Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

Places in Allen County, Indiana

The five oldest buildings in Fort Wayne, Indiana, are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places - NPS....
Posted by National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers on Friday, January 5, 2018

Friday, January 5, 2018 post by the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers on Facebook:

The five oldest buildings in Fort Wayne, Indiana, are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places - NPS. These buildings help tell the story of Fort Wayne. The Chief Richardville House, which was built in 1827, is the oldest building in the city. As part of the 1826 Treaty of Mississinwas, Miami Indian Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville was awarded $600 by the U.S. government to help fund a house along the St. Mary's River. The structure reflects both Greek Revival and Federal styles. The house, which is the centerpiece of the Historic Forks of the Wabash, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012. The Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology and other National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers members help preserve the places that tell the story of communities like Fort Wayne.

FORT WAYNE FIVE: Oldest city structures on the National Register of Historic Places published January 4, 2018 The News-Sentinel newspaper archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Chief Richardville House 1827

William Edsall House 1839-40

Alexander Taylor Rankin House 1841

Hugh McCulloch House 1843

Swinney Homestead c. 1844-45

The Canal House - John Brown Stone House was built in 1852 and is Fort Wayne's oldest surviving commercial building.

May 5, 2023 post by Indiana Department of Natural Resources on Facebook:

MAY IS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH: The Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD) allows users to search for information on known historic resources throughout Indiana. SHAARD includes data from the County Survey Program (Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory), the Indiana Cemetery and Burial Grounds Registry, Indiana Historic Bridge Inventory, properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures, and a Historic Theater inventory [Indiana members]. The Indiana Historic Buildings, Bridges and Cemeteries map is the GIS map of SHAARD data.

To learn more about @INDIANA Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology, SHAARD, and the IHBBC Map, visit http://dnr.IN.gov/.../national-and-state.../shaard-database

August 1, 2023 post by Visit Fort Wayne on Facebook

NEW: Journey back in time with the Allen County Historic Sites pass!

Explore and visit 90 sites around the county where history unfolded — from iconic landmarks to lesser-told stories of the past.

Access the free mobile pass: VisitFortWayne.com/HistoricSites

Special thanks to our contributors: ARCH, Inc. and New Haven Chamber

September 1, 2023 post by Linda Jackson News on Facebook:

This is a pretty cool tool to have at your fingertips, especially if history interests you and you want to know more about our amazing community.

A big thanks to Kristen at Visit Fort Wayne who really loves her work and loves telling people about everything her office has to offer!

#LindaLikesIt

Linda Likes It: Visit Fort Wayne’s Allen County Historic Sites Pass with video

City Directories explain early city history often year to year changes in government, businesses, schools, and streets (including name changes) and where people were working and living each year. We have City Directories from the first one in 1858 thru the 1920s and a few 1930s and 1940s digitized online at Archive.org from the collection at the The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The library has all the directories through the present year for Fort Wayne and many other cities. You can search for words and names in each digital directory much easier than in the printed books. Most of the early history books are also digitized and many of them are on our ebooks page. Lots of interesting trivia on many subjects are on our Timeline pages.

Fort Wayne: Lost But Not Forgotten from WFWA-TV39 PBS Fort Wayne Special | 56m 52s Explore Fort Wayne's rich history of past places. Aired: 01/01/97 Rating: NR. "From the Gardner's restaurant to the old Greyhound bus station; hotels, theaters and other places are remembered fondly. Using first-person narratives along with many archival photographs and other visual records, 'Fort Wayne Lost (But Not Forgotten)' gives you and your family a look at places that might not be here phyysically, but that still hold a special place in our hearts--and our history." DVD at Allen County Public Library.

Landmarks: Remembering Fort Wayne WFWA-TV39 PBS Fort Wayne Special | 56m 2s Learn about the history of past and present Fort Wayne landmarks. Aired: 03/13/00 Rating: NR. Discusses the memorable buildings--some of them now gone--in downtown Fort Wayne. Interviews with residents provide historical and architectural insight. DVD or VHS at Allen County Public Library.

