The Hall-Wallace home built in 1916 was one of the first homes built in the Harrison Hill neighborhood. A beautiful example of the Craftsman and American Foursquare styles, this home will be featured on the upcoming Historic Harrison Hill Home & Garden Tour in just a few weeks!
One incredible piece of history is that in 1988 a woman, an original resident of the home named Margaret Wallace Newman, authored a short book describing the history of the neighborhood. Here is an excerpt with a link if you want to read more. It is fascinating!
"Like the song, where shall I begin? This is a love story about a home and a neighborhood. In early May, 1920, my parents brought and moved into our home at 4003 S. Harrison Boulevard. The family included my father, Dr. J. Clifford Wallace, physician and surgeon - my dear mother - my maternal grandmother, always called by my baby name for her, "Dar" - our beautiful Persian kitty, Snowball - her kittens - and myself, eight years old that very month. What was it like on the boulevard in 1920?"
Link to 22-page Short Story: History of Harrison Boulevard Homes written by Margaret Wallace Newman, Donated by Ken & Tina Rodewald, April 18, 1988.
1510 Walton Avenue is now 1510 South Anthony Boulevard. Street View photo from Google Maps. North of Hayden Street and south of the railroad tracks. Concrete structures remain for unloading railroad coal cars across the street discussed on the Coal Places page.
CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15 , Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wane15/. Fort Wayne's second television station signed on the air on September 26, 1954 as WINT "Serving the Tri-State Treasureland." WANE radio, at 1450 on the AM dial, purchased WIN-T in 1956 and moved it to Ft. Wayne as WANE-TV, CBS, channel 15. The transmitter remained in rural DeKalb Co. until 1957. Although Ft. Wayne had two television stations, local radio was still popular because many people had not yet purchased their first TV set in the mid-to-late 1950s. --Craig Jon Berndt, "Those were the days in Dekalb County" Copied from a February 12, 2023 post on CLASSIC FORT WAYNE MEDIA on Facebook. See 66 photos from Stephen Perfect posted for WANE-TV's 60th anniversary. The new studios were dedicated in 1958. See WANE-TV on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Also had a radio station WLYV on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
WANE-TV's 60th anniversary WANE-TV first signed on the air on September 26, 1954. As you can tell from these pictures, a lot has changed over the years. Credit: Steve Perfect [66 photos]
As you're watching the NCAA tournament on your 65-inch 4K television... here's a reminder of what TV was once like! This was a letter WANE-TV sent out in 1965 when the station started broadcasting in color.
We also dug up some archives and found a photo of the technology around that time!
In our new Platinum Perspective series, we'll look back on WANE 15’s rich history, its service to the community, and the legacy it holds.
New owners took over in 1958 and rebranded to WANE. They also moved the station to West State Boulevard and into the building WANE 15 still operates out of today.
The actual launch date was September 26, 1954. Meaning, WANE 15 will turn 70 this year.
PLATINUM PERSPECTIVE | Here's an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the WANE 15 station has evolved over the last seven decades. https://trib.al/hSN0eOR
70 years ago today, WANE 15 hit the airwaves, and since then we have provided our viewers with Local Coverage You Can Count on for the last seven decades. Happy 70th Anniversary WANE 15!
70 years ago today, WANE 15 hit the airwaves, and since then we have provided our viewers with Local Coverage You Can Count on for the last seven decades. Happy 70th Anniversary WANE 15!
Montgomery Ward is the name of two successive U.S. retail corporations. The original Montgomery Ward & Co. was a world-pioneering mail-order business and later a leading department store chain that operated between 1872 and 2001. The current Montgomery Ward Inc. is a national online shopping and mail-order catalog retailer that started several years after the original Montgomery Ward shut down.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the other reindeer are celebrated with the 1940s Wolf & Dessauer Santa Claus display starting with the lighting ceremony the night before Thanksgiving lasting through the Christmas season.
