Allen County, Indiana Places

F Names

Fall Out Shelter

See Murland E. Anderson.

Falstaff Brewery

The Last Days of Falstaff Brewing Ft. Wayne 1989 by John Smallshaw published on Feb 6, 2017.

Formerly Berghoff Brewing at 1019 Grant Avenue. Fort Wayne operations started on April 12, 1954, when Falstaff bought the Berghoff Brewing Company. The corporation also brewed in St. Louis, New Orleans, Galveston, El Paso, Omaha, San Jose, San Antonio and San Francisco. The Falstaff Corporation was bought by Paul Kalmanovitz's brewing conglomerate, General Brewing, in 1975. At that time it made 1.2 million barrels annually at the Fort Wayne plant. Headquarters was moved to Fort Wayne in 1977. After the 1990 closing of the last Falstaff brewery in Fort Wayne, the brand name became a licensed property of Pabst, which continued to produce Falstaff Beer through other breweries. Having sold only 1468 barrels of the brand in 2004, Pabst discontinued production of the Falstaff label in May 2005. Copied from A look into Fort Wayne beer history by Jaclyn Goldsborough published December 26, 2013 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. Storage tanks were eventually sold to a brewery in China. Falstaff Brewery Closing In Ft. Wayne published November 09, 1989 in the Chicago Tribune.

Old Federal Building

Located at the southeast corner of Berry and Clinton Streets which housed the Post Office and Federal Courtroom. Built in 1889 and razed in 1938, it was replaced by the new Federal Building on Harrison Street in 1932. A Fort Wayne Through Time Leftovers: The book, Fort Wayne Through Time.

Fort Wayne Post Office 1889 – 1932
By Randy Harter
Fort Wayne Reader
2018-10-05

1900 Old Post Office

Our city’s first post office was in Hanna & Barnett’s general store at Barr and Columbia Streets. Samuel Hanna, appointed in 1820, was our first postmaster. The post office would go on to have a few other locations, including on Court Street facing the Courthouse, before this magnificent building pictured here was completed in 1889. The site of this post office (also known as the Federal or Government Building) was at the southeast corner of East Berry and Clinton Streets; the lot was purchased in 1883 for $34,000. However, due to the wait for further appropriations, it would not be until 1885 that construction began.

Designed in Washington, D. C. under the direction of Mifflin E. Bell (Supervising Architect of the U. S. Treasury Department) in the Richardsonian Romanesque style popular in the late 1800’s, the building’s turret reached a height of 115 feet above the ground making it among the tallest structures in the city when it was completed at a cost of $215,000.

To the chagrin of officials in Indianapolis, rather than being built of limestone from southern Indiana, it was constructed of buff sandstone from the Stony Point, Michigan quarry owned by Fort Wayne businessman Steven B. Bond. Bond later also supplied the sandstone for the City Building (now the History Center) one block east, completed in 1893.

In addition to the post office on the first floor, beginning in 1903, the building also housed the Federal Court on the second floor as well as other federal offices including the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Marshal’s office. This building was replaced by the new post office and federal courthouse building on Harrison between Douglas and Brackenridge in 1932. The pictured old post office building was razed in 1938 and the site is now part of the parking lot for Citizens Square.

(Image Courtesy ACPL)

A tip of the hat to research by Hon. Judge William Lee and postal historian John Kalb.

Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne historian, author of three books on local history and the history/architecture guide for Fort Wayne Food Tours.

Felger's Peat Moss

9912 Valentine Road, (260) 693-3134, felgerspeatmoss.com, started in 1953 by Ruth and Herb Felger sells mulch, peat moss, soils and stone. See video History of Fort Wayne Business - Felger's Peat Moss by Al Crain-Shick on Indiana NewsCenter or The Family Stone by Jennifer Bloomquist and Jeffrey Crane published May 1, 2015 on BusinessPeople.

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Firestone Tire Building

Built in the 1920s at 502 W. Jefferson Blvd. for Firestone Tires. According to McMahon Tires About Us page it was McMahon Tires from 1969 until sometime after they opened their Glenbrook Store in 1981 and before Starbucks Coffee remodeled and opened in 2006. See several photos posted August 8, 2017 including a September 7, 2006 The News-Sentinel newspaperarticle about the building on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

First National Bank of Fort Wayne

May 25, 1913 news article October 25, 1913 building shown in newspaper posted May 5, 2016 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

Wabash & Erie Canal scene

The Fort Wayne & Erie canal scene of activities about the canal as it existed in early days. The large brick building in the background is still standing & was known as the "Hedekin House", an hotel, or rather a tavern. A very very significant building in early days. On north wall of bank lobby, First Natl. Bank, Fort Wayne, Indiana. (1876- ) Artist Robert Wadsworth Grafton (in who's who), Chicago, Ill. Courtesy of Charles M. Weizer, President First Natl. Bank, Fort Wayne, Indiana (see correspondence) 10/20/28 at the New York Public Library Digital Collections

See the Wabash & Erie Canal.

