Packard Piano and Organ Company

Was established in 1871 when the founder Isaac Packard an organ builder in Chicago left after the Chicago fire October 10, 1871 destroyed his buisness. According to local legend, Packard then boarded a train and told the conductor to let him out when the money ran out. His fare ran out in Fort Wayne. His new company Fort Wayne Organ Company produced Packard Orchestrals. He died in 1873, but his company continued until people could no longer afford pianos during the Great Depression when the company went out of business. A few years after the company closed, the City of Fort Wayne bought the property, tore down the buildings, and made it into a city park- Packard Park. Copied from Packard Pianos by Carmen Doyle published March 5, 2013 in the History Center Notes & Queries blog. See a Historical Timeline of Isaac T. Packard on The Packard Organ The Pride of All Nations web site and Wayback Machine.

Neighborhoods of the 07 posted a Steve Tyler comment November 30, 2019 on Facebook.

Steven Tyler’s Pump Organ the signed organ with a plate on the front of organ that reads "Fort Wayne Organ Co." later became the Packard Piano & Organ Company from the Pawn Stars History Channel television show. See Aerosmith - Dream On video posted December 5, 2012 on the official Aerosmith YouTubeChannel. See also STEVEN TYLER ORGAN USED TO WRITE "DREAM ON" Sold for: $28,800 at ArchiveAuctions.com. Lot 647 of 724: STEVEN TYLER ORGAN USED TO WRITE "DREAM ON" at Julienslive.com has a broken link to Season 11 American Idol where Tyler discusses writing the song and appears with the organ in a behind-the-scenes American Idol clip.

Steve Tyler June 28, 2018 Twitter Tweet about the organ.

I WROTE THE MUSIC WHEN I WAS 17 ON A PUMP ORGAN IN SUNAPPEE, NH...WROTE THE LYRICS IN 2 DAYS AT A HOTEL AT BOSTON LOGAN AIRPORT...SANG IT LIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE SHABOO INN, CT...AND GOT TO SING IT AGAIN TONIGHT...45 YEARS TO THE DAY OF ITS RELEASE... IN MOTOR CITY USA... pic.twitter.com/K7nrFdNiab

— Steven Tyler (@IamStevenT) June 28, 2018

Packard Organ and Piano Company ca. 1910
By Randy Harter
Fort Wayne Reader
2017-04-09

When Isaac T. Packard’s organ factory in Chicago was destroyed in the horrific fire that leveled over three square miles of that city, he relocated the factory to Fort Wayne in October 1871. With the assistance of a group of prominent local investors that included Charles McCulloch, Steven Bond, John Bass and Judge Lindley Ninde, the Fort Wayne Organ Company was incorporated the next month, and in December the was ground broken for the four-story brick plant on Fairfield Avenue. Four months later, in April 1872, the factory was built and the first of what would come to be thousands elaborate ornate reed organs were completed. Sadly, just two years later in September of 1873, Isaac died, yet, in the hands of Steven Bond, and later his son Albert, the company would continue to flourish, later changing the name to the Packard Organ Company in 1889.

After introducing their first piano in 1893, the company’s line of pianos grew to include a number of upright, player, grand and baby grand models. They produced their last organ in 1914; in order to reflect their reconfigured product line, in 1915 they renamed the growing concern The Packard Piano Company. With over 300 workers, the company could produce between 3,000-4,000 pianos per year, and offered models in Cherry, Maple, Mahogany, and Black Walnut. As the company grew, so too did the development of the South Wayne area, and as part of their expansion Packard had offices in Kansas City, MO; London, England; Hamburg, Germany and Melbourne, Australia. Beginning in 1911, they also began producing pianos under the “Bond” brand as a less expensive alternative to the more elaborate “Packard” models.

Packard later expanded into building wood cabinets for the nascent radio and television manufacturing market. The depression hit in 1930, and, like many other piano manufacturers (as well as the companies Packard made the radio cabinets for), Packard went into receivership, thus ending 59 years in business. The Packard name was revived for a time when piano makers Story & Clark purchased rights to the trademark in 1938; while no longer made in Fort Wayne, they manufactured models using the Packard label into the 1950’s.

In June 1933 the Park Board purchased the former Packard factory grounds, and after removing the buildings and adding improvements, opened it as Packard Park in 1937. Today, the 4.5 acre Packard Park features a modern pavilion, tennis courts, playground equipment, and a baseball diamond.

(Image courtesy Todd Baron Collection)

Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne historian, author, and tour guide for Fort Wayne Food Tours.

