The Landing was a place of firsts. The Randall Hotel, which was Fort Wayne's first hotel in 1823, was managed by Winifred Randall. Before managing the hotel, she was the first woman in the United States to manage a lumber mill. She also helped found Fort Wayne's chapter of the DAR.
Perry and Winifred Randall owned and operated the Randall Hotel in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Read more on The Randall Circle website or Randall Circle 58 page pdf a collection of assorted photos, newspaper articles and memories from various family members.
1828 Jacob Fry tannery location, 1870 Robinson Hotel became the Grand Hotel, 1889 Perry A. Randall bought and renamed the Randall Hotel. Razed in 1963. Read more in Indiana’s Best $2 Hotel by Tom Castaldi published June 27, 2013 in History Center Notes & Queries blog.
A May 15, 1964 closure and auction of the hotel posted May 15, 2019 by The History Centeron Facebook Stated: Hotel accommodations in downtown Fort Wayne abounded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Options ranged from the large and extravagant Hotel Anthony to the small and humble Hedekin House. One of the better known mid-range hotels in the city was the Randall Hotel. The hotel held the names of the Robinson House, Hotel Grand and Hotel Brunswick before being purchased by local attorney, Perry A. Randall in 1889. After becoming a largely residential hotel in the 1930s, the Randall closed and was razed in 1963 with the death of Winifred Randall. One year following the closure of the Randall, an auction of the hotel's contents was held, fifty-five years ago today, on May 15, 1964. Several items were purchased by citizens of Fort Wayne at the auction and subsequently donated to the Historical Society. As the demand for downtown hotels increases, today we share some memories of one of the grand old hotels of Fort Wayne’s past. #sociallyhistory.
As I remember … by Randall, Winifred J., Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County, 1960, an Archive.org. The Foreword states: These are some of the memories of the visitors and guests of the Randall Hotel over the years as Mrs. Winifred J. Randall, owner of the hotel, has recorded them. It became the practice of Mrs. Randall on the arrival of guests who had spent their youth in Fort Wayne, to get out her typewriter and ask them to tell in their own words what they could recall.
Rankin House: Little House, Big History by ARCH Inc., posted August 11, 2020 on YouTube/
ARCH Inc. presents a virtual, video tour of the historic Rankin House. This tour is possible because of the support of the Community Foundation of Greater Foundation and our generous donors to the #GivingTuesdayNow project. Join them in supporting ARCH Inc. and its historic preservation work in the Fort Wayne area by visiting archfw.org. Invest in history for our future.
#3 - ALEXANDER TAYLOR RANKIN HOUSE. YEAR CONSTRUCTED: c. 1841. Located at 818 S. Lafayette St., the structure appears to be fairly non-descript, but was constructed by one of the leading abolitionist personalities of the 19th century. Built in the Greek Revival style, the brick home also may have served as a school at some point in its history. The interior retains most of its original features, including wall and trim finishes as well as a period staircase and railings. Alexander T. Rankin took part in the Underground Railroad that smuggled slaves from the south into the north. The home is the only standing structure in Fort Wayne that is known to be connected to abolition and the Underground Railroad. It is the current home of ARCH. (Photo courtesy of ARCH). Copied from FORT WAYNE FIVE: Oldest city structures on the National Register of Historic Places by Justin Kenny posted January 4, 2018 at
The News-Sentinel newspaper.
3400 Coliseum Blvd, Suite 200, (800) 732-9473. In 1929 Victor Rea was named manager of Dudlo Company. In 1933 he forms Rea Magnet Wire read their History and timeline on their web site www.reawire.com. See Facebook page. Rea Magnet Wire Company, Inc. is one of the world's largest manufacturers of magnet and nonferrous wire products. Rea produces copper, aluminum and brass-insulated magnet wire and bare wire used in the manufacture of motors, transformers and coils. Rea also manufactures a number of specialty wire products. Copied from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Rea Magnet Wire, a local employer founded 90 years ago, has been sold to a German company in what is being described as “a perfect match” of operations. Terms of the sale, which closed Friday, were not disclosed. Elektrisola plans to retain the Rea name, the company’s five manufacturing plants, its leased corporate offices in Fort Wayne and all of its employees, officials announced Friday in a news release. Rea Magnet Wire employs about 800, including about 230 in Fort Wayne. Along with Indiana, the company has operations in Connecticut, Virginia and Mexico. ... Victor Rea, who founded the company, sold it to Alcoa in 1960. Vann was among a group that bought it from Alcoa in 1986. Elektrisola employs about 4,000 worldwide at 14 plants in seven countries. The manufacturer, which bills itself as the world’s largest manufacturer of fine copper wire, was founded in 1948 in Germany. Copied from Rea Magnet Wire's North American magnet operations sold; employees to be retained Sherry Slater | Journal Gazette Mar 31, 2023
POSITIVELY FORT WAYNE: It's an antique lover's dream. Billing itself as the "region's destination for the best of the past," you could spend hours inside Reclaimed Fort Wayne Salvage Co. looking through everything it has to offer. Emily Dwire WANE 15 takes you on a tour!