Image was discussed December 3, 2023 of Facebook.

  1. A small book called George Washington and Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne: First National Bank, 1924, Bert Griswold, mentioned on page 139 of Historical sources of Fort Wayne, Indiana : an annotated bibliography for doing historical research on the summit city in the Allen County Public Library by Beatty, John D., 1960-, Publication date 2000. George Washington and Fort Wayne 977.274 G88G at Allen County Public Library.
  2. The 50th anniversary celebration posted May 21, 1913 Fort Wayne News posted April 21, 2017 and May 22, 1913 Fort Wayne Daily News photo posted March 28, 2017 discussion on.
  3. Extensive history including photos of bank notes issued by the bank on FNB/First and Hamilton NB/First and Tri State NB & TC, Fort Wayne, IN (Charter 11-2701-11) at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Private Money in our Past, Present, and Future at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
  4. Eldest Bloodiest Bank in Indiana! The Old Old-First National Fort Wayne National National City Bank, Fort Wayne, Indiana old website on FrankKryder.com.

Fisher Bros. Paper Company

Founded: 1882, Location: East Berry Street, Fort Wayne (1882– ); 23 East Columbia Street (1887); 125 Calhoun Street (1893, 1899); 1005 Clinton Street ( –1903); 1007 Calhoun Street (1903– 6); 130-132 West Columbia Street (1906–14); 118–122 West Columbia Street (1914– ); 4115 Paper Place (1971, 1995); 4415 Hartman Road (1996– ) In 1882 Samuel S. Fisher purchased the interest of Meyer L. Graff in the Webb & Graff paper firm in Fort Wayne. Samuel was the son of Isaac Fisher, a German-Jewish immigrant butcher, and he worked in his father’s meat market as a young man. After his initial investment, Samuel Fisher rapidly assumed control of Webb & Graff. In March 1882 he bought out A. M. Webb and less than two months later purchased the interest of Harry Graff. Samuel’s brother Max B. Fisher then joined him in the business, which was located on East Berry Street. Read more on Fisher Bros. Paper Company on IndianaHistory.org.

Fisher West Farm

17935 West Road Street View photo from Google Maps

A historic home and farm located in Perry Township. The farmhouse was built about 1860, and is a two-story, Italianate style brick dwelling. It consists of a two-story, main block topped by a low hipped roof and belvedere; a two-story hip roofed wing; and one story gabled kitchen wing. It features a full-width front porch. Also on the property are the contributing gabled rectangular bank barn and shed-roofed pump house. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 from a November 26, 1984 application.

Flats

Usually referring to the Jailhouse Flats.

Flick House

June 21, 2020 post byHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook. Shared June 21, 2020 by Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana on Facebook with additional photos in the comments by a Flick descendant.

This beautiful home known as the Flick House was built in 1897 in what is now the Broad River Neighborhood Association - Fort Wayne. The Flick family made their living as florists in the area. The family operated multiple locations including one in Broad River and one downtown. The building downtown was purchased in 1923 for $210,000 which was a huge sum at the time. The location eventually became the Ash Skyline Plaza owned by Ash Brokerage. 

Flood of 1982

President Ronald Reagan came to Fort Wayne where he threw a couple of sand bags for national photo ops in the Lakeside Neighborhood. See our Flood of 1982 page.

Foellinger Foundation

A private, charitable foundation that awards grants in Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana. https://www.foellinger.org/. February 16, 2023 Facebook post announced An Influence for Good, a documentary film now on their website that tells the life story of Helene Foellinger and the three generations of Foellingers who preceded her in Allen County.

February 24, 2023 post by the Foellinger Foundation on Facebook shows a video trailer for the documentary:

Beginning with the immigration of Jacob Foellinger, in 1836, the Foellinger family succeeds for four generations as business-men and -women, with a deep commitment to civic involvement. After the tragic passing of her father, Oscar, the ambitious and driven publisher of The News-Sentinel, Helene Foellinger—just 25 years old at the time—leads the newspaper to even greater levels of success.

She and her mother, Esther, form the Foellinger Foundation, formalizing their commitment to uplifting the lives of the residents of Allen County. When Helene passes away with no heirs, the Foellinger Foundation receives her estate. https://www.foellinger.org/documentary

A March 17, 2023 post on Facebook annuounces it is on their website: https://www.foellinger.org/documentary.

March 17, 2023 post by One Lucky Guitar on Facebook:

Last night, Foellinger Foundation premiered 'An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story' at the Arts United Center. We're proud to have worked with the Foundation to share the history of their founders, and the three generations of the Foellingers who preceded them in Allen County.

Watch the 75-minute film on our website.

