“What’s for dinner?” During the 1960s, French cuisine became popular due in large part to the efforts of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. In 1961, John N. Spillson opened one of Fort Wayne’s premier restaurants, Café Johnell. The restaurant featured red velvet upholstery, fine antiques, linen tablecloths, and framed paintings. The European menu was hailed by critics as one of the finest in the Midwest and the Spillsons took home numerous awards. The restaurant’s wine cellar was one of the nation’s most extensive. Café Johnell was arguably the most elegant restaurant ever located in Fort Wayne, offering diners fine French cuisine in the upscale South Calhoun Street restaurant. Always a family affair, John and his wife, Jayne, ran the restaurant with their children Nike and John joining them in the 1980s. After the death of her father in 1995, French-trained chef, Nike Spillson took over the running of the restaurant for the next six years. The forty year tradition of fine French dining in Fort Wayne came to an end in 2001, when owner Nike Spillson closed Café Johnell for the last time. #sociallyhistory
December 26, 2018 post by Don Hall's Restaurants on Facebook: The supporting walls are poured and set to cure for 30 days before this 500 ton building can be placed on its new home! You can start to get a good perspective of this location. It will be overlooking Fort Wayne’s new riverfront park and down into the St. Marys River. If you look closely to the left of where the building sits currently, you can see Fort Wayne Outfitter's Bike Depot & Bike Hub and the historic Cass St. Train station across the river! Lots of new construction on the Riverfront Fort Wayne perfect while holding on to our history. Thank you to all who have supported this amazing riverfront in Fort Wayne! Paddles up!
February 5, 2019 post by Don Hall's Restaurants on Facebook. Talk about a 100 year challenge!! 😱 After a long day of hard work and a tedious moving process the old Cambray building is officially set into place, and will continue to be worked on lowering to its new foundation! Make sure to walk or drive by the corner of Superior and Harrison to see it firsthand! — in Fort Wayne. Also posted a 34-minute video: LIVE NOW: Hall’s Building Move
If you weren't able to join us for the four-hour long live feed of the building move, we were able to compress everything you need to see in just under four minutes (the building is moving at 8x the actual speed in this video. Check out our live stream replay from earlier to see how slow it was actually moving.) Be sure to watch until the end to see how much of a tight squeeze it was.
We are elated for our new neighbors, and we are so excited to see the Fort Wayne skyline change—from our perspective.
This is its second move in a year. Its original resting place was 312 S. Harrison Street for around 124 years before it moved across the street next to our agency (at 120 West Superior Street) in January last year. Now, it has finally moved to its final resting point at the southeast corner of Superior and Harrison—where it will become a two-story restaurant with a patio overlooking Promenade Park. We look forward to seeing what Bud Hall and his team do with this historic building.
A sign on Main Street points to Camp Allen Park where a monument was erected May 4, 2017 but not shown in the 2015 Street View photo from Google map. The monument was placed at the old Kekionga Ball Grounds, which is now Camp Allen Park along the St. Marys River on the northwest side of downtown Fort Wayne. It marks the location of the first professional baseball league game played between the Fort Wayne Kekiongas and the Cleveland Forest Citys on May 4, 1871. Fort Wayne defeated Cleveland 2-0 in the game. City Councilman Geoff Paddock, baseball historian Bill Griggs and the local Society of American Baseball Research worked with the Fort Wayne Parks Department to place the monument.
In late September I visited some sites related to my family history on the Civil War. Among them was the site of Camp...
In late September I visited some sites related to my family history on the Civil War. Among them was the site of Camp Allen in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This was where disparate companies in Northeast Indiana came together and formed regiments – specifically, the 30th, 44th, 74th, 88th, and 100th Indiana plus the 11th Battery. Thousands of Hoosiers transformed into soldiers at Camp Allen, and left for war from this place.
Located along the St. Mary River about a mile from Fort Wayne’s historic downtown, this site today is a neighborhood and small city park known as Camp Allen Park.
While there, I took this picture of the historical marker. More information on the park can be found here. The contrasts of its original purpose, and what Camp Allen Park is now, are striking and worth contemplating.
750,000 Americans lost their lives in the Civil War. In Allen County alone, 4,000 citizens went to war, many of them receiving the bulk of their preparation and training on West Main Street’s Camp Allen, located just west of the Saint Marys River. Nearly 500 of those soldiers lost their lives during the war. Copied from the newspaper article Area's ties to Civil War still reverberate Timothy S. Goeglein published July 13, 2022
in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Hidden gem: Built in 1852, the Canal House lives on as Fort Wayne's oldest surviving commercial building.