June 29, 2023 post by Input Fort Wayne on Facebook:

Like any vibrant downtown, Downtown Fort Wayne is a mix of old and new. The Embassy Theatre, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Elektron Building, Randall Building, Lincoln Bank Tower, and Arts United Center have been around for years and serve a strong functional and aesthetic purpose.

An array of new developments is also making new marks on the city. They include but are not limited to: The Pearl, a mixed-use space on Main Street; The Riverfront at Promenade Park, another mixed-use facility; new additions to the Riverfront; The Wedge, a mixed-use residential building; Star Financial Bank headquarters; The Lofts at Headwaters Park; Lutheran Downtown Hospital; and The Bradley hotel.

Fort Wayne was founded in 1794 and was incorporated as a city in 1840—Downtown and other parts of the city have expanded and evolved over the years. They have formed and are still forming a cohesive whole.

But that’s not to say that the city’s growth has been or should be without strategy. It is not an accident that many older buildings in Fort Wayne have stood the test of time, that new developments are being built to last, and that there is synergy between old and new.

Learn more about Downtown Fort Wayne's old and new buildings here: How old and new buildings are providing a lasting vibrancy to Downtown Fort Wayne

Photos by McKayla Nevers

The water-powered mills of Allen County, Indiana by Bates, Roy M. Published about 1945 on Archive.org

Social Media

Reminder: Our "Vanished Landmarks" lecture, presented by ARCH Board President, Karen Richards, is tomorrow at the...
Posted by ARCH, Inc. on Friday, February 26, 2016

February 26, 2016 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:

Reminder: Our "Vanished Landmarks" lecture, presented by ARCH Board President, Karen Richards, is tomorrow at the Downtown Library, Globe Room, 11a.m. Come hear about downtown mansions, Fort Wayne parks, former breweries, and more; this is a lecture you will not want to miss.

See Noll Mansion.
People complain so much about parking and then get upset when buildings are demolished for parking. It can’t be both ways. Posted May 17, 2022 is one of nearly 100 comments and 400 Likes to this image posted May 16, 2022 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

Labeled 1889 buildings downtown posted May 16, 2022 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook
Several of you (as well as myself) have lamented over buildings that are being razed in Fort Wayne to build something we feel is less desirable or needed at the cost of the former structure. Often we are disappointed because we have a nostalgic emotional attachment to the building or business that it once housed. And, sometimes it just appears to us that the building should be able to be rehabbed for its next use rather than leveled as the current owner or developer feels is appropriate. Other times we’re dispirited based of our perception due to our being the outsiders looking in without all the facts that only owners, contractors and developers have at hand. As recently mentioned by some of you, some buildings can’t be practically saved due to age and condition regardless of how they appear. As a longtime student of local history I among many of you have at times felt betrayed when a wonderful old building suddenly disappears. However, to impinge the reputation of those that are doing the razing and rebuilding simply due to they being able to afford to do so makes little sense as in many cases our city is fortunate to have their generous support across a wide range of meaningful local causes.

As an example of our (for better or worse) always changing skyline, recently some members of the Fort Wayne History Roundtable labeled this wonderful view taken in 1889 from the bell tower of St. Paul’s Church on Barr Street. If you’re able to read the small print you’ll see that we were only able to find two identifiable buildings in the entire view that are still standing out of the dozens in the photograph. These are the building on S. Calhoun that now house the Dash-In and its neighbor to the north that most recently housed Klinger Jewelry. As best we can tell every one of the other buildings in the photo has been razed for one reason or another, even once glorious churches. One of you paraphrased in a recent post the quote “When one door closes another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” - Alexander Graham Bell I appreciate that we are a progressive city on the move, even when the moves don’t always fit my pleasure. I hope you enjoy this 133 year old image.

