Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

1510 Fairfield Avenue

August 4, 2023 post by Sturges Property Group on Facebook:

It's FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Ever wonder about the past lives of some of Fort Wayne's historic buildings?

Today, we're featuring the J.W. Kidd building at 1510 Fairfield Avenue.

The J.W. Kidd building was built in 1900, then owned and operated by, you guessed it, J.W. Kidd, as a medical mail-order business. In 1915, the business closed abruptly and was replaced by Boss Manufacturing Co. as a glove and mitten factory.

In the 60s, the building housed General Electric, which used it as a distribution center. Finally, from the mid-80s to the 2000s, 1510 Fairfield was home to Karen's Antique Mall.

Today, the J.W. Kidd building is undergoing renovations to house a wedding event center and a golf simulator, but its basement remains available for lease! The basement would be a great speakeasy, retro game lounge, nightclub, or tasting room!

As a building with some AWESOME history, who could turn down this unique opportunity?

View the exclusive listing from Sturges Property Group for more information:

https://sturgesproperty.com/.../unique-mixed-use...

#fortwayne #fortwaynehistory #sturgespropertygroup #commercialrealestate #dtfw #downtownfortwayne

ARCH, Inc. The History Center

Historic image credit to Allen County Public Library. See more here: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/.../collection/coll6/search

[August 21, 2023 discussion of the "...an unenviable reputation as the home of some of the most impudent pieces of mail order quackery in the world." on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook]

2410 Fairfield Avenue

Street View photo from Google maps

Today, we continue our list of the top endangered properties in the Historic 07 District. The purpose of this list is to raise awareness of these incredible properties.

Residents of Fort Wayne may drive by and wonder a bit about the massive building at the corner of Pierce and Fairfield. This building, which more recently was one of the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, was originally built for the First Church of Christ, Scientist Fort Wayne congregation. While this building is for sale, the story behind this structure is quite interesting. Read on for more.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, was founded in 1897, the original members being Mrs. M. L. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Woods, Miss Ora Shaver, and Miss Emma Rosenthal. Initially, the church was housed in a small Jewish synagogue until 1913. At that point, the church purchased the Charles McCulloch home at West Wayne and Ewing. Charles, a banker, was the son of Hugh McCulloch, who served as Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and Chester A. Arthur.

Mary Baker Eddy founded the First Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts. She was the author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and the founder of Christian Science. The church was founded "to commemorate the word and works of Christ Jesus" and "reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing". In the late 1800s and early 1900s, this was one of the fastest-growing religions in the country. In Fort Wayne, the growth was similar.

In the mid 1920's, the local congregation was looking for a new location. In 1926, the church purchased land at the corner of Fairfield and Pierce. As you can see from the picture, this vast structure was built and finished in 1927. The building, built in the neoclassical style, followed the pattern of many other First Church of Christ, Scientist structures around the country. This church was designed by Howard Lovewell Cheney, who also designed Washington National Airport. Over the years, the building has changed hands and now sits empty and for sale. It's a beautiful structure with hopefully an opportunity to be revived soon.

Picture - Who is a Hoosier Collection

Link to Sale: https://www.talktotucker.com/.../2410-fairfield.../1002510

Copied from a January 22, 2023 post byHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook.

2720 Fairfield Street

September 22, 2023 post by Input Fort Wayne on Facebook:

At 2720 Fairfield Avenue sits a house built in 1904. The home recently underwent a five-month-long renovation, which included a new roof, kitchen, and HVAC system. Inside you’ll find beautiful original hardwood floors, an open staircase, and elegant windows overlooking a backyard.

At the top of that staircase, on the second floor, is a tree mural, covered with photos of past residents of 2720 Fairfield Avenue. This house is just one of six homes owned by Redemption House Ministries, a transitional housing program that serves as an alternative to incarceration, and the residents pictured in the mural are graduates of the program.

Placed there through court order or referral, most struggle with addiction and have a criminal record, but through structured, faith-based programming, Redemption House is helping these women get back on their feet.

Founder and CEO Tomi Cardin designed the programming for Redemption House based on her experience and connections made from working within the prison system as a volunteer jail chaplain.

“It wasn’t something that I desired to do, I kind of stumbled across it through an invitation from my pastor’s wife to do a chapel service there,” she says. “I had what they call a lightbulb moment during the service. I just knew something in me came alive.”

After some bumps in the road, Cardin became an official jail chaplain and started leading substance abuse classes and Bible studies at the Allen County Jail.

“I was really connecting with the women,” she says. “We would make these great plans for as soon as they would get out, we were going to get together, have coffee, or go to church. They would be released and I wouldn’t hear from them or see them again until they were rearrested.”

Disheartened by seeing this process repeat itself over and over again, or as she called it, “a revolving door of frustration,” Cardin says it made her realize these women needed a different solution and she had a vision for that solution.

“These women needed a safe to go, to keep doing the work they had started while they were in jail,” she says. “When you’re released and you go right back to the same environments, you end up making the same choices.”

Learn more about the Redemption House: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/RedemptionHouse.aspx

Fairfield-Nestel Mansion

815 W. Creighton has been a home to a "giant" in Fort Wayne history and a home to "little people" who were internationally renowned on the stage. Captain Asa Fairfield came to Fort Wayne from Maine in 1833 with a princely sum of $30,000. He would eventually purchase the land and build this house. In 1880, Charles Nestel purchased the home. His son Charles and daughter Eliza, who were little people, traveled the United States and Europe as "Commodore Foote" and the "Fairy Queen". See Charles and Eliza Nestel and Street View photo from Google maps.

Fort Wayne: Fairfield-Nestel House (1858-2017), 815 West Creighton, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 21 photos including interior photos in album by Dan Baker on flickr.

City begins demolition of historic Fairfield-Nestel Mansion posted August 8, 2017 by WANE 15 News on YouTube
City begins demolition of histor Fairfield-Nestel Mansion with videos by Angelica Robinson published: August 8, 2017 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15 their Facebook page.

1. Two Fine Old Homesteads Sold Nestel and Auger Places Change Hands Clipped from The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 24 May 1903, Sunday page 3 on Newspapers.com.
2. ARCH Facebook photo of The Fairfield-Nestel Mansion on Facebook. .
3. Fairfield-Nestel House Information Fairfield-Nestel House Information 813 and 815 W. Creighton Avenue at Community Development at City of Fort Wayne.
4. Lots of information in Hard times hide storied history Repairs planned for 1860s Creighton house built by canal skipper by Rosa Salter Rodriguez published September 2, 2007 in The Journal Gazette newspaper is no longer online.
5. Once home to wealth and fame, it had been marked for demolition. A column by Kevin Leininger published May 5, 2007 in The News-Sentinel newspaperreprinted on the web page Colorful past wins house a reprieve. on the website Munson, Underwood, Horn, Fairfield and Allied Families and archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
6. Will third time prove the charm for efforts to save colorfully historic house? Creighton Avenue house was once home to canal captain, world-famous dwarfs by Kevin Leininger published April 16, 2013 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
7. Structurally sound, its future teeters Realtor vows to save historic house by Rosa Salter Rodriquez published February 28, 2016 in The Journal Gazette newspaper is now archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
8. Demolition planned for historic Fairfield-Nestel house Its rehabilitation has become too costly to pursue, one city official said. in The News-Sentinel newspaper.

9. February 12, 2016 post by Historic Real Estate Renovations & Sales on Facebook:

   815 W Creighton Ave

   Known as the Fairfield Nestel Mansion has one last hope against the cities demolition order as I try to save this beautiful piece of Fort Wayne history.

   I would love any old photos or history on the house if anyone has some they can share!

   Here is an excerpt from an article written by Rosa Salter with the Journal Gazette:

   "Some of 815 Creighton Ave.'s past owners include:

   *Capt. Asa Fairfield arrived in Fort Wayne from Kennebunkport, Maine, with his brothers Oliver and Charles in 1833 with the then-astouding sum of $30,000. He was married to Olive, the sister of the attorney Hugh McCulloch, also from Kennebunkport, who had been named judge of the probate court and cashier of the State Bank of Indiana.

   Fairfield spent $1,800 of it on 160 of the 240 acres he eventually acquired and farmed on the city's south side. When he bought 815 Creighton, there was only a log house on the site; he later built a double log house and then a frame house before his death in 1868.

   For a time, Fairfield's was the only frame house in the area, and it overlooked pastures with pigs, cows and the Wabash Canal, which ran near where the railroad tracks cross Fairfield Avenue.

   Fairfield constructed and piloted the first boat to operate on the Wabash Canal. It was called the Indiana.

   *Cyrus Fairfield, Asa's youngest son, owned a candle and soap making factory along the railroad tracks on Broadway and continued to sell pieces of the farm for housing.

   In the early 20th century, he was known as "the oldest resident of South Wayne" and recalled that Indians from the reservation just south of the city would come up Broadway to spend government checks in nearby taverns.

   Other residents at that time recalled the neighborhood as having wild hogs, wolves and "wild pigeons" so thick that they broke tree branches where they were roosting.

   The wild pigeons were passenger pigeons - a bird that is now extinct.

   *Daniel, Charles and Eliza Nestel. Daniel Nestel bought the house in 1880. He was a contemporary of Asa, arriving in Fort Wayne in 1840 after having walked with a companion from New York.

   He operated a plant nursery on Broadway. He also often traveled with his children, who in 1861 signed a contract with Baltimore showman William Ellinger as a theatrical attraction and toured the United States and Europe.

   Charles was billed as "Commodore Foote," and Eliza was billed as "The Fairy Queen." The two were part of a genre of acts sometimes referred to as "Thumbiana" and often appeared with other small people.

   The name "Commodore Foote" would have carried amusing overtones in its day - besides the height pun, there was a real Commodore Foote. Commodore Andrew Hull Foote was well known as the naval officer in charge of the defense of the upper Mississippi River during the Civil War - an area the Confederates were unlikely to reach.

   The newspaper reported that Eliza "is the smallest matured lady ever known, being 18 years old and weighs 20 pounds, yet perfect in form and feature, speaks two languages, sings and dances, is a beautiful poetic reader, and everything is charming and pleasing in her demeanor."

   Writing on www.showpeople.com, Emma Camden gives some insight into the Nestels' performances in a description of Jennie Quigley, who performed with the Liliputian Opera Co. as "the Scottish Queen."

   At intermission, she would often be paired with "another star, such as Col. Speck, Com. Foote or Admiral Dot, and together they would sing duet, dance and `flirt' onstage before the main production resumed," Camden writes. "The flirtation sometimes continued offstage, as after Jennie's death, it was learned that she and Commodore Foote were sweethearts."

10. Campaign underway to save historic Fairfield-Nestel Mansion by Lisa Esquivel Long published Saturday, June 24, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaperis now archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
11. Great Depression-era memories recall another use of Fairfield-Nestel House It served for about 10 years as a hospital for the ill, elderly and disabled. 815 W. Creighton Ave. — it served from about 1923 to 1933 as Anthony Wayne Hospital for Old People and Invalids. The research findings also provide a glimpse of what appeared to have been a difficult life for the hospital's matron, Anna F. Lepper. Much more in the article with no author listed, originally published July 20, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspapernow archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
12. House was torn down August 7-8, 2017.
13. Historic Fairfield-Nestel House demolished Over the years, several owners had tried unsuccessfully to restore the house. was published August 8, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
14. Historic Fairfield-Nestel House demolished by Rosa Salter Rodriguez Aug 9, 2017 on The Journal Gazette newspaper.
15. August 9, 2017 commentary by the last owner of the Nestel House referencing the following August 10, 2017 Rosa Salter Rodriguez artilce with interesting comments and history of the family and many Nestel House posts including from Brad Nestel a descendant of the Nestel family posted many times on the Historic Real Estate Renovations & Sales page on Facebook.
16. Fairfield-Nestel House demolition upsets owner by Rosa Salter Rodriguez published August 10, 2017 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

Fairfield Manor

2301 Fairfield Avenue Street View photo from Google Maps

1. The Fairfield Manor 2301 Fairfield Avenue, May 18, 1983 National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form OMB No. 1024-0018 - Exp. 10-31-84
2. Fairfield Manor on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

3. Discussed February 3, 2024 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

   A link was shared to an article dated July 30, 1928 on pages 49-54 titled: Marketing the First Apartment Building in a Small City How a Seven-Story Hotel Apartment Building Was Projected, Promoted, and Completed at Fort Wayne, Indiana-Features of Its Financing and Its Plan of Stock-Ownership by Tenants-Details of Construction and Equipment under Apartment Buildings in Buildings and Building Management Volume 28, Part 2 1928 a Google eBook shown below:

   Street View from similar angle

Current Street View photo

Fairfield Manor Image 1927

This article was written for and is courtesy of Fort Wayne Reader newspaper.