December 23, 2022 post by The Library of Congress on Facebook:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was originally created as a promotion for Montgomery Ward. He first appeared in a 1939 book and later in this 8-minute 1948 film, which predates the stop motion version by 16 years. As far as we know, the Library has the only complete version of the original 1948 release. See
The full video Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s First Starring Film Role December 16, 2014 by Mike Mashon at the The Library of Congress blog.
December 24, 2022 post by the U.S. Census Bureau on Facebook:
The story of #Rudolph the Red-Nosed #Reindeer debuted 83 years ago!
The flying reindeer’s story was written as part of a holiday promotion sponsored by the Montgomery Ward department store in 1939. It was later turned into an animated short film.
Preview the animated promotion and learn more about Rudolph using #CensusData and records: U.S. Census Bureau History: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Shining a Light on the Largely Untold Story of the Origins of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer By Nate Bloom, December 20, 2011 on InterfaithFamily.com. Author’s note: This article was put together with the help of persons related to the late Johnny Marks, the composer of “Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer,” and the late Robert May, the brother-in-law of Marks. May wrote the poem on which the Rudolph song was largely based. I have also consulted many other sources, including census records and old newspaper articles. Both Marks and May put out some contradictory or incomplete stories about the Rudolph song/poem and about their respective personal biographies. Therefore, it is hard to tell “the whole story” at this time. There are some family members I would like to talk to that I have not been able reach; I am sure they could fill in some gaps in the story. Now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
In 1939 Robert May wrote the tale of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" as a promotional booklet for the Montgomery Ward department store chain. His brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, turned it into a song and sent a demo to several pop singers including Gene Autry.
According to the Autry Archives, "Gene gave it a listen, but was not impressed. He played it for his wife, Ina, who loved it and suggested that it would be a big hit. Carl Cotner, Gene’s long-time arranger, also encouraged the Singing Cowboy to do it. On June 27, 1949 Gene went in the studio and laid down the track. And, if you can believe this, Autry writes in his autobiography Back in the Saddle Again, that it was done in one take!"
The Gene Autry Personal Papers and Business Archives (1930 – 1998) are part of the Braun Library at the Autry National Center, a museum dedicated to exploring and sharing the stories, experiences, and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West, connecting the past to the present to inspire our shared future. Autry was not only a popular entertainer but a very successful businessman as well. The Autry archives contain music correspondence, business records, scripts, photos, and ephemera.
A grant from the NHPRC helped the Archives process the Autry papers and over 1,800 feet from various archival collections that broaden the story of the American West. You read more about Gene Autry at the Online Archives of California at Finding Aid to the Gene Autry Personal Papers and Business Archives T.MSA.28
This notable Queen Anne farmhouse, built c.1910, is in excellent condition. The original design of the home was an X shape, but it was never completed, so it has just two wings. Nearly all aspects of this home are original, including windows and siding. The Ward family, for whom it is named, settled here after Elwood Ward retired from the army after the Civil War. Ward, his wife Ellen and son Andrew first farmed south of Fort Wayne and moved to a 20-acre farm on Ward Road, three miles south of Harlan. In 1900, Ward purchased an adjoining 20 acres. After 31 years, the parents moved to Harlan, and their son took over. The elders celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December 1922 at their home in Harlan. ARCH is proud to present this edition of Throwback Thursday, part of its work as the historic preservation organization serving the greater Fort Wayne area, made possible by ARCH members and donors. Thank you.
Washington Hall or Ewing Tavern
Where the Allen County government started in a log tavern of Alexander Ewing off Columbia Street at the muddy intersection of Columbia and Barr streets in 1824. No longer there, it would now be the backyard of the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre and Fort Wayne Museum of Art. The Ewing Tavern site is Stop #19 The Beginnings of Fort Wayne on the
ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) Central Downtown Trail.
Waterfield Mortgage Company and the Waterfield Group
Founded in 1928 by Richard Hobbs Waterfield in Fort Wayne with his brother Dallas selling insurance for several insurance companies. The Waterfield family with seven children moved from Fort Mitchell, near Covington, KY to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1913. See The History of Waterfield Mortgage Company and the Waterfield Group by Richard D. Waterfield on WaterfieldCapitol.com.