1. The marker is located in the northwest corner of Packard Park, which opened in 1937 where the piano company once stood. In the years after World War II, the park hosted games by the Fort Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Copied from COMMEMORATING THE PACKARD PIANO & ORGAN COMPANY July 5, 2019 by The Waynedale News Staff at The Waynedale News.com.
2. Illustrated catalogue, Packard organs: Manufactured by the Fort Wayne Organ Co. 15 page booklet at the Indiana State Library Trade Catalogs.
3. Oakdale History Presents: The Packard Piano Company by Melissa Hitzemann on Historic Oakdale Neighborhood Association.
4. The company built organs until 1893, adding pianos in 1894 and changing the name of the company. It was purchased by Story and Clark in 1938 who continued selling Packard pianos a few more years, see ad from Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, photo, and another photo of building and also on Flickr.
5. 100-year-old Packard is a long way from home story about a restored Packard piano posted January 22, 2013 on The Journal Gazette newspaper.
6. Historical Timeline on Isaac Packard at The Packard Organ The Pride of All Nationsweb site.
7. Photos and more on Packard Company.
8. Photos and lengthy discussion November 26, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
9. A 1908 postcard posted November 5, 2018 on Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Private Facebook Group.
10. The Ft. Wayne Organ Company was in business from 1898-1914. By the end of 1914, the business had shifted it's business to primarily piano production, which there was a much higher demand. The name was then changed to the Packard Piano Company. Copied from a discussion July 17, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
11. A short video with photos and history about the new park plaque was on original Perfect Pitch by Eric Olson, 21Country Featured Reporterposted July 4, 2019 on ABC WPTA21.com TV stationwebsite but now on Internet Archive Wayback Machine it may not be available.
12. Photos and some history were posted September 5, 2019 by The History Centeron Facebook.
13. 150 years: Packard organ maker key legacy for city by Ashley Sloboda published April 4, 2022 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
14. Discussed November 13, 2022 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

1921 Packard Piano Midi William Tell by Eye Piece Feb 20, 2016 on YouTube.
conversion of a 1921 Packard player piano to play midi.
Shared February 23, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook .

Palace Theater

126 E. Washington Boulevard, the corner of Clinton Street and Washington Boulevard. April 23, 1957 the building's owners announced it would be razed to make room for a parking lot. The second-oldest theater in the city, it cost $200,000 to build and seated 1,700. It was dedicated January 25, 1915, and at the time was devoted exclusively to vaudeville, then in its heyday. Copied from THIS DAY IN HISTORY: April 23 in photos published April 23, 2018 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. The block is now home to the Civic Center Parking Garage for the Grand Wayne Center and other downtown events from a June 9, 2022 post with photos and information on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook. See Cinema Treasures, comments on Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana, photo and discussion April 17, 2017 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. See Photo Record on The Indiana Album and same photo with discussion May 16, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. 1957 photo of Civic Theatre sign covering the Palace sign posted May 19, 2017 on DasFort on Facebook. See local Theaters such as the Broadway Theatre, Clyde Theatre, Embassy Theatre, Holiday Theater, Jefferson Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Palace Theatre, Paramount Theatre, and Rialto Theatre.

Richard Stamats 1964 cropped photo from the Lincoln Tower

The image above was posted June 19, 2022 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook. Randy was discussing the Palace Theater/Civic Theater E. Washington in relation to the corner with Clinton Street. He found this photo showing the Palace Theater (bottom 4th label from left) that Richard Stamats took from the top of the Lincoln Tower in 1964 that shows that block and Randy fiddled around labeling it.

The Richard Stamats video below shows the Palace Theater/Civic Theater E. Washington photo above morphing from his 1964 photo into a 2017 Daniel Baker photo back and forth from 15-seconds to around 50-seconds. Richard Stamats flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/stamats and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.stamats

Fort Wayne, Indiana 1964 and 2017 uploaded Jan 14, 2019 by Richard Stamatson YouTube
Fort Wayne morph of two scenes both are from 1964 and 2017. These photos will be part of a book on Fort Wayne, Indiana. Fort Wayne is where I was born and my home until 1967, I took the 1964 photographs at age 16. It is particularly lucky that I shot them in a way to make a panorama 50 years later. A book is available that includes these photos and many more. Available at Amazon Fort Wayne Through Time (America Through Time). On June 23, 2022 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook Richard Stamats posted the same video stating: In 2017, I put together this video with Daniel Baker's current photograph and my 1964 photographs into a morphing of the different dates. I added a WOWO story done by CBS as the audio. I hope you enjoy effect.

Paramount Theatre

Designed by Alvin M. Strauss. See ACPL 1950 photo , said to be more luxurious than the Embassy Theatre. See ACPL 1951 interior photo. The wurlitzer organ ended up in a Tacoma, Washington restaurant destroyed by fire August 3, 1999. A special section was published in the October 3, 1930 in The News-Sentinel newspaperwhen it opened at 121 E. Wayne Street. Paramount Theatre 121 E. Wayne Street, had one screen and 2,086 seats from Cinema Treasures has some information and comments. One comment says Paul F. Nachtigall, was the sculptor who created and carved the molds for the bas-releif plasterwork inside the Emboyd (Embassy Theatre) and the Paramount in Fort Wayne from the special section about the Paramount when it opened on October 3, 1930. Several comments mention links like the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library photos of the 1950 Fire Prevention Week lines outside and the 1951 inside crowd. Also this one to Puget Sound Pipeline Online about the Pizza and Pipes Restaurant in Tacoma, Washington with photos of the beautiful "Balaban" style Wurlitzer [pipe organ that] was originally installed in 1927 in the Paramount Theatre, Fort Wayne Indiana. It was at the restaurant from 1974-1999 when the restaurant was destroyed August 3, 199 in a fire. It includes links to more photos after the fire and newspaper stories. City's Past Illuminated Through Historic Lighting Fixtures Jim Saxton worked at the Paramount Theatre rescues historic light fixtures by Julia Meek published February 1, 2017 on WBOI.org. Photo posted and discussed September 8, 2017, September 17, 2017, November 18, 2017, lots of photos in Comments of long discussion September 14 2018, May 24, 2019 and Paramount Name Search on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Photos and discussion March 30, 2022 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook. Theatrical variety part of history published August 29, 1994 by Michael Hawfield from the Archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper discusses this and other local theatres. See local Theaters such as the Broadway Theatre, Clyde Theatre, Embassy Theatre, Holiday Theater, Jefferson Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Palace Theatre, Paramount Theatre, and Rialto Theatre.