The historic structure, which is located on Superior Street in downtown Fort Wayne, served as an office, home and warehouse used in trade along the Wabash and Erie Canal. #TBT
John Brown, stonecutter, mason and merchant of related building supplies, constructed his warehouse at 114 E. Superior Street (which at the time was called Water Street) in 1852. This building, still standing, is the oldest commercial building in Fort Wayne, and the last local structure that is directly linked to the Wabash & Erie Canal.
While most of the businesses and residential activity would have been on the south side of the canal, the real estate on the canal’s north side would have been priced to fit Brown’s needs, as his back door (which then very likely would have been considered the front door) was about 50 feet from the towpath and adjacent canal. Just outside his door would have been mules and horses pulling packet (passenger) and line (freight) boats going east to Toledo or west to Huntington and beyond with the southern terminus being in downtown Evansville, just two blocks from the Ohio River.
Brown’s business occupied this rubble-style building for about 10 years before he sold it 1862. Over the next few decades, the building had a number of owners and uses before ownership was transferred to the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company in 1885 who then owned it for the next 86 years. Also known as the Nickel Plate Railroad (later Norfolk and Western and now Norfolk Southern), it was that company that purchased the canal right-of-way through Fort Wayne in 1881 and began filling it in. The first regularly scheduled Nickel Plate passenger train arrived over the old canal bed in the fall of 1882.
In 1971 the railroad deeded the canal house to the City of Fort Wayne. As preparation for the nation’s bicentennial two years hence, in 1974 the building was identified as a potential restoration project. This led to the formation of ARCH, our local architecture and heritage preservation organization, who with many helping hands completed the Canal House project in 1976. The building then housed the Fine Arts Foundation (now Arts United) offices from 1977 to 2010, when they moved to Arts United Center and then on to the Auer Center in 2011.
The 166-year-old Canal House has now sat empty for the past eight years and is deteriorating from neglect. It, along with the old bus depot lot to the east (who moved to Baker Street in 2012) and the empty site to the west that was the Trolley Bar and adjacent Norfolk & Western passenger depot, all belong to the City of Fort Wayne. With the Landing Project revitalization, Superior Lofts, Promenade Park and other touted nearby development, one hopes a new use for this historic block that includes preservation of the forlorn Canal House will also soon be announced.
A tip of the hat for research and information by John Loveland, Tom Castaldi, Walter Sassmannshausen, Betsy Kachmar
and Susan Mendenhall.
Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne historian/author and the architecture/history guide for FortWayneFoodTours.com
Despite the weather Osby ventured out and discovered the Canal House built in 1852. It left him wondering what will be...
Despite the weather Osby ventured out and discovered the Canal House built in 1852. It left him wondering what will be this historic structure’s future role in Fort Wayne. Whatever it is he hopes it is pet friendly and offers delicious doggie treats to visitors
Happy 45th Anniversary. October 10th 1977 Tom & Sharon Casaburo partnered with Jimmy D'Angelo to bring Fort Wayne the original location back on Coldwater Rd. Today owned & operated by Sharon, James, T, Chris & Trey Casaburo we are proud to serve you at the four locations. We are Thankful to the hardest working staff in the hospitality business, You ROCK! And to our supportive guests, the first timers, the regulars, the Wednesday & Sunday barstool family, the carryout only, the date nights, We Thank You Over & Over! Saluti to 45 More!
A little Flashback Friday featuring Tom Casaburo in the very first Casa D’Angelo kitchen on Coldwater Road in 1977! Were you lucky enough to dine there way back when?!
George Lambroff, Bill Eshcoff (one of the Coney Island owners), Jimmy D’Angelo (Casa Restaurant), George Lebamoff (Cap-n-Cork), Bobby Eshcoff (Lambros), Boris Kostoff (Stein Tavern & Quality Foods), Tommy Lebamoff (Ted & Tom's, Elegant Farmer), Ted Gouloff (Ted & Tom's).
Standing: Tom Casaburo, (Casa D'Angelo) George Tsinrsaroff, (George's Suburban House) Leonard Spallone, (architectural designer and contractor) Joe Descarto, Tony DiFilippo, "Wimpy" Wilber Rodenbeck, (Johnny's Rib Bar and The Flame with John Eschoff), Carl Stavreti.