Olaf Nikolaus Guldlin, the president of the Fairfield Manor Realty Co., had been the founder in 1888 of the successful Western Gas Construction Company on Winter Street in Fort Wayne. Western Gas manufactured and constructed large gas producing plants for cities throughout the country that did not yet have natural gas piped to them. Guldlin and his investors sold Western Gas to the Koppers Corp. of Pittsburgh, PA in January of 1921.

Eleven months later, in December of 1921, his announcement of the proposed construction of the city’s first suburban high-rise luxury apartment building, at a cost of $750,000., was heralded in The Fort Wayne Sentinel. However, it would be another seven years before the building at 2301 Fairfield at Creighton Avenues would actually be completed in January of 1928. Part of the reason for this was that the area surrounding the project was an upper class neighborhood of opulent homes and there was significant opposition from nearby residents to the building. Interestingly, the Guldlin’s own grand residence was across the street (southwest corner) at 2306 Fairfield. A Speedway gas station now sits on part of the property that was his former home.

Utilizing a combination of Craftsman and Classic elements, Fairfield Manor was designed by at that time, the city’s most prominent architect, Charles R. Weatherhogg. Today, nearly 90 years later, the well maintained seven story building remains much the same and has 70 studio, one, two bedroom and larger custom apartments. At the time the building was completed, the rents were as follows: three-room apartment, $77.50; four-room, $105.00; and five-room at $124.00 per month. The apartments included gas ranges, electric refrigerators, and each was furnished with a “Murphy” bed that pivoted out of the wall.

The ground floor included a ladies reception room, lounge and card room, café-tea room, banquet room, large main kitchen, and a beauty shop. The building was originally to have a roof-top garden, and a putting green south of the parking lot, however in the end neither were incorporated. The building’s primary entrance still today features the original elaborate bronze and glass portico, and the interior public area showcases 1928’s marble baseboards, mixed mosaic and terrazzo floors, walnut wood panels and trim.

For most in Fort Wayne today, the name Guldlin isn’t associated with Olaf Guldlin, Western Gas Construction Co., or even the Fairfield Manor, but rather his wife Addie Guldlin. Mrs. Guldlin was an early civic activist and an advocate of safe playgrounds for children. Addie raised funds for the city’s first public playground, which under her direction was elaborately constructed with separate boys’ and girls’ swings, see-saws, sandboxes and wading pools on a six-acre site on Van Buren at the St. Mary’s River. Dedicated in 1911, the park was named in her honor. Sadly, two years later during Fort Wayne’s infamous 1913 Flood, much of the playground was washed away and is today an empty field, still called Guldlin Park.

(Image courtesy of ARCH)

[ ACPL image: Fairfield Manor Southeast corner of Fairfield and Creighton. Architect: Charles R. Weatherhogg Extant - 2022 Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library]

Fall Out Shelter

See Murland E. Anderson.

Falstaff Brewery

The Last Days of Falstaff Brewing Ft. Wayne 1989 by John Smallshaw published on Feb 6, 2017

Formerly Berghoff Brewing at 1019 Grant Avenue. Fort Wayne operations started on April 12, 1954, when Falstaff bought the Berghoff Brewing Company. The corporation also brewed in St. Louis, New Orleans, Galveston, El Paso, Omaha, San Jose, San Antonio and San Francisco. The Falstaff Corporation was bought by Paul Kalmanovitz's brewing conglomerate, General Brewing, in 1975. At that time it made 1.2 million barrels annually at the Fort Wayne plant. Headquarters was moved to Fort Wayne in 1977. After the 1990 closing of the last Falstaff brewery in Fort Wayne, the brand name became a licensed property of Pabst, which continued to produce Falstaff Beer through other breweries. Having sold only 1468 barrels of the brand in 2004, Pabst discontinued production of the Falstaff label in May 2005. Copied from A look into Fort Wayne beer history by Jaclyn Goldsborough published December 26, 2013 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. Storage tanks were eventually sold to a brewery in China. Falstaff Brewery Closing In Ft. Wayne published November 09, 1989 in the Chicago Tribune.

Philo Taylor Farnsworth Home

734 E. State Boulevard Street View photo from Google map

Philo Taylor Farnsworth lived in Fort Wayne from 1948-1968, his home at 734 E. State Boulevard is at the corner of St. Joseph and East State Blvd. It has an Indiana Historical Bureau marker erected in 1992. May 26, 2022 discussion on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook. See January 1, 2014 Home of Philo T. Farnsworth Allen County Marker Text Review Report at the Indiana Historical Bureau. The house, built about 1905, was designed by Joel Roberts Ninde, one of Indiana’s first female house designers. Read more in Dwelling on accomplishments Farnsworth house built by, for innovators by Rosa Salter Rodriguez published July 12, 2009 in the The Journal Gazette newspaper.

Street View photo of the historical sign

December 2, 2022 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

Last winter, a windstorm damaged the post of our Philo Farnsworth marker in Fort Wayne. Farnsworth (1906-1971) conceived of the idea for electronic television at the age of fourteen and brought his conception to fruition in 1927 with his first electronic transmission. In 1939, he established the Farnsworth Television and Radio Company in Fort Wayne, eventually operating seven television and radio manufacturing plants in Indiana.

We want to thank the Traffic Operations Department of the City of Fort Wayne for their help replacing the post and getting the marker back up at the site this fall and the Hill family for repainting it!

Learn more about Farnsworth through our #TalkingHoosierHistory podcast episode: Philo T. Farnsworth: Father of Television.

November 21st is known as World Television Day. The credited inventory of the television, Philo Farnsworth, lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He began a factory for televisions in Fort Wayne in 1938. While the factory no longer stands, his house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Ninde-Mead-Farnsworth House, where he lived from 1948-1967. The c. 1910 one-and-one-half story, front-gabled, wood clapboard house features shed roof dormers and wide overhanging eaves common to the Craftsman style, but also features Colonial Revival influences in the design of the main entrance door topped by a fanlight and flanked by multi-paned sidelights, underneath a pedimented portico with curved undersides. Learn more about the Ninde-Mead-Farnsworth House by visiting SHAARD Database. Copied from a November 20, 2022 post by Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology on Facebook.

SHAARD Indiana Historic Buildings, Bridges, and Cemeteries Map site points to the Indiana Buildings, Bridges, and Cemeteries Map with thousands of location pins for the state and individual counties. The Farnsworth House is IHSSI (County Survey) Survey Number: 003-215-49051. National Register Listing, NR-2260 "Ninde-Meade-Farnsworth House" 1996 IHSSI Fort Wayne Interim Report #003-215-17411. Statement of Significance: Significant for its association with Daniel B. Ninde, Franklin B. Meade, and Philo T. Farnsworth. Ninde originally built the house and was associated with The Wildwood Builders Company. Mead was associated with Lincoln National Life Insurance Company and is credited for positioning the company in an industry-leading role. Farnsworth lived in the house from 1948-1967. Farnsworth submitted a patent in 1927 for what would become the modern day television, and is thus credited as the the inventor of the television set. The house is an outstanding example of Craftsman and Colonial Revival style architecture. Name of Repository: ARCH, Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana; State Register Listed Date: 01/23/2013; National Register Listed Date: 03/20/2013 NPS File Number: 13000082.

Farnsworth Museum

TV's history in jeopardy WANE 15 News March 23, 2010 on YouTube
This story aired during the 5 PM news on March 24, 2010.

TVs history in jeopardy by WANE 15 News March 24, 2010 on YouTube.
A museum dedicated to a Fort Wayne man who created television is about to be homeless. NewsChannel 15's Matt McCutcheon has the story in this report that aired on 3/24/10.

Farnsworth Radio and TV Corporation

Engineers and office personnel at Farnsworth TV and Radio Corporation, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1940, courtesy of the J. Willard Marriott Digital Library, University of Utah in Indiana History Blog: Philo T. Farnsworth: Conversing with Einstein & Achieving Fusion in Fort Wayne

Opened for business on March 14, 1939 as Capehart-Farnsworth in Fort Wayne. The company produced radios, phonographs, and television equipment. See extensive information on Philo T. Farnsworth. Photograph above was discussed January 23, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

Old Federal Building

Located at the southeast corner of Berry and Clinton Streets which housed the Post Office and Federal Courtroom. Built in 1889 and razed in 1938, it was replaced by the new Federal Building on Harrison Street in 1932. A Fort Wayne Through Time Leftovers: The book, Fort Wayne Through Time.

Fort Wayne Post Office 1889 – 1932
By Randy Harter
Fort Wayne Reader
2018-10-05

Our city’s first post office was in Hanna & Barnett’s general store at Barr and Columbia Streets. Samuel Hanna, appointed in 1820, was our first postmaster. The post office would go on to have a few other locations, including on Court Street facing the Courthouse, before this magnificent building pictured here was completed in 1889. The site of this post office (also known as the Federal or Government Building) was at the southeast corner of East Berry and Clinton Streets; the lot was purchased in 1883 for $34,000. However, due to the wait for further appropriations, it would not be until 1885 that construction began.

Designed in Washington, D. C. under the direction of Mifflin E. Bell (Supervising Architect of the U. S. Treasury Department) in the Richardsonian Romanesque style popular in the late 1800’s, the building’s turret reached a height of 115 feet above the ground making it among the tallest structures in the city when it was completed at a cost of $215,000.

To the chagrin of officials in Indianapolis, rather than being built of limestone from southern Indiana, it was constructed of buff sandstone from the Stony Point, Michigan quarry owned by Fort Wayne businessman Steven B. Bond. Bond later also supplied the sandstone for the City Building (now the History Center) one block east, completed in 1893.

In addition to the post office on the first floor, beginning in 1903, the building also housed the Federal Court on the second floor as well as other federal offices including the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Marshal’s office. This building was replaced by the new post office and federal courthouse building on Harrison between Douglas and Brackenridge in 1932. The pictured old post office building was razed in 1938 and the site is now part of the parking lot for Citizens Square.

(Image Courtesy ACPL)

A tip of the hat to research by Hon. Judge William Lee and postal historian John Kalb.

Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne historian, author of three books on local history and the history/architecture guide for Fort Wayne Food Tours.

Felger's Peat Moss

9912 Valentine Road, (260) 693-3134, felgerspeatmoss.com, started in 1953 by Ruth and Herb Felger sells mulch, peat moss, soils and stone. See video History of Fort Wayne Business - Felger's Peat Moss by Al Crain-Shick on Indiana NewsCenter or The Family Stone by Jennifer Bloomquist and Jeffrey Crane published May 1, 2015 on BusinessPeople.

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Firestone Tire Building

Built in the 1920s at 502 W. Jefferson Blvd. for Firestone Tires. According to McMahon Tires About Us page it was McMahon Tires from 1969 until sometime after they opened their Glenbrook Store in 1981 and before Starbucks Coffee remodeled and opened in 2006. See several photos posted August 8, 2017 including a September 7, 2006 The News-Sentinel newspaperarticle about the building on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

First National Bank of Fort Wayne

May 25, 1913 news article October 25, 1913 building shown in newspaper posted May 5, 2016 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

The Fort Wayne & Erie canal scene of activities about the canal as it existed in early days. The large brick building in the background is still standing & was known as the "Hedekin House", an hotel, or rather a tavern. A very very significant building in early days. On north wall of bank lobby, First Natl. Bank, Fort Wayne, Indiana. (1876- ) Artist Robert Wadsworth Grafton (in who's who), Chicago, Ill. Courtesy of Charles M. Weizer, President First Natl. Bank, Fort Wayne, Indiana (see correspondence) 10/20/28 at the New York Public Library Digital Collections

See the Wabash & Erie Canal.

Image was discussed December 3, 2023 of Facebook.

1. A small book called George Washington and Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne: First National Bank, 1924, Bert Griswold, mentioned on page 139 of Historical sources of Fort Wayne, Indiana : an annotated bibliography for doing historical research on the summit city in the Allen County Public Library by Beatty, John D., 1960-, Publication date 2000. George Washington and Fort Wayne 977.274 G88G at Allen County Public Library.
2. The 50th anniversary celebration posted May 21, 1913 Fort Wayne News posted April 21, 2017 and May 22, 1913 Fort Wayne Daily News photo posted March 28, 2017 discussion on.
3. Extensive history including photos of bank notes issued by the bank on FNB/First and Hamilton NB/First and Tri State NB & TC, Fort Wayne, IN (Charter 11-2701-11) at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Private Money in our Past, Present, and Future at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
4. Eldest Bloodiest Bank in Indiana! The Old Old-First National Fort Wayne National National City Bank, Fort Wayne, Indiana old website on FrankKryder.com.