March 17, 2023 post by Brightpoint on Facebook:

Everyone in Fort Wayne should watch this documentary to learn how Helene Foellinger became "An Influence for Good." Her influence continues to live on through the many initiatives and causes she funded and continues to fund through the Foellinger Foundation.

Brightpoint also has a cameo appearance in the film as our main offices in Fort Wayne are located in the former News Sentinel Building. Congratulations to all those involved in the telling of this beautiful story. Well done.

One Lucky Guitar Red Tide Productions Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center WANE 15 The History Center

March 21, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

The History Center proudly contributed video segments from our collection and footage of our displays for the Foellinger Foundation documentary, "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". Use the link below to watch the documentary on the Foellinger Foundation's website.

 

See several video shorts for the documentary from The History Center on our Helene Foellinger page.

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory

1100 South Calhoun Street, Street View photo from Google maps

Website: www.botancialconservatory.org at City of Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation.

Hope Methodist Hospital was located on the corner of Lewis and Harrison Streets from 1917-1953 on the south side of the conservatory block. The conservatory opened November 20, 1983, was named in honor of News-Sentinel publisher Helene Foellinger and Frank Freimann, president of Magnavox. "Surround yourself with nature at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory ~ an oasis in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne Indiana. Visit the Showcase Garden with its lush seasonal displays, wander through the Tropical Garden where orchids and palms thrive in the shadows of a cascading waterfall, or retreat to the quiet beauty of the Desert Garden." Fort Wayne’s Botanical Conservatory a Breath of Fresh Air on Visit Fort Wayne blog.

  1. 1982 to 1983: Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory construction, opening by Corey McMaken June 23, 2019 in the History Journal archives of the Journal Gazette newspaperincludes two previous newspaper articles: "Ground broken on downtown gardens" (Oct. 10, 1981) and "Ready to blossom," by Sherman Goldenberg (Nov. 18, 1983) in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
  2. March 21, 2023 post by the The History Center on Facebook:

    Here is the second video segment from the History Center's collection that was provided for "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". It is from our collection of WANE-TV videotapes and is from groundbreaking of the Botanical Conservatory on October 9, 1981. #sociallyhistory

  3. The Foellinger–Freimann Botanical Conservatory is an enclosed conservatory in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Opened in 1983, the conservatory contains a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) seasonal showcase garden, a tropical oasis display, with a waterfall, Sonoran Desert display, and outdoor terrace and exploration garden, encompassing a total of 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2). The gardens display over 1,200 plants of 502 different species and 72 types of cactus. From Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia .
  4. Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory on American Public Gardens Association.

Page 45 of the book Improvement of Fort Wayne Indiana; report for Fort Wayne Civic Improvement Association by Robinson, Charles Mulford, 1859-1917. 1n. Publication date 1909 on Archive.org. This page shows the area in 1909 where the $4.5 million Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory would open in November 1983. Discussed February 10, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

Foellinger, Jacob, Sr. - House

447 West Wildwood Avenue is the Jacob Foellinger House. House #124 of Indiana Houses of the Nineteenth Century by Peat, Wilbur David, 1898- on Archive.org. One of several large Italianate houses in the south Fairfield area. It faces Fairfield Avenue. A large filling station was built in what used to be the front yard. Discussed December 15, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

November 30, 2019 post byHistoric 07 District - Fort Wayne on Facebook:

Many of us living in the area drive down Fairfield each day without noticing this beautiful home. Built in 1872 by Jacob Foellinger, a wealthy individual who was a shoe merchant. The current home sits on W. Wildwood; however, in 1872, Wildwood did not exist and the rectangle bound by Fairfield, Hoagland, Pontiac, and Kinsmoor appeared to be an open plot (as of an 1897 map).

The plot thickens though as you read the obituary stating the home is on 441 Fairfield. Perhaps this was the original address. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful home worthy of us spending some time to learn more about.

Fairfield Neighborhood

July 16, 2020 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:

The Jacob Foellinger, Sr. house on West Wildwood Avenue is our topic for today’s Throwback Thursday. Born in Prussia in 1817, Jacob Foellinger (1817-1896) learned the shoe business as a child. At age 18 he came to Fort Wayne in 1836 with no money or possessions and worked as a journeyman, until he could build his own successful shoes and boots business. He married Margaret Keifer in 1840; they had ten children. According to his obituary, “In 1872, he removed his family to his beautiful home on Fairfield Avenue, where he resided when the end came.” The house is built in the Italian Villa style. Foellinger was the grandfather of Oscar Foellinger, publisher of The News-Sentinel. His daughter, Helene, succeeded him in the newspaper business. This house has been divided into apartments and is known as Wildwood Manor. Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Indiana Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Arts United Center Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana Allen County Public Library Visit Fort Wayne The History Center Ball State College of Architecture and Planning Indiana Historical Society Indiana Historical Bureau Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Foellinger Foundation