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
Fort Wayne’s beloved Wayne Candies started life in 1902 as the confections manufacturer Heit-Miller-Lau Company so named after the founders’ three names; Anthony Heit, Joseph Miller and Thomas Lau. The company made a number of different candies including the Mary Wayne and Lady Wayne Chocolate’s brand (named after Mary Penrose Wayne, General Anthony Wayne’s wife) and sold to drug stores, variety stores , and mom and pop grocery stores throughout the area.
In 1930 W. Charles Dickmeyer bought the Heit-Miller-Lau Company and changed the company name to Wayne Candies. Dickmeyer had been with the company since 1919, and for years previously had been the sales manager for Perfection Bakeries.
While Fort Wayne Candies had made “nut clusters” along with a host of other candies they either sold in white bags or boxed with the chocolates in brown paper holders (much like Wittman’s Samplers today), in 1947 they copyrighted “Vanilla Cream Bun,” and the Bun Bar as we know it was officially born. By 1957 the Bun Bar was popular enough that it began to appear in retailers’ newspaper ads. In 1967 the company was issued a trademark for the advertising slogan “It’s Fun To Eat A Bun” which had been developed by well-known local advertising agency executive Louie Bonsib.
Fort Wayne Candies had several locations over the years, beginning at 1131 South Calhoun, then 113 East Jefferson and finally moving into the old American Fork and Hoe plant in 1950, which had been built in 1905 for the National Handle Co. and still stands to this day at 1501 East Berry, a block west of Anthony. In 2009 Brian Schaper/Metro Realty purchased the old Wayne Candies plant and has refurbished and given it a facelift in part with a City of Fort Wayne Commercial Facade Grant. The resulting building renaissance now houses a number of businesses including Summit City Brewerks and Anchor Films. After Dickmeyer died in 1968, his family sold the company (a process he had initiated) and his son Richard Dickmeyer opened Key III Candies along with Frank Hawker and Charles Nartker in 1973 on Earth Drive at Engle Road which operated until 2012.
In the meantime, Wayne Candies and its Bun Bar brand was owned by a number of large confection companies. The first outside owner was the Leaf Confectionary division of W. R. Grace (Whopper’s Malted Milk Balls), who then resold in 1974 to the Curtiss Candy division of Standard Brands (Baby Ruth and Butterfinger). It was while Standard Brands owned the company in the late 1970’s that the Reggie Bar (essentially a repackaged Caramel Bun Bar) named after baseball player Reggie Jackson was made in the Fort Wayne plant.
Standard Brands later merged with NABISCO in 1981 and they then sold Wayne Candies to the German firm Storck USA, makers of Werther’s Original, who later divested of it in 1992 to Pittsburgh Food and Beverage, owners of the Clark Bar and Slo Poke brands. They shuttered the local plant for good and moved production to Pennsylvania in 1995. A scant three years later in 1998, Pittsburgh Food and Beverage went bankrupt and the brand was picked up by Pearson’s Candy Company of St. Paul, MN, makers of Bit-O-Honey, Coconut Patties, Mint Patties, Nut Goodie, and now Bun Bars still deliciously manufactured in Vanilla, Maple and Caramel.
(Image courtesy of ACPL)
Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne historian and author of two books on local history.
When we are "Out in the Field" doing a topographic survey, we like to check a U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey Benchmark with a known elevation. This one is unusual because it is set in a building, in this case the old Wayne Candies, Home of the Bun Bar!
Another U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey Benchmark with a known elevation is on the Bursley building built in 1913 now Party Apart on the SE corner of Superior and Clinton.
3651 North Clinton Street has a complicated history is currently Carmax. See I. J. Jones and Fort Wayne Dairies. the I.J. Recycling plant was torn down in 1993 after a chemical reaction forced the evacuation of 3,000 people in a 20-block area September 9, 1986 near Glenbrook Mall leading to a $9 million government-led environmental clean-up.