POSITIVELY FORT WAYNE: "Oh wow" seemed to be the most popular reaction for people watching this story 🤣 I know I said it more than once as we walked through this place during the interview lol check out Reclaimed Fort Wayne Salvage Co. and ALL it has to offer!
POSITIVELY FORT WAYNE: "Oh wow" seemed to be the most popular reaction for people watching this story I know I said it more than once as we walked through this place during the interview lol check out Reclaimed Fort Wayne Salvage Co. and ALL it has to offer!
In the world of groceries, the modern supermarket reigns supreme. However at the turn of the 20th century, it was the local neighborhood market that was the center of the grocery shopping scene. One local store, Redding’s Market, 1102 Rivermet Avenue, began serving the Lakeside Neighborhood in 1911. Elzie Redding ran the grocery with his wife, Della, and their two sons Dale and Forest. In the 1920s, the Redding’s purchased a farm which became a valuable source to the store and provided Lakeside with the freshest produce and dairy. In 1960, Elzie Redding passed ownership of the grocery store to his son Forest and grandson Steven. This multigenerational business served the community for almost a century, before closing in 2003. Visit the History Center to see artifacts from Redding’s Market.
Crossroad Child & Family Services 1825 Beacon Street - Street View photo from Google maps
Crossroad Child & Family Servicesis at 1825 Beacon Street. Their Facebook page states: In 1883, The Reformed Church in the United States established “The Reformed Orphan’s Home of Fort Wayne, IN.” In October 1883, nine-year-old Hermann Leisering came to live with our first Superintendent, Rev. John Rettig, and his wife. Over many decades, hundreds of orphans and other children in need of a home came here to live on the land on which we were founded and still stand on today. As the need for orphanages began to diminish after World War II, we adapted by providing a home for unwed mothers known as Woodhaven and services for emotionally troubled children. More than 1,000 unwed mothers came to Woodhaven from 1959 to 1973 to live until giving birth. Members of supporting churches adopted most of the infants. The need for these services diminished in the early 1970s as it became acceptable for unwed mothers to remain in their family homes. However, we continued to work with troubled children, expanding our services and making a name for ourselves in the Midwest as one of the finest treatment providers for emotionally troubled young people. For many years we were known as The Fort Wayne Children’s Home. We started using the name Crossroad in 1975. In 2010 our legal name became Crossroad Child & Family Services, Inc. Today we provide a full spectrum of services in residential, outpatient, home-based, and community settings. David Mullins became our President and Chief Executive Officer in 2021. He is the thirteenth administrator of our agency.
Orphans in Indiana (1830's-1900's) [in progress] Submitted by Dawne Slater-Putt, CG at Indiana Genenealogical Society . Description: This database is about individuals who were raised by someone with a different surname than their own. These include children who were adopted from orphanages, raised by a relative with a different surname, lived in the house of someone to whom their relationship is not known, or any number of other situations. Some of these individuals were not literally orphans – defined as a person whose parents were both deceased. In one case, the child lived with his mother but his surname was changed to match that of her subsequent husband, his stepfather.
The information has been culled from a variety of sources, but primarily from published county histories and genealogical society newsletters. More entries will be added periodically.
#TBT from the #CrossroadArchives: We're throwing it all the way back to the very beginning. Pictured here is the last known surviving photograph of Sunrise Cottage. This building, for the first several years of our existence, was the entirety of what came to be known as the Reformed Orphans Home of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
In 1883, nine-year-old Hermann Leisering came to live with our first Superintendent, Rev. John Rettig and his wife in this very building. Over many decades, hundreds of orphans and other children in need of a home came here to live on the land on which we were founded and still stand on today.Originally sitting on 200 acres in 1883, much of the land has been sold off and now contains Parkview Hospital Randallia, Parkview Behavioral Health, Byron Wellness Center, the Fort Wayne VA Hospital, and dozens of other businesses, nonprofits, and private residences.
In the modern era, we provide a full spectrum of services in residential, outpatient, home-based, and community settings.