The photo is labeled 4/2022 by local historians C. Smith, C. Leonard, R. Harter, T. Castaldi, J. Downs with a hand from Bert Griswold author of the 1917 Pictorial History and newspaper writer with more about Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne Industrial Might Gone But Not Forgotten published January 18, 2016 on Access Fort Wayne Randy Harter spoke at the Monroeville Branch of the Allen County Public Library about major industrial groups who used to inhabit Fort Wayne. Filmed and edited by Dan Allen for Access Fort Wayne.
October 15, 2023 post by Randy Harter on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook

A gray weekend that was ripe for a little labeling project on this wonderful 1889 photograph taken from the Allen County Courthouse. Image Courtesy ACPL/Community Album.

A couple of other historical photos are in the comments.
February 19, 2015 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

For "Throwback Thursday" we share this promotional page for the development of Stellhorn Park, being a subdivision mostly occupied by the old Fairview Golf Course, now known as Donald Ross, therefore only parts of it were actually constructed. These buildings are not in their geographic locations, just shown diagrammatically. All less than a year old in 1924, hopefully by zooming you can see the names.

Shared February 11, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook:

On February 11th, Roger Birerly shared several photos he took and questioned where they were from. He said it was easy and identified it as Fairview Golf Course.

My grandfather had platted STELLHORN PARK in 1926 and I mentioned a promotional brochure I had found in company records. I still haven’t found it but look what popped up today.

The map showing all the buildings is not legible in the photo but I remember reading the actual map. Even though you can’t read the names I’m confident this group will identify many buildings by their shape like International Harvester, Lincoln Life, Hotel Keenan and others.

To sell lots in their subdivision the owners really pushed the growth of Fort Wayne in the mid - twenties. Hopefully I took other pictures of parts to share.
February 7, 2023 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

For "Throwback Thursday" we share this aerial photo of downtown looking South to North. That is Harrison Street in the middle of photo, with Calhoun Street to the right. Many of these buildings are now gone.

Caption to photo says:

This view from the air of the downtown district in 1940 shows area which changed very little from 1930 to 1960.

It was shared February 7, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
March 8, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:

For this #waybackwednesday, take a look at these then and now photos of Fort Wayne. Courtesy of the Daniel A. Baker collection in our Community Album, the images show Harrison Street at Wayne Street. The first image, dated 1960, shows the Indiana Hotel, Lincoln Life, Keenan Hotel and the Central Building. While, the second image, dated 2017, shows the Grand Wayne Center, Embassy Theatre, Central Building and The Golden (now Proximo).

View these images and thousands more on our Community Album: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/
November 8, 2018 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

A couple of weeks ago we shared a Postcard of downtown Fort Wayne, and asked our page readers to identify the year the photo was taken. Dan Baker identified the photo taken between 1990 and 1993. For "Throwback Thursday" we share this photo from John Ankenbruck's book "Twentieth Century History of Fort Wayne". This aerial photo was taken looking Northeast from downtown in 1964. The dotted area was earmarked for redevelopment. Hofer and Davis, Inc. was involved by providing many topographical and boundary surveys in this area over the years. To list a few, we provided surveys for The City-County Building, The Fine Arts Center, Fort Wayne National Bank, Courthouse Green and Headwaters Park.

Enjoy taking a look back at Fort Wayne in 1964!
December 21, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

It is December 21st, the first day of winter, and for the residents of Allen County it is time to begin thinking about snow. From December to March, snow and snow storms are a common occurrence to the residents of Allen County, as they have been for many generations. These three amazing scenes show some historic landmarks in Fort Wayne and appeared on greeting cards created for Turnstone as a fundraiser in the 1990s. Have a safe winter season! #sociallyhistory

[ Lakeside Park, Baker Street Station, Allen County Courthouse ]

Granite Ridge Builders

July 25, 2023 post by Granite Ridge Builders on Facebook:

Did you know that Fort Wayne features buildings from some of the most famous architects, including names like Frank Lloyd Wright, Eero Saarinen, and Louis Kahn?

The Summity city is a mecca for influential architecture; join Elizabeth and Tony as they check out some of the highlights!