National Milk Day on January 11th commemorates the day many believe that the first milk deliveries in glass bottles began in the United States. In Fort Wayne, what to do with the local dairy farmers milk was a concerning problem well into the 20th century. In the 1930s, K.L. Stickler began dreaming of a mammoth smoke stack lit at night, presiding over a building to receive milk, but a building such as the community had never seen. Beginning in 1934 in a little office on Court Street, an idea was launched. The idea was to make it easier for local farmers to get their milk to quality markets. In the first years they went through several locations: Columbia Street, South Lafayette Street, and Berry Street. In the 1940s the group decided to build a receiving plant. Construction of the new building at 3651 North Clinton, begun in 1946 and was designed by local architect A.M. Strauss. Wayne Co-Operative Milk Products, Incorporated received its first milk in May of 1948. In 1951, the plant expanded with the addition of another receiving room, a powdered milk room, garage and also a modem office. To the fast-growing list of products was added condensed milk, ice cream, cheese and later Reddi-Whip. The company continued to grow with the addition of a retail outlet for their products. Growth continued for the company as they were able to purchase facilities in Antwerp and Cleveland, Ohio and Coldwater, Michigan. In 1978, the name of the company was changed to Milk Marketing, Inc, and ceased operations in 1980. The facility was later used as an industrial waste site, which later caught fire, destroying the Art Deco-Strauss designed building. Today the location has be environmentally cleaned and is the location of CarMax near Glenbrook Mall. Take some time today to celebrate National Milk Day with your favorite milk products.
Wayne Hotel
Was located on the South side of Columbia Street (The Landing) approximately in the middle of the block between Harrison and Calhoun. It was built by John C. Peters in 1887, who was Carole Lombard's (Carol Jane Peters) grandfather. It was later known as the Jones Hotel and then the Rosemarie Hotel. The Rosemarie Hotel met it's demise by a fire in 1975.
For "Throwback Thursday" we share another picture/postcard from the Steuben County Government Building in the old Angola High School. As it says, this is the Wayne Hotel. It was located on the South side of Columbia Street (The Landing) approximately in the middle of the block between Harrison and Calhoun. It was built by John C. Peters in 1887, who was Carole Lombard's (Carol Jane Peters) grandfather. It was later known as the Jones Hotel and then the Rosemarie Hotel. The Rosemarie Hotel met it's demise by a fire in 1975.
Wayne Lodge No. 25, the oldest Masonic Lodge in northern Indiana, was established and authorized to meet in Fort Wayne on March 22, 1823. The Masonic Temple in Fort Wayne gave The Genealogy Center permission to digitize and post online this collection of Wayne Lodge Minute Books covering 1823 through 1958. These books document some of the early leaders of Fort Wayne, including familiar names such as Ewing, Foster, Rudisill, and Wells.
Wayne Paper Box factory which still stands today at the northwest corner of Superior and Calhoun. Founded as Fort Wayne Paper Box Company by Andrew Burry and Joel Welty in 1897 and incorporated the next year (1898) as Wayne Paper Box & Printing, it would later become Wayne Paper Box Corp. Its early customers included the locally owned Jenny Electric Co., Fox Candy and Wayne Knitting Mills. The company made a variety of paper products including folding corrugated boxes, gift boxes, mailing tubes, stationery, calendars and even postcards (many of which depicted Fort Wayne scenes).Wayne Paper Box factory which still stands today at the northwest corner of Superior and Calhoun. Founded as Fort Wayne Paper Box Company by Andrew Burry and Joel Welty in 1897 and incorporated the next year (1898) as Wayne Paper Box & Printing, it would later become Wayne Paper Box Corp. Its early customers included the locally owned Jenny Electric Co., Fox Candy and Wayne Knitting Mills. The company made a variety of paper products including folding corrugated boxes, gift boxes, mailing tubes, stationery, calendars and even postcards (many of which depicted Fort Wayne scenes). See photo ca. 1953 and the rest of the article Wayne Paper Box c. 1953 by
Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authorpublished June 14, 2018 in Fort Wayne Reader The current building was built in 1904 and closed in 2000. The restored industrial building houses 72 high-end apartments, 21,000 square feet of street-level retail space and climate-controlled self-storage units and is currently known as Superior Lofts located in the heart of Riverfront Fort Wayne homeatsuperiorlofts.com/about/.