Fisher Bros. Paper Company

Founded: 1882, Location: East Berry Street, Fort Wayne (1882– ); 23 East Columbia Street (1887); 125 Calhoun Street (1893, 1899); 1005 Clinton Street ( –1903); 1007 Calhoun Street (1903– 6); 130-132 West Columbia Street (1906–14); 118–122 West Columbia Street (1914– ); 4115 Paper Place (1971, 1995); 4415 Hartman Road (1996– ) In 1882 Samuel S. Fisher purchased the interest of Meyer L. Graff in the Webb & Graff paper firm in Fort Wayne. Samuel was the son of Isaac Fisher, a German-Jewish immigrant butcher, and he worked in his father’s meat market as a young man. After his initial investment, Samuel Fisher rapidly assumed control of Webb & Graff. In March 1882 he bought out A. M. Webb and less than two months later purchased the interest of Harry Graff. Samuel’s brother Max B. Fisher then joined him in the business, which was located on East Berry Street. Read more on Fisher Bros. Paper Company on IndianaHistory.org.

Fisher West Farm

17935 West Road Street View photo from Google Maps

A historic home and farm located in Perry Township. The farmhouse was built about 1860, and is a two-story, Italianate style brick dwelling. It consists of a two-story, main block topped by a low hipped roof and belvedere; a two-story hip roofed wing; and one story gabled kitchen wing. It features a full-width front porch. Also on the property are the contributing gabled rectangular bank barn and shed-roofed pump house. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 from a November 26, 1984 application.

Five Points

Street View from Google Maps

WANE.com TV 15 photo from
Roundabout at Five Points intersection along Goshen Avenue opens

Five way intersection at Sherman Boulevard, Goshen (former Lincoln Highway), and Lillian Avenues south of the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. The September 2017 Street View from Google map still shows the old North Side Bait and Tackle shop.

1. January 4, 2018 post by The News-Sentinel on Facebook:

   It's not Five Points, Manhattan of the 19th century (thank goodness), but five points is indeed coming to Fort Wayne.

   New ‘five points’ roundabout, airport entrance among major Fort Wayne traffic upgrades coming soon

2. May 4, 2019 post by Indiana Lincoln Highway Association on Facebook:

   In March I reported about the historic service station at the Five Points intersection of Goshen Rd (Lincoln Highway) in Fort Wayne, IN that the city was giving away to anyone who would move it. Otherwise it would be demolished for a round-about. No one ever claimed it. Here's a circa 1934 photograph of the station courtesy of the Ron Carner Collection. Thanks to Creager Smith for sending this.

   Historic Filling Stations Find New Life at

   Indiana Landmarks.

   Two 1920s service stations at the Five Points intersection on the Lincoln Highway were discussed including the 1934 photo shown on right.

3. The well-designed filling stations of the early twentieth century prove ideal for adaptive reuse, while still reminding us of our automotive past posted August 16, 2018 by Indiana Landmarks. The stations are a 1926 Colonial Revival-style station 2624 Sherman Street used as a bait shop and 1927 Tudor Revival-style filling station used as a real estate office. The bait shop was razed May 29, 2019 so the intersection can be re-engineered into a round-about intersection. See demolition photo in the article Goodbye, North Side Bait and Tackle by Lisa Esquivel Long published May 29, 2019 on FWBusiness.com.
4. Roundabout at Five Points intersection along Goshen Avenue opens posted: Oct 5, 2020, updated: Oct 5, 2020 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15.
5. Oct. 5 - Fort Wayne debuts new 'Five Points' roundabout at cost of $5.2 million by Michael Morrissey posted Oct 5, 2020 on Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly.
6. Known for decades as “Five Points,” the intersection of Goshen Avenue, Sherman Boulevard, and Lillian Avenue is part of the historic Lincoln Highway. Before improvements, the signal-controlled intersection had no pedestrian access, no lighting, poor drainage, long traffic delays, and a history of accidents. The City of Fort Wayne’s Goshen Avenue Improvements Project received the 2021 APWA-Indiana Chapter Public Works Project of the Year in the Transportation category. The $5.3 million Goshen Avenue Improvements Project features a roundabout that improved traffic flow, incorporated pedestrian traffic, and revitalized the neighborhood, including new lighting, an enclosed drainage system, consolidation or removal of multiple access points, and pedestrian friendly walkways along the roadway. The intersection at the roundabout welcomes approximately 18,500 vehicles per day. With the continuous traffic flow from cars no longer stopping at lights, emissions from idling cars is estimated to be reduced by 20%. Copied from GOSHEN AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT RECEIVES PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD May 20, 2022 on City of Fort Wayne.

7. October 18, 2022 post by Indiana Lincoln Highway Association on Facebook:

   Oct. 18 - Fort Wayne Public Works commemorates '5 Point Spin' with sculpture from staff reports Oct 18, 2022 at

   Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly.

8. December 14, 2020 post by City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

   Public Works completes $23.8 million in 2020 neighborhood infrastructure projects.

    

   A March 15, 2021 post by City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

   A new sculpture will be installed at the Five Points intersection on Goshen Ave. and Sherman Blvd.

9. October 18, 2022 post by City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

   Today, the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission and Fort Wayne Public Works commemorated the new “5 Point Spin” public art sculpture located at the Five Points roundabout at Goshen Avenue and Sherman Boulevard.

   Read more:

   CITY’S PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION, PUBLIC ART COMMISSION COMMEMORATE NEW “5 POINT SPIN” PUBLIC ART SCULPTURE

Flats

Usually referring to the Jailhouse Flats.

Flick House

June 21, 2020 post byHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook. Shared June 21, 2020 by Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana on Facebook with additional photos in the comments by a Flick descendant.

This beautiful home known as the Flick House was built in 1897 in what is now the Broad River Neighborhood Association - Fort Wayne. The Flick family made their living as florists in the area. The family operated multiple locations including one in Broad River and one downtown. The building downtown was purchased in 1923 for $210,000 which was a huge sum at the time. The location eventually became the Ash Skyline Plaza owned by Ash Brokerage. 

Flood of 1982

President Ronald Reagan came to Fort Wayne where he threw a couple of sand bags for national photo ops in the Lakeside Neighborhood. See our Flood of 1982 page.

Foellinger Foundation

A private, charitable foundation that awards grants in Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana. https://www.foellinger.org/. February 16, 2023 Facebook post announced An Influence for Good, a documentary film now on their website that tells the life story of Helene Foellinger and the three generations of Foellingers who preceded her in Allen County.

February 24, 2023 post by the Foellinger Foundation on Facebook shows a video trailer for the documentary:

Beginning with the immigration of Jacob Foellinger, in 1836, the Foellinger family succeeds for four generations as business-men and -women, with a deep commitment to civic involvement. After the tragic passing of her father, Oscar, the ambitious and driven publisher of The News-Sentinel, Helene Foellinger—just 25 years old at the time—leads the newspaper to even greater levels of success.

She and her mother, Esther, form the Foellinger Foundation, formalizing their commitment to uplifting the lives of the residents of Allen County. When Helene passes away with no heirs, the Foellinger Foundation receives her estate. https://www.foellinger.org/documentary

A March 17, 2023 post on Facebook annuounces it is on their website: https://www.foellinger.org/documentary.

March 17, 2023 post by One Lucky Guitar on Facebook:

Last night, Foellinger Foundation premiered 'An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story' at the Arts United Center. We're proud to have worked with the Foundation to share the history of their founders, and the three generations of the Foellingers who preceded them in Allen County.

Watch the 75-minute film on our website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 17, 2023 post by Brightpoint on Facebook:

Everyone in Fort Wayne should watch this documentary to learn how Helene Foellinger became "An Influence for Good." Her influence continues to live on through the many initiatives and causes she funded and continues to fund through the Foellinger Foundation.

Brightpoint also has a cameo appearance in the film as our main offices in Fort Wayne are located in the former News Sentinel Building. Congratulations to all those involved in the telling of this beautiful story. Well done.

One Lucky Guitar Red Tide Productions Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center WANE 15 The History Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 21, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

The History Center proudly contributed video segments from our collection and footage of our displays for the Foellinger Foundation documentary, "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". Use the link below to watch the documentary on the Foellinger Foundation's website.

 

See several video shorts for the documentary from The History Center on our Helene Foellinger page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory

1100 South Calhoun Street, Street View photo from Google maps

Website: www.botancialconservatory.org at City of Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation.

Hope Methodist Hospital was located on the corner of Lewis and Harrison Streets from 1917-1953 on the south side of the conservatory block. The conservatory opened November 20, 1983, was named in honor of News-Sentinel publisher Helene Foellinger and Frank Freimann, president of Magnavox. "Surround yourself with nature at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory ~ an oasis in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne Indiana. Visit the Showcase Garden with its lush seasonal displays, wander through the Tropical Garden where orchids and palms thrive in the shadows of a cascading waterfall, or retreat to the quiet beauty of the Desert Garden." Fort Wayne’s Botanical Conservatory a Breath of Fresh Air on Visit Fort Wayne blog.

1. 1982 to 1983: Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory construction, opening by Corey McMaken June 23, 2019 in the History Journal archives of the Journal Gazette newspaperincludes two previous newspaper articles: "Ground broken on downtown gardens" (Oct. 10, 1981) and "Ready to blossom," by Sherman Goldenberg (Nov. 18, 1983) in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

2. March 21, 2023 post by the The History Center on Facebook:

   Here is the second video segment from the History Center's collection that was provided for "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". It is from our collection of WANE-TV videotapes and is from groundbreaking of the Botanical Conservatory on October 9, 1981. #sociallyhistory

    

    

    

    

3. The Foellinger–Freimann Botanical Conservatory is an enclosed conservatory in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Opened in 1983, the conservatory contains a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) seasonal showcase garden, a tropical oasis display, with a waterfall, Sonoran Desert display, and outdoor terrace and exploration garden, encompassing a total of 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2). The gardens display over 1,200 plants of 502 different species and 72 types of cactus. From Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia .
4. Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory on American Public Gardens Association.

Page 45 of the book Improvement of Fort Wayne Indiana; report for Fort Wayne Civic Improvement Association by Robinson, Charles Mulford, 1859-1917. 1n. Publication date 1909 on Archive.org. This page shows the area in 1909 where the $4.5 million Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory would open in November 1983. Discussed February 10, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

Foellinger, Jacob, Sr. - House

447 West Wildwood Avenue is the Jacob Foellinger House. House #124 of Indiana Houses of the Nineteenth Century by Peat, Wilbur David, 1898- on Archive.org. One of several large Italianate houses in the south Fairfield area. It faces Fairfield Avenue. A large filling station was built in what used to be the front yard. Discussed December 15, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

November 30, 2019 post byHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook:

Many of us living in the area drive down Fairfield each day without noticing this beautiful home. Built in 1872 by Jacob Foellinger, a wealthy individual who was a shoe merchant. The current home sits on W. Wildwood; however, in 1872, Wildwood did not exist and the rectangle bound by Fairfield, Hoagland, Pontiac, and Kinsmoor appeared to be an open plot (as of an 1897 map).

The plot thickens though as you read the obituary stating the home is on 441 Fairfield. Perhaps this was the original address. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful home worthy of us spending some time to learn more about.

Fairfield Neighborhood

July 16, 2020 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:

The Jacob Foellinger, Sr. house on West Wildwood Avenue is our topic for today’s Throwback Thursday. Born in Prussia in 1817, Jacob Foellinger (1817-1896) learned the shoe business as a child. At age 18 he came to Fort Wayne in 1836 with no money or possessions and worked as a journeyman, until he could build his own successful shoes and boots business. He married Margaret Keifer in 1840; they had ten children. According to his obituary, “In 1872, he removed his family to his beautiful home on Fairfield Avenue, where he resided when the end came.” The house is built in the Italian Villa style. Foellinger was the grandfather of Oscar Foellinger, publisher of The News-Sentinel. His daughter, Helene, succeeded him in the newspaper business. This house has been divided into apartments and is known as Wildwood Manor. Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Indiana Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Arts United Center Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana Allen County Public Library Visit Fort Wayne The History Center Ball State College of Architecture and Planning Indiana Historical Society Indiana Historical Bureau Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Foellinger Foundation

Foellinger, Oscar - House

July 23, 2020 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:

Last week’s Throwback Thursday post was about the Jacob Foellinger house. This week’s topic is the Foellinger House on Old Mill Road. Oscar Foellinger, former owner and publisher of The News-Sentinel, hired local architect, Guy Mahurin, to design his Tudor Revival mansion, including, the accompanying stable and tennis court. When Mr. Foellinger died unexpectedly in 1936, his daughter, Helene, took over as publisher. At age 25, she was one of the youngest newspaper publishers in the country and one of a few women to run a newspaper. She resided at this residence until her death in1987. Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Indiana Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Fort Wayne Philharmonic Foellinger Foundation Foellinger Theatre Foellinger-Friemann Botanical Conservatory Gardens Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Downtown Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District Arts United Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana Allen County Public Library Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning Visit Fort Wayne The History Center Indiana Historical Society Indiana Historical Bureau Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology Hoosier State Press Association University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

November 10, 2022 post by the Foellinger Foundation on Facebook:

With black & white photo. The Foellinger family's home on Old Mill Road was designed by prominent local architect Guy Mahurin in the late 1920s. Mahurin also designed Fort Wayne’s Scottish Rite Auditorium, Chamber of Commerce, Plymouth Congregational Church, and other iconic structures.

