Today, we begin our list of the top endangered properties of the Historic 07 District - Fort Wayne. The list will not be in any specific order but hopefully will raise awareness of these incredible properties. 2732 Fairfield Avenue might be one of the oldest homes in the Historic 07 District - Fort Wayne. The house was either moved or built here around 1888 by the Dalman family. John Dalman was a leader in Pleasant Township and later became the County Treasurer. He made inroads with some of the significant leaders of the day, including the Bond family (Packard Piano). John passed away in 1905. John's wife, Louisa, maintained the home for the next 23 years until she passed away in 1928. Recently, their great-granddaughter (who is now 100 years old!) stated this about the home and the Dalmans: "I do remember the house on Fairfield Avenue. I remember a large porch, which ran along the side and front of the house. I even remember the inside a little bit. I do remember that my great grandmother took care of me there occasionally when I was little when my mother and grandmother went shopping downtown. I remember that she wore high-button shoes and long dark dresses. She died of stomach cancer when I was eight years old. I remember her as a very nice person." After 1928, the home was vacant for a portion of the 1930s and has changed hands over the last decades; it is currently vacant and owned by a company. How wonderful would it be to see this home brought back to life? Copied from July 27, 2020 post with photos byHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook.
Homer Davisson dean of Indiana artists, died in 1957, had a studio at 331 W. Pontiac Street. History vs. bureaucracy: Which will prevail? Studio of 'dean of Indiana artists' struggles for survival by Kevin Leininger published April 2, 2014 in the The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Dawson's Hot Dog Stand
A small round stand outside the Southern Heights Baptist Church at the corner of south Anthony and Rudisill boulevards for nearly half a century is one of those almost mythical Fort Wayne foods. It closed for good in the early 2000s and since then fans of the dogs have chased the sauce wherever it has popped up. Many people have claimed to have the recipe. None of the several owners actually owned the building. The building and the property it sat on was owned by the church. The late James Dawson Jr. and his wife, Virginia, bought the business in 1951, but they, and the three owners who followed, never had a lease or rent to pay. They just had to donate some of their profits – 7 to 10 percent, depending on who you ask – to the church. Tim Replogle family took over from the Dawsons in 1977. Copied from a longer article with more details called Dawsons giving sauce to city Brothers hope to clear air on recipe variations by Ryan Duvall published October 26, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. Let's be frank: Memories can be savored even after iconic stand's demise by Kevin Leininger published June 10, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. Archer Root Beer stand was discussed with a copy of a 1990s Yesterdays column by Nancy Venderly published in the The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Deister Machine Company
Founded in 1912, makes vibrating screens – equipment used to separate different sizes of gravel, sand, stone and coal. Deister co-owner marks 50 years Sherry Slater of The Journal Gazette newspaper October 23, 2012.
Devil's Hollow
See Lillian Lynn. The Story of Devil's Hollow (Vandola Road); Back in the early 50's, a couple in their teens were out on a date and about midnight they were on their way home and decided to take a shortcut down Vandola Rd. As they were driving down the road they heard a big pop sound. Flat tire. He pulled off the road and shaking his head he told her that he did not have a spare. He told her to lock the doors for he had to go for some help and he would be back shortly. An hour went by and he still hadn't come back. The wind was picking up and she kept hearing scratches on the top of the car from the branches. Another hour went by and he still hadn't returned. She opened the door...stepped out and ..he was hanging by his feet from the tree above the car. It was his fingernails scratching the top of the car. Two different conversations with comments July 7, 2012 and March 15, 2013 onthe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. The Legend of Devils Hollow Fort Wayne, IN. Authored by The Hollows Tattoo & Art Festival discussion March 13, 2017 and general discussion July 4, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
The Diffenderfer House located on DeWald Street near Saint Patrick’s Church was built in 1886. The Queen Anne-style home was designed and built by prominent Fort Wayne architects John F. Wing and Marshall S. Mahurin. Copied from 135-year-old south Fort Wayne home hoping for historic designation from City Council Tuesday published July 5, 2021 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15. Other buildings in Fort Wayne designed by the firm include John H. Bass Mansion, aka “Brookside,” on the Spring Street campus of the University of Saint Francis and St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1126 S. Barr St. Because of its architectural significance, it meets one of the criteria under the Fort Wayne Historic Preservation and Protection ordinance. William Alcorn Diffenderfer bought the lot in Williams Addition in 1884, but it appears that Benjamin O. and Isabella Diffenderfer were owners of a home on the property in 1887 city directory. The widowed Isabella left the home to her son and he and his family lived there until around 1918. Christian and Ida Schwarze owned the home from around 1919 to 1971, and Steve Black brought the house in 1976 before marrying Yolande. Copied from July 7 - Fort Wayne City Council OKs historic status for house published July 6, 2021 by Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly.