Distributors of Plumbing, Heating, & Industrial Supply 117 anniversary on January 1, 2013
Wayne Pump Home Equipment Company
Building at 800 Glasgow Ave. was once the Wayne Pump factory. For a time in the 20th Century, Fort Wayne was rightly known as the world's leading pump-maker. But thanks to the city's planned $250 million tunnel designed to curb the flow of raw sewage into the rivers, another architectural remnant of those glory days is slated for demolition. ... Matthew Wirtz, City Utilities' chief engineer, said the location will make it easy to pump water and sewage from the tunnel into the adjacent Water Pollution Control Plant, which will send the treated sludge to holding ponds further to the east. Copied from Tunnel project will claim latest piece of city's once-proud pump heritage by Kevin Leininger published February 28, 2017 in
The News-Sentinel newspaper.
When Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors are "Out in the Field" doing a topographic survey, they like to check a U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey Benchmark with a known elevation. An unusual one is set in the old Wayne Candies building shown in photos posted May 8, 2017 on their Facebook page.
Check out this fabulous write-up in the Journal Gazette, featuring Stop #2 on the Home Tour!
Tour to feature 113-year-old homeThe red brick and white trim manor home at 1337 W. Wayne Street that was once owned by Howell and Vallette Rockhill sits behind a small wrought-iron gate and walkway that leads to a large, covered, front porch. The 5,300-square-foot Colonial Revival home was designed by English-born Fort Wayne architect Charles Weatherhogg and built in 1910 for the son and daughter-in-law of William Rockhill, a member of the first Fort Wayne City Council who would later serve in the U.S. Congress from 1847 to 1849. The house was later converted into a series of apartments known as "The Wingspread" until it was converted back to single-family use after a previous owner purchased it in 2015.
The Wayne Township Trustee's Office - Fort Wayne has been using rooftop solar panels to supply electrical energy to their building at 320 East Superior Street since the fall of 2022, when the newly installed panels went into operation. . .
The famous "Wayne Trace," extending from the city of Fort Wayne to the city of Cincinnati, marks the pathway of General Wayne from the fort which bore his name to the site of Fort Washington. The upper map Indicates the route taken by General Wayne and the lower drawing shows that portion of the route within the city of Fort Wayne. A sketch of the "marker" erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1906, is also shown.
Wayne Trace with photo states: Large stone dredged from St. Mary's River with bronze plaque marking the old Indian trail used by the armies of Generals Harmar (1790), Wayne (1791) and Harrison (1812). Placed originally on October 22, 1907 in Seiling Park, Wayne Trace and New Haven Avenues. Broken in 1990 and repaired by Park Board. Broken again in 1993 and was repaired by the Park Board and moved away from the intersection. The marker reads: Wayne Trace Once the Indian trail to Cincinnati The route of General Harmar's army in 1790 of General Wayne's when leaving the stockade Christened by Major Hamtramck "Fort Wayne in 1794 Also of General Harrison's army in 1812 Erected by Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. Copied from the DAR Markers page of the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Wayne Trace Once the Indian trail to Cincinnati The route Of General Harmer's Army in 1790 Of General Wayne's When leaving the stockade Christened by Major Hamtramck "Fort Wayne" in 1794 Also of General Harrison's Army In 1812. on plaque from Wayne Trace at The Historical Marker Datatbase HMdb.org.
Our friend and fellow surveyor, Kurt Luebke , now living in Missoula, Montana had inquired last week if we could get a picture of the plaque referenced in Part 4 of the "Did you know" series run by Wolf and Dessauer in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette in 1937 (See Throwback Thursday Nov. 5, 2015). We found it and here you go!
https://www.wboi.org/about-us states: Northeast Indiana Public Radio is the licensee for 89.1 WBOI - NPR News & Diverse Music, WBOI.org, WBOI Studios Podcasts, and Classical WBNI. NIPR is a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization.
