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Allen County, Indiana Places
A Names
AAA Auction Service
2110 McConnel Drive, New Haven, IN 46774, (260) 493-6585. O.G. “Bud” Steinman founded AAA Auction Service in 1972 and passed away in 2000. AAA Auction Service conducts estate and commercial/industrial auctions and appraisals in the greater Fort Wayne area and throughout the Midwest. Copied from web site History. See Facebook page.
Near the corner of what is now Edsall and Raymond Avenues, once sat a popular place of healing: the Abbott Magnetic Mineral Well. Hobbyist historian Mark Linehan spent months compiling obscure information after discovering the topic, during his research on the gas boom in Indiana. “In 1888, William T. Abbott… he owned al this land here,” Linehan said, gesturing to large acreage southeast of downtown Fort Wayne. “All the locales wanted to strike a natural gas well, because that’s essentially free power.” Nine deep bore wells were drilled, though no gas was found. But Abbott wasn’t close to giving up. “He was spending a lot of money and time and had experts come out. At one point, the newspapers started to kind of make fun of him for going so deep, and not finding gas,” he added. “Finally at about 1900 feet down — that’s pretty deep — he found a well of artisan water.” Is the first two lines for the video and of the article 21Country: The Abbott Magnetic Mineral Well Fort Wayne’s healing spa between 1888-1913 by Daniel Beals at 21AliveNews.com.
Closed August 8, 2015. Daniel Poore opened the store on East State Boulevard in 1976 after purchasing it from his aunt the real Abby Brown. He took Abby's recipes and shop idea and relocated it from Anderson, IN to Fort Wayne. Daniel died in 2013, then his wife Katie decided to close and auction the store and contents August 15, 2015. See February 14, 2015 Abby Brown's Candy Shoppe Interview on YouTube in its 39th year. Abby Brown's closing next month by Jeff Wiehe publshed March 16, 2016 in The Journal Gazette newspaper and Fort Wayne landmark candy store closing after 39 years by Barb Sieminski published July 18, 2015 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Christmas lights have played an important role in Fort Wayne’s history, from the manufacture of lights by A. C. Mannweiler and the Anthony Wayne Lamp Co., to the lit Wolf & Dessauer Santa and the Fantasy of Lights. Lighting is a relatively new addition to holiday décor. The trend of lit Christmas trees did not take hold until the 19th century. In 1856, President Franklin Pierce displayed the first Christmas tree at the White House, which was lit with candles. The first use of electric Christmas lights can be traced to 1882, when an associate of Edison, Edward H. Johnson, created a display on his Christmas tree. In 1895, the White House featured its first electrically lit tree, and by 1900 businesses began using string lights in shop windows. It was not until the 1930s that the average American was able to afford electric Christmas lights. Through the remainder of the 20th century, Christmas lights increased in popularity, and lighting displays appeared on houses, buildings, and in public places, becoming ever more elaborate and festive. Visit the History Center to see our new temporary exhibit “Christmas Lights.” #sociallyhistory
Manufacturers Histories at OldChristmasTreeLights.comhas a comment stating: Dick Cook visited this site recently, and wrote to offer the following details about the A.C. Mannweiler Company: "I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the A.C. Mannweiler shop was up on the corner from where we lived. Mr. Mannweiler had passed away before I was born, but I knew his only daughter, and everybody called her Mrs. B. She and her husband took over the business after Mr. Mannweiler died. I remember as a child going to their store with my parents where I would get them to purchase some of the Mannweiler miniature based Christmas lamps. I believe Mrs. B and her husband continued to make at least some of the Mannweiler Christmas lamps into 1940 or 1941. As of August, 2001, the building where the company was still stands." "After Mrs. B died, her only living relative gave me her personal papers which has some data pertaining to the Mannweiler Company, including advertising pamphlets and a photograph of Mrs. B as a child with her mother and father alongside a Christmas tree festooned with Mannweiler lamps. Among the papers was a patent number for a design patent for a Christmas candle lamp." Here is a picture of that 1921 patent.