Parkview Field

John McGauley photograph Parkview Field and The Harrison posted May 19, 2014 on flickr
A close-up aerial look at Parkview Field and the attached Harrison apartment complex in downtown Fort Wayne.

Google map photo from Street View corner of Ewing and Brackenridge Streets.

TinCaps baseball stadium named September 11, 2008 opened April 16, 2009 from History of Parkview Field. Come on In A view of Parkview Field special insert published April 15, 2009 and Parkview Field Downtown jewel shines published April 17, 2009 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. An Allen County Public Library account is needed to read the article online through the ProQuest web site. See Parkview Park – a Fort Wayne Treasure on Visit Fort Wayne blog. Golden Pen – March Downtown magnolia worth saving April 7, 2013 The Journal Gazette newspaper. Video posted April 9, 2017 by Tom Mauger on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. There are a couple of interesting newspaper opinions on the failure or success of this venture in the May 14, 2007 The Journal Gazette newspaper posted December 17, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. The millionth non-baseball attendee passed through the gates in 2017 was stated on the Fort Wayne Town Hall by Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick broadcast December 17, 2017 on ABC WPTA21.com TV station. A preview was posted December 15, 2017 on Inside INdiana Business on Facebook. See Fort Wayne Franchise History posted August 30, 2011 at MILB.com.

See our sections on Baseball, Camp Allen Park, Fort Wayne Daisies, League Park, Kekionga Ball Grounds, Fort Wayne Kekionga Baseball Team, Parkview Field, Fort Wayne TinCaps, and Fort Wayne Wizards.

April 5, 2023 post by Fort Wayne TinCaps on Facebook:

"Regardless of how well the team plays and even beyond the entertainment between innings, the legacy and momentum created by Parkview Field can be felt throughout Downtown."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 9, 2023 post by Input Fort Wayne is at Parkview Field on Facebook:

Spring has arrived in Fort Wayne. Flowers are blooming; wildlife is reappearing; and parks and trails are slowly filling with people eager to shake off the winter blues.

In Downtown Fort Wayne, a new season is about to begin, too: Baseball season.

The city has a rich history with baseball, home to the first professional game in 1871, and to fabled teams, like the Fort Wayne Daisies, who helped inspire the film “A League of Their Own.” In many ways, the TinCaps at Parkview Field carries on this legacy today, infusing Downtown with energy and spirit that’s undeniably unique.

“It’s more than baseball,” says Kirsten Guthrie, Vice President of Marketing and Communication at Visit Fort Wayne. “It’s the experience that people have at Parkview Field that’s so exceptional.”

Regardless of how well the team plays and even beyond the entertainment between innings, the legacy and momentum created by Parkview Field can be felt throughout Downtown, where businesses, entertainment options, restaurants and retail are blooming because of its existence.

As the Fort Wayne TinCaps return to the field on April 11 for the first of 66 home games slated for the 2023 season, we explore the rich history of baseball in Fort Wayne, the magic that makes Parkview Field so special, and how America’s favorite pastime has shaped our city over the years.

Read it here: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/.../Downtown-ParkviewField...

Parkview Field Time Lapse by Brownfields Fort Wayne published December 14, 2011 YouTube

Parkview Hospital Randallia

2200 Randallia Dr, Fort Wayne, IN, www.parkview.com/, www.parkview.com/locations/parkview-hospital-randallia/parkview-hospital-randallia, Street View photo from Google map 

Started July 21, 1878 as Fort Wayne City Hospital in the former Purman mansion on the corner of Hanna and Lewis streets. October 19,[31?] 1878 Fort Wayne City Hospital opened briefly in the residence of William S. Edsall on West Main Street, them moved to the corner of Hanna and Lewis Streets for 5 years. 1883 moved to former homestead of Oliver S. Hanna at the southwest corner of Barr Street and Washington Boulevard. 1891 (officially 1900) renamed Hope Hospital after large donations from the Jesse Williams family. 1917 opened at a new location 119 West Lewis Street. 1918 Indianapolis Methodist Episcopal Hospital took control and renamed Hope Methodist. 1922 renamed Methodist Hospital. On November 8, 1953, Parkview Memorial Hospital was dedicated at Randallia and State. Of the $3 million project cost, $470,000 was contributed by GE and GE employees to help build this key part of what eventually became Northeast Indiana's biggest healthcare network. Copied from a November 8, 2022 post by Electric Works which included a photo of a newspaper article on Facebook. Moved November 21, 1953 from Methodist Hospital into the new Parkview Memorial Hospital on Randalia Avenue and State Boulevard shown in July 21, 1978 100th Anniversary of Parkview Hospital in the The Journal Gazette newspaper posted September 21, 2017 and additional July 25, 1978 newspaper articles posted October 5, 2017, and October 12, 2017, then March 11, 2007 article posted November 2, 2017 on building the new Parkview North article by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook. 1990's removed Memorial from its name. March 2012 Parkview opened its new Regional Medical Center at I-69 and Dupont Road. March 18, 2012 Parkview opens its modern marvel by Steve Penhollow of The Journal Gazette newspaper.

