Wayne shops will remain by Bob Caylor published September 21, 2011 story and a similar article Atz leaving ice cream biz Restaurants to carry on after 90-year tradition ends by Sherry Slater published September 22, 2011 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. September 22, 2014 Atz's ice cream shop closes after more than 50 years by Frank Gray published September 22, 2014 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. Atz's Ice Cream Closes Down After More Than Fifty Years In Business by Ian Hoover and Jeff Neumeyer published September 22, 2014 on 21AliveNews.com. Atz’s Ice Cream Shoppe closes its doors by WANE Staff Report published September 22, 2014 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15. Atz's ice cream owner dies, 90 by Frank Gray published February 28, 2016 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. See photos of Atz Ice Creamflavors photos posted January 14, 2017 and again August 7, 2017, Norman Atz photo and discussion February 10, 2017 and South Atz May 15, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
The iconic Sunbeam Bread sign in Fort Wayne, IN from Nicholas Giacalone on Vimeo.
350 Pearl Street. Started in 1901 by J. B. Franke as the Fort Wayne Biscuit Company. In early 1900s became Perfection Biscuit Company. In 1944 became a member of Quality Bakers of America (QBA) and began baking Sunbeam Bread April 26, 1942.
Known for their 1957 iconic rotating Sunbeam bread sign, their name changed in 2005 to Aunt Millies, see How It All Started on the Aunt Millies website.
August 1, 2013 post by Aunt Millie's Bread on Facebook:
Aunt Millie's has been baking Sunbeam Bread since 1957. Today we received one of the nicest compliments ever, from Jeff Snow. Here is an excerpt:
I was in Kokomo July 12th and 13th for Indiana Sprintweek. We bought a loaf of Sunbeam Giant bread that was hands down the best loaf of bread we had ever eaten. I figured it was from Aunt Millie's and flipped it over and confirmed that thought. I’d swear it felt and tasted like it was fresh out of the oven...
You guys are doing something right when three guys watching sprint car races are talking about the quality of your bread!
December 2, 2014 post by Aunt Millie's Bread on Facebook:
In 1944, Aunt Millie’s Bakeries (then Perfection Biscuit Company) in Fort Wayne became a member of Quality Bakers of America (QBA) and began baking Sunbeam Bread.
Here’s a toast -- to 70 years of Sunbeam!
7:29 minute video Aunt Millies Virtual Bakery Tour by Melissa Dunning July 16, 2015
on YouTube
Take a virtual tour of Aunt Millie's Fort Wayne Bakery, and learn how bread is made, in this 7.5 minute video.
A similar but shorter 6:10 minute video Aunt Millies Virtual Bakery Tour by Aunt Millie's Bakeries July 28, 2015
on YouTube
Take a virtual tour of our Fort Wayne Bakery and learn how bread is made.
June 29, 2021 post by The History Center on Facebook:
Generations of Allen County residents have memories of the smell of baking bread wafting through downtown Fort Wayne. John B. Franke established the Wayne Biscuit Company in 1901, producing Perfection Wafers (P.W. Crackers) and later bread, cakes and cookies. In 1923 it became the first bakery in Indiana to offer wrapped bread. Always a family affair, after Franke’s death in 1927 his son-in-law H. Leslie Popp took over the running of the bakery (the Popp family still owns the bakery). By the mid-1950s the cookie and cracker lines were phased out. Since 1957 the iconic animated sign, featuring slices of bread falling fresh from the loaf, has been a landmark in downtown Fort Wayne. The aroma of baking bread began to waft over the city when Perfection Bakeries began making Sunbeam Bread in 1946 and Aunt Millie’s in the 1990s. Perfection Bakeries changed its name to Aunt Millie’s Bakeries in 2005. In 2017, it was announced that the Fort Wayne bakery would be closing. However, as a continued mark of its dedication to Fort Wayne, Aunt Millie’s announced that their corporate headquarters would remain at their Pearl Street location. #sociallyhistory
May 20, 2023 post by Aunt Millie's Bread on Facebook:
Recently we sat down with John H.D Wagner from 21Alive to discuss the Sunbeam sign at our corporate office in Fort Wayne, IN. Indeed, it is just that simple.
Serving Fort Wayne with 3 NAPA locations
58th anniversary on January 1, 2013.
The hotel was built in 1863 at the southeast corner of Calhoun and Berry streets by Francis Aveline. A fire on May 3, 1908 killed 12 people. The main entrance was on Berry Street with a Ladies Entrance
on Calhoun Street. From Death of the Aveline House by Kevin Leininger from theCityscapes - People & Places series of articles from the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper. See the Aveline Family.
Early on the morning of May 3, 1908, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the Aveline hotel at the southeast corner of Calhoun and Berry streets. Twelve persons lost their lives. Many guests of the upper floors were saved b,y leaping from windows or making their way to the roofs of adjoining structures. The site is now occupied by the Shoaff building.Copied from page 541 in the online book The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River Volume 1 by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs, Publication date: 1917 on Archive.org on Archive.org.