As we make left-over turkey sandwiches from our Thanksgiving meal, the Christmas season takes flight around us. Did you know that the Historic 07 District has a special place in history for Christmas lights? The building that houses Trubble Brewing was the home of a large light bulb company known as the A.C. Mannweiler Company. By 1920, this company was responsible for the lights on ten thousand trees across the country. The owner at the time estimated the manufacturer created 150,000 lights for Christmas. The story behind the building and the company is fascinating.
When Mannweiller was 15, he became an employee of the Fort Wayne Jenny Electric Company. Through his experience in lamp development, he was able to create his own business. At the time, it was common for fires to start due to candle use on Christmas trees. Mannweiller, seeing an opportunity, started this company on Broadway with his wife. The two of them performed most of the manufacturing themselves. As the demand grew, so did the company; it employed nearly 100 people, including trained glass blowers. Eventually, his daughter, Pauline, assisted in the management of the company.
According to the History Center, “[i]n the 1920s the name of the company was changed to the Anthony Wayne Light Company and . . . [o]n June 6, 1928 Anthony Mannweiler died from a blood clot at St. Joseph Hospital and was buried in Prairie Grove Cemetery in Waynedale, Indiana. Following the death of her father, Pauline Brandenberry and her husband Gregg, inherited the Anthony Wayne Light Company and continued the production of Christmas lights until 1941, when rationing make it difficult to obtain supplies.”
So when you string up your lights for the holiday season, know that our south end of town was responsible for making the world a bit brighter! Remember, for one week the Historic 07 District is selling long-sleeve t-shirts. Order today and receive it by Christmas. The cost is $25 each. As always, all proceeds go to the Historic O7 District neighborhoods for historic preservation initiatives. For more information go to https://historic07district.org/shirt/ (Picture #5 is the Shirt!)
December 12, 2022 post ACME by Full Circle on Facebook has a video stated: Special thanks to Thomas Couch for editing our videos and being apart of the team here at ACME by Full Circle making the 05 proud. Happy Holidays everyone! while a December 6, 2012 states: Name of instrumental music was “Don’t remember the 70’s”? — We think we should.
Where Neighbors Meet Since 1941.
E. Ross Adair Federal Building and United States Courthouse
Formerly the U.S. Post Office and Fort Wayne Federal Building
Walpole Colerick, Congressman from Fort Wayne pressured the Indiana legislature to appeal to Congress for a federal courthouse and post office in 1873. Funding by 1882 eventually led to a building opening in 1903 [in the Old Post Office]. On June 30, 1999, the Fort Wayne Federal Building was renamed to honor E. Ross Adair who served twenty years as Indiana’s Fourth District Congressman and Ambassador to Ethiopia. The name was officially changed to the E. Ross Adair Federal Building and United States Courthouse. A ceremony was held on October 27, 2000 to commemorate the renaming of the Fort Wayne Federal Building . Read more of the history in A Fort Wayne Architectural Landmark by Tom Castaldi published August 27, 2014 in History Center Notes & Queries blog.
October 22, 1932 Ft. Wayne, Ind. P.O. & Ct. H. Source: National Archives, RG 121-BS, Box 28, Folder K, Print 2A (1932). Historic Federal Courthouses Fort Wayne, Indiana (1932) at FJC Federal Judicial Center.gov.
We've heard from many of you about the "Riddle of the Month", so Back by Popular Demand! We bring you a three part "ROTM". This is the actual photo we picked up from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette after they ran a story. Part 1: Who are these guys? Part 2: Where are they surveying at? (Hint, the reason for the newspaper feature) Part 3: What decade was the story? Good luck.
It's Wall of Fame Wednesday Folks! Check out this 8" x 10" glossy photo from The Journal-Gazette article on the Adams...
It's Wall of Fame Wednesday Folks! Check out this 8" x 10" glossy photo from The Journal-Gazette article on the Adams Center Landfill in 1984 of Hofer and Davis! While employed by our fathers at that time, we visited the landfill once a month to measure the amout of waste put into a pit to determine when it would be full.