1. Parkview's Proud Predecessors 30 plus page article at The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana
2. Methodist Hospital - Parkview Hospital early history from 1878 from Indiana Story Tellers on Archive.org Wayback Machine.

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Parkview History 1878 to 1953 (Chapters One and Two) posted November 21, 2016 by ParkviewHealth on YouTube.
Combined History Chapters 1 and 2 covering the Parkview history from the first hospital in 1878 through to the opening of Parkview Memorial Hospital in 1953
1:47 Fort Wayne City Hospital; 13:50 Methodist Hospital of Fort Wayne; 24:21 Parkview Methodist School of Nursing

Parkview History Chapter Three 1953-1995 posted November 21, 2016 by ParkviewHealth on YouTube.
Parkview History beginning with the opening of Parkview Memorial Hospital in 1953 and continuing to 1995, the year that the Parkview Health System was creat
0:31 1956-1961 ; 8:41 1970; 13:07 1980s

Parkview Regional Medical Center

11109 Parkview Plaza Dr, www.parkview.com/locations/parkview-regional-medical-center/parkview-regional-medical-center, Street View photo from Google map

New Vision: The Parkview Regional Medical Center a WFWA TV39 PBS Fort Wayne Special | 57m 47s Learn about the history of Parkview Memorial Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Aired: 03/14/12 Rating: NR.

Parks

Fort Wayne has nearly 90 parks since the first 1863 Old Fort Park, are physically intertwined with local trail system and the 3 local rivers. Fort Wayne Area Parks on Visit Fort Wayne has a four part series on local parks. List of parks in Fort Wayne, Indiana at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Parrot Packing Company

Started by Francis Joseph Parrot. His family history is on genealogy.com. 1920 photo is on Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library. The 1920 photo and brief discusison on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

Paula’s On Main

1732 West Main Street Fort Wayne, IN 46808, phone: (260) 424-2300. Two-story restaurant housed in an old factory building. Read more on the VisitFortWayne.com blog - Taking a Tour of Fort Wayne’s Historical Restaurants! posted on January 10, 2013 by Heather.

Pearl

May 5, 2023 post by Weigand Construction on Facebook:

Could you imagine living and working in this building one day?

After several large, successful concrete pours, the team at The Pearl continues to take the project upwards!

We're starting to see framing for rooms on the first floor go up while work on the parking garage carries on.

There will be great opportunities for businesses, retailers, restaurants, and live music once this build is complete. As with so many of the projects happening in downtown Fort Wayne, we're proud to invest in the growth and innovation taking place in the heart of this city!

#dronevideo #update #thepearlfw

Penguin Point

The last Fort Wayne location was at 7303 Winchester Rd, Street View photo from Google maps

Website: https://penguinpoint.com/.

February 25, 2023 post by Wabash County Historian on Facebook:

THERE ARE JUST SOME PLACES YOU CAN’T HELP REMEMBERING. This is the very first Penguin Point in the franchise. It started right here in Wabash in 1950 when the Stouder brothers (Wallace and Lloyd) opened their first store at the junction of State Roads 13 and 15 today. Although it has changed there is still one at this location.

They are known throughout northern Indiana for their Tenderloin sandwich, Big Wally, chicken and the best fries in the area made from Idaho potatoes. Anna Easterday says ‘Lord when I come to Indiana this is the first restaurant that we eat at. Love the Big Wally and Fries. Wish I had one right now.”

Carolyn Streby adds this to the story of Penguin Point “Dad (Lloyd Stouder) used their refrigerator payment to have petty cash to open. Mom (Leta Stouder) and Aunt Mary Stouder car hopped. Dad ran the fountain. Uncle Wally the grill. As far as the location at 13&15 it was a corn field. Dad bugged the farmer to the point that he finally caved and sold part of the field at 13&15. Only one problem. The bank wouldn't loan the money without a cosigner. So Grandpa and Grandma Wilber Stouder cosigned. And thus began the adventure of Penguin Point. In 1950 the double decker burger wasn't called "Big Wally" it much much later. It was a called ‘Fad Burger.’

“My father, on his own decided to go to Warsaw and start his own Penguin. Uncle Wally bought out my dad's share. So each owned their own Penguin. Wally Wabash Lloyd Warsaw exclusively. It was 1955, I was a teenager. I started working for mom and dad at 14 washing dishes. At 15, I started car hoping at .35 an hour +tips. Later .50. PP was the. BOMB to go to. My teen years was so much Fun.