In April of 1918 Frank J. Dix, Superintendent of the City Light Plant, and Robert E. Kelly, Chairman of the Board of Public Works, formed the company Dix-Kelly Electric Shop, Inc. and made their store and offices at 216 East Berry Street. Newspaper advertisements of the time show their store sold all things electric including vacuum cleaners, washing machines, irons, toasters, light fixtures, sewing machines, and fans. More importantly Dix-Kelly became one of the largest local electric wiring contractors of the era and had photographs taken of over 50 of the larger houses and buildings that they completed during the period of 1919 – 1930. This rare collection of images is courtesy of ARCH, Inc. [ ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage)] which has worked to celebrate, protect, and preserve architecture and community heritage in Allen County and Northeast Indiana since 1975. Image research by Randolph L. Harter. Copied from the description of The Dix-Kelly Collection at the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.
I’ve had the pleasure this past month of being allowed to digitize, research and catalog the Dix-Kelly Collection for ARCH and the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Department. Dix-Kelly was one of the largest electrical contractors in Fort Wayne during the pre-depression 1920-1930 era and did the wiring on many of the largest building projects in the city within that period. These included such structures as the Lincoln Bank Tower, North and South Side High Schools, St. Joe Hospital, and Hotel Keenan among 50 others. Dix-Kelly had photographs taken of these buildings as they were completed and it is those that make up this rare collection being permanently shared with the ACPL/Community Album by their owner ARCH, Inc. You can now browse these photographs on the Community Album at: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/
Do you remember Rice Oldsmobile, Stately Women's Apparel, or Vic's Typewriters? They all had one thing in common - Dodge Displays!
After working for the ArtKraft Sign Company in Lima, Ohio, Walter Scott Dodge moved to Fort Wayne in 1926, taking a job with G. H. Sign on Pearl Street. He then started his own company, Dodge Displays, in the early 1930’s and continued in business until his retirement in 1970. Dodge Displays was located at 472 Wiebke, just off the corner of Oxford and Warsaw Streets. Dodge, who specialized in neon signs, designed, constructed and erected signage for businesses primarily in Fort Wayne, but also within a 50 mile radius of the city.
The 1957 aerial map of Fort Wayne at Historic Aerials shows the location of local drive-in theaters.
During their 1950s peak, there were more than 5,000 drive-in theaters across the country, but according to DriveInMovie.com there are fewer than 230 remaining. Indiana had 128 in 1955 but now has 19 [in 2020]. Allen County's first, the Fort Wayne Drive-in on [5800] Bluffton Road, opened in 1947 and was followed by the Lincolndale, the Hillcrest, the East 30 and the Sunset by 1954 [4740 Lima Road]. The Hillcrest on Tillman Road (1987) and the East 30 (1991) were the last to close. The only area drive-ins remaining are the Auburn-Garrett Drive-In (it opened in 1951), the Huntington Twin Drive-In (1950) and Wabash's 13-24 Drive-In (1951). Copied from Drive-in theaters are facing tough season by Blake Sebring published April 23, 2020 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Discussion about a 1939 The Drive-in Theater, believed to have been located "somewhere close" to the old Fortmeyer's, near the intersection of 33 & W. Washington Road, by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and author.