African / African American Historical Society Museum of Allen County
At one time, the neighborhood southeast of downtown Fort Wayne was home to many of the city’s Black residents. As the business district expanded following World War II, commercial buildings, offices, and parking lots claimed many of the area’s older houses. One unlikely survivor serves today as home of the African/African-American Historical Society Museum of Fort Wayne, founded in 2000 to share the cultural heritage of Africa and the achievements of Blacks locally and nationally.
Located at 436 E. Douglas Avenue, the duplex that houses the museum’s collection has its own story to tell. It is the only building still standing in Fort Wayne once listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide for African Americans published between 1936 to 1967 to chronicle businesses safe to visit. Listed as “Mrs. B. Talbot’s Tourist Home,” the large Victorian residence offered shelter for Black travelers who were not welcomed in local, white-owned hotels.
The museum includes the area’s largest public collection of African art, as well as documents, photos, and artifacts highlighting Allen County’s Black and African American history from 1809 to present day. Read more about the museum, including how a recent grant is helping protect its collection: https://www.indianalandmarks.org/.../grant-helps-african.../
Located at 436 E. Douglas Avenue, the duplex that houses the African/African-American Historical Society Museum of Fort Wayne has its own story to tell. It is the only building still standing in the city once listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide for African Americans published between 1936 to 1967 to chronicle businesses safe to visit.
Saturday, April 28, 1951, 11 people were killed when a United Airlines DC-3, Flight 129, departed Cleveland, Ohio heading for Chicago, crashed on approach to Baer Field, killing 8 passengers and a crew of 3. There was a severe thuderstorm in the area, when the aircraft was east of the airport the wind increased to 60-65 miles per hour with gusts to 85 miles per hour and a heavy rainfall began, accompanied by lightning and severe static. See Accident Description on AviationSafety.net.
In the late 1950's, Lt. Art Ivan, from Leo, crashed an Air Guard jet but bailed out and survived. No information was found online.
Friday, February 10, 1989, 1st Lt. David E. Kruse, 26, of Fort Wayne, a weapons specialist crash-landed an Indiana Air National Guard F-4 fighter jet after smoke filled the cockpit and the pilot passed out, officials said. Kruse, the pilot died but the other crewman, Maj. Wilburt J. Elliott, 39, of South Bend, survived. Read A weapons specialist crash-landed an Indiana Air National Guard... published February 11, 1989 on UPI.com, the United Press International.
Built on Carroll Road in 1989, website http://allencountyfairgroundsin.com/, Facebook. The Allen County Fair started in the 1940s at the old Fort Wayne Speedway, then bounced between Huntertown and Woodburn, until they found a home in the Coliseum, until it expanded and moved to Carroll Road. The Allen County Fair is the only county that does not receive state funding for the fair, as funding is entirely from one week of fair each July.
ALLEN COUNTY NEWSPAPERS: A SHORT HISTORY of local newspapers back to 1838 by Justin Clark published April 18, 2017 on Hoosier State Chronicles Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. See our Newspapers page.
Photo of building at 1800 Broadway, corner of Swinney Avenue, was discussed May 12, 2019 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Culled from the comments it was built around 1950 as Brouwer's Firestone and Texaco in the (late) Art Moderne style. It was a combination of tire store, filling station, service garage, and a small hardware-type retail store. The Brouwer family operated on the site prior to construction of the 1950 building, in a smaller Texaco filling station. Until 1965 was Brouwers Tire and Battery where Ray Ditton was the sales manager for Firestone tires. In the 1960s and 1970s it was a Goodyear tire and GE appliance store. TEKVenture maker lab moved to the block in 2014, then in 2017 moved to 1550 Griffin. There is tax sale information for Swinney Avenue Partners LLC 1800 BROADWAY.