#TBT from the #CrossroadArchives: Crossroad was founded nearly 140 years ago as The Reformed Orphans’ Home of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Our founders purchased 57 acres with a farm house and hired The Rev. and Mrs. John Rettig (pictured here) as the first Superintendent and Matron. The Rettigs served the home for more than 15 years. Many of the children we helped were true orphans, some were children who had lost a parent and the remaining parent could not take care of them, and some were children left in the care of the Rettigs temporarily while families got back on their feet during difficult times. On February 21, 1899 Rev. Rettig died very suddenly leaving the home without a Superintendent.
The Board of Directors moved very quickly to fill the leadership position. On March 9, 1899, they elected Rev. Berchtold Ruf to replace Rev. Rettig. Ruf went on to serve the organization until 1913.
#TBT from the #CrossroadArchives: In this postcard from around 1900, you can see a young girl standing at what used to be the main entrance to the campus of what was then called the Fort Wayne's Orphans Home. Despite being open for less than 2 decades at this point, the campus was home to several beautiful, ornate buildings that echoed much of this area's architecture of the time.
Ivan Lebamoff Reservoir Park 2300 South Clinton, city block bounded by South Clinton on the west side, East Suttenfield on the south side, Lafayette Street on the east side, and Creighton Avenue on the north side. 13.1 acres. Since 1880 from City of Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation. In 2009 was renamed for former Mayor Lebamoff who helped find funding to rebuild it in the mid 1970s.
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 560, Reservoir Park. Scene of the Great Fort Wayne Historical Pageant in June 1916. An ideal spot for the presentation of the historic pageant of Fort Wayne, entitled "The Glorious Gateway of the West.' was found in Reservoir park, where a cast of more than one thousand Fort Wayne citizens enacted six scenes depicting the thrilling, inspiring story of Fort Wayne. The temporary amphitheatre accommodated fourteen thousand persons. On the closing night of the pageant every child of Fort Wayne of school age was admitted free of charge. The event was considered the most artistic success in the history of pageantry in America.
In 1900 Ivan Lebamoff Reservoir Park began its life as a reservoir built to maintain a safe water supply. Early in the 1960s a new water filtration plant was built, and the old reservoir was demolished and integrated into the famous 50-foot hill, popular with winter sledders. In 2009 the park, at 2300 S. Clinton St., was renamed after the former Mayor Lebamoff, who helped find funding to rebuild it in the mid 1970s. Do you have a memory of this urban park?
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At the top of the hill was the cap to a 4.8 million-gallon water tank that was built in 1880 and supplied the city's first municipal water system. Water from deep rock wells was stored in the tank until it was needed. Copied from The story behind the hill in the park by Kevin Leininger August 29, 1981 inCityscapes - People & Places series of articles from the archives of
The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Fort Wayne celebrated Indiana’s 100th birthday in 1916. As part of the centennial event, which began the second week of that June, the largest temporary construction project in the city’s history was completed at Reservoir Park to host an ambitious historical pageant. Designed to hold 14,000 people, the seating for the historical pageant rose from the edge of the artificial lake to the top of the reservoir hill. A noted dramatist was brought in from Chicago to write the play, and lighting was rigged so that the performances could be presented at night. Over 1,000 local costumed citizens participated in the six-act play named “The Glorious Gateway of the West” on the pylon-flanked stage. Tickets to the pageant were fifty cents each. Some of the play’s highlights included a large replica set of the fort as a backdrop, an Indian village complete with wigwams, the actor playing Anthony Wayne arriving on stage uniformed astride a white horse, and the rousing finish with all the participants and audience jubilantly singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” as a giant American flag slowly rose over the stage. The play was performed six times during the two weeks of the celebration and was seen in total by an estimated 50,000 people. As well as the pageant, the stage was used on the first Sunday afternoon of the celebration by 600 choristers from local churches and singing societies performing to the packed amphitheater for a free-admission concert of religious and inspirational patriotic music. The city also celebrated with a visit and talk by former President William Howard Taft, a giant parade thorough the gaily festooned downtown, and an industrial and business exposition featuring 200 booths just north of downtown near the League Park baseball stadium (in today’s Headwaters Park) which included adjacent free rides and amusements.
Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne historian and author of two books on local history.