Follow the link for more Between the Studs content: https://graniteridgebuilders.com/videos...

Episode 157: American Architectural Styles posted Aug 17, 2021 by Granite Ridge Builders on YouTube
Buckle up - the Between the Studs cast is talking American architectural styles! This episode is a crash course on the storied history of architecture in the United States.

Episode 164: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception published November 10, 2021 by Granite Ridge on YouTube
The first five minutes of this half-hour video shows various archetectural style buildings around town and some of the early history. It then focuses on the architecture and history of the Catholic Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception. Their description states: Did you know Fort Wayne is full of architectural gems? Join us as we explore some of downtown's historical treasures! Each one is unique and features varied architecture for all interests.

Episode 174: Electricity published May 22, 2022 by Granite Ridge Builders on YouTube
From houses to cars, electricity is changing the way we live ... and has been for over a century! The Between the Studs cast is talking all things electric, with a little help from our friends at SweetCars: don't miss the all-electric Porche Taycan Turbo!
Around the 13:00 minute mark it discusses the History of Electricty in Fort Wayne is discussed with the magnet wire industry of Dudlo, Phelps Dodge, Rea Magnet Wire, Farnsworth, Magnavox electronics and more!

Researching the History of Your House published by on October 25, 2018 on YouTube
Presented by the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library.
Discover the various resources available to learn about the history of your house and the people who lived there. This session will help you with ideas for researching houses both in the city and rural areas.

Fort Wayne’s ghost signs (SEE THE THOSE STILL STANDING TODAY) by Daniel Beals posted April 7, 2022 on YouTube
Take a car trip throughout the city, and you’ll probably pass a couple. Maybe you won’t even notice the fading signs on popular restaurants like Club Soda, Trubble Brewing, or Welch’s Ale House. “A ghost sign, I think could be characterized as a faded sign painted on the side of an older building,” ARCH, Inc. Executive Director Connie Haas Zuber told us. Though ARCH typically protects and preserve historic buildings across Fort Wayne, they shared with ABC21 guidelines on the art that also adorns them. “We think of it as a ghost, because we don’t see a living business that is associated with it any more,” she continued. “But it’s really still a pretty good sign, and it’s on a building that is obviously still standing, either in use or ready to be used by somebody.”Copied from the video and 21Country: Fort Wayne’s ghost signs Celebrating and preserving the city’s past by Daniel Beals posted April 7, 2022 on 21AliveNews.com. Ghost signs and ads were discussed several times on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

See inside the 70's time capsule home that went viral by Daniel Beals posted November 8, 2021 on YouTube FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA21)
In early December, a home on Parkland Drive went up for sale. Its owner and designer, architect James Sherbondy had the home built in 1975. And for nearly fifty years, its interior remained untouched - a time capsule for the style of that era. The images inside, taken by Art Home Photo, quickly went viral and made national real estate and news outlets across the country. 21Country: See inside the 70’s “time capsule” home that went viral by Daniel Beals updated Janury 7, 2021 on 21AliveNews.com.

