Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

Episode 181: Woodburn and New Haven Sep 26, 2022 by Granite Ridge Builders on YouTube
Two great small towns, and Granite Ridge Builders has new communities near both! The Studs crew are taking a look at some of the reasons these areas are booming! This commercial video has some interesting history tidbits on topics like the Maumee River, Great Black Swamp, Kreager Park, river trails, and how Woodburn got its name

Shortly after the Wabash and Erie Canal opened to traffic town came into being. Located at “Gundy’s Deadening”, eight miles east of Fort Wayne in Adams Township, hoped to profit from movement on canal. Town platted by Eben & Henry Burgess. Incorporated in 1866. Eban Burgess sold eight acres to son Henry in 1836 for $1,600, the younger Burgess platted the area and named the fledgling settlement New Haven after the family's hometown in Connecticut.

An April 4, 2025 post with photos on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebookstates: This building on Broadway and Bell Streets in New Haven, Indiana is known to be the oldest commercial building in the city. It opened as a blacksmith shop in 1860 that shoed horses used in drawing the boats on the canal as well as making repairs on the canal boats. (History credit: City of New Haven, Indiana)

Chapter 2: A Town Arises from Need states: The first blacksmith shop, seen by the Richart family as they entered town in 1844, was that of Balsar Federspiel on the southwest corner of Ann Street and Bell Avenue. In 1860, Mr. Federspiel moved his blacksmith shop to a new building which still stands at 328 Broadway as the oldest commercial building in New Haven. The shop shoed horses used in drawing the packet (passenger) boats on the Canal and made Canal boat repairs.

Schuckman Hall, Stock Saloon, New Haven, IN, 1880s in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.

Essentially the same photo as sepia tone cut off the man furthest on left side from 1870s posted January 31, 2024 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

1. Website: newhaven.in.gov
2. The City of New Haven Indiana on Facebook posts Fun Facts with photos and historical information on buildings, bridges, events, and more.
3. New Haven Centennial, Allen County, Indiana and New Haven Canal Days, 1991, Allen County, Indiana at The Genealogy Center
4. New Haven offering 150 good reasons to celebrate all year long by Kevin Leininger published June 21, 2016 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
5. New Haven Petition for Incorporation, 1866 and New Haven Local Census, 1866 on ACGSI.org.
6. Get a modern look at An Afternoon in New Haven, Indiana! by Emma C. posted on August 07, 2017 by Visit Fort Wayne.
7. Facebook: New Haven Area Heritage Association posts photos and videos, website: New Haven Area Heritage Association, Inc. This corporation is formed for the purpose of promotion, preservation, research, study, and appreciation of the historical heritage of the Greater New Haven, Indiana area and for any other lawful purpose under the laws of the State of Indiana.
8. Canal Days, which began in 1958, took place sporadically before becoming an annual tradition in 1974. The event, which traditionally took place in early June, included a parade, food vendors and carnival rides. The New Haven Canal Days Festival committee has disbanded, ending what had been an annual celebration in east Allen County, a New Haven official said. New Haven festival committee docks Canal Days June 30, 2023 The Journal Gazette newspaper.

9. 1912 - New Haven and Men and Women Who Have Given It Fame

   Article from Mar 17, 1912 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1912, New haven, Indiana

   1912 - New Haven and Men and Women Who Have Given It FameThe Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, March 17, 1912, Page 17A.

   See Salvador Peltier.

10. Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima Traction Co. in New Haven, Indiana August 13, 2022 Mike Fromholt on YouTube.
    Short video on the history and route of the Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima Traction Company railway, an inturban railroad that was built in 1905 and operated until 1932 when it was abandoned. I will be pointing out signs of the railway, with some relics of it as well. Special thanks to Craig Berndt for the photos of the depot from when it was still standing. This is the second of what I hope to be multiple videos on the histroy of New Haven, Indiana. I hope to produce about one per month, so please come back, or better yet, subscribe,. I am a 40-year resident of New Haven, 31 years of that delivering mail for the USPS here in New Haven(retired).