In the summer of 1916 Reservoir Park was the center of a city-wide celebration of the state’s 100th birthday and it was incredible. A massive stage was built over Res Park lake and bleachers for 14-thousands spectators were constructed up the slope of Res Park hill. 1100 Fort Wayne citizens volunteered as actors in an extravaganza titled ‘The Glorious Gateway of the West’. Read the rest in The Day Res Park was the Center of the World by
Eric Olson, 21Country Featured ReporterFebruary 9, 2017 on 21AliveNews.com archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
HISTORY JOURNAL ▸ Jan. 1, 1962: Sledders set off from the top of the hill at Reservoir Park. At the bottom of the hill, young ice skaters can be seen on the frozen pond enjoying the last day before school resumed. Read more:
In these photos, Ft. Wayne residents enjoy the snow and ice skating at Reservoir Park. Allen County residents have long flocked to the park in winter months. A 1911 article in the Fort Wayne Sentinel notes skating season was officially opened on Dec. 28 that year. "The intense cold of last night froze the water in the lake just barely enough to allow juvenile skating and early this morning every home in the neighborhood of the park was supplying its quota to the crowd which grew in numbers as the day wore on." #waybackwendesday#snow#iceskating#winterwonderland#bundleup
These photos are courtesy of our Community Album. Check out more pictures from the collection here: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/
(1911, December 28) “Skating Season Formally Opened at Reservoir Park”. Fort Wayne Sentinel, p. 1.
Rialto Theatre, Fort Wayne, Indiana from John Gevers on Vimeo. John Gevers produced this copyrighted video in 2013. It explains the known history of the Rialto Theatre in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The narrator is Angie Harrison, then-director of The Reclamation Project, the organization that then owned the building prior to its current owner. The building has since been sold and the new owner is exploring promising possibilities for restoring the theatre. For more information, contact John at: john@johngevers.com.
This video was posted in the comments to a series of photos posted from the John Gevers Photography collection.
Built in 1924, the Rialto Theatre was one of Ft. Wayne ’s most popular neighborhood movie houses. Here is some information about the workers who helped this theater thrive.
It was built by Greek Immigrant, James Heliotes, who began his business career in the United States as owner of the Columbia Candy Kitchen, a restaurant and sweet-shop in downtown Ft. Wayne .
James, “the Mister,” as he was commonly referred to, had owned the Broadway Theatre and later sold it to open the Rialto. He also purchased the building north of the Rialto to house the Rialto Furniture Company.
James made his home at 1840 Florida Drive and raised two sons, the eldest being George, who was Business Manager of the theatre. The younger son, John took care of the furniture store. John and his wife Violet had one daughter, Jan.
Also prominent at the Rialto was John Gater. John was a long-time employee, having worked at the Broadway. John was Theatre Manager and was responsible for operations. John opened and closed the theatre every day, usually working seven days a week. He would come in around 9 or 10 a.m., open the theatre at Noon, and would take some time off in the afternoon, returning around 4 p.m. and working to closing.
Another individual who bears remembering was Nickolas Pouletsis. Nick just kind of “hung around,” sometimes cashiering or taking tickets and trying to be useful. Nick also went by his pen-name, Nick Penn. He was the artist who designed and drew the cartoon strip, “Little Lulu.” He sold his cartoon creation and left Chicago to come to Ft. Wayne. Nick’s wife, Laura worked for an engineering firm on West Main St. Find the newest electrical panel in the Rialto switch room and you’ll see the labeling on the switches in cartoon lettering style. That was Nick’s handiwork.
Thank you Cinema Treasures and Jack Dold for posting this information. The picture is from the 1950s.
It's #waybackwednesday! The 700 seat Rialto Theater had its grand opening at 1 pm, on August 20, 1924. The $150,000 building ($2.5 million in today’s money) was designed by O.C. Brunswick of Chicago.
In a Fort Wayne News Sentinel article from the time, various architectural and design features were described, including the outer lobby and box office which were “finished in terra cotta with polychrome terra cotta walls and barrel ceilings. Massive drinking fountains add to the attractiveness”. The building was equipped with “octagonal lighting fixtures throughout” and the “latest type screen was installed to ensure bright and clean pictures. A large pipe organ was located in the orchestra pit”.
After more than 60 years, the theater closed its doors in 1989.
This week, the Indiana DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA) will feature historic theaters found in Indiana. DHPA previously conducted a Historic Theater Initiative to document these historic structures to determine how many there were, how many are left, and note their condition at the time of survey. Structures inventoried as part of the Historic Theater Initiative can be found in the State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD): on.IN.gov/shaard.