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry says Amazon’s decision to locate a third fulfillment center in Allen County, this one with a commitment for nearly 1,000 jobs, was fueled by investment in quality of place amenities and infrastructure improvements. READ MORE: Henry: Quality of Life, Airport Helped Land Amazon
American Steel Dredge Company
American Steel Dredge Company/Taylor Street:
In the early 1900’s dredging was a big business in the Midwest as the remnants of the Great Black Swamp, a leftover of the last ice age, spread over large areas of Northern Indiana and Ohio. Other large swamp areas covered other states, all of which were ripe for being drained and becoming fertile farm ground. American Steel Dredge Co. was an early manufacturer of steam shovels and river dredges. The company was founded in Logansport in 1906 and then moved to Fort Wayne on Taylor Street in 1909 right across from what was then the Fort Wayne Rolling Mills, later renamed Joslyn Stainless Steel, then Slater Steel and now today known as Valbruna Slater Stainless for the Italian company, Acciaierie Valbruna SpA, that owns it.
The self-propelled “Wayne Crane” was designed in 1942. Acquired by American Hoist and Derrick of St. Paul, MN, in 1955, later renamed AmHoist, the Fort Wayne operations closed in 1983 [ June 1984? ] and the parent company, Amdura, went out of business in 1985. The pieces were then picked up by investors, who renamed the company American Crane, selling it in 1998 to TEREX Corp. of Wilmington, NC. TEREX also owns Fort Wayne’s Advanced Mixer, the manufacturer of front discharge cement mixers, as well as the remnants of the old Hi-Ranger line of bucket trucks that were once manufactured in part of the old Bowser plant on Creighton Street. However, only the cement trucks are still made locally. The pictured old American Steel Dredge buildings on Taylor Street now house part of the OmniSource division of Steel Dynamics.
Walter Walb was the General Manager of the Fort Wayne Division of American Hoist and it’s for him that the Walb Memorial Union at PFW is named.
105 East Lewis Street, taped August 11, 1976 American Legion Lincoln Post --Fort Wayne, Indiana
published November 11, 2016 by the Allen County Public Library on YouTube. This clip is a short piece that is part of a longer series of Fort Wayne landmarks documented on open reel video tape in the 1970s. The series was made possible by the Fort Wayne Public Library, now the Allen County Public Library. This segment was recorded August 11, 1976 at 105 East Lewis in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Camera and Editing by Steve Fortriede.
American Legion post 47, opened in 1919, was located on the north side of Wayne street, between Webster and Harrison. The legion post moved to Reed Road.
The page established in January 2014 has many photos of the building at 226 Wayne Street that was torn down in June 2014 to build the Ash Skyline Plaza that opened June 1, 2016.
1212 E. California Road. See October 2, 1962 photo of brand new building for Allen County Chapter and Regional Blood Center for 43 Indiana and Ohio chapters in The Journal Gazette newspaper posted April 20, 2017 by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook.
Antibus Scales & Systems, Inc.
75th anniversary was on January 1, 2013. Inception in 1938, is a sales/service distributor in the weighing equipment business with sales and service capabilities. Headquarters in Fort Wayne with branch offices in both South Bend and Toledo Ohio serve customers within a 75 mile radius of either location. Web site: http://www.antibus.com/
Anthony Hotel
The nine-story, 263-rooms opened in Februry 1908 at 128 West Berry corner of Harrison Street. In 1947 leased to F. Harold Van Orman, president of Fort Wayne Daisies women's baseball team, along with Ernie Berg and Ramon Perry, was the original backer/owner of the newly formed (1952) Fort Wayne Komets. Hotel rebranded as the Van Orman until 1968, rebranded the Anthony and imploded January 13, 1974.
Anthony Hotel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, circa 1911 postcard: Postmarked August 15, 1911. Completed in 1908, the building was designed by Fort Wayne architect Charles Weatherhogg. It was located at the northeast corner of Berry and Harrison Streets. Later renamed the Van Orman, the hotel was imploded in 1974 and turned into a parking lot. on the The Indiana Album.