“All teens hung out there, driving those beautiful 57 Chevy cars and other customized cars which we named. My car was named "Kitty. Another "Chicken Ship" another "Night Rider" etc. We wrote the name on the back fender. If you wanted to locate a certain teen, head to P.P. 10 to 1 they were there circling the building.”

Judy Garst Schramm says " This is how it looked when I worked there in the summer of 1959. Loved their Big Wallys and breaded tenderloins - oh yes, and fresh strawberry pie!" Beth Rigney has "Memories of this place: Scoop the loop was the weekend and Wed. nights during the summer. This was a way to meet others from other schools for dates. I met my husband there as well." May Lou McCallum adds "Love love this place! Have to stop whenever in Wabash! Remember sitting in our cars watching people and talking to everyone, while having a cherry coke."

Bob Marks recalls "That very first summer, 1950, I was 10 and lived on the South Side. Duke Gidley and I would ride our bikes out there on a then gravel Hale Lane and pick up the trash and junk on the lot! We each got a quarter for this job. Pretty good money for an hours+ work in those days!"

Aaron Proffitt adds "I worked there in 1960. I remember breading tenderloin by the big box full. Also hand squeezed boxes of lemons and made lemonade five gallons at a time in a 5 gallon cream can. My starting wage was $.40 an hour. We called the big burger a Wally 5 x 5."

1. A restaurant franchise out of Warsaw, Kosciusko County, only one left of formerly several in the city were discussed August 12, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
2. Penguin Point closes 7 locations across northern Indiana, including Fort Wayne Aaron Organ, Nov 21, 2022 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15.
3. Penguin Point announces closure of Fort Wayne location, 6 others The last Penguin Point location in Fort Wayne has closed its doors for good., Jazlynn Bebout, Nov. 21, 2022 on ABC WPTA21.com TV station.
4. Penguin Point (restaurant chain) on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Penney, J. C.

The November 7, 1927 The Journal Gazette newspaper showed a drawing of a new store opening at 1208-1210 South Calhoun Street posted December 12, 2018 in You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. The founder J. C. Penney came to Fort Wayne in 1932 to speak at a meeting with representatives from 19 stores in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. He had 1,477 stores nationwide with annual sales of $175,000,000. He opened his first store in Kemmerer, Wyoming on an initial investment of $500.

Pennsylvania Shops

The Pennsy depot was razed in 1966. In its final years it was owned by Grieger Chevrolet; its lot used to store used cars. From The Pennsy Shops by Kevin Leininger from the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper. See photo and discussion February 13, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Photo of the Marching Band and Blacksmiths at the shop posted March 16, 2017 discussion and 1930 photo machine shop workers posted April 20, 2017 discussion on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

People's Trust Bank

The Peoples Trust Clock chiming the noon-hour at AroundFortWayne March 23, 2009 on YouTube.
The Peoples Trust & Savings Company Clock in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana chiming the noon-time hour. This clock has been installed at the Baker Street Train Station in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. As well as the chiming, the clip shows some of the view from the site. For more information about this clock, visit this blog post: Downtown clock dedication January 30, 2009 at the   Around Fort Wayne blog.

People's Trust and Savings Company,
Fort Wayne, Indiana, circa 1960 -
Joan Hostetler Collection - Indiana Album

1. Piece of the past will overlook downtown, new ballpark People's Trust Clock Adds to the Amenities Downtown at City of Fort Wayne.
2. People's Trust and Savings Company, Fort Wayne, Indiana, circa 1960 photo in the Joan Hostetler Collection at The Indiana Albumis found on several social media discusions.
3. Photos and discussion January 1, 2017, downtown clock February 13, 2017and July 28, 2017 photo of clock at Baker Street Station on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
4. The geodesic dome photo and discussion July 20, 2017by Fort Wayne Food Tours on Facebook. Photos of remaining buildings were posted May 2, 2019 by the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology on Facebook with a comment by historian Craig Leonard stating: The form was used to promote a new product, "pyramid accounts," by the People's Trust and Savings Bank. The engineer was Lev Zettlin, who gave a lecture at Ball State. He also worked on the Sears Tower in Chicago.
5. A January 8, 2023 post with the geodesic dome photo generatined over 100 comments on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook stated: Anyone recall the specific location of The Peoples Trust & Savings/Summit Bank. I think it was on Coliseum… Edit: I’m just asking about this one specifically. I know there are a number of Pyramid banks around the FW area (North Anthony, Tillman, West State) which have mostly been identified. I’m just trying to get more info about this lost gem that’s been replaced with a *checks notes* Panera Bread. A comment by Joan Hostetler shows a 1972 view called the California Road Branch from the Jack Smith Collection.

Percussion Center

Opened in 1973 sold equipment like rock band Rush wearing its shirt. Owner Neal Graham died December 23, 2012. Rock n’ roll stories from Fort Wayne’s past Big names. Big events. Brushes with fame… 2011-02-06 by Michael Summers.