The Rialto Theater in Fort Wayne was constructed in 1924 by James Heliotes, who also operated a candy factory in Fort Wayne. Chicago architect D.C. Brunswick designed the theater and A.M. Strauss designed the Art Moderne marquee and the second story balcony. During a showing of “The Ten Commandments” in 1967, violence broke out in the theater after a teen shouted a swear word during the film. Several shots were fired, though no one was injured, according to a 1980 News-Sentinel article. The Rialto saw a decline partially due to flights to the suburbs. The theater closed by 1989, and in 1990 it was placed on ARCH Inc.’s Endangered Structures List. In 2003 there were plans to reinstate it as a theater, but this did not come to fruition. As of 2019, it was still vacant. It is an Outstanding-rated resource and surveyed as part of DHPA’s Historic Theater Initiative (IHSSI 003-215-34084; T-12). More: on.IN.gov/shaard.
Theater History: Closed in 1989, placed on ARCH Inc.'s 1990 Endangered Structures List. Purchased by local group, The Reclaimation Project, in 2003 to be used as theater, arts, and urban ministry center.
1235 E. State Blvd. started in 1957 as Nick's Rib Bar 2 doors east of current location. Von Filippou and Nick Stamanis bought out Del-Mar bar to start Nick's Rib Bar. Read more of The Rib Room History on their web page. Discussed January 31, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook
Richard's Bakery
1130 Wells Street • Fort Wayne, IN • 260.424.4012. For nearly 80 years, Richard’s has baked and fried Fort Wayne’s best donuts. From their 2011 About pageon the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
1) interior of the original Al Riegel Cigar Store before the 1919 remodel that doubled the size of the store. Frank A. Bougher at the right.
2) Frank A. Bougher at the helm c.1961 after he gained full ownership when partner died George Kuntz.
3) walking home on a now non existent stretch of Columbia Street 1967 approximately were the Garage for the present day Rousseau Center, AKA. the City County Building parking garage stands. Land cleared were Riegel's stood for 92 years. Present store is in the background here also.
Circus Day in Our Town by Encyclopaedia Britannica Films Publication date 1949 Usage Public Domain Mark 1.0 YouTube
This film has amazing footage of a circus coming into a town, the townspeople helping with construction of the circus tents, the clowns preparing for their performance and the variety of circus acts and the crowds viewing them.
The website states: Located on the 'Downtown Urban Trail' adjacent to Promenade Park, Riverfront at Promenade Park is designed illusively of all glass windows on one side, 15,000 square feet of retail space, 25,000 square feet of office space, and a 900 space parking garage. This community boasts private courtyards, gathering space, expansive patios and so much more with views of Downtown, Promenade Park, and the river for all of our future residents.
Riverfront Fort Wayne Neighborhood Master Plan and Public Space Design Presentation [34 minutes]
DAVID RUBIN Land Collective presents design concepts for the Phase II and Phase III public spaces of Fort Wayne's Riverfront development. Once designs are finalized construction of Phase II is expected to begin in 12-18 months.
Mayor Tom Henry and community leaders today led a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of The Riverfront at Promenade Park and the completion of Riverfront Park Public Space Phase IIa.
The City of Fort Wayne’s Community Development Division, Parks and Recreation Department, development partner Barrett & Stokely, elected officials, and community leaders were part of a ribbon-cutting and Grand Opening of The Riverfront at Promenade Park and Riverfront Park Phase IIa.
Fort Wayne officials marked the completion of Riverfront Park Phase IIa. The rest of phase II, on the north side of the river, is the next step to be completed.
Today, Mayor Tom Henry and city leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the construction on Riverfront Fort Wayne Phase IIb Public Open Space.
“This inviting second phase of the Riverfront development continues the mission to energize and unite the community,” notes Steve McDaniel, director, Parks and Recreation.
Riverfront Phase IIa is designed primarily as a connection between Promenade Park and Headwaters Park, filling in a missing piece of park space and providing a vital connection between what will now be nearly one acre of public park space on the south side of the St Marys River.
“Bringing more access to our rivers continues the dream to revitalize our natural resources using sustainable practices and provide new opportunities for recreation in downtown Fort Wayne,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Steve McDaniel.
Rivergreenway around downtown. Enjoy your Rivergreenway!
Robee's House of Beef
1967–1968: RoBee's and Marriott In 1967 the Azar's Big Boy restaurant franchise started RoBee's House of Beef restaurants in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The Marriott Corp., which had acquired Bob's Big Boy and the Big Boy trademark in 1967, acquired RoBee's in February 1968 with plans to expand nationwide. RoBee's franchises would first be offered to Big Boy franchisees to coincide with their existing Big Boy territory. At the time there were 13 RoBee's restaurants in six states. Copied from Roy Rogers Restaurants at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
History of Roy Rogers Restaurants Nov 23, 2022 e chang on YouTube.
