Since the 1820s, Fort Wayne has been home to numerous financial institutions, ranging from large ones with multiple branches to small individual ones. One of the largest banks in our city was the Anthony Wayne Bank. Founded in 1917, the Anthony Wayne Bank began as the Fort Wayne Morris Plan Company at 217 East Berry Street. The Morris Plan was a banking system in the United States that made it easier for working middle class people to obtain loans. Towards the end of World War II, the company decided to restructure itself as a bank. In January of 1944, the name and structure of the institution changed to Anthony Wayne Bank. By 1953, the bank was located in the lower levels of the Elektron Building, built in 1895 by prominent Fort Wayne architects WingMahurin. In 1964, the bank built a new building next to its existing location, on the northeast corner of Clinton and Berry Streets. The new concrete and steel 15 story building cost the bank a reported $2.5 million dollars to construct. In 1987, Anthony Wayne Bank disappeared from the local banking scene following its absorption into Summit Bank (which has successively become NBD, Bank One, and Chase Bank). #sociallyhistory
So, let's go out with a bang and make a *mad* dash to Berry Street to find the Anthony Wayne Building!
While the exterior has not changed much from its construction in 1963, the interior has seen many renovations and tenants.
It all began in 1917 with the Morris Plan Company, which helped middle-class individuals obtain loans. After World War II, Morris Plan Co. restructured into the Anthony Wayne Bank.
In 1964, the company moved from its original space in the Elektron Building (currently home to Barrett McNagny) to the Anthony Wayne Building right next door.
The Anthony Wayne Bank stayed until 1987 when it was absorbed by Summit Bank, which was subsequently absorbed by Chase Bank.
Since the 80s, tenants have moved in and out, and the building experienced nearly complete emptiness for a short time.
But a resurgence in downtown Fort Wayne developments has brought new life to this iconic building.
In 2012, the entire building was renovated to include four floors of office space, seven floors of condominiums, and ground-floor retail space. Along with the renovation, the building's name was officially changed to the First Financial Center at the Anthony Wayne Building.
Today, you can find The Hoppy Gnome gastropub on the first floor, along with Premier Bank, J R Interiors, TriCore, One Eleven Design, and Snow & Sauerteig.
And Suite 107 is available for sublease!
Want to be a part of the ever-evolving downtown scene AND have a piece of Fort Wayne history? Call our brokers John Caffray and Andrew Eckert today for more information, and see our exclusive listing down below!
On West Wayne Street, 1917-1933 was a co-ed business school. During the Great Depression it served as local headquarters of the WPA, the Works Progress Administration, which provided jobs to depression era unemployed who compiled useful genealogy records of births, marriages, and deaths found on the shelves of the The Genealogy Center, and would build the runways at Fort Wayne’s Smith Field, and the pavilions at Foster Park. It was torn down in 2014 to build the Asher Brokerage world headquarters. No longer online in Doomed Building Played Major Role in City History by Eric Olson March 28, 2014 of Indiana NewsCenter.
Anthony Wayne Motor Company
The former 'Anthony Wayne Motor Company' dealership was built in the mid-1920s at the SE corner of Lafayette Street and E Washington Boulevard, along the Lincoln Highway. It was home to the Ford and Lincoln brands. After having sat vacant for a number of years, it was demolished (along with the old 412 Club behind it) in September 2017 to make way for the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission. Fort Wayne, Indiana. Copied from August 25, 2018 photo taken August 7, 2016 posted by Dan Baker on Facebook.
Over 30 photos of various washing methods including Anthony Wayne Washers were posted June 28, 2022 by on Facebook. The first photo in the post was Anthony Wayne Washers showing the cover of a 26 page publication The New Improved "Anthony Wayne Washer." Publication: Buffalo: CM Dunston Lith,1892, was offered for sale, but marked sold in 2022 by Buckinghambooks.com states: 24 mo, 3-1/2" x 5-3/4" pictorial wrappers, 26 pp. (including the covers), illustrated. The Anthony Wayne Manufacturing Co. is in Fort Wayne, IN. The company claims to make their washing machines the best, most efficient, and most valuable washing machines in the country keeping their high standard of excellency that they've gained during the past six years. The Anthony Wayne Washer was first produced in 1886 and in a five year time period 65,000 units have been sold. The front cover is a lithograph of a woman cooking while her oldest child is running the Anthony Wayne Washer while reading, along with a toddler sitting on the floor, creating a happy family atmosphere. The rear cover is a lithograph of another manufacturer's washer and total chaos. On the inside front cover there is an illustration of The New Improved "Anthony Wayne Washer." There are illustrations and descriptions of the following: The Western Star Washer, The New Improved "Western Star Washer," Different Parts of the Gearing, Interior View of No. 2 & 3 Anthony Wayne Washers, and Interior View of No. 1 Anthony Wayne Washer. There are 16 pages containing satisfied dealer and customer testimonial reviews. There is another illustration of The New Improved "Western Star Washer" from a different angle on the inside rear wrapper. Stamped twice with the name Stockton & Allen, General Hardware in the body of the text, else a fine, bright copy of an elusive item. Page 64 of the September 16, 1893 The Metal Worker shows the price at $42.00 per dozen.
FACT
gastropub on the first floor, along with Premier Bank, J R Interiors, TriCore,
One Eleven Design, and Snow & Sauerteig.