East 30 Drive-In7500 SR-930 East at Cinema Treasures. The East 30 Drive-In was opened on October 6, 1950 with Randolph Scott in “The Nevadan”. It was operated by Carl H. Schwyn. By 1953 it was operated by Brailey-Browning Inc. and United Booking Services. It was closed at the end of the 1987 season. Contributed by Ken Roe.
The Fort Wayne Drive-In5800 Bluffton Road, opened in 1940 as a single screen ozone with a 712 car capacity. The original operators were Brailey-Browning Inc & United Film Booking Service. The theatre was later operated by Alliance Theatres and finally Cinecom. The drive-in closed in 1985 and was later demolished. The area is now zoned commercial. Contributed by Chuck. From Cinema Treasures.
Hillcrest Drive-In720 E. Tillman Road at Cinema Treasures. The Hillcrest Drive-In was opened prior to 1952 when it was operated by Charles Loudenslager and Indianapolis Co-Op Theatres. They were still the operators in 1955. It was closed at the end of the 1987 season. Contributed by Ken Roe. See Hillcrest sign and school page.
The Lincolndale Drive-In was located near Franke Park. It opened on September 11, 1953 with George Montgomery in “Jack McCall Desperado” & Sterling Hayden in “Flat Top”. It was operated by United Film Booking Services. It was closed on September 8, 1979. From Lincolndale Drive-In at Cinema Treasures. Comment: rivest266, rivest266 on April 24, 2024 at 7:43 am. Closed September 8th, 1979, and the owners moved its screen to the new Lincolndale Drive-In in Warsaw in mid-1980. Article posted. [ article not found ]. Lincolndale Drive-In US 30 East, Warsaw, IN lipalarp, lipalarp on May 4, 2011 at 7:32 pm. My father built and owned the Lincolndale.He bought the Lincolndale Drive-in in Fort Wayne and the Peru Drive in and combined the best of the equipment to build the Warsaw Lincolndale. It died with his death.
There used to be at least 5 drive-ins in the Ft. Wayne area years ago, but they've all been closed for years. The Hillcrest, Lincolndale, East 30, Sunset, Ft. Wayne Drive In. Which one did you go to the most?
There used to be at least 5 drive-ins in the Ft. Wayne area years ago, but they've all been closed for years. The Hillcrest, Lincolndale, East 30, Sunset, Ft. Wayne Drive In. Which one did you go to the most?
Now Duck Street - A large City Mill was built in 1842 near what is now between Clinton and Barr streets engulfed by the south end of Headwaters Park. Ole Duck Creek by Tom Castaldi published December 1, 2015 History Center Notes & Queries blog.
Duck Race
Weigand Construction Duck Race Raises money for SCAN (Stop Child Abuse & Neglect) formed in 1974. The Duck Race started in 1988 when plastic ducks sponsored by financial donations to raise money are released in June to float down the St. Joseph River with cash prizes for winners crossing the finish line. SCAN’s programs and services, directly affected more than 28,500 children and adults in 2011, reach 19 counties in northeast and north-central Indiana. WANE-TV and WMEE-FM 97.3 were media sponsors for the 2012 year’s race.
Fort Wayne, circa 1910 - Owner William W. Dygert (1872-1940), center, poses with employees in front of his Dygert Pawn Brokers at 227 E. Main Street. He moved into the brick building in early 1908 and occupied the space until his death in 1940. Items for sale include jewelry, a trunk, suitcases, a bicycle, rocking chair, and a coat. He also advertised as an optician. To the right is Gust. Schubert's Dyeing and Dry Cleaning establishment. This whole block between Clinton and Barr was razed and is now the site of Freimann Square, a four-acre park.