Roy Rogers Franchise Company, LLC is a chain of fast food restaurants primarily located in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. The chain originated as the rebranding of the RoBee's House of Beef chain of Fort Wayne, Indiana, acquired by the Marriott Corporation in February 1968. However, Marriott first used the Roy Rogers Roast Beef name on conversions of the company's Junior Hot Shoppes in the Washington, D.C. area in April 1968, then the existing RoBee's stores. An aggressive nationwide franchising campaign was launched. At its peak, the chain included over 600 locations. As of September 2022, the chain had 41 locations
We're very excited to have the Rockhill House, known to neighbors as "Wingspread," on this year's Home & Garden Tour. This massive 5,000 square foot home was recently converted from an apartment complex back into a single-family home, and still maintains tons of original character.
Join us September 9 & 10 to see it for yourself! Buy your tickets now and save $2 per ticket.
918 Van Buren Street, just north of Washington Boulevard, is a brick building built in 1840 when Abraham Lincoln was a young man. It is the oldest house within the West Central neighborhood and one of the oldest in Downtown. See Mary Rockhill-Tyler House photos and information on ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) who has restored the majority of this house, including the entire first floor.
For "Throwback Thursday" we are going to combine two other favorites! An edition of "From the Scrapbook" and "By the Way"! This is from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette in the fall of 2008 when ARCH bought the property. In 2007 the Mary Rockhill- Tyler house (top picture) was split from the Kuhne house (bottom picture) on Lot 142 of ROCKHILL'S AMENDED ADDITION. And by the way .... Hofer and Davis, Inc. provided the surveying services for ARCH.
Preservation and restoration of historic buildings is a key goal for ARCH Inc., and the 2021 completion of the project to bring the c. 1840 Mary Rockhill-Tyler House in West Central back to life as a home for the first time in more than a century was the culmination of significant effort and investment for us. The last time the hall-and-parlor-style house was lived in, before being turned into a garage for a more modern home nearby, it needed no plumbing, water or electricity, and it was heated by a Franklin stove. Now it has all the 21st century facilities and conveniences, and it is leased to a resident with the rental income providing support for ARCH’s programs and operations. Learn more about this lovely old house and ARCH’s work to restore it to life at archfw.org, where you can also join the others who support ARCH as members and donors, without whom accomplishing this goal would have been impossible.
Roller Dome North is at 444 W. Coliseum Blvd, orginally out in the country at the corner of Lima and California Roads. Roller Dome South 4540 Bluffton Road opened in 1972 and closed August 9, 2015. See Roller Dome North discussion in Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne photo. Roller Dome North has a Facebook page. South-side skating rink to close 43-year run on Bluffton Road to end Aug. 9 by Jeff Wiehe was published July 22, 2015 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. See Marg Wall in our People section who started Roller Dome with her husband Jim Wall.
The concrete pillars that stand at the intersection of Columbia and Harrison Streets are from the Wayne Hotel.
— thinking about old memories.
Harrison and Columbia streets. Built as the Wayne, sold and renamed Jones, then Rosemarie Hotel. Designed by local architect Frank B. Kendrick, and built in 1887 on the site of Dana Columbia’s original 1831 twenty-room Columbia House hotel (for whom Columbia Street is named).
On this day in 1975, the Rosemarie Hotel, located downtown on Columbia Ave, burned. Arson was named as the cause for the fire, the second in a series of three fires that ripped through several other buildings on the landing including Protective Electrical Supply, Old Fort Draperies and Third Presbyterian Church on Harrison. The Diehm Memorial Museum of National History at Franke Park was also destroyed by arson less that 2 weeks later. Read more about the fire in our Genealogy Center archives (https://goo.gl/RRIRR8) and more about the hotel from the The History Center (https://goo.gl/an87Mz).
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this staff photo by John Sorensen from the Fort Wayne Journal - Gazette on February 5, 1975 showing the lobby of the Rosemarie Hotel on The Landing after a fire on February 3rd. BTW...Hofer and Davis did many surveys On The Landing in 103 years!
For "Throwback Thursday" we revisit the fire on February 3, 1975 of the Rosemarie Hotel on The Landing. This is a photo by Journal - Gazette photographer John Sorensen and article by Al Brakoniecki.
Throwback Thursday: February 1975, fires on The Landing published with photos August 30, 2018 on The Journal Gazette newspaper. A story about fires in the 141-year-old Rosemarie Hotel and the five-story Old Fort Draperies office building, at Columbia and Harrison streets on The Landing on February 3, 1975 and then a second fire in the Old Fort Draperies and a separate blaze about the same time at Third Presbyterian Church on Harrison the next day February 4, 1975. Arson was suspected in both office building fires and the hotel blaze. Both buildings were eventually razed. The Old Fort Draperies site is now a parking lot, and the Rosemarie Hotel site was later replaced by an ivy covered structure that has recently been torn down as part of a project to revitalize the one-block stretch of Columbia Street between Harrison and Calhoun streets.