Seated: Ted Sholeff Sr, (South Side Gardens) Bill Dotes, Jimmy D'Angelo. (Casa D'Angelo)
Not pictured: John Eschoff (Lambros), Frank Casagrande (O'Sullivans)
Been a busy day at 203 W. Wayne Street #316, but we now have your Wall of Fame Wednesday edition!!!! For some reason, we always end up around boundary lines! Here we have a No Trespassing sign found at the old CASAD Depot on the former State Road 14 East of New Haven that we surveyed several years ago! Come on down and visit the WOF, you'll be glad you did!
New Haven Depot (DNSC-OLNH) is on 268 acres of land owned by the federal government. Is part of the DLA's Defense National Stockpile Center. Entranceis located on the north side of Dawkins Road (formerly State Route 14), approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) east of New Haven. Surrounded by an 8-foot high fence topped with three-stranded barbed wire. As of 2011 only security staff are on site. From New Haven Depot (DNSC-OLNH) Casad Depot at GlobalSecurity.org.
George Ironstrack, Assistant Director of the Myaamia project, presents on the historical and contemporary contexts of the akima Pinšiwa awiiki (Chief Richardville House in Fort Wayne, Indiana), which received National Historic Landmark status in 2012. This talk was given during Family Day of the 2012 National Gathering of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.
Item 7. The Chief Richardville House (Akima Pinšiwa Awiiki ) is one of only two National Historic Landmarks in Allen County. The Pinšiwa (Richardville) House is a rare and nationally significant example of a treaty-negotiated residence, built in 1827. It represents the resolve of Civil Chief Pinšiwa and the Myaamia (Miami) people to remain on their traditional lands within the expanding United States. When built, this was the finest house in northern Indiana. It was the primary home of Pinšiwa from 1827 to his death in 1841, and today it is owned and operated by the History Center. Note—the official NHL name of the house is in the Myaamia language. from from 10 Things to Know About Historic Preservation in Fort Wayne at City of Fort Wayne.
Website: www.fwhistorycenter.com/chiefRichardvilleHouse.html. At a press conference on April 17, Todd Maxwell Pelfrey, executive director of the History Center, offered a brief history of the life of Chief Richardville. “Born in Kekionga (in what would become Fort Wayne) in 1761, Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville (know as Pinsiwa, “The Wildcat,” in the Miami language) served as the Akima or Civil Chief of the Miami from 1814 until his death in 1841. His legacy and the legacy of his people were secured through his implementation of a seemingly benign yet revolutionary piece of treaty making, the establishment of fee-simple title to Miami homelands throughout Indiana and construction of permanent residences for tribal leaders on these lands. His home at 5705 Bluffton Road was constructed in 1827, funded in part by the 1826 Treaty of Mississinewa, along with eight other residences for his sub-chiefs throughout northern Indiana. Copied from Observations on the Chief Richardville House National Historic Landmark Designation posted April 27, 2012 on History Center Notes & Queries blog.
The original site 5705 Bluffton Road is the oldest Native American dwelling in the Midwest, the first Greek Revival Style house in northeast Indiana, the oldest house in northeast Indiana and home to the wealthiest man in Indiana at the time of his death in 1841. His home was acquired in 1991 by the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society. The United States government officially declared it a National Historic Landmark in 2012. It is, in fact, the only Treaty House (of the once thousands in existence) that is still standing in the United States. Copied from THE AKIMA PINSIWA AWIIKI posted September 9, 2016 by Michael Morrissey on The Waynedale News.com.
The Akima Pinšiwa Awikii (Chief Jean-Baptiste de Richardville House), Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a rare example of a treaty house remaining in the U.S. that was constructed as the direct result of treatymaking between American Indians and the U.S. government. Built in 1827 as part of the terms of the 1826 Treaty between the Miami (Myaamia) and the U.S., the Pinšiwa Awikii was the primary residence and the locus of Pinšiwa’s activities as a sovereign leader in Miami negotiations with the United States government during the years 1818 to 1841. The Akima Pinšiwa Awiiki is nationally significant under NHL Criterion 1 as it is associated with events that made a significant contribution to, and is identified with or outstandingly represents the broad national patterns of United States history and from which an understanding and appreciation of those patterns may be gained. Copied from a longer American Indian Influence in the Old Northwest Territory article at the National Park Service.