Foellinger Theatre

Website: https://www.fortwayneparks.org/facilities/foellinger-theatre.html. Near the entrance to Franke Park and Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. Facebook. Several photos posted September 24, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Fortmeyer's Truck Stop

Long time truck stop in the county.

Fort Miamis

See our Forts of Fort Wayne page or Fort Miamis historical marker pageon IN.gov and Fort Miamis: The First European Settlers by Rick Willison. He has several more pages on early Fort Wayne history.

Fort Recovery

Tuberculosis recovery housing, need more research. See 1910s Fort Recovery, Allen County Indiana Historical Society photo.

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Fort Wayne

See our Fort Wayne Resources page or Forts of Fort Wayne page.

Fort Wayne History and How to See Fort Wayne on Foot: Walking Tours by Katherine D. published July 31, 2017 at Visit Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne Time Periods by the News-Sentinel newspaper from their series I Remember Fort Wayne online tour of Summit City History and Fort Wayne 1910-1919: The Industrialization Era - News-Sentinel article by Blake Sebring

1. Fort Wayne Government Access - City TV
2. Over 5,000 City of Fort Wayne publications on Internet Archive
3. 1968 publication The burgeoning interest in local history in Fort Wayne 1887-1894 by Potterf, Rex M; Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County; Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society
4. Fort Wayne year book, 1906 by Fort Wayne (Ind.). Commercial Club has historical sketches and photos promoting Fort Wayne places
5. Indiana. Fort Wayne scrapbook by Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
6. Industrial survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana by Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce (Ind.)
7. Report of Charles Mulford Robinson for Fort Wayne Civic Improvement Association by Robinson, Charles Mulford, 1869-1917; Fort Wayne Civic Improvement Association published in 1910

Fort Wayne Made

Mmanhole covers and more photos posted April 27, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Forts of Fort Wayne on Wikipedia

Historic Fort Wayne

See our Forts of Fort Wayne page. Reconstructed fort on Spy Run Avenue near downtown Fort Wayne across the St. Marys River from Headwaters Park. The History page on their web site: oldfortwayne.org briefly describes the various forts built near the three rivers. The bottom section titled The Reconstructed Fort states: This project began in 1964 when Historic Fort Wayne Inc. was established and started planning a reconstruction of the Fort, using Major Whistler’s 1814 drawings. After much fundraising, they purchased property in the late 1960’s and sought a fort builder. Lok-N-Logs Inc., a log home company in Sherburne, New York, took on the unusual project, constructing the Fort first in New York, then transporting it to Indiana, where it was reassembled. It officially opened shortly before July 4, 1976, to celebrate the nation’s Bicentennial, and remained open daily until the early 1990’s. Historic Fort Wayne Inc. disbanded in 1989, and the current Historic Fort Wayne, Inc. was formed in 2004 as a volunteer effort to preserve the Fort. Though they share a name, the two groups are not connected. Construction of the fort re-creation began in the summer of 1975. Work on the replica was not finished for its dedication June 5, 1976, but several hundred people turned out for the festivities. See the articles Historic Fort Wayne and Old Fort Wayne – Learn History In Person! by Louisa D. published June 8, 2015 on Visit Fort Wayne. See photos on Throwback Thursday: Old Fort published August 31, 2017 on The Journal Gazette newspaper. See their Facebook page - INFortWayne.com YouTubeBicentennial Celebration at Historic Fort Wayne. See photos and discussion January 17, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. 360 virtual photo tour on vpix.net. Photos of Old Fort Wishing Well posted August 6, 2017 and 1896 Fort Wayne watch fob photo discussed August 7, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Fort Wayne Arcade Building

See 1911 photo posted April 7, 2017 by Hoch Associates of their current location in 1911. Discussed in Fort Wayne by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron Google books. Again May 19, 2017 with Comment photos of Indiana Gas Association 1911 article on it onthe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebookand shared May 19, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. WhatWasThere map location and photos.

Fort Wayne Architects and Firms on City of Fort Wayne web site

Fort Wayne Bible College

800 West Rudisill Boulevard. Street View photo on Google Maps

Buildings of the Fort Wayne Campus by FW Alumni Center published June 16, 2014 on YouTube
This video is review of the Buildings of the Fort Wayne Campus of Fort Wayne Bible Training School/Fort Wayne Bible Institute/Fort Wayne Bible College/Summit Christian College and Taylor University Fort Wayne-five names for one institution. The dates given with the images are when the buildings were occupied, not when building was started.

1. The Light Tower was the name of the yearbook of Fort Wayne Bible Training School (1928-1931), Fort Wayne Bible Institute (1932-1950) and Fort Wayne Bible College (1951-1972);The Vine was the name of the yearbook from 1973-1989, and Summit Christian College (1990-1992); Taylor University Fort Wayne continued naming the yearbook, The Vine (1993-2003); The Vine DVDs were produced in the years 2004, 2005, 2006; No yearbooks were produced in 1929, 1931, 1933, 1934, 2007 or 2008;The Horizon Line was the last yearbook, 2009; The 1956 dedicated to Professor Oliver E. Steiner in his memory; Elaine Perry, editor; Founded Theta Beta; Nurses Training course. Copied from the 1956 ebook below: Fort Wayne Bible College Light Tower Yearbook .
2. Fort Wayne Bible College publications on Internet Archive.
3. Fort Wayne Bible College-97 Years of Memories 1, Memories-2, Memories-3, Memories-4 on YouTube.

June 15, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

A significant chunk of local history will soon disappear when multiple buildings from the former Fort Wayne Bible College come down.
Demolition slated for former Fort Wayne Bible College; three dorms and Hausser Hall

August 6, 2023 post byHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook:

Over the past few weeks, the former Fort Wayne Bible Training School buildings were demolished at the corner of Rudisill and South Wayne. With its founding in the early 1900s, it was once stated that “Fort Wayne has every reason to be proud of this institution” as the school trained “men and women to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ to our world in need.” Today is the story of its founding.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the country was amid the Third Great Awakening, a historical period marked by religious activism in American history. This Awakening significantly influenced the development of colleges and universities across the country, including in Northeast Indiana. Many denominations began to build colleges and universities to train the next generation. What was once a world requiring frontier and pioneer skills was rapidly transforming due to the Second Industrial Revolution.

At the time, the area was seeing the founding of Huntington University by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Goshen College and Bluffton University by the Mennonite Church USA, and eventually Anderson University by the Church of God Ministries - Anderson, Indiana, and Indiana Wesleyan University by the Wesleyan Church. The Missionary Church, headquartered in Fort Wayne, decided to establish a bible training institute for missionaries, purchasing a four-acre grove on South Wayne for $1,800 in 1904. Initially known as the Fort Wayne Bible Training Institute, this school was developed to train missionaries.

While the first commencement occurred in 1909, the Institute sent missionaries to far-off places such as India as early as 1906. Schultz Hall was built in 1905, with Bethany Hall in 1930 to support this rapidly growing school. By 1946 the campus expanded South with a $60,000 purchase of the additional property. While the names changed over time, in 1992, the then Summit Christian College became Taylor University, Fort Wayne. In 2009, the campus officially closed its doors.

Fort Wayne Bible College Alumni and Attendees

Fort Wayne Box Company

The former box company built in 1904 was located on the northwest corner of Superior and Calhoun Streets. It produced cardboard art and business calendars, wood and glass souvenirs, leather goods, signs, and novelties. In 1910 the company bought out the Fort Wayne Engraving Company and moved its operations into the building. Graphic Packaging was the last owner to utilize the building before closing it in 2010. It is currently being converted into apartments called the Superior Lofts.

July 12, 2023 post by Genealogy Center on Facebook:

It's #waybackwednesday! Take a look at these Fort Wayne then and now photos, courtesy of the Daniel A. Baker collection from our Community Album. The first photo shows the Fort Wayne Box Co. circa 1913. It was later known as Wayne Box and Printing; Container Corp of America, Smurfit-Stone Container, Altivity Packaging, and Graphic Packaging. The second photo shows the former Fort Wayne Box Company undergoing renovation into apartments called Superior Lofts in 2017.

View these images and more in our Community Album: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/

Fort Wayne Breweries

See Breweries in Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne Building Loan Fund & Savings Association

First of many associations in late 19th century Fort Wayne. After 25 years loaning money to build around 2,000 homes in Fort Wayne for Pennsylvania Shop railroad employees was disbanded in 1905. See July 30, 1905 article in The Journal Gazette newspaper published July 30, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce

See History of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Allen County, Indiana on The Genealogy Center. Building photos and discussion February 2, 2017 and on November 5, 2017 photos of Fort Wayne year book for 1906, put out by the Fort Wayne Commercial Club article titled Street and Interurban Electric Railways by Hon. James M. Barrett on the You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

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Fort Wayne Childrens Home

Also known as the Reformed Orphans Home, 2525 Lake Avenue, now Crossroad Child & Family Services at 1825 Beacon Street.

The Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana has a Fort Wayne Children's Home / Crossroad history 1880s-1950s by G. Benge on their Members Only section.

See our Crossroad Child & Family Services section.

September 29, 2022 post by Crossroad Child & Family Services on Facebook:

A photo from their archives labeled Children and staff from the Fort Wayne Children's Home pose for a group picture in the winter of 1920 was posted

January 19, 2023 post by Crossroad Child & Family Services on Facebook:

#TBT from the #CrossroadArchives: In this clipping from the Fort Wayne News Sentinel in March 1945, Richard Sunderman, the new head of the Fort Wayne Childrens Home and his wife (known as the matron of the home), were officially installed. The text of the article is as follows:

"Pictured above at left are Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Sunderman, newly-chosen superintendent and matron of the Fort Wayne Children's Home of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, who were installed Sunday evening at St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church.

"Others, starting from third from left, are Dr. John W. Myers, St. John's Church; Dr. Karl Koepke, Salem Church; the Rev. John W. Heistand, Wadsworth, O[hio], and the Rev. B. E. Reemsnyder, Grace Church; Dr. Koepke gave the charge to Mr. and Mrs. Sunderman. A reception followed the installation.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sunderman came to Fort Wayne from Wadsworth, O[hio]. Mr Sunderman is a graduate of the University of Michigan and for 20 years taught at Wadsworth High School and more recently was municipal director of recreation there.

"Mrs. Sunderman has been active in church women's work for the last 15 years. For several years she served as the president of Akron Region Women's Guild, as well as president of the guild in the Wadsworth Trinity Church. She was organist of Trinity Church for six years and is a member of the American Guild of Organists. She was active in the Federated Women's Clubs and served as a member of the of the Medina, O[hio] county YWCA.

"The Sundermans have two children, Elizabeth, 12, and Duane, 17, a senior at North Side High School. Both have been active in music groups and Duane is a member of the North Side High School Band."

1. A Genealogy.com question: Allen County Children's Home in the 1940's and 1950's By Jennifer Phillips December 20, 2003 at 09:17:22 I am looking for information on the Allen County Children's Home that was torn down. I am trying to get original records from the late 1940's and early 1950's. My father and his siblings were residents there until their father came and got them out. My father remembers them taking a photo of him and his siblings. This is the only photo that exists of my father and his brothers and sisters. Shortly after their father got them out of the children's home one of his sisters died. I would love to be able to get that photo for my Dad. I would truly appreciate any help.
2. On the Indiana Genealogical Society Blog a September 27, 2012 post Information Sought On Allen County Children's Home in Fort Wayne Author Dean Jensen is seeking information about the Allen County Children's Home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In particular, he wants to gain a sense of what the children's daily lives were like (schooling, play, jobs), as well as the layout of the grounds and what it looked like inside and out. Information from anyone who has knowledge of what the institution was like - including janitors, kitchen helpers and groundskeepers - would be appreciated, particularly from the years 1929-1932.
3. A photo of the home was discussed March 23, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.
   