Perfection Biscuit Company

503 Ewing Street, 1913 started as Wayne Biscuit Company. Sunbeam bread was started April 26, 1942 with the iconic 1957 rotating Sunbean bread sign . Since 2005 is called Aunt Millies Bakery.

Phelps Dodge

A natural gas explosion at Phelps Dodge on New Haven Avenue happened August 23, 1966 killing 2 and injured 22. A different explosion also occurred in February 1966 on Broadway.

1. An explosion at the Phelps Dodge gas plant in Fort Wayne kills five and causes $5 million in damage. was stated in the 1960-1969: Timeline from the Fort Wayne History archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper.
2. Photo of an Aerial view of the natural gas explosion at Phelps Dodge Wire Company in the office building on New Haven Ave.. Date 08/23/1966 and more Fire Fighter photos from a Phelps Dodge Explosion Search at Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.
3. 4 DIE IN EXPLOSION. STILL SEARCH FOR BODIES AT FORT WAYNE. Fort Wayne, IN Office Building Explosion, Aug 1966 posted June 17th, 2009 by Stu Beitler from the Kokomo Tribune Indiana newspaper 1966-08-24 on GenDisasters.com.
4. Photos were posted and discussed August 8, 2017, November 22, 2017, July 10, 2018, May 15, 2019, and Phelps Dodge Explosion Search on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
5. Former police reporter remembers blast that killed two in 1966 by Sheryl Kreig was published October 7, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.

Philmore on Broadway

2441 Broadway, now closed, formerly philmoreonbroadway.com, and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilmoreonBroadway/. The Broadway Theater opened November 5th, 1923, as one of five ‘neighborhood’ theaters in Fort Wayne, and the only one located on Broadway; a major commercial strip at the time. The theater changed names over the years, but ran successfully for almost 60 years. It was renamed Indiana Theater in 1934 which closed November 9, 1969. December 19, 1969 opened as Theatre A, then in the 1970s operated as Cinema Blue, an X-rated theater, agreeing to close in 1985. The building became home to a restaurant in 1998, called the Catablu Gourmet American Grill closing May 29, 2009. It then became a jazz club known as The Philmore on Broadway. Cinema Treasures has several comments - one cites newspaper articles New Broadway Theater in the November 3, 1923 The News-Sentinel newspaper and Indiana Theater Closes Nov. 9 by Cindy Pond in the October 27, 1969 The Journal Gazette newspaper. Discussed May 31, 2016 on You know you've lived in Fort Wayne too long when... Private Facebook group.

Phone booth

See telephone booth.

Pierre Settlement

Named for Michael Pierre, an early French settler from Bettnig France who was interred in Pierre Settlement aka Saint Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery cemetery in 1871 now on Saint Joseph Center Road.

Piggly Wiggly

 Piggly-Wiggly Stores, J G Saunders mgr, office 124 W Main. from page 814 and from page 892 " Justus G (Eppie), mgr Piggly-Wiggly Stores, h[ouse] 621 W Jefferson in the 1922 Fort Wayne City Directory. Kroger appears to have entered Fort Wayne in the late 1920s by purchasing a chain called Hoosier. Piggly Wiggly disappeared from the city at the same time as Hoosier (and one PW also became a Kroger), so perhaps Hoosier was running those stores as well. Copied from Fort Wayne, IN chain grocery/supermarket locations, 1925-87 on Groceteria. The Bizarre Story of Piggly Wiggly, the First Self-Service Grocery Store What’s in a name? by Kat Eschner posted September 6, 2017 on Smithsonianmag.com posted September 3, 2022 on Smithsonian Magazine" on Facebook.

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Pinex Company

Image from a May 7, 2019 post by The Landing Fort Wayne on Facebook stated: Pinex cough syrup. Originally made at 123 Columbia Street, street is now called The Landing. William H. Noll started the Pinex Company in 1905. This company manufactured a cough remedy called “Pinex” which, by 1910, could be purchased in nearly any drugstore in the United States. In 1960 Revlon, Inc. while expanding its operations in the proprietary drug field, purchased the Pinex Company. Copied from Pinex Company, Ft. Wayne, IN posted September 5, 2013 by Jessica on Old Main Artifacts has many photos and images of advertising, including a song on a Pinex calendar, Pinex laxative and several dozen comments from relatives and others.

Discussed July 15, 2018 and again July 15, 2018 in a general Pinex Search on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

WARNING: In addition to alcohol and oil of pine tar, one of the main ingredients in Pinex was chloroform. This substance has since been banned by the FDA for human consumption, as while unknown at the time it is now considered a probable carcinogen. From an article on our Noll Mansion Places page.

Pio Market

March 5, 2012 photo posted on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

Pirogue Landing

Johnny Appleseed & Pirogue Landing posted March 22, 2021 by Friends of the Rivers on YouTube. See our Johnny Appleseed page.

Page 139, shows the Piroque Landing along the St. Mary's River at the top left of the map Where the Two Stockaded Forts were Located in The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs, Publication date 1917 on Archive.org

Page 328 A Pirogue journey in 1836 in The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs, Publication date 1917 on Archive.org

Today the Pirogue Landing is the intersection of Superior and Lafayette streets near the river bridge. It is mentioned on page 234 as one of 13 times pirogue is mentioned in the book The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs, Publication date 1917 on Archive.org.