Cigar Manufacturers
The tobacco plant is native to the New World. Mass cultivation of the tobacco plant in America began during the 17th century. Throughout the succeeding centuries the cultivation and distribution of tobacco has been a driving force in the American economy. Beginning in 1860, Fort Wayne played a part in the tobacco industry with the manufacture of cigars for nearly a century. Some of the most prominent cigar manufacturers in our city were Cooney Bayer, Baker Cigars and William J. Steckbeck & Sons. Coony Bayer, the last remaining and also the largest cigar manufacturer in Fort Wayne, closed in 1958. Copied from photos posted July 9, 2018 by The History Center on Facebook to promote their temporary cigar display: Sweet Smell of Success: Fort Wayne’s Premier Cigar Industry! Craig Leonard, local historic preservation consultant, and
Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron PositiveFortWayne.-->
830 South Harrison Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802, phone: (260) 422-1957, Facebook - motto: We serve the world 15 at a time. The current owners 22nd anniversary was on January 1, 2013. The favorite menu item is World Famous “Garbage” consisting of potatoes, eggs, ham, and cheese.
Cindy's Diner will be moving from it's current spot to West Berry Street and Maiden Lane in June to make way for the new...
Cindy's Diner will be moving from it's current spot to West Berry Street and Maiden Lane in June to make way for the new multi-million dollar Ash Brokerage project.
An extra picture regarding the Ash Complex. If you have never seen a house, or in this case, a diner moved, take a look...
An extra picture regarding the Ash Complex. If you have never seen a house, or in this case, a diner moved, take a look at this. Cindy's Diner was raised using several steel I-beams as a base yesterday. They will install wheels under the beams and roll her out this weekend!
Congratulations to our friends at Cindy's Diner! They opened this morning at their new location at the corner of Maiden and Berry Street! Stop by and see them!
Congratulations to our friends at Cindy's Diner! They opened this morning at their new location at the corner of Maiden and Berry Street! Stop by and see them!
Citizens Square Officially Open at City of Fort Wayne. All the older buildings were razed and a new builiding opened in 1959 as the new Wolf & Dessauer department store building bounded by Clinton, Wayne, Barr and Berry Streets. Ownership changed hands in the 1960s and a couple more times before the City of Fort Wayne purchased the empty building in 2009 and after renovation dedicated it in 2011 as Citizens Square. For more details read Citizens Square Block – 1957 with photo of the older buildings by
Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authorpublished December 9, 2018 in Fort Wayne Reader. Citizens Square is a building in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It houses Fort Wayne's municipal government. In 2011, the building attracted media attention when it was almost named the "Harry Baals Government Center" after its former mayor. From Citizens Square on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Citilink
Citizens Street Railroad Co (1872) - Fort Wayne Transit Co (1950s-60s) - PTC (Public Transportation Corp - 1968) - The Bus Company - was discussed in A look at our public transportation past by Betty Cackmar published December 7, 2015 in
The News-Sentinel newspaper.
City Building - Old City Hall
The City Building was built in 1840 on land donated to the city by Samuel Hanna at Barr and Berry Streets. The Fort Wayne Old City Hall is a castle-like building located at 308 East Berry Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Built in 1893 the Fort Wayne Old City Hall Castle served as the city hall for the city of Fort Wayne until 1971. Today is a museum known as the Fort Wayne History Center which houses over 23,000 artifacts and is open to the public daily. Photo by Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne. In 1977, the city of Fort Wayne committed a Federal Grant to rehabilitate the Old City Hall for use as a historical museum that is now the home of the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society known as the History Center . City Building (The History Center) is Stop #7 on the
ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) Central Downtown Trail.
A 40-year-old landmark in downtown Fort Wayne officially starts an important new mission with a new name. The City-County Building served as the home for the administrative offices of City and County governments for the past 40 years. Edwin J. Rousseau spent 40 years in Allen County and Fort Wayne politics, including terms on the Fort Wayne City Council, Allen County Council and the County Board of Commissioners. He passed away in 2009 at the age of 76. After many of those offices moved to Citizens Square last year, the building was renovated to serve as headquarters for City and County police and the City fire department. Several County government offices will remain in the Rousseau Centre — including the assessor, auditor, recorder, treasurer and veterans services. Paraphrased from City-County Building Officially Becomes Rousseau Centre created April 23, 2012 on Allen County Government.
It's Hofer and Davis, Inc. "WALL OF FAME" WEDNESDAY!!!! Stuff collected while Putting Northeast Indiana "On the Map" since 1915. Hey, that's 100 years! Here we have a commemorative City County Building ashtray we received. Hofer and Davis, Inc. prepared a boundary and topographic survey as directed by The Board of Public Works in 1966 for the use of Mr. Herman Strauss of STRAUSS ASSOCIATES,INC. , the lead architect for the design of this government building, now renamed the Rousell Building.