The Fort Wayne Hotel Company began construction in of the nine-story, 263-room Anthony hotel in 1905, opening with a celebratory banquet in February of 1908. Ornate with a stained-glass central skylight and expansive use of marble, the hotel was designed by local architect Charles Weatherhogg who had the family crest of General Anthony Wayne emblazed on chair backs and other hotel items. Located at 128 West Berry, the northeast corner of Berry and Harrison, the hotel was first managed by Hugh Keenan and later by his son James. The Keenan family also operated other hotels in Toledo and Milwaukee and later even opened the competing Keenan Hotel at Harrison and Washington Streets in----- 1923. In 1947 the Anthony was leased to F. Harold Van Orman, who poured $400,000 into modernizing the popular downtown gathering place and rebranding it as the Van Orman. Harold Van Orman was also active locally as president of the Fort Wayne Daisies women’s baseball team and, along with Ernie Berg and Ramon Perry, was the original backer/owner of the newly formed (1952) Fort Wayne Komets. When Van Orman’s lease expired in 1968, it was again renamed the Anthony but closed a year later and fell into disrepair. With more than $100,000. owed in back taxes, the property was sold in 1973 to Fort Wayne National Bank who was seeking an adjacent parking lot. On January 13, 1974 and with 294 explosive charges, downtown’s grand dame for more than 65 years came down in just 9 seconds. Three blocks away and 10 months later in October, the 13-story Keenan Hotel met the same fate.
(Image courtesy of ACPL)
Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne historian and author of two books on local history.
🕰️ Wayback Wednesday: The Anthony Hotel 🏨 Today, we’re turning back the clock to explore the historic Anthony Hotel in...
Today, we’re turning back the clock to explore the historic Anthony Hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Once a bustling hub of elegance and hospitality, this iconic hotel, designed by architect Chas. R. Weatherhogg, captures the charm and sophistication of a bygone era.
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.
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.
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.
Website: www.archfw.org, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/archfw/, ARCHFW videos: https://archfw.org/video-gallery/, YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@archinc6604and https://www.youtube.com/@archinc.3743 - Architecture and Community Heritage since 1975. ARCH Endangered Structure List of 2012’s most endangered structures, with the number decreasing from 10 to eight since last year. Topping the list is the Merchant-Huxford House at 520 Tennessee Ave., the home of one of Fort Wayne’s earliest mayors. According to legend, the house contains timbers from the last fort in the city. The list also included the S.F. Bowser building on Creighton Avenue vacated by the Fort Wayne Police Department, then torn down in 2016. From ARCH endangered-structure list dips to 8 by Sarah Janssen of The Journal Gazette newspaper November 16, 2012.
At 1415 West Washington Boulevard. In 1994 it was included on the "Fort Wayne Bicentennial Heritage Trail" as one of the outstanding homes in the celebrated West Central Neighborhood. From An Archbishop’s Home by Tom Castaldi, local historianpublished January 29, 2015 in the History Center Notes & Queries blog.
1117 Broadway, www.aaronsorientalruggallery.com, handmade rugs, Where every rug is a masterpiece. 40th anniversary was January 1, 2013.
Art
List of public art in Fort Wayne, Indiana at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. This list applies only to works of public art accessible in an outdoor public space. For example, this does not include artwork visible inside a museum. Most of the works mentioned are sculptures.
This our "Bird's Eye View" of the new Ash Complex being built right across the street from our office at 203 West Wayne Street Suite 316, Fort Wayne, IN.
First photo from their 136 photo Album: ASH CHRONOLGY showing the site June 27, 2014 from demolition through building the new Ash building April 15, 2016.
April 27, 2015 post on Facebook: Check out our latest snapshots from downtown Fort Wayne! We know construction moves quickly - be sure to look at the Weigand Construction webcam for nearly up-to-the-minute views of progress.
Post is from the Ash Brokerage's albums: Ash Skyline Project Our new Headquarters is going up in downtown #FortWayne and we can't be more excited as the construction goes on!