4. Pity the Poor Orphan: Children's Homes in America July 29, 2017 event by the The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
5. See Allen County Children's Home, Allen County Orphan Home, Allen County Poor Farm, Crossroad Child & Family Services, Fort Wayne Developmental Center, Reformed Orphans Home, and St. Vincent Villa Catholic Orphanage.

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

Memories of the Zoo (Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo in 1965) posted Jun 25, 2022 This story originally aired: Apr. 29, 2021 by Daniel Beals on YouTube.

Website: https://kidszoo.org/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fwkidszoo, Twitter: https://twitter.com/fwkidszoo. Opened 10 a.m. on July 3, 1965, on 5 1/2 acres in Franke Park. Over 6,000 people came on the first day to see the 18 animal exhibits. Copied from July 3, 1965: Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opens Corey McMaken Apr 25, 2019 in the History Journal archives of the Journal Gazette newspaperabout The Journal Gazette newspaper and July 3, 2014 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook. kidszootube YouTube videos. 50th anniversary July 1, 2015 Twitter, YouTube 50th Birthday videos, Zoo celebrates 50th birthday in The Journal Gazette newspaper. July 11 Three Festival Parade theme Here's to Zoo!. Photos and discussion February 3, 2017 and photo of Spotlight on Fort Wayne magazine article by Earl Wells the zoo director on opening the zoo posted July 13, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. See photo of Frank Park Zoo Circus Wagon before it became the FWCZ posted May 3, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. Many photos were posted on July 3, 1965: Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opens by Corey McMaken published April 25, 2019 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. Your Story Made Here: A Place for Memories VIDEO by Michelle M. on Apr. 01, 2013 and Adventure Awaits at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo by Visit Fort Wayne from A Place for Memories by Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.

Your Story Made Here | A Place for Memories posted Sep 28, 2012 by Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership on YouTube.

November 16, 2012 post by the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo on Facebook:

Remember all those fish you fed at the zoo last summer? This wild bald eagle has been enjoying fish dinners from our pond all week - an awesome sight!

Just in time for Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opening day, City Traffic Operations today installed new zoo themed traffic lights. https://bit.ly/2HCUbGE

Posted by City of Fort Wayne Government on Friday, April 20, 2018

Friday, April 20, 2018 post by the City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

Just in time for Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opening day, City Traffic Operations today installed new zoo themed traffic lights.

NEW CROSS LIGHTS EARN STRIPES AT FORT WAYNE CHILDREN'S ZOO

Fort Wayne City County Building

See our City-County Buidling section.

Fort Wayne City Hall

See Old City Hall. Designed by Marshall S. Mahurin.

Fort Wayne City Hospital

Opened October 31, 1878 evolving into Parkview Regional Meidcal Center shown in the 2012 PBS39 documentary video. See Parkview section.

Fort Wayne Civic Theater

April 21, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:

Did you know that our digital collections include Fort Wayne Civic Theater programs? The Fort Wayne Civic Theatre has located and archived over 600 program books from seasons dating back to 1933. The archive contains a nearly* complete history of program books from the 1943-1944 season forward, with thirty-five books from various seasons dating back to 1933. A complete list of productions by season can be found at fwcivic.org.

Established in 1927, the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre has performed over 700 productions and remains one of the region’s most popular downtown entertainment destinations.

View the collection here: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/.../collection/FWCT/search

Fort Wayne State Developmental Center

Aka Indiana School for Feeble Minded Youth. Indiana’s second oldest mental health facility opened in 1879 at Knightstown. It was relocated to Fort Wayne in 1890. The first patient admitted that year was an eleven year old boy from Ossian, Wells County. It served mentally retarded children from throughout Indiana until 1939, when its service area was reduced to the northern half of the state. Its mission was expanded to include patients of all ages with other developmental disabilities. Before closure in 2007 the facility had admitted 12,162 patients. The center’s admission registers, card index, and a nearly complete set of medical records on microfilm, are at the Indiana State Archives. Copied from Other Indiana Hospitals for the Mentally Ill and Developmentally Disabled at the Indiana Archives. See also Fort Wayne State Hospital & Training Center aka Indiana School for Feeble Minded Youth Cemetery. The name change was discussed around the 1:22 minute mark and closed April 18, 2007 (1:46 minute mark) when the last resident left during Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels administration, 2005 to 2013, from the 1:43 minute mark of The Forgotten PBS documentary.

Fort Wayne Developmental Center on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

See also Allen County Children's Home, Allen County Orphan Home, Allen County Poor Farm, Fort Wayne Children's Home, and St. Vincent Villa Catholic Orphanage.

February 7, 2023 post by Indiana Archives and Records Administration on Facebook:

Please welcome our first ever shared intern!

Sam is working on an extensive project to get the physical and digital records of the Fort Wayne State Developmental Center building sites converted and transferred to the Archives.

We are excited to have her on board!

#BallState #Intern #Indiana #Archives

Fort Wayne Driving Park

1892 Samuel Hanna sold 100 acres to the driving association formed by some of the city's wealthiest men. 1902 was Fort Wayne's first fair. Auto races were on a one-mile oval and by 1910 airplanes appeared. In 1913 the land was sold to developer Louis F. Curdes, developer of Forest Park Boulevard. It became Forest Hill through the 1940s. From Lost track fades from memory by Rosa Salter Rodriguez published July 07, 2013 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. See also Fort Wayne Driving Park by Mark Meyer posted February 11, 2013 on the History Center Notes & Queries blog.

October 23, 2018 post by The History Center on Facebook:

One-hundred and eight years ago today, Blanche Scott became the first American woman to make a solo public flight, doing so at the Fort Wayne Driving Park. In front of a crowd of over 10,000 spectators, Scott flew solo in public as part of the Curtiss Aviation team during an automobile and air meet at the Driving Park. This was not her first pioneering feat. She was the second woman to drive an automobile cross-country, and the first to do so travelling from East to West. In addition, some consider Scott to be the first American woman to pilot an airplane solo, a feat she achieved on September 6, 1910. While the Early Birds of Aviation recognize her flight as the first, the Aeronautical Society of America did not accredit her initial solo flight as entirely intentional, thus creating controversy regarding who was the first American woman to fly solo. She later joined the Red Devils, a nationally traveling aviation exhibition group, and became the first woman to ride in a jet plane in 1948. She was posthumously featured on commemorative airmail stamps and envelopes in December 1980. #sociallyhistory

Fort Wayne Dump

There were many dumps around Fort Wayne. Some were discussed March 17, 2015 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

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Fort Wayne Electric Light, Coroporation, and Works

The Fort Wayne Electric Light Co. was incorporated in 1881 to sell a dynamo and arc lamps patented by James Jenney. Ronald T. McDonald was the founder and president of this company. From History of Meter Companies and Fort Wayne Electric (1881-1915) at watthourmeters.com.

1. The officers of the new company, the Fort Wayne Electric Works, organized in May, 1899, were: Henry C. Paul, president; S. D. Green, vice-president; M. F. Westover, secretary, and Fred S. Hunting, treasurer and sales manager, while Mr. Wood continued his services as factory manager and chief electrician. From Fort Wayne Electric Works on VintageMachinery.org. The Fort Wayne lamp works of the Edison Lamp Works of General Electric was opened in September 1906.
2. Several photos and a brief history on Fort Wayne on LampTech.com/uk.
3. A Fort Wayne 12" Antique Desk Fan is discussed at Vintage Fans.com made by General Electric for FWEW .
4. Photo and discussion September 29, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

See General Electric and Electric Works for more information.

The Fort Wayne Electric Corporation-The Wood Dynamos-(See page 219) Scientific American Volume 71 Number 14 (October 1894) Publication date 1894-10-06 on Archive.org.

Photos of similar Fort Wayne Electric Corporation amp meter and Fort Wayne Electric Works volt meter posted April 18, 2024 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

Fort Wayne Farmers Market

McCulloch Park, 285 West Douglas Street, http://ftwaynesfarmersmarket.com, Ft. Wayne's Farmers Market on Facebook. Fort Wayne Farmers Market makes McCulloch Park home for summer 2021 ahead of permanent move by Corinne Moore posted: Mar 25, 2021, updated: Mar 25, 2021 at CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15. 10 Years of Fort Wayne's Farmers Market Updated: Sep. 20, 2022 on 21AliveNews.com. FORT WAYNE FARMERS MARKETS by Visit Fort Wayne. See also Barr Street Market, YLNI Farmers Market, Southside Market, and Fort Wayne’s Farmers Markets at Visit Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne Federal Building

See E. Ross Adair Federal Building and United States Courthouse.

Fort Wayne Female College

Stone marker shown below is on Thieme Drive along the river close to Wayne Street. Street View photo from Google maps.

Unknown photographer of this image found online.

Established in 1846 as The Fort Wayne Female College on grounds donated by Wm. Rockhill. In 1855 it consolidated with the Fort Wayne Collegiate Institute for Young Men and was called the M.E. (Methodist) College. In 1890 the college grounds were deeded to Taylor University, and in 1893 it moved to Upland, Indiana home of Taylor University. Erected by the M.E. College Association - 1936.

Site of the Fort Wayne College Better known as the old M.E. College  at The Historical Marker Datatbase HMdb.org.

Fort Wayne Methodist College by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage).

The Fort Wayne Methodist College by Tom Castaldi posted September 5, 2013 on the History Center Notes & Queries blog.

1. A short historical tour of central Fort Wayne by Nancy McCammon-Hansen June 28, 2013 on the History Center Notes & Queries blog.
2. Fort Wayne Female College to Taylor University by Shirley Slater, Allen County Lines newsletter from the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, June 2013, Volume 37, Number 4, page 97.
3. 1864 photo posted May 12, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook appears to be a screenshot of the Indiana Album image on the Methodist College section.

March 3, 2015 post by West Central Neighborhood on Facebook:

I located this 1876 map. It looks like Wayne Street ended at the Methodist College, so I wonder if Wayne was a two-way street at that time or one had to come around in front of the College and head east on Wayne. So fascinating!

 

This zoomable 1876 map is available on our Map page.

This map shows why the 1936 memorial stone is on Thieme Drive along the St. Marys River.

Fort Wayne Fire Department

July 6, 2023 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:

Built in 1895, Engine House #8, 2211 Fairfield Ave., is an excellent example of Neoclassical architecture which was popular c.1891-c.1950. This style uses an eclectic mix of classical features like columned porticos, pediments and cornices with dentils, pilasters, keystones and quoins. This building was designed by architect John M.E. Riedel. He designed more than a few buildings of note in this community including the A.L. & Irene Riegel House, 620 Main St.; St. Paul Lutheran School, 1225 Barr St.; and Concordia Evangelical School, 1820 Alliger St. The Engine House has dentils in the entablature held up by pilasters over the engine house doors and in the entablature at the roof line. The bell tower is on the south side of the building. ARCH is proud to present this edition of Throwback Thursday, part of its work as the historic preservation organization serving the greater Fort Wayne area, made possible by ARCH members and donors. Thank you.

November 3, 2023 post by the City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

Today, Mayor Tom Henry and Fort Wayne Fire Department officials toured the new Fire Station #14 located at the intersection of Reed Road and East State Boulevard.

The new fire station will begin serving our community later this month.

[ February 16, 2023 photos posted by On The Mark Land Surveying on Facebook ]

November 14, 2023 post by the City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

The new Fire Station 14 was officially dedicated today by Mayor Tom Henry and the Fort Wayne Fire Department.

Read more: MAYOR HENRY AND FWFD DEDICATE NEW FIRE STATION 14

November 14, 2023 post by the Fort Wayne Fire Department on Facebook:

Mayor Tom Henry joined Fire Chief Eric Lahey, Fort Wayne Fire Department employees, and representatives from Witwer Construction and Shive-Hattery Architecture and Engineering, to dedicate Fire Station 14, located on the southeast corner of Reed Road and East State Boulevard.

“Today marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to provide excellent public safety services,” said Mayor Henry. “This modern and efficient facility will be a welcome addition to assist the women and men of the Fort Wayne Fire Department. Our firefighters do an outstanding job each day to protect residents, neighborhoods and businesses.”

Station 14 firefighters will move into their new building tomorrow. The $4 million investment features two full bays and a one-half bay. It has sleeping quarters to accommodate the firefighters’ 24-hour shifts, a large dining room and kitchen, and a workout room.