Fort Wayne’s original “City Building” is the sandstone Richardsonian Romanesque structure designed by the local architects Wing & Mahurin completed in 1893 at the southeast corner of Barr and Berry and now occupied by the History Center. In July of 1965 then Mayor Harold S. Zeis working in conjunction with the Allen County Commissioners, announced that as part of downtown renewal, a new jointly operated “City-County Building” complex would be constructed at 1 East Main Street between Calhoun and Clinton Streets. Designed by the local firm of Strauss Associates, Inc. with Hagerman Construction as the general contractor, ground was broken in the fall of 1968 for the nearly two block square project, and the cornerstone then laid in 1969. At 217,000 square feet with 10 stories above ground, the precast-concrete building was completed in September 1971.
Moving forward 33 years to 2004, Mayor Graham Richard proposed moving the now cramped City of Fort Wayne offices — which were by then in several locations (in addition to the City-County Building) — into the old Wolf & Dessauer/Renaissance Square building that had been constructed in 1959 on the block bounded by Clinton, Wayne, Barr and Berry. It would be Mayor Tom Henry that would later revive the idea and relocate city government the two blocks to that location. Henry had directed the city to purchase the building for $7.3M in 2009, which after a $10M extensive remodeling project and naming contest that received national attention due to a playful and winning “Harry Baals” fan base despite of which it opened instead as Citizens Square in June of 2011, 40 years after having first occupied the then new City-County Building in 1971. The City-County Building on Main Street was then renamed the Edwin J. Rousseau Centre in 2012 in memory of longtime city and county council office holder Ed Rousseau. (Image courtesy ACPL)
Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne historian, author, and tour guide for Fort Wayne Food Tours.
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture of the Northeast corner of Calhoun and Main Streets, the Riegel's Pipe and Tobacco Shop before it became the City County Building, now known as the Rousseau Centre. BTW...Hofer and Davis prepared the Boundary and Topographical for the Board of Public Works in 1966.
Newspaper articles and pictures are from the scrapbooks my grandfather and father made about surveys they had prepared.
This photo is from a book in the company library, not sure which book.
Several photos were posted February 26, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook, one mentioned the address as 631 Main Street at Calhoun Street, with the status: Demolition of Riegel's 1967. Mayor Zies was there with my Grandfather [Frank Bougher] as they prepared to remove the East side of S. Calhoun Street for urban renewal making way for the new City County Building. The project eventually leveled all the buildings bordered between Columbia and Main street down to the Lafayette street Fire station.
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture of The City County Building (Now known as The Rousseau Centre) under...
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture of The City County Building (Now known as The Rousseau Centre) under construction. BTW...Hofer and Davis, Inc. did boundary and topographical surveys for The Board of Public Works in 1966.
#FlashbackFriday! The Journal Gazette shared these photos in yesterday's newspaper of the City-County Building project...
#FlashbackFriday! The Journal Gazette shared these photos in yesterday's newspaper of the City-County Building project from 1968 and 1969 in Fort Wayne. Then Hagerman president Ted Hagerman is seen in the second photo. We're proud to say this building, now called the Rousseau Centre, stands today and continues to serve the community. #BuildingABetterFuture
The history section of the web site of the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre says that the company was founded in 1927 as the Fort Wayne Community Theatre Guild, changed its name to Old Fort Players in 1931, moved into the Majestic Theatre that same year, changed its name to Fort Wayne Civic Theatre in 1940, and moved their operations to the Palace Theatre on East Washington Boulevard in 1957. The Civic Theatre company mounted 231 productions at the Majestic over the years. While at the Palace it was renamed the Civic Playhouse. The Civic Theatre left the Palace Theatre in 1969 and briefly set up shop in another location before moving to its current home on the downtown Arts Campus in 1973. From June 27, 2012 Capital Theater comment on cinema Treasures and Sept 22, 1967: Civic Theatre installs sign with photo by Corey McMaken published February 21, 2019 in The Journal Gazette newspaper from a post on Twitter.
It's #waybackwednesday! Check out this advertisement for Clem Hardware in Monroeville, IN for the Star Vestibule Storm Front, a device to protect people in a buggy during a snowstorm!
Is named for DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828), who is often called the “Father of the Erie Canal.” While serving in various official capacities he advocated building a canal through upstate New York into the Midwest. The resulting Wabash-Erie Canal led to the growth of the city at its highest elevation and gave Fort Wayne the nickname it has kept to this day: “Summit City.” from MLK name-change request pits the present against the past Group wants Clinton Street renamed for Martin Luther King Jr. by Kevin Leininger published March 31, 2012 in
The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Cloverleaf
Dedicated May 27, 1958, the first in Fort Wayne at Coliseum Blvd. then U.S. 24 and 30, now 930, to help trafic flow near the east end industries, photo at Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne.