1907 Griswold's birdseye view of the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana indexed for ready reference by B. J. Griswold, (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927 at The Library of Congress, is a zoomable map. Excellent map with indexed locations for seeing where things were in early 20th century Fort Wayne.
The 48-page 1950 Newcomers key to Fort Wayne ISL_IND_Pam_AllenCo08_01. This pamphlet gives a description of Fort Wayne and its various organizations, industry, businesses, schools, and recreation. It also includes a brief history of Fort Wayne. Is in the Indiana Historical Print Collection in the Indiana State Library Digital Collection.
Daniel Baker has over 1,400 photos in flickr.com albums most are Fort Wayne area places.
Our Towns of Allen County, Indiana page lists nearly 100 ghost towns and small towns.
Allen County and Its Diversity of Manufacturing list of Allen County Inventions and Manufacturers published August 27, 2012 in History Center Notes & Queries blog.
City was home for many inventions by Michael Hawfield from the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Allen County in National Register of Historic Places
Allen County, Indiana bridges on BridgeHunter.com - Historic Bridges: Allen County, Indiana on HistoricBridges.org includes link to Google map locations.
Allen County, Indiana Places and People on U.S. Places
Allen County, Indiana: Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records & More on Linkpendium.com.
Allen County, Indiana on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
DNR Indiana Historic Buildings, Bridges, and Cemeteries Map information page, Public User Guide explains how to use the application page, and the DNR Indiana Buildings, Bridges, and Cemeteries Map Application is an interactive clickable Indiana map zoomed into Allen County with links to the SHAARD information pages. Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology main page.
SAH Archipedia is an authoritative online encyclopedia of the built world published by the Society of Architectural Historians and the University of Virginia Press, is a free, open-access site, and contains histories, photographs, and maps for more than 17,000 structures and places.
Outside the Box video about the The History Center by Eric Olson, 21Country Featured Reporter published October 2, 2017 by 21AliveNews.com. Eric has many interesting videos about the area, some are in this 21Country Search or on his Facebook page..
Along the Heritage Trail by Tom Castaldi, local historianhas several dozen articles on FortWayne.com Fort Wayne Newspapers.
Building histories of Allen County on the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings Project
Business Histories on The Genealogy Center.
Cityscapes - People & Places series of articles from the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper.
FORT WAYNE FIVE: The biggest military engagements in Fort Wayne-area history November 10, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper
The five tallest buildings in Fort Wayne published October 17, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper .
FORT WAYNE FIVE: Largest public parks in Fort Wayne published November 25, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper .
This Overlooked Midwest City Is Full of Hidden Treasures by William O'Conner is a 15-minute read in the It's Still A Big World series published December 23, 2022 on the DailyBeast with a tour by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authorand Visit Fort Wayne. The article starts out describing the death of Louis Kahn architect for the Arts United Center where 120 buildings were torn down to clear out space for this compound. He describes his visit to Concordia Theological Seminary as a modernist Nordic village completed in 1958 by the coolest architect of his day, Eero Saarinen. Then the John D. Haynes House completed in 1952 as one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian houses, Michael Graves house, who died in 2015, as one of the giants of postmodern architecture, and describes the Allen County Courthouse as one of the most wondrous spaces in the U.S. Also visits the Lincoln Collection in the Allen County Public Library, staying at the Vera Bradley hotel, mentions Philo T. Farnsworth, Promenade Park, Bill Blass, and more.
I remember Fort Wayne series of articles by various writers at The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Five mid-century gems in unlikely architecture haven Fort Wayne by Dan Howarth published May 22, 2017 on dezeen.com from May 22, 2017 Tweet by City of Fort Wayne on Twitter and posted September 23, 2017 by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) on Facebook.
7 places in Fort Wayne designed by architects who made history by Kara Hackett published August 15, 2018 on Input Fort Wayne.