Numerous safety measures for cancer prevention were also included in the design of Station 14. There are clear markings separating the living space of the structure from the work space, in order to keep the living space free from contaminates. Positive pressure air locks were installed to keep exhaust fumes and airborne contaminates contained. And there is a decontamination shower on the work side, along with a separate area where soiled firefighting gear can be washed and dried.

Fire Station 14 was relocated from Reed Road, across from Snider High School. The new station provides easier access to major roadways and much needed space for firefighters, increasing their ability to provide lifesaving service to City residents.

The fire station also helps serve a growing area of the community with three schools nearby and provide for better access to areas the City of Fort Wayne serves in partnership with St. Joseph Township. All of the changes will not impact response times that are currently being met by the Fort Wayne Fire Department.

Witwer Construction Inc. was the general contractor and Shive-Hattery Architecture and Engineering was the architect for Fire Station 14.

Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum

April 5, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:

It's #waybackwednesday! Check out these then and now photos, courtesy of the Daniel A. Baker Collection in our Community Album. The first photo shows Fire station #3 on Washington Blvd. circa 1909. The Fire station was constructed in 1893 and deactivated in 1972. The second photo shows the Fort Wayne Firefighters' Museum in 2017, formerly Firestation #3, which opened in 1981.

View these photos and thousands more in our Album: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/

July 6, 2023 post by the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum on Facebook:

First coat of red finally going on. Gettin closer

July 22, 2023 post by the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum on Facebook:

Even closer

August 16, 2023 post by the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum on Facebook:

It’s finally done!!!

Come on down and see it up close.

Discussed in Plan A Visit to the Fort Wayne Firefighter's Museuem on the Visit Fort Wayne February 24, 2012 blog. A postcard when it was a fire station posted and discussed September 14, 2017 and again the postcard and a current photo posted August 29, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

See our Fort Wayne Fire Department People section.

Fort Wayne Gas Works

In the era of gas lighting, Fort Wayne Gas Works, located on the site of today’s Hall’s Gas House restaurant on Superior Street between Barr and Lafayette streets, was the central public utilities operation in Fort Wayne. Copied from Under the Gas Lights by Tom Castaldi published May 23, 2013 on the History Center Notes & Queries blog. For more see Old Gas House.

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Fort Wayne Housing Authority

The Fort Wayne Experiment discussed on pages 36-37 in The prefabrication of houses
by Albert Farwell Bemis Foundation; Kelly, Burnham Publication date 1951

During the Great Depression in the late 1930s prefabricated plywood-panel homes were built with WPA labor at the rate of one-a-day! One reference is labeled "Fifty Plywood-Panel Houses Built at Rate of One a Day," Architectural Record, LXXXV (March, 1939), 38–40 (this contains excellent photographs of the housing, examples of which appear on pages 362 and 363) from Fort Wayne and the Great Depression: The New Deal Years, 1933–1940 Iwan Morgan on Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 80, Issue 4, pp 348-378. There are photos on page 362 and 363 of their pdf download file or view the pdf here. These homes were discussed May 3, 2017 onthe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebookand was in a Comment far down in the long discussion on Sears Home Kit homes January 25, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Similar Tiny Houses also known as Tin Village barracks were built after World War II for returning war veterans.

Fort Wayne Manhole Covers

Manhole Covers of Ft. Wayne - a 128 page book by Kathryn Moore published in 1988 available on Google books was a FunFactFriday Facebook post on September 8, 2017 by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage)

Fort Wayne Methodist College

See Methodist College.

Fort Wayne Medical College and the Fort Wayne College of Medicine

Page 499, 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.

On March 10, 1876, at the Aveline house, the Fort Wayne College of Medicine was organized by Drs. C. B. Stemen and H. A. Clark, teachers in a medical college at Cincinnati, and Drs. B. S. Woodworth, I. M. Rosenthal and W. H. Myers, of Fort Wayne. The building, later occupied by W. F. Geller, at the southwest corner of Broadway and Washington boulevard, was fitted up as the college home. The original faculty consisted of Drs. Stemen, Woodworth,

Page 500

Clark, Rosenthal, Myers, J. H. Ford, M. M. Latta, H. D. Wood, A. M. Hunt, R. W. Thrift, H. Van Sweringen, S. H. Swan, A. E. Van Buskirk and E. Melchers. Two well-attended sessions followed the opening of the institution.

At the end of the second session, a controversy between factions of the faculty of the college resulted in a reorganization which endured for one year, after which period two institutions — the Fort Wayne College of Medicine and the Fort Wayne Medical college — came into being simultaneously. Each claimed the other to be an intruder and not legally established. During the three years of the existence of the latter institution, which was located at the southeast corner of Calhoun and Baker streets, the controversy continued, and wordy conflicts provided frequent and varied forms of entertainment for the non-professional portion of the population.

Page 500, Grave Robberies, 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.

Added to the earlier internal troubles of the medical school was the hostile attitude of many people of the town, who failed to appreciate the advanced methods of the school in the teaching of certain branches through the means of dissecting human bodies. Dr. W. H. Myers, on the occasion of the graduation of the class of 1878, described the experience of the school as a purification "by passing through the refining quarantine of prejudice."

The grand jury, of which I. D. G. Nelson was the foreman, condemned the dissecting room of the college on the ground that it was "used for the purpose of depositing, concealing and dissecting human bodies, a portion of which, at least, are stolen from cemeteries or graveyards in this vicinity, in violation of law, common decency and the proprieties of life." The report added that the alleged practice "has produced and is producing great excitement, anxiety and indignation, especially among those who have families or have recently lost friends."

GRAVE ROBBERIES

The report refers to several cases of the removal of bodies from Lindenwood and other cemeteries, which had resulted in the arrest of six physicians and one student. The investigation of the cases was replete with sensational features. In one instance, when the body of a Roanoke (Indiana) man was found within the college walls, a prominent member of the faculty declared that he believed that professional grave robbers in the employ of the enemies of the institution had placed the body there "with a view to bringing our college into disrepute." The physician added the information that within a brief period thirty graves had been robbed.

In 1877, ghouls removed the body of a prominent citizen from a grave in Lindenwood cemetery; the cemetery association offered a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the culprits.

It is of interest to note that the Fort Wayne College of Medicine survived the attacks made upon it and became recognized as one of the leading institutions in the middle west. During its later years and until the college was made a part of Purdue University, it occupied home of the late Judge Hugh McCulloch, on West Superior street, now the headquarters of the Fort Wayne Turnverein Vorwaerts. In later years the medical department of Purdue

Page 501

was taken over by the Indiana University and the course of study includes attendance in departments at Bloomington and Indianapolis.

Apil 18, 2017 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

"Resurrection men" or "resurrectionists" were men or women who stole corpses from graves in order to sell them to medical schools for dissection. In the 1870s, Allen County experienced a surge of body snatching after the formation of two medical schools in the area.

In the late 19th century, donating your body to science was a practice very few people did. This left medical colleges to find alternative avenues for securing corpses for students to dissect. The Fort Wayne Medical College and the Fort Wayne College of Medicine both opened in the 1870's, leading to a sharp increase in body snatching and public outcry against the practice. Eventually, seven people associated with Fort Wayne Medical College were arrested in connection with these illegal activities. Finally, in 1879, the General Assembly of Indiana passed the Anatomical Act of 1879 which provided a lawful means by which medical schools could obtain bodies.

Learn more about the gruesome practice of body snatching here: GHOUL BUSTERS: INDIANAPOLIS GUARDS ITS DEAD (OR DOES IT?) January 24, 2015 by Stephen J. Taylor at Hoosier State Chronicles Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program.

See our 1876 and 1879 Timeline.

1. Anatomical Materials. Reynolds Fred J-07 Dec 1973-0014 fifteen page paper in the Quest Club Papers collection at the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.
2. The 4th Series of Pamplets published in the 1950s by the Allen County Public Libraryhave several short stories on body snatching!
3. Gordon’s Leap: A Tale from the Heyday of the Resurrectionists March 18, 2015 Stephen J. Taylor at Hoosier State Chronicles Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program.
4. The business of body snatching in Indianapolis by Dawn Mitchell published May 1, 2016 on the IndyStar.com.
5. In Need of Cadavers, 19th-Century Medical Students Raided Baltimore’s Graves With a half-dozen medical schools and a shortage of bodies, grave robbing thrived—and with no consequences for the culprits Antero Pietila, What It Means To Be American October 25, 2018 on Smithsonian Magazine.
6. CHAPTER 1 “A NECESSARY INHUMANITY” from SUCH HORRIBLE BUSINESS by James Tobin at Heritage Project University of Michigan.
7. Body Snatchers: Tales from the Crypt and Beyond Sheena Morrison` at The Unltimate History Project.
8. Fort Wayne College of Medicine Fort Wayne, Indiana 1879-1905 on LostColleges.com.
9. 
   Remmel Bros. west-end druggists drawing
   A January 21, 2023 post on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook stated: 1876: This brick building, corner of Washington St. & Broadway, housed the Remmel Bros., west-end druggists, on the ground floor; and the Medical College of Fort Wayne on the 2nd and 3rd floors. "It may not come as a surprise to many of you that body-snatching was carried on to a high degree during the 1870's and 1880's. At that time Fort Wayne gave great prominence of being an important medical center. The dissecting room was on the 3rd floor front." - (excerpts from) Fred J. Reynolds' Quest Club Paper, via ACPL: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/.../p16089.../id/19704/rec/2 . One January 21, 2023 says only a pillar from building still exits.

10. March 11, 2013 post by Greater Adirondack Ghost and Tour Company (Plattsburgh, NY)

    on Facebook:

    Here's an interesting one, this device, known as a "cemetery gun," served as a very real deterrent to would be grave robbers during the golden age of body snatching. The weapon would be positioned on the deceased's grave, cocked, primed, and loaded, ready to fire upon unsuspecting thieves if they crossed any of it's three tripwires. Understandably, cemetery guns were outlawed in England in 1827. Another popular safeguard of the day was the "Grave Torpedo," an explosive device which would be buried and attached to the coffin. Any disturbance caused it to explode, killing the offending individual...

    Victorian ‘Coffin Torpedoes’ Blasted Would-Be Body Snatchers Grave robbing got more hazardous in the 1880s. by Lucy Tiven April 3, 2017 on AtlasObscura.

    Ohio's Ghoulish Gambit Against Grave Robbing: Coffin Torpedoes on WOSU 89.7 NPR News | By Gabe Rosenberg Published May 17, 2017 .

    Cemetery guns at RoyalArmouries.org.

11. October 5, 2023 post by Hoosier History Live on Facebook:

    Oct. 7 radio show "Graverobbing conspiracies of early 1900s“ Chris Flook, author and senior lecturer at Ball State University, is Nelson’s studio guest. Chris will share his knowledge of the former practice of graverobbing. Small cemeteries in Indpls and Hamilton Co were the target of graverobbers; local hospitals paid for cadavers for medical student training. Listen Sat. Oct 7 from noon to one ET at WICR 88.7 fm in Indianapolis, stream at www.hoosierhistorylive.org, or download the WICR HD1 app on your phone or computer and stream live from anywhere. WICR Indiana Historical Bureau Society of Indiana History Enthusiasts Looking at Indiana History Terri Gorney Lehman Chris Flook Hoosier People & Stories The Star Press Ball State Department of Media Indiana University School of Medicine Indiana Cemeteries

    October 07, 2023 Graverobbing conspiracies of early 1900s on Hoosier History Live newsletter and podcast archive page.

    Click here to listen to the podcast.

12. October 31, 2023 post by the Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

    Happy #Halloween! In the mood for a spooky story? Check out our #IndianaHistoryBlog on the Hoosier undertaker Rufus Cantrell.

    Rufus Cantrell was a lot of things: A driver. A porter. A clerk. An undertaker. In 1902, he added a new title to that list: The King of Ghouls. Along with approximately 7 other men, Cantrell ran one of the most successful body-snatching syndicates in Indianapolis. The thieves sold the corpses to medical schools willing to overlook the method of procurement. While a macabre and fascinating story, the grave robbing caused unimaginable pain trauma to the victims’ families.

    Learn more about Cantrell through our #IndianaHistoryBlog: “King of Ghouls” Rufus Cantrell & Grave-Robbing in Indianapolis

Fort Wayne Municipal Beach

See the Fort Wayne Municipal Beach page.