Club Olympia
At the intersection of Harris and Goshen Roads, opened March 21, 1963. One of only 4 Olympic size pools in Indiana. 1968 Olympic Gold medalist swimmer Sharon Wichman practiced at Club O. The leaking pool closed April 28, 2009 when the struggling American Legion Post 82 filled it in with dirt to expand their floor space to use for meetings and conventions.
Designed by Alvin M. Strauss. Originally opening in 1951, as a movie theatre, the Clyde underwent a $9 Million renovation in 2017-18. With most of the original art deco style of the original building preserved, this treasured venue is now a state-of-the-art mixed-use concert hall and event center. Powered by Sweetwater and featuring cutting-edge sound and lighting, world-class acoustics, and impeccable customer service, The Clyde delivers a live music experience unlike any other. From free convenient parking, to fast and friendly bar service, absolutely no detail has been overlooked. With national touring artists from a wide variety of genres, The Clyde truly does have something for everyone. Copied from a former page titled Clyde Theatre at Visit Fort Wayne.
Here's some fun history about us: In 1949, Clyde Quimby commissioned architect A.M. Strauss to draw up plans for The Clyde Theatre at Quimby Village in Fort Wayne, Indiana. On April 19, 1951, the theater began its life as a 1,782-seat movie house, bringing in patrons from all over the region for first dates, family outings, and a glimpse of Hollywood glamour here in Fort Wayne.
The Historic 07 is a massive fan of the south side of Fort Wayne. It has more to offer from our schools, neighborhoods, churches, parks, and history than any other place in Northeast Indiana. One of those special places is the Clyde. Today is the story of the Lincoln Assassination and what eventually became the Clyde Theater.
The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln occurred on April 14, 1865, when Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth shot him at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was attending a play when Booth entered the presidential box. In the audience that evening was a 21-year-old Union Army soldier named Charles. Charles was born in Steubenville but found himself witnessing the first American President to be assassinated.
During the play Our American Cousin, Booth fired a single shot into the back of Lincoln's head with a .44 Derringer pistol. Lincoln was immediately taken to a nearby boarding house, where he died the following day, making him the first American President to be assassinated. The assassination shocked the nation just days after General Robert E. Lee's surrender, effectively ending the American Civil War.
Charles eventually returned to Steubenville, Ohio, where he became a lifelong firefighter. Although his career was in Ohio, at 88, Charles lived in Fort Wayne with his son on Fairfield Avenue. Unfortunately, Charles passed away on a November evening in 1932 during the height of the Great Depression. He was one of the last surviving witnesses of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. His son, Clyde Quimby, was a Fort Wayne veteran theatre owner and operator. His wife, Helen, would be responsible for what eventually became the Clyde Theatre.
The Clyde is a state-of-the-art music, performance and arts venue in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Clyde is host to live concerts and entertainment, private events, community gatherings, and more. Since our doors opened in early 2018, we’ve quickly earned a reputation with concertgoers, award-winning artists and their crews, members of the community, and visitors from all over as one of the top venues of its kind in the region. We owe it all to the fact that we’ve made it our mission to provide incredible entertainment — that sounds better than ever before — in a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates the arts and our community in every possible way. Copied from Clyde Theatre on Facebook.
"The Clyde Theatre was a glamorous theatre that opened on April 19, 1951 on the outskirts of Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was very tastefully moderne. The circular lobby defined the semi-circular foyer that led to the 1,790-seat single level auditorium. The concession stand was upholstered in turquoise leather. There were colorful murals throughout. The murals by interior designer Hanns Teichert in the main auditorium were lit with black-light… They fascinated me as a child. This was my favorite theatre. It was later twinned and renamed Quimby Village I & II after the shopping centre it was located in. It has been in use as a church since closing and has been de-twinned. In 2017 there were plans to convert the building into a concert/entertainment venue and to renamed it Clyde Theatre once again. Renovations began in July 2017 and were completed in April 2018." Copied from Cinema Treasures Quimby Theater contributed by Patrick Kage.
Clyde Theatre at cinematour.com has March 2004 photos from the Walter Kussmaul collection.
CNN's first broadcast: June 1, 1980, by CNN June 1, 2011 on YouTube. On June 1, 1980, CNN aired its first news broadcast anchored by the husband and wife team of David Walker and Lois Hart.