Beautiful turf does not always grow on the ground. Check out the Skyline Park Rooftop of the Ash building! We are thankful for the opportunity to provide Endure fertilizer for such a cool space! #milancenter#visionscapes#ashbuilding#downtownfortwayne
535 W. Wayne Street, founded in 1974, founder Tim Borne and president Tom Borne still maintain highly visible roles even after they sold the business to a holding company based out of Tennessee a few years ago. Website: asheragency.com
Aspy's BestOne Tire & Auto Care
14808 Minnich Road, Hoagland, New Haven area, 58th anniversary on January 1, 2013, website: www.aspytire.com
350 Pearl Street. Started in 1901 by J. B. Franke as the Fort Wayne Biscuit Company. In early 1900s became Perfection Biscuit Company. In 1944 became a member of Quality Bakers of America (QBA) and began baking Sunbeam Bread April 26, 1942. Known for their 1957 iconic rotating Sunbeam bread sign, their name changed in 2005 to Aunt Millies, see How It All Started on the Aunt Millies website.
Aunt Millie's has been baking Sunbeam Bread since 1957. Today we received one of the nicest compliments ever, from Jeff Snow. Here is an excerpt:
I was in Kokomo July 12th and 13th for Indiana Sprintweek. We bought a loaf of Sunbeam Giant bread that was hands down the best loaf of bread we had ever eaten. I figured it was from Aunt Millie's and flipped it over and confirmed that thought. I’d swear it felt and tasted like it was fresh out of the oven...
You guys are doing something right when three guys watching sprint car races are talking about the quality of your bread!
Aunt Millie's bakes Sunbeam bread. Last week we received this message from Ashley Marie Glock that really made our day:
Thank you so much for the Christmas packaging on the Sunbeam bread. Your courage has convinced me to always buy Aunt Millie's brand from now on! I posted this on my profile this morning after noticing it for the first time: (Sorry if this is a little lengthy, but I feel like it is worth it.) I had the most unexpected testimony this morning, and feel compelled to share it with anyone interested in reading it.
I was making breakfast, worrying about the typical offenders: bills, the pets' health, school, family problems, friends who are struggling with various things, etc. When I went to put the bread away, I noticed a picture on the front of the bag of a little girl praying. I'd never really looked at the bread bag before, so I found it odd. Was this a seasonal thing, or does Sunbeam always have that there? I looked closer, and saw that the picture included next to it two Bible verse numbers in the tiniest, faintest print: Matthew 4:4 and Deuteronomy 8:3. So of course I look them up, because I'm shocked that in a christian-bashing society like this someone is allowed to put religious text on their packaging. Both of the verses said the following: "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
After reading that, I can't explain the sudden sense of peace and realization I felt. I was reminded that we don't rely on just "bread", or money, or material things, but on the words of God which include faith, hope, and love among many others. When I was least expecting it and really needed it, God reminded me in a subtle but amazing way that He will provide all things that we need in this life, and will give us peace and joy if we just remember what is truly important. And he did it just with a bag of bread. So if you are my friend or family and are struggling with anything big OR small, I love you with all of my heart. Try to remember that even if this world is throwing things at you one after another, God is there for you and will provide for you what you need. He loves you!
In 2007 the sign was renovated in honor of its 50th birthday. Working on the sign are Creative Sign Resources employees Chris Young, Mike Becraft and Joe Glen.
In 2007 the sign was renovated in honor of its 50th birthday. Working on the sign are Creative Sign Resources employees Chris Young, Mike Becraft and Joe Glen.
In 1944, Aunt Millie’s Bakeries (then Perfection Biscuit Company) in Fort Wayne became a member of Quality Bakers of America (QBA) and began baking Sunbeam Bread.