Fort Wayne has been home to numerous industries over the years, including the manufacture of soap. Established in 1880, The Soap Works began production and by 1883 it was expanded under new management. Gustav Berghoff acquired the struggling company 1892 and helped it grow into a prosperous enterprise. He changed the name to the Rub-No-More Company in 1906. In the mid 1880s the company introduced “Globe Soap.” In subsequent years other brands were introduced, “Rub-No-More” (1895) and naptha floating soaps (1920). In the last years of operation Rub-No-More was making Naptha Soap, Yellow Naptha Soap, Soap Flakes, Washing Powder and Spotless Cleanser. Less profit and more competition from large companies led Gustav to sell the company to Procter & Gamble in 1926. #sociallyhistory
Summit City Soap Works was First established in the late 1877, the company struggled almost immediately. When new ownership finally arrived, Summit City Soap Works became a very profitable business, especially with the introduction of their latest and greatest product, Rub-No-More Washing Powder. After several years, the company changed their name from Summit City Soap Works to The Rub-No-More Co. Business skyrocketed and sales were through the roof! In the mid 1920's, the once then local soap manufacturer decided to sell all rights to Proctor and Gamble and was manufactured and sold under their label for several more years. Copied from Summit City Soap Works About page. The Fort Wayne Beer page about the Berghoff brothers states: Gustav's soap company had been renamed, "Rub-No-More" in 1912 and was extremely successful, eventually selling trademarks and formulas to Proctor and Gamble for the sum of $325,0000 in December of 1926, but retaining ownership of the building and grounds. With no actual operating business in the Rub-No-More facility the Berghoffs incorporated as the Berghoff Properties Inc. In 1928 Gustav purchased the Wayne Home Equipment Co. and formed Wayne Oil Burner Co. in 1932 which would be located in part of the Rub No More facility. In Jan 1933 with the end of prohibition approaching Gustav along with his sons: John , Walter, and Edward raised capital and incorporated The Berghoff Brothers Brewery Inc, to be located in the soap works buildings on Glasgow Ave. In the 1920s the Board of Health was seeking a permanent injuction against the soap manufacturer operations because of the offensive odors given off from page 302 in the book Soap Gazette and Perfumer. A 1925 ad says since 1883, sells five-cent Water Softener, Floating R-N-M White Naptha Soap and Spotless Cleanser in extra-large ten cent can is satisfying millions in the middle western states. Originally posted February 26, 2013 but no longer found on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. Gustav Berghoff sold Rub—No—More Soap Company in 1927 from Berghoff Brewery — German page at
200 @ 200 2016 Bicentennial items at
The History Center. Business letterhead photos were posted April 4, 2019 by the Indiana Archives and Records Administration at IN.govon Facebook. “Washed Up:” A Discovered Artifact and the Rub-No-More Soap Company by Justin Clark published June 29, 2021 at the Indiana History Blog by the Indiana Historical Bureau of the Indiana State Library.
In the autumn of 1830, Henry Rudisill and Henry Johns erected a flouring mill on the right, or west, bank of the St. Joseph River in the southwest quarter of Section 36, Washington Township. At the time of the mill’s erection, it was located about three-quarters of a mile north of the village of Fort Wayne on what is now Spy Run Avenue, then known as the east branch of the Lima Road. The site of the mill is directly across the street from the present Indiana Service Corporation’s shops.
Henry Rudisill was born in 1801 at Lancaster, Pennsylvania and came to Fort Wayne as a representative of Barr & McCorkle, of Baltimore, Maryland, who prepared the original plat of the City of Fort Wayne.
This mill began operations with but one set of buhrs, which was increased in later years to four sets. The mill was generally known as the "Johns Mill,” until the death of Mr. Johns, when the sole ownership passed to Mr. Rudisill. Mr. Rudisill died February 6, 1858, and ownership of the mill passed to his son, H. J. Rudisill, Jr., who continued its operation until 1866, when he moved to California, leaving the operation of the mill in the hands of John E. Hill, Jr., who later formed the John E. Hill, Jr., Co.
From the time of its erection until about 1880 the mill was equipped with an over-shot wheel, after which Leffel and Little Giant wheels were installed. The mill produced about sixty-five barrels of flour per day and employed about seven men. During the flood of February, 1876, the dam was severely damaged but was soon repaired and the mill again placed in operation.