Pirogue Landing is (Stop #12) on the Central Downtown Trail 19 stops on the Heritage Trail by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage). Google map Street viewshows the location of the Pirogue Landing marker in the lawn near the river and the Old Gas House restaurant parking lot stating: Terminal point where French-Canadian boats, hollowed from 30-60 foot poplar logs, brought families and cargo up the Maumee River from Toledo and Detroit, and returned furs to Lake Erie in exchange for trader’s supplies from the late 1700s until the canal era of the 1840s. Piroque Landing at The Historical Marker Datatbase HMdb.org. Piroque Landing by Tom Castaldi, local historianpublished January 16, 2014 in the History Center Notes & Queries blog.

Piroque mentions besides the 13 mentions in Griswold's book above include:

1. Angeline Chapeteau Peltier-Griswold, born 1790, at age 17 arrived in Fort Wayne in a pirogue from Detroit with her grandparents in 1804.
2. The trip from Toledo to this place he made in a piroque upon the river as far as the rapids. in the February 24, 1891 obituary of Peter F. Barrand An Old Pioneer of the County Passes to His Eternal Home in the Besancon Chronicles at the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana.

Pixley Relief Home

George and Sarah Pixley donated their home at 2300 Maumee Avenue to the Relief Union in 1918. In 1920 it was given the name Pixley Relief Home. A full page newspaper article Opening of the Pixley Relief Home Begins the Fifty-fifth Year of Local Union's Endeavor was in the February 2, 1919 The Journal Gazette newspaper shown below on Newspapers.com. See the timeline Origins of Headwaters Counseling for more information. At the time Maumee Avenue was part of the Lincoln Highway and the home was south of Memorial Park. A 1927 photo from Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library was posted and discussed April 3, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. The home was demolished around 1960 and is the current site of Summit Church built in 1962 at 2320 Maumee Avenue. The Home took in children whose parents couldn't take care of them as shown in the 1923 newspaper ad on the right. There are several Pixley Relief Home articles from 1919 with photos of bedrooms and more similar to the photo below on Newspapers.com. It was also mentioned in Fort Wayne man remembers Wolf & Dessauer's 'orphans' dinners' as a generous holiday gift by Kevin Kilbane published December 17, 2013 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.

A photo of the house in the September 15, 1919 News and Sentinel newspaper article was posted April 23, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

The History page of Headwaters Counseling at 2712 South Calhoun on April 3, 2018 states: The roots of Headwaters Counseling go back to 1873. First known as The Home for Friendless Women and Homeless Girls, or Home for the Friendless, we evolved into the Pixley Child Welfare Agency. In 1895, the Fort Wayne Associated Charities was formed and later assumed the title of Family Service Bureau. The Bureau was incorporated on January 29, 1924, under the provision of an act of the Indiana General Assembly. Homemaker Service was added to the Bureau’s function in 1938 and terminated in June 1969. In 1946, the Family Service Bureau merged with the Pixley Child Welfare Agency.

Pizza- First Sold in Fort Wayne

In the 1940's at Tonys at Broadway and Taylor in what was later the gay nineties bar. Later moved out to Bluffton Road across from the drive-in, was called Pizza King but later Tony's Pizza. Discussed June 21, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Pleasant Hill Dairy

Started in 1862 and was 63 years in business from a 1925 telephone book listing discussed in a 1999 The Journal Gazette newspaper article on Eskay Dairy posted January 21, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Poinsette Motors

Discussed March 29, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Poinsette Store

Goshen Avenue, 1910 photo of Ed W. Poinsette Store posted September 29, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

Poor Farm

See Allen County Poor Farm.

Portage

Portage to Wabash River posted March 22, 2021 by Friends of the Rivers on YouTube.

The Portage That Made Fort Wayne on page 20 of The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs Publication date 1917 on Archive.org

Is located on the southwest side of Fort Wayne is a land bridge connecting the three local rivers - Saint Joseph flows south from Michigan, St. Mary's River flows northwest from Ohio, and Maumee River flows northeast through Ohio eventually to Lake Erie at Toledo, with the beginning of the Wabash River in southwest Allen County and northeast Huntington County flowing southwest to the Ohio River. Portage is a French term for “carrying place,” denotes the route where early travelers carried their canoes from one river over to another, may have been a 9 to 25 miles long overland hike copied from The Beginnings of the Portage to the Wabash River posted June 10, 2013 by Tom Castaldi on the History Center Notes & Queries blog. See Maumee-Wabash Portage Was Once Widely Used By Indians, Traders map from the two page December 28, 1958 article in the The Journal Gazette newspaperat History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network. Other maps and material are available under Search: Portages--Indiana on Indiana Memory. Read about the Portage and Little River Wetlands Project that has brought bald eagles and more wildlife back to the area in A Little Wabash River and a Little River Wetland by Tom Castaldi, local historianpublished January 22, 2015 on the History Center Notes & Queries blog.