Fire and Police City County Federal Credit Union 2016-2017 Calendar has many significant events posted by dates.
See Fort Wayne History on City of Fort Wayne Community Development site.
Heritage Trail on ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) web site - almost 50 Historical Markers with photos and information! Also need to look at Projects tab and more.
Historic Buildings and Structures of the West Central Neighborhood Association Fort Wayne, Indiana shows several historic homes in the West Central Neighborhood on their website.
Historic Landmarks of Fort Wayne, Indiana a few photos by Mike Habeck on PreserveIndiana.com.
Historic Structures has over 40 Fort Wayne area articles.
History Journal by The Journal Gazette newspaper started posting almost weekly stories in November 2018. It was previously known as Throwback Thursday with stories from their archive of newspapers going back to the 1800s and a collection of photo negatives beginning in the early 1940s. A History Journal indexed by decade was published January 26, 2020 by Corey McMaken.
History of FortWayne.com has hard to see links to several pages of interesting history with historic and more recent photos from the early 2000s archived web site on oocities.
Indiana State Parks on Facebook in an August 24, 2022 post stated: Historically, Indiana contained prairies, deciduous forests, and a variety of wetland types. These natural plant communities were home to 62 species of mammals. Today these habitats remain, but in greatly diminished, fragmented parcels quite unlike the vast expanses of earlier days. Now, 55 mammal species are known to inhabit the state. One such native species was the American bison. This historic photo shows bison at a state park. Today you can see them in a natural setting at Ouabache State Park. Find out more about Ouabache at on.in.gov/ouabache.
7 Inventions Developed in Fort Wayne, Indiana posted May 18th, 2016 by preferreditgroup
The Library of Congress has a Web Archive - it manages, preserves, and provides access to archived web content selected by subject experts from across the Library, so that it will be available for researchers today and in the future. Websites are ephemeral and often considered at-risk born-digital content. New websites form constantly, URLs change, content changes, and websites sometimes disappear entirely. Websites document current events, organizations, public reactions, government information, and cultural and scholarly information on a wide variety of topics. Materials that used to appear in print are increasingly published online. This site provides general information about program activities, information for researchers who are interested in using the web archives, and information for site owners who might be included in the archives. See Indiana search, Allen County, Indiana, or Fort Wayne search.
Living in Fort Wayne's Downtown Improvement District list of buildings
National Historic Landmarks have two properties in Allen County - the Courthouse and Chief Richardville House.
National Register of Historic Places listings in Allen County, Indiana over 40 listings on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
OLD SCHOOL PICTURE OF THE WEEK HEADLINES on Fort Wayne Reader.
200 @ 200 2016 Bicentennial items at The History Centerhas many pages of online exhibits
Over 700 Patents for Allen County, Indiana are found on Google Patents
Pinterest has a page of old vintage photos called Explore Indiana, Columbia, and more!
Power of our place Five iconic sitesare essential to city experience by Connie Haas Zuber and Laura Weston published July 28, 2019 in The Journal Gazette newspaper looks at the Lincoln Bank Tower, Allen County Courthouse, Embassy Theatre & Indiana Hotel (Emboyd), Wells Street Bridge and John Henry Bass Mansion.
Extant Railroad/Railway Structures compiled by the Railroad Station Historical Society
The Rise of Industry: Fort Wayne's Revolution an archived site from before 2003 by Rick Willison of Franklin County, Tennessee
Tree Canopy Growth Fund on Facebook in an August 25, 2022 post stated: Did you know there’s a Native Trees of Indiana River Walk on the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus? This 1.25 mile path flows through PFW’s vibrant campus along the St. Joseph River so you can appreciate the native trees of Fort Wayne. On the walk, you’ll see over 100 native trees. Learn more about the river walk: Native Trees of Indiana River Walk. See Trees on our Places page.
Join scavenger hunt to learn and win gives history of 5 local markers by Bridgett Hernandez published August 31, 2018 on INFortWayne.com.
ARCH ANNOUNCES ITS ANNUAL LIST OF ENDANGERED STRUCTURES by Jill Downs published May 22, 2018 by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage).
Fort Wayne companies call historic buildings home about the Electron building and Baker Street Station by Dan Vance published January 21, 2019 in InFortWayne.com by KPC Media News Service.