The mission of Northeast Indiana Public Radio is to strengthen the cultural, civic, and social fabric of the communities we serve, and to engage audiences with content that enriches the human experience. We apply our core competencies of reporting and storytelling, our relationship with audiences, and our capacity for innovation to create a space where audiences congregate, connect and contribute to a shared understanding of their community, their country, and the world. They have many interesting sections such as News, Culture, News Archives that goes back to 1970, and more.
Did you know Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, was a resident of Fort Wayne? In 1947, Dave’s family moved to Fort Wayne. At fifteen, he worked at the local Hobby House restaurant. When his family moved, Dave decided to stay and drop out of school. He lived at the YMCA and worked full-time. In 1950, Dave joined the Army. After his service, Dave returned to Hobby House and helped owner Phil Clauss grow his chain into Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises. He also met his wife, who worked at Hobby House. Dave became a colleague of Clauss and Colonel Sanders through the 1950s. In 1962, Clauss offered Dave an opportunity to revive his franchises in Columbus, Ohio. He did so successfully and became a millionaire when they were sold. This money helped him to found his own chain, Wendy’s. Today Wendy’s has over 6,500 locations. Featured are photos of the Fort Wayne Hobby House locations. The location of the Jefferson Hobby House is now fittingly the home of a Wendy’s. #sociallyhistory
After yet another move, 15-year-old Dave found work at the Hobby House Restaurant in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He started as a busboy, then worked the fountain and went on to the front kitchen, believing that if he was going to have his own restaurant one day, he needed to know how to do every job. Owner Phil Clauss became his mentor, motivating Dave and teaching him everything about the business. In the early 1950s at the age of 18, Dave joined the Army at the start of the Korean War. From Cook and Baker's School in Fort Benning, Georgia, to becoming one of the youngest soldiers to manage the Enlisted Men's Club, Dave's entrepreneurial spirit and initiative served him well. Dave served in Germany for two and a half years, and in 1953, he returned to his job and restaurant family at the Hobby House. A new waitress, Lorraine Buskirk, caught his eye and they were soon married in 1954. Dave and his wife Lorraine grew their family to include five children – Pam, Ken, Lori, Molly and Melinda (Wendy). All the while, Dave worked toward his goal of owning his own restaurant. It was 1962 when Dave was finally offered an opportunity he couldn’t pass up – the chance to rejuvenate four failing Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurants in Columbus, Ohio. Dave had met Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC, and he quickly became one of Dave’s strongest mentors. When Phil Clauss bought a KFC franchise, he offered Dave a chance to revive his four failing restaurants in Columbus. Against even the Colonel's advice, Dave took the challenge and succeeded. He trimmed the menu and used creative promotions - swapping chicken meals for radio time and making an illuminated sign that looked like a rotating bucket of chicken. Clauss later sold the restaurants to Dave. From Dave in the Army From Dave in the Military, Family-Life & Restaurant Business at Wendys.com.
Dave Thomas - Lorraine Buskirk Marriage License registered in Allen Circuit Court!
Thomas started in the restaurant business when he was a schoolboy, busing tables at the Hobby House, 230 E. Wayne St. He was later named assistant manager at the Hobby Ranch House at Anthony Boulevard and Crescent Avenue, where he met Col. Harland Sanders, who was frequently there promoting his chicken. Thomas mastered the fried chicken business and moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1962. It was in Columbus, bankrolled by the profits from a successful venture in Kentucky Fried Chicken, that he launched his hamburger chain in 1969, naming it after a daughter born in Fort Wayne. From 1998: Dave Thomas visits new Wendy's in Fort Wayne Frank Gray May 1, 1998 The Journal Gazette newspaper.