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

311 East Main Street, Street View photo from Google maps with over 1,000 photos

Website: https://fwmoa.org/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fwmoa

Though the Fort Wayne Museum of Art had been around for many years, it moved to its current home in 1984 after a two-year, $4 million construction project that created a 39,000-square-foot building. The museum moved to its new structure on Main Street from the B. Paul Mossman mansion, 1202 W. Wayne St., which is now the home of Castle Gallery Fine Art. The new building had about five times more floor space and a 108-seat auditorium. Copied from 1982 to 1984: Fort Wayne Museum of Art construction, opening Corey McMaken June 23, 2019 Updated Jun 6, 2022 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

Fort Wayne National Bank

110 West Berry Street Street View photo from Google Maps

Descendant bank of 1835 opening of the State Bank of Indiana. September 17, 1969: Construction underway on the Fort Wayne National Bank Building (now known as PNC Center) downtown. The Lincoln Bank Tower was previously the tallest building in Fort Wayne and had been the tallest in Indiana until 1968. The Fort Wayne National Bank Building (now known as PNC Center) was Fort Wayne's tallest from 1970 to 1982 when the building now known as the Indiana Michigan Power Center opened. Throwback Thursday: Construction of Fort Wayne National Bank Building, 1969 Corey McMaken Dec 13, 2018 Updated Jun 6, 2022 The Journal Gazette newspaper. Ten Years of Progress 1933 to 1943, Fort Wayne National Bank, Fort Wayne, Indiana at the The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

August 25, 2022 post by The History Centeron Facebook:

Financial security and prosperity have long been sought by the people that call Fort Wayne home. From 1794 until 1835, our city did not have an established banking institution, primarily relying on banks in the more populous Ohio River Valley and Eastern States. With the creation of the State Bank of Indiana in 1833, this all changed and the Fort Wayne branch of the bank was officially established on August 25, 1835, exactly 187 years ago today. The list of principals who organized the bank reads like a “who’s who” of prominent men of the era: Allen Hamilton (president), Hugh McCulloch (cashier) and directors William Rockhill, Asa Fairfield, Jesse Vermilyea, Francis Comparet and William G. Ewing, among others. This branch operated until the charter of the bank was revoked in 1859 and the state allowed the creation of the privately held Second Bank of Indiana, which took over local operations. This bank operated in Fort Wayne until 1865 when it merged with another local bank, which in 1885 changed its named to Old National Bank. In 1863, First National Bank was the first bank in Indiana to receive a charter under the new national banking system, through several events Fort Wayne’s first banks and this second would join together and be important institutions in our community. In 1905, First National consolidated with White National Bank and in 1917 with Hamilton National Bank. Now known as First and Hamilton National Bank, the institution merged with Old National and became Old-First National Bank. In 1933, Old-First National closed in March, but was reorganized and reopened in October as the new Fort Wayne National Bank. Fort Wayne National operated as an independent banking institution until its acquisition by National City Bank in 1998. Through its most recent incarnation, it continues to serve the citizens of Fort Wayne & Allen County as PNC. ts most recent incarnation, it continues to serve the citizens of Fort Wayne & Allen County as PNC. #sociallyhistory

June 25, 2015 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

Throwback Thursday from the H & D Scrapbook. On November 2, 1966 ground was broken for the 26 story Fort Wayne National Bank Building, by the way.... Hofer and Davis, Inc. provided the boundary and topographic survey for FWNB!

January 27, 2022 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:

HISTORY JOURNAL Fort Wayne National Bank building (now PNC Center) opened in 1970 and surpassed Lincoln Bank Tower as the tallest building in Fort Wayne. It held that title until 1982. Construction on the building is seen in these photos. See more: Bank building became city's tallest in 1970

#fortwayne #indiana #skyline #construction #buildings #history

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Fort Wayne Newspaper Building

600 West Main Street, Street View photo from Google maps

On July 26, 1956, ground was broken at 600 W. Main St. for a new building for the publishing of the Fort Wayne Newspapers. See Newspapers, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, and Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.

Fort Wayne Outfitters & Bike Shop

Website: https://www.fwoutfitters.com/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fwoutfitters.

Cass Street depot home to Fort Wayne Outfitters Rod King Dec 7, 2007 at KPCNews.com.

1004 Cass Street, Street View photo from Google Maps

November 12, 2017 post by Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society on Facebook:

It's pretty incredible what a few passionate citizens can accomplish. 45 years ago this weekend, our organization was officially formed with the goal of restoring and operating a historic steam locomotive on display in Downtown Fort Wayne. In two years, the engine would be removed from Lawton Park and by 1979, it would become the living, breathing time machine we all know and love today. Not bad for a bunch of dreamers. [Depot is shown in a September 1974 photo when the old New York Central line railroad tracks were still in front of the station! It was the first passenger station in Fort Wayne and briefly known as "Union Station."]

August 15, 2019 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture of the old Depot. It is located across the street from last weeks LAKE SHORE HOTEL at the corner of Wells and Cass Streets. It is still in existence and used by Fort Wayne Outfitters, owned by Hall's Drive-Ins, Inc. right across from Promenade Park. BTW...Hofer and Davis, Inc. surveyed the depot for Bud Hall from Hall's Drive-Ins, Inc.

Fort Wayne Paper Box Company

Northwest corner of Superior and Calhoun. Founded as Fort Wayne Paper Box Company by Andrew Burry and Joel Welty in 1897 and incorporated the next year (1898) as Wayne Paper Box & Printing, it would later become Wayne Paper Box Corp. The company made a variety of paper products including folding corrugated boxes, gift boxes, mailing tubes, stationary, calendars and even postcards (many of which depicted Fort Wayne scenes). The building was constructed in two phases with the first phase at the corner in 1904 and the section to the west of that in 1923. Reborn as Superior Lofts.

Fort Wayne Paper Mill

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

Page 476, Activities of 1864

A mill for the manufacture of "print" paper, and a better quality of paper for book printing, was established by the Fort Wayne Paper Company, composed of Messrs. Freeman, Bard and Dublinski. A. G. Barnett became interested in the venture in 1867. The plant was destroyed by fire in 1871 and was not rebuilt. The mill was located about five miles north of Fort Wayne on the right bank of the St. Joseph river. It was operated by water power.

Page 615, St. Joseph Township

However, in 1835 the inevitable "first saw mill" was built by Klinger and Comparet, on Becket's Run from which stream the power was derived. Six years afterwards, in 1841, Henry Rudisill built the first steam saw mill on the St. Joseph river, and after that, indefatigable mill builder that he was, added a second story to the building and conducted a carding mill there. At the death of Mr. Rudisill the property passed to his son-in-law, N. B. Freeman, who continued the business until 1866, when with two partners he built a dam and erected a paper mill about four miles up the river, and devoted his energies to the newer enterprise. The paper mill was completely destroyed by fire in 1871, but in spite of very heavy loss, it was immediately rebuilt on a larger scale and continued its successful career. In all these ventures, the settlers bore a part, for they were laborers in the building and operation of these mills, and without their participation in many occupations other than clearing and farming, many fine things had gone undone.

Randy Harter image

A September 20, 2022 post with photos of the bridge remnants by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook is copied below. See Google map of Paper Mill Bluff and former bridge area on Upper St. Joe Center Road:

The Fort Wayne Paper Mill As you drive east from North Clinton on Washington Center Road, on the right you will pass the Paper Mill Bluffs housing addition and the Paper Mill Office Park. At first blush you may think it’s another one of those corny names that builders give housing additions a’la the “Falls At Beaver Creek”. Hummmm?

But you are actually headed down the hill towards where the old Fort Wayne Paper Mill operated on the St. Joe River from 1866 until 1889. The paper mill sat the equivalent of about a couple city blocks up the river to the north of the current 1963 concrete Paper Mill Bridge on Washington Center/St. Joe Center Roads. While I’ve not run across any images of the paper mill or its dam, we know from newspaper accounts that there were two buildings along the river that were each two stories high, one was 25’ x 80’ and the other 40’ x 60’, as well as a residence being there. One of these large buildings would have been connected to the water wheel in the river that powered the mill’s machinery. The paper produced at the mill was made, initially at least (as most paper mills did of that era) from linen and cotton rags. The company ran advertisements in the local papers that they had a buying office for rags and a sales office for paper at 51 East Columbia Street. With the new street numbering system the city had put in place in 1902 that would put their offices in the block where Freimann Square is today. In the mill’s first year of operation the Fort Wayne Daily Gazette touted that it was now being printed on Fort Wayne Paper Mill paper, and so no longer had to get their paper from Cleveland or Dayton; however it appears the most of the paper manufactured at the mill was brown Kraft type butcher wrapping paper which they supplied to local stores and markets from their offices on Columbia Street. The mill appears to have been a success and in April of 1880 communicated to the Fort Wayne Daily News that they had set a new record of producing 2542 lbs. of paper in a single day.

Prior to our current 1963 concrete bridge (since widened) there was an iron bridge over the river per the attached pictures. However, as you can see from the aerial photographs it was not lined up with Washington Center/St. Joe Center Roads as ours is today. You can see that Washington Center Road had a one block jog north and then crossed the iron bridge and then angled back south to link up with St. Joe Center Road on the other side of the river. Before the iron bridge there had been a wooden suspension bridge at that location that had been built in 1872 and that then collapsed in 1882 necessitating the pictured iron bridge being built in 1883. Today as you drive back west across the new bridge if you look to your right you can see the old stone bridge abutment about a city block north on the west side of the river.

The paper mill dam, just north of the mill, ran all the way across the St. Joe River and it was frequently reported in the paper that it was once again needing repairs or had partially washed away. Additionally, in 1881 an entirely new dam had to be constructed across the river as the winter ice and high spring waters had so badly damaged the old one. I would imagine with equipment of that time that this would have been no mean feat. Yet, despite a new dam being built it also had a number of large breaks over the ensuing years including a 75’ gap torn in the dam in March of 1897. I was unable to find reference as to when the last of the dam finally disappeared.

In 1877 wealthy Fort Wayne industrialist William Fleming gained control of the eleven year old paper mill and operated it for twelve years before closing it in 1889 and selling all of the equipment to a new mill being built in Hartford City in which he was a major stockholder. Thus, the 23 year run of the Fort Wayne Paper Mill came to an end. However for a number of years after the demise of the mill, articles continued to appear in the local papers about social events and the great fishing around “picturesque” paper mill dam. 

February 12, 2023 ten photos were posted by Roger Bireley taken along the river where the paper mill and road were located on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

BridgeHunter page for Paper Mill Bridge states: Built ca.1882 by the Morse Bridge Company; removed sometime after a new bridge was built to the South in 1963. Also called: Upper St Joe Center Road Bridge.

The new bridge was built in 1962 from ST JOSEPH CENTER R over ST JOSEPH RIVER on BridgeReports.com.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: February 28 in photos at The News-Sentinel newspaperphoto:

1936 - Ice jammed the St. Joseph River on Feb. 28, 1936, threatening the structure of the Paper Mill Bridge. The old iron bridge was limited to one lane of traffic, and the approach from the west includes a sharp dogleg in Washington Center Road. A new bridge was built to replace this one, connecting Washington Center and St. Joe Center roads and straightening out the traffic hazard. The new bridge was officially opened to traffic Dec. 4, 1963.

Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation

See our separate page Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation.

Fort Wayne Philharmonic

April 2, 2013 A History of The Phil by History Center Notes & Queries blog.

Fort Wayne Post Office

Fort Wayne Post Office 1889 – 1932 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authorpublished October 5, 2018 in Fort Wayne Reader and discussed October 7, 2018 in You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Fort Wayne Printing Building

Ca. 1911, 114 W. Washington Blvd. was added to the National Historic Register in 1988 and to the Local Historic Register in 1989. See Fort Wayne Printing Building history with photos and timeline on midtowncrossing.net.

Fort Wayne Reader

Independent newspaper which often had interesting history articles stopped publication in December 2018. It was discussed December 26, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Their Archive page shows 344 issues were posted at www.fortwaynereader.com. The Wayback Machine has several pages: calendar of monthly site searches since January 10, 2004 through December 2018, as urls captured for this domain, Randy Harter history articles and a details page shows 4,999 urls.

Fort Wayne Speedway

The Fort Wayne Speedway posted Sep 19, 2022 by WANE 15 News on YouTube
The Fort Wayne Speedway built in 1928 was once one of the most vaunted tracks in the country, Ethan Dahlen. Nine deaths from danger of racing is one reason it closed from the book BIG TRACK LITTLE TRACK by J Daniel Heath (Author), Kenny Barr (Foreword) at Amazon.com. An informative historical account of two legendary speedways in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A five-eighths mile high banked "big track" that existed from 1930 until 1964 and a three-eighths mile "little track" that existed from 1951 until 1964. This book describes the events and people that made up the Fort Wayne Speedway and South Anthony Speedway. [September 2023]
The Fort Wayne Speedway built in 1928 was once one of the most vaunted tracks in the country, Ethan Dahlen. From ‘Man killer’: Remembering Fort Wayne’s forgotten speedway by: Ethan Dahlen Posted: Sep 19, 2022, Updated: Sep 20, 2022 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15.