Postcards

Photos posted November 18, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook

Powers Hamburgers

Facebook photo

1402 S Harrison Street, Google map Street View, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowersHamburgers/. Powers Hamburgers posted January 20, 2012 by Kayleen R. on the Visit Fort Wayne blog. The Powers family, four brothers: Leo, Clell, Harold "Jim", and Dale Powers opened their first restaurant in Dearborn, Michigan in 1935. By 1938 Dale Powers had moved to Port Huron, Michigan and opened a second Powers. Leo moved back to Northeast Indiana where the brothers grew up, and in 1940 opened the Fort Wayne location. In 1947, Leo opened a second Fort Wayne store in an industrial area. In 1980, Leo's son Rolin purchased the business, and Rolin opened a third location on a busy commercial strip in 1983. That store closed in 1989, at which time Rolin was diagnosed with cancer. Rolin died in 1990, and in 2004 the second location closed, leaving the iconic downtown restaurant as the only surviving Powers Hamburgers. The business was sold outside the family in 1999 to Mike Hall. Copied from Powers Hamburgers: A Fort Wayne, Indiana, Treasure (Just Like Major Frank Burns) with photos published August 27, 2008 on SeriousEats.com now only on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and a similar post June 5, 2022 on Indiana Landmarks. Over 25 photos posted August 11, 2017 and discussed January 27, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Proegler House

October 13, 2022 photo posted by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) stating: Dr. Carl & Henrietta Proegler House on Fairfield Avenue. This c.1870 Italianate house was the home of a well-known veteran surgeon. Born in Cologne, Germany, Dr. Proegler came to New York City in 1860. When the Civil War broke out, he offered his services. After the war, he went back to his New York practice until the Franco-German War started. He returned to Germany and was a surgeon. After the war he received the Iron Cross from German Emperor, William I. Dr. Proegler moved to Fort Wayne in 1874. He and his wife, Henrietta had eight children. This house is no longer standing. Cityscape Flats occupies the site.Dr. Carl & Henrietta Proegler House on Fairfield Avenue. This c.1870 Italianate house was the home of a well-known veteran surgeon. Born in Cologne, Germany, Dr. Proegler came to New York City in 1860. When the Civil War broke out, he offered his services. After the war, he went back to his New York practice until the Franco-German War started. He returned to Germany and was a surgeon. After the war he received the Iron Cross from German Emperor, William I. Dr. Proegler moved to Fort Wayne in 1874. He and his wife, Henrietta had eight children. This house is no longer standing. Cityscape Flats occupies the site. 

Promenade Park

Current Street View photo from Google maps was taken in 2017 during construction.

Riverfront Fort Wayne - Promenade Park Progress by FortWayneParks October 2, 2018 on YouTube.
An aerial tour of the progress at Promenade Park, Phase I of Riverfront Fort Wayne.

Promenade Park progress - October 31, 2018 by FortWayneParks November 16, 2018 on YouTube.
This video shows the current progress of Promenade Park construction.

Promenade Park Progress 3-12-2019 by FortWayneParks March 13, 2019 on YouTube.
This video contains drone footage of the construction progress on Promenade Park along the Riverfront on March 12, 2019.

Promenade Park 4-16-19 by FortWayneParks April 19, 2019 on YouTube
Overhead footage of Promenade Park and Riverfront site from April 16. 2019.

Fly Over Promenade Park - April 24, 2020 by FortWayneParks April 27, 2020 on YouTube.
Check out Promenade Park on a beautiful spring day. Filmed via Drone on April 24, 2020.

202 W. Superior Street, corner of West Superior and North Harrison Street on the St. Marys River. The first phase of Riverfront Fort Wayne Project opened in 2019. See Promenade Park at City of Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation. Over 100 photos of the August 2019 Grand Opening were posted by Riverfront Fort Wayne on Facebook.

1. Google photos for Promenade Park
2. TAKE TIME TO EXPLORE PROMENADE PARK 202 W SUPERIOR STREET at Riverfront Fort Wayne.
3. Promenade Park by Design Collaborative
4. The Riverfront at Promenade Park Luxury Apartments Facebook, Sturges Property Group.

Promenade Park posted March 22, 2021 by Friends of the Rivers on YouTube. See Promenade Park for more information.

Promenade Park video below is from Visit Fort Wayne.

Midwest Riverfront Adventures | Visit Fort Wayne, Indiana posted Sep 13, 2019 by VisitFortWayne on
Explore a one-of-a-kind riverfront in Promenade Park that joins Fort Wayne, Indiana's three rivers to a thriving urban center. The Midwest's newest destination for recreation, arts, and culture is the perfect spot for your next weekend getaway. Learn more at https://visitfortwayne.com/promenadep...

Episode 125: Drinking Water by Granite Ridge Builders posted Oct 15, 2019 on YouTube
Learn more about the process of getting drinking water from the river, filtration plant, and to the home. We will explore this topic at one of Fort Wayne's newest and popular destinations, Promenade Park!
Granite Ridge also has videos called Episode 6: Water (Part 1) April 2, 2015, Episode 7: Water (Part 2) May 15, 2019, and Episode 126: Water Management November 21, 2019.

February 17, 2023 post by Hidden View Photography on Facebook.
The Riverfront at Promenade building is shown on the left.

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