When his father settled in Fort Wayne in the early 1940s, young Dave tried his hand at a number of odd jobs. When he was only 12 years old, Dave got his first job delivering groceries. When that job didn’t pan out, he hired on as a soda jerk at Walgreens. That job ended when his boss discovered that Dave wasn’t 16 years old, the minimum required age for employment. At age 15, Dave was hired at the Hobby House restaurant. Located at 3204 North Anthony Blvd., the Ft. Wayne eatery specialized in pancakes in the morning, hamburgers at noon and barbecue at night. ... Dave named the restaurant after his eight-year-old daughter Melinda Lou. At a young age, the child could not pronounce her own name so the family gave her the nickname “Wendy.” Thomas chose the logo of a red haired girl with pigtails and freckles eating a hamburger. Dave’s penchant for nostalgia kicked in when he settled on the name “Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers.” From Wendy’s Fast Food Hoosier History August 24, 2017, Al Hunter, The Weekly View.
The closure of the restaurant on North Anthony holds particular significance for Wendy’s history in Fort Wayne. This location is near the site of the former Hobby House restaurant where Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas began his career in the food service industry. Thomas, who died in 2002, had strong ties to Fort Wayne. He worked at the Hobby House as a young man, eventually becoming assistant manager at the Hobby Ranch House at Anthony Boulevard and Crescent Avenue. It was here that Thomas met Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, who frequently visited to promote his chicken. In 1998, Thomas returned to Fort Wayne to visit a then-new Wendy’s built on the site of the old Hobby Ranch House. During this visit, he reflected on his humble beginnings and the importance of mentorship in his career. “I’m not a celebrity,” Thomas said at the time. “I’m a hamburger cook.” From Recent Wendy's closures in Fort Wayne include location with close ties for chain's founder Kimberly Dupps Truesdell The Journal Gazette newspaper.
West Central - Neighborhood Profile - Fort Wayne, Indiana February 25, 2014 CBRWGmarketing on YouTube.
Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber presents an informational video on West Central Neighborhood in Fort Wayne, IN. West Central homes have the character and charm that people desire, and is also walking distance from the improving Fort Wayne downtown.
For more information visit www.MovingIndiana.com
The Western Newspaper Union Building, 437 E. Berry Street, is a Craftsman-style building, c. 1916. Craftsman style, (c. 1905-c.1935), focuses on simple design and fine craftsmanship. Gen. Anthony Wayne built his fort on this spot in 1794. Its replacement was further west, and by 1819 the soldiers were gone. The federal government was soon to sell the land it owned here. The property was sold to Cyrus Taber in 1835, who platted the area into lots. Lot 11, as it was called, was a residence until 1916 when this building was built. Henry Hilgeman and Henry Wehrenberg built it as an investment. Weekly small-town newspapers were printed here. Today it is part of the Arts Campus Fort Wayne Cultural District and is the home of Cinema Center and the Dance Collective. ARCH is proud to present this edition of Throwback Thursday, part of its work as the historic preservation organization serving the greater Fort Wayne area, made possible by ARCH members and donors. Thank you.
PBS Fort Wayne 39, 2501 E. Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1562, wfwa.org. Wallace J. “Wally” Fosnight, died May 17, 2018 in Elm Grove, Wisconsin, at age 79, he was preceded in death by his parents, Howard J. and Edna Mae Paff Fosnight. A 1977 Journal Gazette story Child’s tears brought TV 39 to life by Alan Klanoff published March 28, 1977 recounted how in 1969, Fosnight and his family left Pittsburgh for a job in Fort Wayne. His 4-year-old daughter Wendy cried when she found she could not watch “MisterRogers' Neighborhood” in Fort Wayne. Wally wrote to the office of National Educational Television in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a major funding source for public television. He asked what it would cost to underwrite daily telecasts of the children's show featuring the friendly man in the cardigan sweater. In 1975, Fort Wayne finally had access to public television. Read more in Man who led drive for local PBS dies Wally Fosnight, 79, helped found WFWA by Rosa Salter Rodriquez published June 10, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. Remembering Wally Fosnight: PBS39 Founder on wfwa.org. WorldCat has a list of their videos produced over the years. PrimeTime39: https://www.pbs.org/show/primetime39/ has episodes online back to 2017. This area’s only in-depth, live, weekly news, analysis and cultural update forum, PrimeTime airs Fridays at 7:30pm. This program is hosted by PBS Fort Wayne’s President/General Manager Bruce Haines.WFWA-TV39 (Television station : Fort Wayne, Ind.) search results at the Allen County Public Library. Over the years PBS Fort Wayne has created many documentaries, although many appear to longer be available. Most PBS Fort Wayne Specials require Passport membership for watching online:
Fort Wayne on the air , 1992, "Takes a look at the history of broadcasting in Fort Wayne with the help of veteran broadcasters like Bob Sievers, Chris Roberts, Hilliard Gates and many more. VHS at Allen County Public Library.