Was built in 1928 by Frank Funk on farmland along the dirt California Road north of where Glenbrook Square on Coliseum Boulevard is today.

1928 - FORT WAYNE SPEEDWAY with several photos on speedwayandroadracehistory.com states: Fort Wayne speedway was built in 1928 by Frank Funk within the local Fairgrounds, Funk also built Winchester Speedway and Dayton Speedway as well as others, The Fort Wayne track was described as high banked, fast and treacherous, The track was 5/8th of a mile in length.

In 1946 two further tracks were added inside the 5/8th mile oval, these tracks were concidered by some as the fastest dirt oval tracks around, The 1/2 mile track utilized both straights but had shorter corners, while the 1/4 mile Midget track utilized part of the front sraight only.

The track surface was not kind to the drivers with many dips and hollows across its width and length, The outer safety rails were very low and cars would often launch out of the arena. The Fairgrounds closed in 1964 and the land was sold off to become Industrial land.

1. October 2, 1960 photos and story "On This Day"... forgotten Fort Wayne Speedway lives on posted October 2, 2015 ARCAracing.com now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
2. Fort Wayne Speedway Google search results.
3. Fort Wayne Speedway-Go Karts, 4550 Speedway Drive, is in the same general area. Website: https://fwspeedway.wixsite.com/mysite, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fwspeedway.
4. Long description of local racetracks includes Fort Wayne Speedway in a comment dated 8/31/09 on indianaopenwheel.com.
5. April 1, 2015 posted Fort Wayne Speedway 1949 five photo album Thanks Claude Bell on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.
6. Forgotten Fort Wayne Speedway September 23 2019 on imgur.com.
7. Forgotten Fort Wayne Speedway and the History Behind it on Reddit.com.
8. Merkler Machine built cars from scratch. The road behind Halls Hollywood is called Merkler St. from a comment December 24, 2022 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook. Glenn “Pee Wee” Northern in the #4042 Merkler Special has several photos at various speedways on Kansas Racing History. Merkler Spl. Machine Works Ft. Wayne, Ind. is the PHOTO OF THE DAY Thursday, July 19, 2020 Jackie Holmes looks a little dejected sitting in Franklin Merkler’s Frank Kurtis built 1953 Indy entry number 71 after he couldn’t qualify the car. posted July 9, 2022 on American Hot Rod Foundation on Facebook.
9. AAA Dirt car Researcher Project on Facebook has several Fort Wayne Speedway discussions.

10. February 28, 2023 post by Ron Verash on Facebook, showing the Fort Wayne Speedway then shared February 28, 2023 on Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Private Facebook Group:

    Still cool to see this at the Hall's in Fort Wayne off Lima Road. To think that track is about where the Hall's is at... alot of Memories way back then.

    Hall's Hollywood Drive-In on Facebook:

    4416 Lima Road, The fabulous 50's live on forever at Hall's Hollywood! Located right next to the Roller Dome North, www.facebook.com/HallsHollywood

11. Photos and more on Some History About Former Fort Wayne Speedway "A place called Fort Wayne Speedway operated on the north side of Fort Wayne just north of what is now Coliseum Boulevard and Glenbrook Square mall at KPC.news. It's now a place adjacent to a Putt Putt where little kids go to drive (very) small vehicles. The track was built in 1928 by Frank Funk, who also built other racetracks, including the former Jungle Park at Rockville and the Winchester Speedway, still operating. When the Fort Wayne Speedway was built in 1928, the area was farmland; it remained so for most of the track's existence. Coliseum Boulevard was California Road -- a dirt road then -- and neighboring farmers probably constituted what little traffic there was. From 1951 to 1964, another race track broke the silence on the south side of town. South Anthony Speedway ran two nights a week on a 3/8-mile asphalt oval. The homes in Victoria Park are in that spot now. Race tracks may come and go, but people's memories of them do not fade. The Fort Wayne Speedway especially is remembered for its track, which was said to be the highest-banked and fastest 5/8-mile track in the world."

12. "On This Day"... forgotten Fort Wayne Speedway lives on by Don Radebaugh published October 2, 2015 on ARA Racing Series.
13. Similar photos were posted and discussed December 7, 2017 and 1957 aerial photos were posted December 10, 2017 with a 1938 map thru present maps timelapse video by Scott Krumwiede in Comments to Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and author

14. Ft Wayne Big Track_Title01.flv by Kevin Allgire uploaded May 7, 2011 on YouTube
    This video is from The former Fort Wayne,Indiana Speedway and the former South Anthony Speedway(Fort Wayne,IN.). A Big Thank-You goes out to former racer and Founder of The Northeastern Indiana Racing Museum(Auburn,IN.) Paul Ladd for supplying this video so I could post it on Youtube. Also there's no sound.

Fort Wayne Sports

Birthplace for some surprising sports history. History that resonates even today. We love sports. We love our teams: Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Fort Wayne Komets, Fort Wayne TinCaps. We are a true sports city. Copied from the April 28, 2017 post on Fort Wayne Magazineon Facebook. See their article Team Spirit Fort Wayne is rich in sports history by Jeff Wiehe published April 28th, 2017 in Fort Wayne Magazine. Video below is a look at Fort Wayne Sports History by Chris Treft for his photo journalism class at IPFW.

The Top Ten of Fort Wayne Sports History Photo Story published July 20, 2014 by Chris Treft on YouTube
A top ten list of things Fort Wayne Sports History has produced all time. This is in the form of a photo story with all pictures taken by myself, Chris Treft. This project was completed for my photo journalism class at IPFW.

April 14, 2023 post by Fort Wayne Sports History on Facebook:

Just for fun. These are not in the book. Wonder how many afternoons at work I just ruined! LOL

See Blake Sebring.

Fort Wayne Sports Club

Web site: www.fortwaynesportclub.com, since 1927, see Fort Wayne Sport Club celebrates 90 years with video by Sam Bauman published Mary 13, 2017 on 21AliveNews.com. Fort Wayne Sports Corp. stopping operation Group helped bring in numerous events over 27 years by Blake Sebring was published September 14, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.

Fort Wayne Theaters

See local Theaters such as the Broadway Theatre, Clyde Theatre, Embassy Theatre, Holiday Theater, Jefferson Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Majestic Theatre, Palace Theatre, Paramount Theatre, and Rialto Theatre. Theatre versus Theater trivia. Some say the spelling Theatre refers to a focus on live performances while Theater refers to the physical place. Others say it is the British spelling versus American spelling.

Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Trails

Trails page has a current Map by the City of Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation.

Fort Wayne Trolleys

See Public Transportation on our Railroad History of Fort Wayne page.

USS Fort Wayne

Ship ID-3786 - was a 6245 gross ton (12,260 tons displacement) freighter, built in 1918 by Baltimore Drydock and Shipbuilding Co., Baltimore, Maryland; acquired by the Navy 27 December 1918 the last year of World War I; and commissioned as USS Fort Wayne (ID # 3786) the same day, Lieutenant Commander S. C. Fenn, USNRF, in command. After the war it became the SS Fort Wayne and scrapped in Japan in 1934. See photos and information on S.S. Fort Wayne (American Freighter, 1918) Served as USS Fort Wayne (ID # 3786) in 1918-1919 on the Naval Historical Center web site, and USS Fort Wayne (ID-3786) on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Fort Wayne Windmill Company

(1903-1915) - see a photo of a restored historic windmill from J.K. Windmills of Hoagland, Indiana on their May 22, 2013 Facebook page for The Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendallville, Indiana. June 24, 2016 discussion on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Foster Park

See our Foster Park page.

Four Presidents Corners

Street View photo from Google map

Since September 22, 1917, twin monuments have marked this rural intersection. Four Presidents Corners is the intersection of Maples and Sampson Roads in southeastern Allen County, Indiana, just northwest of Monroeville. This intersection is the junction of four townships, each named for a former president. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and Andrew Jackson (the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh presidents) are the namesakes of the four townships. Copied from the Four Presidents Corners page of the Four Presidents Corners Historical Society Monroeville, Indiana.

1. Photo: Four Presidents Corners Description: cars line up for the dedication at the intersection of Maples and Sampson Roads in Sept. 22, 1917. This intersection is the junction of four townships, each named for a former president at the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.
2. Monument photos at Monroeville, Indiana: Four Presidents Corners at RoadsideAmerica.com.

3. Febuary 22, 2013 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

   About 1 year ago (February 28,2012) We wondered if any of you had ever heard of "Four Presidents Corner" in Allen County, Indiana. Several of you knew it was where four Townships, with Presidential names joined each other. From such modest beginnings, it has evolved into the ever popular Hofer and Davis, Inc. - LAND SURVEYORS "Riddle of the Week". Just last week when heading to Monroeville, Indiana, we snapped this picture of the monument documenting the site.

   Shared February 22, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

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Fox Island County Park

See the Fox Island County Park page.

Franke Park

See the Franke Park page.

John B. and Amelia Franke House

Discussed on pages 304-309 of Prairie School architecture : studies from "The Western architect" Publication date 1983 on Archive.org.
Click link above will allow limited viewing of "Franke" pages if "Limited Preview" is showing!

2131 Forest Park Boulevard - Google map Street View. See our John B. Franke article. John B. and Amelia Franke House, 2131 Forest Park Boulevard, 1999 (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 3 photos at Indiana Landmarks Historic Architecture Collection of Indiana Memory. Was discussed with photos July 30, 2022 on Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Private Facebook Group

Frankenstein Drug Store

Owned by German born druggist named M.L. Frankenstein, located at the corner of Barr and Washington. The old Foellinger Building now occupies this spot. Listed in the 1890 city directory. Photos of the building ca. 1890 and antique bottles posted September 6, 2018 and October 26, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Frankenstein Drug Store, 1890 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authorpublshed September 23, 2014 in Fort Wayne Reader. Frankenstein Medicine bottles can be found for sale online.

Freight Depot

Formerly at 4th and Clinton Streets was torn down October 11, 2010 on Columbus Day. Owners tearing down historic 4th Street depot; City official ‘surprised and unaware' of building's demolitionby Kevin Leininger published October 12, 2010 in The News-Sentinel newspapernow on Internet Archive Wayback Machine

Freimann Square

200 E. Main Street. Street View photo from Google maps

BobWatsonPhotography.com

Since 1971, 4.6 acres. Designed by Alvin M. Strauss. History: Freimann Square was funded in large part by the posthumous donation of Frank Freimann, the former president of Magnavox Company. In 1971, Mr. Freimann's gift was used for actual park development while a federal grant provided the land for this downtown oasis. Copied from Freimann Square at Fort Wayne Parks.org.

1. This park located in the center of the city provides space for many of the local festivals and events. Visitors can enjoy the colorful fountain, majestic statue of General Anthony Wayne, and the beautiful foliage on the square. Copied from Freimann Square at Visit Fort Wayne.
2. Freimann Squarefrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Freimann Square was dedicated on Sept. 27, 1973, when several hundred people turned out in downtown Fort Wayne to see the fountains in action. The park was funded by the Freimann Charitable Trust, which was created by the late Frank Freimann who was president and chief executive officer of Magnavox Co. . Copied from 1973: Construction and opening of Freimann Square by Corey McMaken Jun 6, 2019 in the History Journal archives of the Journal Gazette newspaper.

Frigidaire

The refrigerator "Frigidaire was founded as the Guardian Frigerator Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana and developed the first self-contained refrigerator (invented by Nathaniel B. Wales and Alfred Mellowes) in 1916." copied from Frigidaire on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia and Our History Frigidaire on Frigidaire-la.com. "Two of the first home refrigerators both appeared in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where, in 1911, General Electric company unveiled a unit invented by a French monk. In 1915 the first "Guardian" refrigerator - a predecessor of the Frigidaire - was assembled in a wash house in a Fort Wayne backyard" copied from The Story of the Refrigerator formerly on the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers www.aham.org website. A father of the refrigerator in City was home for many inventions by Michael Hawfield from the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaperpublished December 13, 1993. There is also a YouTubeRefrigerator Marketing: "The Proof Parade" 1937 Frigidaire published March 27, 2013.

Fruehauf Trailer Corporation

Photos and information posted October 13, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Fruehauf Trailer Corporation on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. The unexpectedly fascinating story of the Fruehauf Trailer Co. How a Detroit blacksmith revolutionized motorized transportation by Graham Kozak published June 26, 2015 on AutoWeek.com.

Furnis Ice Cream

Was at 615 Lafayette, 1916 moved to end of Clay near Columbia Street bridge.

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