John H. Bass and Oscar Simons purchased the mill property November 4, 1879, and a few years later the Water Works Committee of the City of Fort Wayne recommended that the City of Fort Wayne condemn the property for its water rights but were restrained from doing so by the owners on September 11, 1884. The question of a new city water supply was a paramount issue at the time.
In the fall of 1887, Bass & Simons completed the rebuilding of the dam, placed heavy walls in the mill race and made other repairs to the property. On November 25, of the same year, the property was purchased by the Jenney Electric Light and Power Co., along with the entire canal feeder for the sum of $67,000.
The mill was shortly afterwards abandoned but the building was not demol- ished until early in the present century. One of the stone buhrs of this mill now reposes on the premises of the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society Museum.
A photo for the wooden dam for Rudisill's grist mill, 1830-1850 on the St. Joseph River was published October 25, 1979 in
The News-Sentinel newspaperposted December 20, 2014 in the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. The post stated: Wooden dam on St. Joseph River: lower water uncovers wooden dam near saw mill of Henry Rudisill (1830-1850). Published in News Sentinel, 25 October 1979.
Father and son, Henry Wolf and Henry John, on pages 38-42, in Two Henry Rudisills by Shirley Poinsett Slater in the December 2017 Allen County Lines quarterly publication in the Membership section of the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana website. It was reprinted from Henry J. Rudisill's Vineyard published in the 1871 Fort Wayne Sentinel newspaper.
An October 30, 2022 post with several color photos similar to the 1979 photo were discussed on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook. Additional photos and comments show where the dam is currently located near McDougal Avenue and St. Jospeh Boulevard. Using the 1979 photo showing a house with a sharp pitched porch roof and Google map Street View it appears the dam is located near 1820 St. Joseph Boulevard. One takeaway from this 1979 photo is that since the remnants of the Rudisill mill of the 19th centuary is currently underwater, the river today, thanks to the current Hosey dam further upstream, is deeper than it was in the past.
A line drawing of the Rudisill Mill is shown on the cover of the 85-page Intensive Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Fort Wayne Flood Control Project at Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana Conducted for: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Detroit District Contract No. DACW35-88-D-0049 Delivery Order No. 0004 DTIC Selected Jan 30, 1990.CCRG Commonwealth Cultural Resources Group 6928. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA218222.pdf
Pages 73-74 - Erected in 1830, the Rudisill Mill continued in operation for over 50 years, into the 1880s. Historical documentation identifies it as being the second grist mill constructed in the Fort Wayne area. It's importance to the community at that time is in part suggested by the fact that much of its construction was reportedly carried out on a COE-oR-oo?6.CH? 73 volunteer basis by local farmers (Griswold 1917:606). As a technological variable this mill represents a significant phase marker in the transition of local economic adaptation patterns, from a forest procurement system based largely on the fur trade to a production oriented setting dependent on agricultural produce. Although initially based on local market production/consumption needs, the opening of the Wabash and Erie Canal during the late 1830s would have expanded the distribution potential of the mill's products to outlying marketing centers in the Great Lakes and Ohio River regions. This far flung distribution potential, in turn, would have had a discernable impact on local farm development as an economically viable pursuit. Whether or not access to outside marketing centers would have affected the financial arrangement of the Rudisill Mill operations, representing a potential transition from a custom to merchant mill status, is not indicated in the available published sources. In the same sense, while it is likely that the mill was a water-powered birdstone operation throughout its 50 year lifespan, the possible introduction of the iron-roller system of flour processing, in wide use throughout west Central Europe prior to 1840, is worth entertaining, considering Rudisill's concentrated efforts in fostering German immigration into the Fort Wayne community (Poinsatte 1969:55-56, 162)
Data provided in Poinsatte's study of Fort Wayne during the canal era contain specific indications of the availability of detailed accounts relating to Henry Rudisill's business activities. These could potentially provide more specific information relative to mill construction and operation features. At the time of Poinsatte's study (1969), these documents were reportedly in the possession of the Rudisill heirs (Poinsatte 1969:54). The availability of primary source documentation represents a critical research element associated with the Rudisill Grist Mill location, one not readily replicated in most preindustrial processing/production site situations. Additional archival work could potentially provide more specific information relative to mill construction and operation procedures. However, because of the disturbed nature of the site and the limited remains that were discovered, it is doubtful that further investigations would yield significant information. The majority of the remaining survey area also has been greatly disturbed by residential construction activities and landfill operations.
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from this month and May 2021