Generations of Allen County residents have memories of the smell of baking bread wafting through downtown Fort Wayne. John B. Franke established the Wayne Biscuit Company in 1901, producing Perfection Wafers (P.W. Crackers) and later bread, cakes and cookies. In 1923 it became the first bakery in Indiana to offer wrapped bread. Always a family affair, after Franke’s death in 1927 his son-in-law H. Leslie Popp took over the running of the bakery (the Popp family still owns the bakery). By the mid-1950s the cookie and cracker lines were phased out. Since 1957 the iconic animated sign, featuring slices of bread falling fresh from the loaf, has been a landmark in downtown Fort Wayne. The aroma of baking bread began to waft over the city when Perfection Bakeries began making Sunbeam Bread in 1946 and Aunt Millie’s in the 1990s. Perfection Bakeries changed its name to Aunt Millie’s Bakeries in 2005. In 2017, it was announced that the Fort Wayne bakery would be closing. However, as a continued mark of its dedication to Fort Wayne, Aunt Millie’s announced that their corporate headquarters would remain at their Pearl Street location. #sociallyhistory
Recently we sat down with John H.D Wagner from 21Alive to discuss the Sunbeam sign at our corporate office in Fort Wayne, IN. Indeed, it is just that simple.
It's #WaybackWednesday! Take a look at these moving then and now photos from 1908 and 2017, thanks to the Daniel A. Baker collection in our Community Album.
Built in 1862 by Francis S. Aveline, the Aveline Hotel stood proudly across from the Courthouse at Calhoun and Berry. It was the city's top accommodation. Tragically, on May 3, 1908, a devastating fire claimed the lives of 12 guests.
Eventually, the Shoaff office building was constructed, later known as the Gettle Building after optometrist Dr. Homer R. Gettle, and finally became the Courtside Building.
The Azar family opened their first restaurant in 1954. By 1973 they had 27 restaurants including 22 Azar's in Indiana and Colorado, Char Kings, Moonraker and Fat Fritz's.
As with most people arriving at Ellis Island, Abraham Azar wanted a better life.
The Middle Eastern immigrant landed on American soil in 1899 at age 20. Hailing from a small town an hour north of Damascus in Syria, his destination was Bryan, Ohio. Azar had a cousin there who said he could get him a job.
Years later, Azar made good – his son Alex especially so.
Alex Azar, the 90-year-old co-founder of Azar Inc., opened a Big Boy restaurant franchise in 1954 with his brother, David, after they decided to branch out from their humble grocery store on Calhoun Street.
By the late 1980s, the business had grown to be worth more than $40 million, encompassing 50 restaurants in Indiana and Colorado, including exclusive Big Boy franchise rights in Colorado. Azar Inc. also owned Marriott hotels in Fort Wayne and Grand Rapids, Mich.
The company’s portfolio is under the radar today. It has switched from primarily a restaurant and hospitality operation to a real estate investment firm.
Fort Wayne, circa 1960 - Azar's Big Boy Restaurant and Coffee Shop, with its wonderful accordion roofline and colorful modern sign (that you can almost see, even in a black-and-white photo), was located on the NW corner of Calhoun and Berry Streets, opposite the Allen County Courthouse. Today a PNC Bank is on the site.
This futuristic design was known as Googie architecture, named for the now-defunct Googies Coffee Shop in Hollywood. Characteristics include sloping roofs, boomerang-modern signs, geometric shapes, and an exaggerated use of steel, glass, and neon. Popular from 1945 until 1970, especially for roadside buildings such as restaurants and motels, the style sometimes used Space Age motifs such as satellites, atomic bursts, and rocket shapes. The flashy style fell out of favor by the 1970s when the ecology movement ushered in wood and stone structures that blended into a natural environment.
Same photo was posted December 31, 2020 by Indiana Album in a larger post requesting more photos on Facebook: Fort Wayne, circa 1960 - Azar's Big Boy and Coffee shop stood on the NW corner of Calhoun and Berry Streets. More recently, PNC Bank has occupied this corner. Seen to the right is the Allen County Courthouse.
Adding to the historic businesses recently closing in Waynedale, we have now received confirmation from multiple sources...
Adding to the historic businesses recently closing in Waynedale, we have now received confirmation from multiple sources who say that Azar's Big Boy will stay permanently closed. More information coming soon.