11. New Haven, Indiana History-3 North Rufus & Nicholas Schuckman August 23, 2022 Mike Fromholt on YouTube
    In this video on New Haven, Indiana history, I briefly explore the area of North Rufus and what was the land of Nicholas Schuckmn. Schuckman was a early New Haven merchant, and his second wife was Anna Schnelker, a daughter of another early New Haven residence, Henry Schnelker. I also visit the George Hazelet filling station, which sat on the Schuckman property after he purchased it after 1915. As for me, I am a retired letter carrier for the New Haven Post office, with 31 years of service. A lot of what I know, I learned from talking to older residents,...hopefully it's accurate. I have aso been a genealogy researcher for over 40 years.

12. Today Recorder Nicole Keesling and Chief Deputy Recorder Judy McMichael joined as New Haven Indiana Mayor Steve...

    Posted by Allen County Recorder's Office on Friday, May 31, 2024

    Friday, May 31, 2024 post by the Allen County Recorder's Office on Facebook:

    Today Recorder Nicole Keesling and Chief Deputy Recorder Judy McMichael joined as New Haven Indiana Mayor Steve McMichael unveiled of a series of functional art pieces across downtown New Haven depicting the history of New Haven. Amazing job to local artist Kim Linker who paired all the amazing art pieces!

13. Congratulations, City of New Haven Indiana on the unveiling of your Transformation through Transportation: First 100...

    Posted by Allen County INfo on Friday, May 31, 2024

    Friday, May 31, 2024 post by the Allen County INfo on Facebook:

    Congratulations, City of New Haven Indiana on the unveiling of your Transformation through Transportation: First 100 Years interactive art installation. Commissioner Nelson Peters recognized the importance of New Haven’s history in the greater scope of the county and acknowledged this project as an important part of the Bicentennial celebrations that highlight the past, present and future of our community.

    For more information and to access the location map of all 8 functional art pieces go to New Haven: First 100 Years

14. The City of New Haven Indiana unveiled their “Transformation through Transportation: First 100 Years” art installations...

    Posted by Allen County Bicentennial on Saturday, June 1, 2024

    Saturday, June 1, 2024 post by the Allen County Bicentennial on Facebook:

    The City of New Haven Indiana unveiled their “Transformation through Transportation: First 100 Years” art installations yesterday — part of their Allen County Bicentennial celebrations.

    Today, June 1, from 12-1:30 p.m., the community is invited to Schnelker Veteran’s Memorial Park to celebrate, pick up a “passport,” and explore the art pieces on a self-guided tour!

    Made from repurposed wind turbine blades and painted by local artist Kim Linker, these 10 functional art pieces tell stories of New Haven’s history at key “discovery sites” around the city. Scan the QR code at each location to learn about the history that unfolded there.

    Details and locations: New Haven: First 100 Years

15. Took a nice bike ride through Beautiful Downtown New Haven this morning taking photos of our eight new "Discovery Sites"...

    Posted by Craig Dellinger on Saturday, June 1, 2024

    Saturday, June 1, 2024 post by Craig Dellinger shared June 1, 2024 to the New Haven Area Heritage Association on Facebook:

    Took a nice bike ride through Beautiful Downtown New Haven this morning taking photos of our eight new "Discovery Sites" which portray the first 100 years of New Haven. Most are benches or tables, one is a swing, and one is a planter. All of them were painted by Kim Linker who also is responsible for the beautiful murals downtown as well as some of the New Haven Community Foundation Bulldogs around town. They were funded by a generous donation from a 5th generation former New Haven resident whose relatives were the Schnelker family. The pieces are manufactured out of recycled wind turbines. Each piece has a QR code that you can find out more about New Haven's past. Scan the QR code I included with the photos to see a map of all their locations. Explore your city!

    [ See Lincoln Highway and historic Steam Locomotive 765 ]

16. Some New Haven History Presented in Art June 9, 2024 Mike Fromholt on YouTube
    NEW HAVEN A recent project to show the history of the city of New Haven, Indiana was unveiled in May, 2024. There were 8 sites throughout the community where a art object was made explaining through murals such things as the settling of the area and the development of transportation through the building of a canal and then the railroads. All of the art is functional as they are benches, a swing and a planter, all made from recycled wind turbines. This is the second version that I have posted, as this one gives a short tidbit of something historical concerning the location of each. So please enjoy.

17. 

    Lake Maumee is the red-pink area on the right of this Map of Allen County Indiana Roads, Bates, Roy M., 1950-1955, Map of Allen County Indiana including townships and roads. Physiographic and geologic supplied by Roy M. Bates. Not dated. on History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network.