Foellinger, Oscar - House

July 23, 2020 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:

Last week’s Throwback Thursday post was about the Jacob Foellinger house. This week’s topic is the Foellinger House on Old Mill Road. Oscar Foellinger, former owner and publisher of The News-Sentinel, hired local architect, Guy Mahurin, to design his Tudor Revival mansion, including, the accompanying stable and tennis court. When Mr. Foellinger died unexpectedly in 1936, his daughter, Helene, took over as publisher. At age 25, she was one of the youngest newspaper publishers in the country and one of a few women to run a newspaper. She resided at this residence until her death in1987. Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Indiana Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Fort Wayne Philharmonic Foellinger Foundation Foellinger Theatre Foellinger-Friemann Botanical Conservatory Gardens Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Downtown Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District Arts United Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana Allen County Public Library Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning Visit Fort Wayne The History Center Indiana Historical Society Indiana Historical Bureau Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology Hoosier State Press Association University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

November 10, 2022 post by the Foellinger Foundation on Facebook:

With black & white photo. The Foellinger family's home on Old Mill Road was designed by prominent local architect Guy Mahurin in the late 1920s. Mahurin also designed Fort Wayne’s Scottish Rite Auditorium, Chamber of Commerce, Plymouth Congregational Church, and other iconic structures.

Fortmeyer's Truck Stop

Long time truck stop in the county.

Fort Miamis

See our Forts of Fort Wayne page or Fort Miamis historical marker pageon IN.gov and Fort Miamis: The First European Settlers by Rick Willison. He has several more pages on early Fort Wayne history.

Fort Recovery

Tuberculosis recovery housing, need more research. See 1910s Fort Recovery, Allen County Indiana Historical Society photo.

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Foster Park

See our Foster Park page.

Four Presidents Corners

Street View photo from Google map

Since September 22, 1917, twin monuments have marked this rural intersection. Four Presidents Corners is the intersection of Maples and Sampson Roads in southeastern Allen County, Indiana, just northwest of Monroeville. This intersection is the junction of four townships, each named for a former president. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and Andrew Jackson (the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh presidents) are the namesakes of the four townships. Copied from the Four Presidents Corners page of the Four Presidents Corners Historical Society Monroeville, Indiana.

  1. Photo: Four Presidents Corners Description: cars line up for the dedication at the intersection of Maples and Sampson Roads in Sept. 22, 1917. This intersection is the junction of four townships, each named for a former president at the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.
  2. Monument photos at Monroeville, Indiana: Four Presidents Corners at RoadsideAmerica.com.
  3. Febuary 22, 2013 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

    About 1 year ago (February 28,2012) We wondered if any of you had ever heard of "Four Presidents Corner" in Allen County, Indiana. Several of you knew it was where four Townships, with Presidential names joined each other. From such modest beginnings, it has evolved into the ever popular Hofer and Davis, Inc. - LAND SURVEYORS "Riddle of the Week". Just last week when heading to Monroeville, Indiana, we snapped this picture of the monument documenting the site.

    Shared February 22, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

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Fox Island County Park

See the Fox Island County Park page.

Franke Park

See the Franke Park page.

John B. and Amelia Franke House

Discussed on pages 304-309 of Prairie School architecture : studies from "The Western architect" Publication date 1983 on Archive.org.
Click link above will allow limited viewing of "Franke" pages if "Limited Preview" is showing!

2131 Forest Park Boulevard - Google map Street View. See our John B. Franke article. John B. and Amelia Franke House, 2131 Forest Park Boulevard, 1999 (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 3 photos at Indiana Landmarks Historic Architecture Collection of Indiana Memory. Was discussed with photos July 30, 2022 on Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Private Facebook Group

Frankenstein Drug Store

Frankenstein Drug Store

Owned by German born druggist named M.L. Frankenstein, located at the corner of Barr and Washington. The old Foellinger Building now occupies this spot. Listed in the 1890 city directory. Frankenstein Drug Store, 1890 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authorpublshed September 23, 2014 in Fort Wayne Reader. Frankenstein Medicine bottles can be found for sale online.

Freight Depot

Formerly at 4th and Clinton Streets was torn down October 11, 2010 on Columbus Day. Owners tearing down historic 4th Street depot; City official ‘surprised and unaware' of building's demolitionby Kevin Leininger published October 12, 2010 in The News-Sentinel newspaperarchived on Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Fruehauf Trailer Corporation

Fruehauf Trailer Corporation on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. The unexpectedly fascinating story of the Fruehauf Trailer Co. How a Detroit blacksmith revolutionized motorized transportation by Graham Kozak published June 26, 2015 on AutoWeek.com. Photo posted February 19, 2024 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

Furnis Ice Cream

Was at 615 Lafayette, 1916 moved to end of Clay near Columbia Street bridge.

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