More Social Media

A January 2, 2023 post asked who were great Fort Wayne historians which genereated lots of comments. Several of them have items posted on our pages. Several people regularly post photos and information of local places since Steve Tiny Michaels started True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook on August 12, 2021: Roger Birely, Randy Harter, Colin Haines, Bobbie Lee, Richard Miranda, Becky Osbun, Jeff Smith.
September 6, 2015 post by Only Indiana on Facebook:

Did you know there are more Mail Pouch Barns documented in Indiana than any other state?

Mail Pouch Barns can be found in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and California (Ontario, on Jurupa and Turner) although an increasing number have fallen into dilapidation or have been demolished. The barns, usually hand-painted in black or red with yellow or white capital lettering, read as follows: "Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco Treat Yourself to the Best." Sometimes they are surrounded on the left and right by a thin vertical blue border.

Initially, barn owners were paid between $1 and $2 a year for the advertisement, equivalent in 1913 dollars to about $20–$40 today. But more importantly, they received a much desired fresh coat of paint to preserve the integrity of the wood. Mail Pouch painted their message on one or two sides of the barn (depending on viewability from the roadway) and painted the other sides of the barn any color the owner wished. Many of the barns were repainted every few years to maintain the sharp colors of the lettering.

After World War II, many of the barns were painted by Harley Warrick of Belmont County, Ohio. He once estimated that he had painted 20,000 barns in his life, spending an average of six hours on each. Warrick claimed that he always began each barn with the "E" in the word "Chew". Other barns were painted by Mark Turley, Don Shires, and several others. Their initials remain preserved on some of the barns with the date of the painting. These initials can be found on the blue border surrounding the front side, or nearer to the roof.

The Highway Beautification Act of 1965, which sought to restrict the vast number of local advertisements that were being placed near highways, exempted Mail Pouch barns since they had been deemed historic landmarks.

In 1992, the owner of Mail Pouch Tobacco at the time, Swisher International Group, decided to suspend the use of barn advertisements when Warrick retired.

In the heyday of barn advertising (c. 1900-1940) many companies paid farmers to use their barns as roadside ads, with other tobacco products (such as "Beech Nut" tobacco) and local feed and grain stores being the most common, but Mail Pouch was the only product advertised in so widespread and consistent a manner in this fashion.

See www.mailpouchbarnstormers.org for complete listings across Indiana and the rest of the country.

[only 14 of the orginal 404 exist with none in Allen County]
If These Walls Could Talk: How to Research Your Home February 3, 2023 by Allen County Public Library on YouTube
The Genealogy Center As family historians, we all love a good story, and who is a better storyteller than an old house? Join senior librarian Elizabeth Hodges for an introduction to house history research and learn how to shape the story of a home and it's residents through maps, directories, censuses, deeds, and other records! Handout: https://static.libnet.info/frontend-i...
February 16, 2023 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:

Today’s Throwback Thursday takes us to a former filling station on East Pontiac and Hanna streets. Small-scale gasoline stations were designed to fit in with residential neighborhoods. Some oil companies fashioned their stations to look like English cottages.

Filling stations dotted Fort Wayne along busy corridors and on major routes, such as The Lincoln Highway.

This station’s design was created by Standard Oil of Indiana and the design was also used in other states, like Michigan and Iowa.

This station has a clean design and sleek glazed buff-colored bricks that were used to convey the sense of cleanliness to appeal female drivers. How a station looked on the outside was often a sign of how clean the inside was, especially the restrooms.

A twin of the Pontiac gas station in downtown Lafayette. It was an automobile and auto-related memorabilia museum for many years.

Fort Wayne’s distinction of being the “Pump Capital of the World,” helped fuel the building of several stations in the city. Fill ‘er up!
March 22, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:

It's #waybackwednesday!! Take a look at these Fort Wayne then and now photos from our Community Album, courtesy of the Daniel A. Baker Collection. The first photo shows Walgreens circa 1956. The store was desgined by A.M. Strauss was built in 1944. Businesses (l-r) are Rose, Thrifty, Koerber, King's A & I, Rosenbaum's, and Cousins.

The next photo shows the building in 2017 after a remodel.(l-r) Wells Fargo parking garage, Pint-N-Slice, Dash-In, Klingler Jewelers, the law offices of Hayes and Hayes (810 South Calhoun); and the law offices of Leonard, Hammond, Thoma & Terrill (800 South Calhoun).