    June 10, 2024 post by New Haven Area Heritage Association Admin on Facebook:

    New Haven has been ‘old’ for a long time, but you’ve made it historical! The above is a great presentation! I just hope the locals will appreciate it and take care of it! (I’m referring to the art pieces with murals, etc.)

    A friend and I paddled our kayaks down the Maumee River a few years ago to near Woodburn. I kept thinking about all the Native Americans that traversed the same waterway over the thousands of years since the last glacial period.

    If the landscape that New Haven sits upon could talk, it would have us all spellbound! A geologist from IPFW gave a bus tour of the New Haven community about 35+/- years ago to area school teachers. He explained Lake Maumee and what happened to it when the glacier melted, collapsed, and released immense amounts of water across what is now Ft. Wayne. It flowed toward Huntington and ultimately into the Wabash River Basin. The land which Lake Maumee occupied is today the black, rich farmland that is filling up with new homes and businesses. Highway 37 formed part of the northern boarder of this ancient lake, and local farmers are aware that farmland between Highways 37 and 930 is more productive than land elsewhere. Lake Maumee also covered the Black Swamp in Ohio towards Toledo, where the present Maumee River empties into Lake Erie. Locally the most prominent shoreline in New Haven is seen just north of Highway 930 as you approach it from the north near NHHS, DQ, KFC, and other businesses along the south side of the highway. Central Lutheran and New Haven Middle Schools would have been submerged!

    The canal era and the founding of New Haven are recent history compared to the very interesting geological past of this area!

18. Join us in congratulating Officer Seth Derickson on his promotion to Corporal!

    Posted by City of New Haven Indiana on Tuesday, June 18, 2024

    Tuesday, June 18, 2024 post by the City of New Haven Indiana on Facebook:

    Join us in congratulating Officer Seth Derickson on his promotion to Corporal!

19. 🎉We are thrilled to share that the City of New Haven Indiana recently commemorated the grand opening of its newly renovated and expanded public safety facility, designed by Elevatus Architecture.🎉 The impressive 6,800 square foot addition boasts modern City Council chambers, inviting conference rooms, and enhanced Mayor’s offices. With its complete brick façade and limestone accents, the building addition stands as a testament to the city's commitment to progress. A renovation revitalized 7,650 square feet of the existing facility, with notable improvements to the City Clerk’s office, seven new police department offices, spacious conference rooms, a weight room, and a reconfigured squad room. Heartfelt congratulations to everyone at the City of New Haven for bringing this project to fruition! #BuildingABetterFuture #AConstructionSolutionsProvider

    Posted by Hagerman on Monday, September 16, 2024

    Monday, September 16, 2024 post by Hagerman on Facebook:

    We are thrilled to share that the City of New Haven Indiana recently commemorated the grand opening of its newly renovated and expanded public safety facility, designed by Elevatus Architecture.

    The impressive 6,800 square foot addition boasts modern City Council chambers, inviting conference rooms, and enhanced Mayor’s offices. With its complete brick façade and limestone accents, the building addition stands as a testament to the city's commitment to progress.

    A renovation revitalized 7,650 square feet of the existing facility, with notable improvements to the City Clerk’s office, seven new police department offices, spacious conference rooms, a weight room, and a reconfigured squad room.

    Heartfelt congratulations to everyone at the City of New Haven for bringing this project to fruition!

20. Former New Haven Mayor Lynn Shaw died Monday evening. He was 88. Shaw was remembered Tuesday as an advocate for improving quality of life for New Haven citizens.

    Posted by The Journal Gazette on Tuesday, February 25, 2025

    Tuesday, February 25, 2025 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:

    Former New Haven Mayor Lynn Shaw died Monday evening. He was 88.

    Shaw was remembered Tuesday as an advocate for improving quality of life for New Haven citizens.

21. Lynn Hopkins Shaw, 88, of New Haven, passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne. Born in...

    Posted by Harper's Community Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 25, 2025

    Tuesday, February 25, 2025 post by Harper's Community Funeral Home on Facebook:

    Lynn Hopkins Shaw, 88, of New Haven, passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne. Born in Fort Wayne, he was the son of the late Norman and Evahelen (Hopkins) Shaw. A graduate of New Haven High School, he went on to serve in the Air National Guard for eight years. He… Lynn Hopkins Shaw

22. Posted by Harper's Community Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 25, 2025

    Tuesday, February 25, 2025 shared post by Harper's Community Funeral Home on Facebook:

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