The first CNN broadcast June 1, 1980 was at 6 p.m. shown live in about a million and a half U.S. households. The top news story of the night was then-President Carter’s arrival in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was visiting civil rights leader-turned-adviser to Bill Clinton Vernon Jordan, who was “in serious but stable condition” following an assassination attempt on May 29. Jordon was at the Fort Wayne Marriott Hotel for his May 29, 1980 address to the Fort Wayne Urban League Equal Opportunity Dinner.
Hour long video: CNN First Hour: June 1, 1980 - two minutes of blank space at the beginning - Fort Wayne is mentioned at the 8 minute mark. The Cable News Network was launched at 5:00 p.m. EST on Sunday June 1, 1980. After an introduction by Ted Turner, the husband and wife team of David Walker and Lois Hart anchored the first newscast.
CNN First Hour: June 1, 1980 by Brandon Millman on YouTube says: The Cable News Network was launched at 5:00 p.m. EST on Sunday June 1, 1980. After an introduction by Ted Turner, the husband and wife team of David Walker and Lois Hart anchored the first newscast. This is the complete hour, including all commercials.
(Incidentally, CNN had paid for a satellite link until 6:30 p.m. Mr. Carter departed the hospital at 6:22 p.m. Had he left Vernon Jordan's room eight minutes later, CNN would have lost its satellite link and the story.) from page 33 in the book The Art of Business Warfare: Outmaneuvering Your Competition with Military ... by David Leppanen.
5910 Maples Road is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination was prepared by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage). The 44-page National Register of Historic Places Registration Form includes an extensive history, maps, and several exterior and interior photos including the three photos.
Colonial Theatre
Was located at 1003 South Calhoun Street, SE corner at Washington where a parking garage is located in 2018. A 1911 glass plate negative by Norman Standish was posted August 22, 2018 by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) on Facebook. "His Friends Wife" and "Indian Maiden’s Lesson" were playing at the time. A building to the right of the theater was the Shining Parlor. Craig Berndt provided the photo.
Columbia Street
Now known as The Landing which has been a prime location downtown off and on since the beginning of Fort Wayne. Renovations are in the works for future developments as of 2017.
Community Harvest Food Bank - the food bank was formed after International Harvester left Fort Wayne in 1983 leaving hundreds jobless devastating the community. It is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the alleviation of hunger through the full use of donated food and other resources. See 30 years for food bank Community Harvest lauded for aiding area by Vivian Sade published September 17, 2013 on The Journal Gazette newspaper.
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture taken by Dailey Fogle from the SHAMBAUGH, KAST, BECK & WILLIAMS building at 229 W. Berry Street as featured in the April 14, 1975 edition of The Fort Wayne Journal - Gazette. This is looking North from said building at the "proposed " and now the site of the SENIOR CITIZEN'S RECREATION CENTER. Oh and by the way...Hofer and Davis provided the surveys in 1974!
It's #waybackwednesday! Take a look at this 1909 view of Concordia College in Fort Wayne. This image comes from the Harter Postcard Collection in our Community Album.
It's #waybackwednesday! Take a look at this aerial view of Concordia College, circa 1910! This image comes from the Harter Postcard Collection in our Community Album.
CTSFW is located on 191 acres of land with the design of the campus crafted by the world renowned architect Eero Saarinen. The inspiration for the village concept came from research done by Glen Paulson on villages in northern Germany. Several were studied, but one was chosen for its rooflines all running in the same direction.
Nestled between North Clinton Street and the Saint Joseph River on Fort Wayne’s north side, the campus provides the perfect combination of nearby amenities with secluded peace. The naturally flowing layout of the campus, combined with the meaning layered into every aspect of its design, makes it a wonderful place to immerse yourself in theological conversation, study and reflection.
As Lent begins, billions worldwide reflect on repentance, prayer, and the life, suffering, and resurrection of Jesus...
As Lent begins, billions worldwide reflect on repentance, prayer, and the life, suffering, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the season carries a more profound historical significance—one rooted in the city's transformation into a Lutheran stronghold, thanks to the vision and determination of Henry Rudisill, Wilhelm Loehe, and Wilhelm Sihler.
In 1829, Henry Rudisill arrived in Fort Wayne, then a struggling village of just 150 people. Bringing Lutheranism from Pennsylvania, he and his wife sought to create a new home for German Lutherans. The survival in those early days was grueling, but the settlers' perseverance was inspiring. Early accounts tell of extreme hardship: after nine months, the Rudisills could finally afford a single pound of butter. Food was scarce, and livestock was nearly impossible to obtain. Only when Mrs. Rudisill's father brought the first cow from Ohio did the family find some relief.