View these images and thousuands more in our Community Album: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital
April 29, 2023 post by Indiana Album on Facebook:

Researching a building? Check out these tips from the Indiana State Library.
May 8, 2023 post by Indiana Landmarks on Facebook:

Historic house research is a lot like detective work. You’ll need patience, perseverance, and time. Luck also helps. The story of a house builds as you follow leads, cross-check facts and track down sources to learn about the owners, architects, and builders. The work may take you to the Internet, libraries, city and county offices, historical societies—perhaps even on scouting trips to meet descendants of former owners. If your curiosity is deep, you may be able to build a fascinating house biography.

Need help knowing where to start? Indiana Landmarks' Historic Home Research Guide can help. Visit https://www.indianalandmarks.org/.../historic-house.../ to learn more.

an Nuys Farmhouse in Johnson County (photo 2) by Paige Wassel; Johnson County Atlas excerpt (photo 3); 1887 Indianapolis Sanborn Map courtesy Indiana University Indiana Spatial Data Port (photo 4).⁠
August 3, 2023 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:

This former service station on Broadway is an outstanding example of an Art Moderne style commercial building. This style of architecture became popular c.1935-c.1950. Often confused with Art Deco style, it focuses on streamlined horizontal forms and smooth curved surfaces. Decoration is minimal, generally glass blocks and portal windows. The building is currently empty but once housed Tek Ventures, a maker’s space. The structure had been a service station since 1930. The first proprietor was Harold C. McMahon. By 1931 William H. Barter had taken over the business but sold out in a year. By 1932 Widney & Brouwer Super Service and Fill Station was the name, and it eventually became Brouwer Battery and Tire Service, which it stayed well into the 50’s. 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.
August 14, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:

This Month in Fort Wayne was a monthly guide to dining, shopping entertainment in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Check out the digital collection here: This month in Fort Wayne
September 3 2023 post by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on Facebook:

September is Indiana Archaeology Month, coordinated by the Indiana DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA).

The 2023 commemorative poster focuses on the archaeology of early Indiana industry. Archaeologists have recorded and investigated various industrial sites, some from the early 1800s, in our state. Information regarding these locations has helped us understand early Hoosier efforts at brick and tile manufacturing, redware production, and more. The poster highlights some of these sites and the archaeological investigations which have taken place.

Free posters (folded and unfolded) are available at the DNR Central Office lobby in the Indiana Government Center South complex in Indianapolis. You can pick up a folded or unfolded copy Monday through Friday between 8:30a - 4p ET. You can also pick up a poster from DHPA staff when attending Archaeology Month events. You can also request to have folded posters mailed to you (limit of 5 per person) by emailing ajohnson@dnr.IN.gov.

#INArchaeoMonth #INDHPA

Archaeology in Indiana - the Early Years - Timeline
October 19, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Capturing the world around us has been a goal of humanity since the beginning of time. This ranges from the prehistoric cave paintings to modern digital images. In the late 19th century, real photo postcards played an important role in documenting Fort Wayne’s history. Unlike the inexpensive printed picture postcards made just after the turn of the 20th century, real photo postcards were produced from actual photographs. These photographs were printed with a stiff paper backing, and included a printed stamp location box on the reverse, making them both a postcard and actual photograph in one. Images ranged from everyday life to disasters and events of local note. Real photo postcards exploded in popularity when Eastman Kodak introduced the 3A Pocket Folding Camera in 1903. When the 3A was introduced, it opened up an opportunity for anyone who could afford one to record their family or an event, and mail the resulting image to others. Today we share some of the postcards from our collection, both real photo and photo. #sociallyhistory

To learn more about real photo postcards, read “Fort Wayne ‘Real Photo’ Postcards,” in our latest issue of the Old Fort News, available at the History Center or at the below link: Fort Wayne “Real Photo” Postcards
Green rooftops offer many environmental and social benefits for city-dwellers, but will Fort Wayne be seeing more of them in the future?
Posted by Input Fort Wayne on Thursday, March 24, 2022

Thursday, March 24, 2022 post by Input Fort Wayne on Facebook:

Green rooftops offer many environmental and social benefits for city-dwellers, but will Fort Wayne be seeing more of them in the future?

Should green rooftops be a growing trend in Fort Wayne?