Follow and like The Waynedale News for more news and updates about this as it develops.
Months after closing in early April, assumedly because of COVID-19 shutdowns and lack of business, many speculated about when or if Azar’s Big Boy would reopen. Then, on Monday, June 8, social media was a-buzz with reports from unnamed employees that the infamous Big Boy in Waynedale would not reopen. A few days later, owner of the restaurant, George Azar, confirmed on their Facebook page that Azar’s Big Boy would be permanently closed.
“The coronavirus, while not the only issue, was significant. For our restaurant concept, 95% of our sates were dine-in and 30% came from our breakfast and salad bars. Going forward with the ongoing impact on public psychology I believe it is unrealistic to think that our business would not be negatively impacted,” Azar explained.
An icon of the Waynedale community, the “Big Boy” statue has resided on the corner of Bluffton and Lower Huntington Road since March 16, 1964, that is unless it was one of the years that it was “borrowed” by local high schoolers for a senior prank. The restaurant is the location of many fond memories for those who met there for business, shared family meals, and a local hangout for young people through the generations.
Originally located behind the existing structure as an “L” shaped building, Azar’s sat 68 persons inside and provided curb–side service for about 50 vehicles. In July of 1985, the existing structure was built to eliminate the curb–side service and expand the indoor seating to over 180. Later on, interior re-modeling was completed sometime in April 2000, transforming this “coffee shop” style restaurant into a “family style” restaurant. This was achieved by eliminating the majority of booth seats, creating more seating space, and concentrating on full service. The interior was enhanced in 2005 and 2010 to provide a more warm and inviting atmosphere.
The second photo labeled: Azar’s Big Boy Drive-In, Operated by the Azar family (Lebanese-Syrian).
Our community has a long tradition of welcoming new immigrant groups, providing the foundation on which they can build a new home. Some of the most influential groups are those who came from geographical locations under the rule of the Ottoman Empire or formerly under its rule. These groups include, but are not limited to, the Lebanese-Syrians, Romanians, Macedonians, and Greeks. While there are many differences in the origins of these immigrant groups, they have three things in common: they were Christians of various Eastern and Orthodox denominations, their homelands were all under the rule of Islamic Law in the Ottoman Empire, and the first wave of immigrant groups that came from that region primarily arrived during the decline and after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th and 20th centuries.#sociallyhistory
MYSTERY AZAR'S - Does anyone recognize this Azar's Drive-In and Restaurant from the 1960s? We believe that this was in northeastern Indiana. Azar's (a franchisee of Big Boy) was founded by Alex and David Azar of Fort Wayne in 1953. This design of sign and building was used as early as 1963. It is very similar to the Angola Azar's building at 309 N. Wayne (see picture in comments), but the sign was on the other side of the building. Any suggestions? (The Indiana Album: Johnson Brothers Sign Company Collection)
Today, the building that once housed so many memories is in the process of being demolished, marking the end of an era. Azar’s Big Boy, a cherished landmark in Waynedale, opened its doors on March 16, 1964, and quickly became a community favorite.
While the physical structure may be gone, Azar’s Big Boy will always hold a special place in the hearts of Waynedale residents as a cornerstone of the community where families gathered, milestones were celebrated, and stories were shared.
What are your favorite memories of Azar’s Big Boy? Share them here and you may see your memory in an upcoming edition of The Waynedale News.
Community Harvest Food Bank plans to sell and rehome a number of nostalgic signs in its possession, hopefully leading to "big" donations for the nonprofit.
Community Harvest Food Bank plans to sell and rehome a number of nostalgic signs in its possession, hopefully leading to "big" donations for the nonprofit.
Wayback Wednesday: The Anthony Hotel
FACT
gastropub on the first floor, along with Premier Bank, J R Interiors, TriCore,
One Eleven Design, and Snow & Sauerteig.
Take a look at these moving then and now photos from 1908 and 2017, thanks to the Daniel A. Baker collection in our Community Album.
Follow and like The Waynedale News for more news and updates about this as it develops.