The hotel underwent many name changes over the years but ultimately kept the Aveline namefrom ‘For God's sake … get out!' 100 years pass since fire guts Aveline hotel by Kim Metzger published May 1, 2008 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
One image of nearly 50 Aveline Hotel search results in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library posted January 23, 2014 by Downtown Fort Wayne on Facebook:
#ThrowbackThursdays in downtown Fort Wayne featuring a photo from May 3, 1908. This photo was taken after the fire at Aveline Hotel that used to stand at the corner of Berry St. and S. Calhoun St. Eleven people died in the fire. #TBT
Another posted September 11, 2014 by Downtown Fort Wayne on Facebook.
May 3, 2017 post by Allen County Public Library on Facebook:
On this day in 1908 Fort Wayne's Aveline Hotel burned, killing 12 people. "In its day, the Aveline House was the city's most elegant hotel. In the end, it was the city's most elegant deathtrap." It was on the southeast corner of Calhoun and Berry streets and was built in the 1860s with a fifth floor added in the 1880s. Read more from the archives of The News-Sentinel Death of the Aveline House.
September 8, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:
Check out these pen and ink drawings including the 1861 Allen County Courthouse, Colerick's Hall, and the Aveline Hotel in Fort Wayne!
These images come from the Bert J. Griswold Collection in our Community Album. Check out the collection here: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/.../collection/p16089coll59 [see links to his online books on our B.J. Griswold section]
Bert J. Griswold was born in 1873 in Osage, Iowa, and died in Fort Wayne in 1927. A gifted illustrator and cartoonist, he came to Fort Wayne in 1902, working for the Fort Wayne Daily News and the Fort Wayne Sentinel. He later left the newspaper to establish his own advertising agency. In the course of his work as a reporter and cartoonist, he developed a deep interest in the history of Fort Wayne and Allen County. He also became a prominent advocate for the City Beautiful Movement, which worked for the establishment of local parks and boulevard improvements. Griswold wrote short columns for the newspaper about area pioneers and historic buildings, and his efforts culminated in 1917 in the publication of the two-volume Pictorial History of Fort Wayne.
Postcard discussion February 15, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
The Azar family opened their first restaurant in 1954. By 1973 they had 27 restaurants including 22 Azar's in Indiana and Colorado, Char Kings, Moonraker and Fat Fritz's from a letter posted in a March 4, 2019 discussion with photos and over 100 comments, January 12, 2017, February 10, 2017, 1960s-1970s cruising July 2, 2017, Big Boy photo August 2, 2017 and general Search on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
March 29, 2023 post by Indiana Album on Facbook:
Fort Wayne, circa 1960 - Azar's Big Boy Restaurant and Coffee Shop, with its wonderful accordion roofline and colorful modern sign (that you can almost see, even in a black-and-white photo), was located on the NW corner of Calhoun and Berry Streets, opposite the Allen County Courthouse. Today a PNC Bank is on the site.
This futuristic design was known as Googie architecture, named for the now-defunct Googies Coffee Shop in Hollywood. Characteristics include sloping roofs, boomerang-modern signs, geometric shapes, and an exaggerated use of steel, glass, and neon. Popular from 1945 until 1970, especially for roadside buildings such as restaurants and motels, the style sometimes used Space Age motifs such as satellites, atomic bursts, and rocket shapes. The flashy style fell out of favor by the 1970s when the ecology movement ushered in wood and stone structures that blended into a natural environment.
Same photo was posted December 31, 2020 by Indiana Album in a larger post requesting more photos on Facebook:
Fort Wayne, circa 1960 - Azar's Big Boy and Coffee shop stood on the NW corner of Calhoun and Berry Streets. More recently, PNC Bank has occupied this corner. Seen to the right is the Allen County Courthouse.
Some of the most influential groups are those who came from geographical locations under the rule of the Ottoman Empire or formerly under its rule. These groups include, but are not limited to, the Lebanese-Syrians, Romanians, Macedonians, and Greeks. with photo labeled:
Azar’s Big Boy Drive-In, Operated by the Azar family (Lebanese-Syrian).
September 1, 2016 post by Indiana Album on Facebook:
MYSTERY AZAR'S - Does anyone recognize this Azar's Drive-In and Restaurant from the 1960s? We believe that this was in northeastern Indiana. Azar's (a franchisee of Big Boy) was founded by Alex and David Azar of Fort Wayne in 1953. This design of sign and building was used as early as 1963. It is very similar to the Angola Azar's building at 309 N. Wayne (see picture in comments), but the sign was on the other side of the building. Any suggestions? (The Indiana Album: Johnson Brothers Sign Company Collection)
13 Azar photos in the 875+ photos in the Indiana Album: Johnson Brothers Sign Company Collection.
The question was not answered. Quesses included South Bend, Goshen, Waynedale, Coliseum Blvd in Fort Wayne.