Despite these struggles, Rudisill remained unwavering in his faith, determined to care for new settlers' spiritual and physical needs. He offered employment, guidance, and leadership, becoming a pillar of the growing Lutheran community. His open heart and generosity were known far and wide. Rev. Sauer later recalled that when settlers felt lost, they turned to Rudisill, known for his kindness and willingness to help.
But Rudisill's dream extended beyond Fort Wayne—he wanted to build a Lutheran future in America. That opportunity came when he connected with Wilhelm Loehe, a pastor in Neuendettelsau, Germany, who shared his vision. Loehe, recognizing the desperate need for trained Lutheran pastors in the U.S., conceived a plan: a school to train "emergency helpers" of young men with basic education, but eager to serve in ministry.
From this vision, Concordia Theological Seminary was born. On August 2, 1846, with Wilhelm Sihler as professor and president, the seminary opened with 11 students, all sent by Loehe. The school quickly grew, securing land and buildings with financial backing from Loehe and his supporters. This institution would become a cornerstone of Lutheran theological education, training generations of pastors for service across the country.
Together, Rudisill, Loehe, and Sihler laid the foundation for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and secured Fort Wayne's place in Lutheran history. Today, Concordia Theological Seminary remains a vital center for pastoral education, confessional theology, and global mission work, continuing the legacy of faith and perseverance that began nearly two centuries ago.
The visionary for Concordia’s grounds was landscape architect Dan Kiley. And today, says Julie Donnell, a founder of non-profit Friends of the Parks, the Boston-born practitioner of Modernism is probably the pre-eminent American landscape architect of the last century. From Place for reflection 'Sacred groves' products offamed designer by Rosa Salter Rodriguez published August 9, 2014 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. God and Grace video about the architect Eero Saarinen by
Eric Olson, 21Country Featured Reporterpublished June 1, 2017. See over a dozen photos posted August 9, 2017 and was one of 5 local archetectural monuments shown in photos August 9, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
Was founded in 1913 by Swiss immigrant Fred Marolf, Sr. in Indiana and remained private until it was acquired by Beatrice Foods in 1971. It was later acquired by ConAgra Foods, Inc. in 1990. The Indiana location was closed by ConAgra in 1991 and the label relocated to New Berlin, Wisconsin. The company was named for the location of its plant on the County Line Road dividing Allen and DeKalb counties in Indiana. The County Line cheese plant was on the DeKalb County side of the road, just north of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Throwback Thursday: County Line Cheese by Jenny posted March 19, 2015 on Eckhart Public Library blog. April 24, 2016 and November 24, 2017 discussions on You know you've lived in Fort Wayne too long when... Private Facebook group. County Line (brand) on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopediastated: "is a brand of cheese owned by ConAgra Foods, Inc. and marketed primarily to delicatessens. " See a plant photo January 2, 2012 on Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne and again July 20, 2012. The brand County Line Cheese is now sold by DCI Cheese Company of Richfield, Wisconsin.
One of the oldest standing homes in Allen County is for sale. WANE 15 Taylor Williams WANE 15 takes you on a tour of the property and shows you what life was like when the house was first built.
Fort Wayne home built in 1852 up for auction, mystery includedOctober 15, 2019 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15 with several photos states: The homestead, though not on the historical registry, is one of the oldest still standing in Allen County. Historical experts have told Sowers that part of the smaller portion of the house was built in the 1820s while the larger section was built in 1852. Several places, streets, and buildings in the area are named after Covington Homestead. However, not much is known about the original owners of the Covingtons’. The Allen County History Center has a few newspaper articles from the 1950s on the house and then owners at the time, the Cronin family. [included in the online article] Other than the articles nothing else is known about the family or the home.
For "Throwback Thursday" we stick to our theme of COVINGTON MANOR FARMS. The first is some promotional material from the time it was platted in 1993. The second is an old picture taken on the estate. The 3rd is a picture of the old Berghoff Estate taken from the Assessors Office. Anyone remember the Charity Horse Show? BTW... Hofer and Davis, Inc. did the survey for the Berghoff's in 1964, the Perrey's in 1981 and the plat in 1993.
C & P Machine
Fort Wayne's engine experts 48th anniversary on January 1, 2013
413 West DeWald Street, read more about Grace E. Crosby at ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage).
Curly's Village Inn
Paul "Curly" Armstrong, a retired Indiana basketball legend and Ft. Wayne celebrity, along with his wife Mary Armstrong, founded Curly's Village Inn in 1969. They have their history on their About web page.
Journal Gazette file photo
This image comes from the Harter Postcard Collection in our Community Album.