Fort Wayne memories. The '50s / producer, writer, editor, Claudia Johnson ; WFWA-TV39, 1994, Accompanied by photographs and film footage, Fort Wayne residents tell what life was like in their city in the 1950s. VHS at Allen County Public Library.
Fort Wayne Home for the HolidaysSpecial | 56m 27s Take a look at the 1994 local documentary, Fort Wayne Home for the Holidays, featuring segments on Christmas at the Wolf & Dessauer department store, Fort Wayne Santa Claus Phil Steigerwald, the restoration of two Fort Wayne light displays, and more. Aired: 12/01/94 Rating: TV-G. "Once upon a time Christmas meant snow for sledding, a trip downtown to visit WanDerland at Wolf & Dessauer's and dreaming of a bicycle from 'Uncle Win' Koehlinger's store. WFWA-TV39 captures the magic of [Fort Wayne's] hometown holidays--past and present--in this very special program hosted by one of Fort Wayne's most memorable 'Santas, ' Phil Steigerwald."DVD at the Allen County Public Library.
Fort Wayne: Lost But Not Forgotten Special | 56m 52s Explore Fort Wayne's rich history of past places. Aired: 01/01/97 Rating: NR. "From the Gardner's restaurant to the old Greyhound bus station; hotels, theaters and other places are remembered fondly. Using first-person narratives along with many archival photographs and other visual records, 'Fort Wayne Lost (But Not Forgotten)' gives you and your family a look at places that might not be here phyysically, but that still hold a special place in our hearts--and our history." DVD at Allen County Public Library.
WOWO Legends Special | 1h 2m 51s Local radio personalities gather at the WFWA studios to reminisce about WOWO (AM radio). Featuring Bob Sievers, Bob Chase, Don Chevillet, Ron Gregory, and Chris Roberts. Aired: 03/02/98 Rating: NR VHS at Allen County Public Library.
A conversation with Bob Sievers 1999 "Join Bob as he reminisces with Jane Avery Doswell about his long career in broadcasting from the 'world famous WOWO Fire Escape.' Bob gives an insider's perspective on how the business of radio and advertising has changed over the years, as well as the Fort Wayne area and America itself."--Container. VHS at Allen County Public Library.
Fort Wayne memories. The '60s / producer, Claudia Johnson ; a production of PBS39 WFWA, 1999, "Through extensive interviews with many Fort Wayne area residents, old news footage, photographs and home movies, revisit this very significant time in Fort Wayne and American history, marked by new attitudes, technological advances and cultural change." VHS at Allen County Public Library.
Landmarks: Remembering Fort Wayne Special | 56m 2s Learn about the history of past and present Fort Wayne landmarks. Aired: 03/13/00 Rating: NR. Discusses the memorable buildings--some of them now gone--in downtown Fort Wayne. Interviews with residents provide historical and architectural insight. DVD or VHS at Allen County Public Library.
The story of Smith Field Fort Wayne : PBS 39 WFWA, 2002Fort Wayne's oldest municipal airfield was re-named Smith Field in honor of aviation pioneer Art Smith, 'The Bird Boy of Fort Wayne.' It served the community as a hub of commercial, corporate and industrial endeavors for over 75 years. Learn about Smith Field's history and watch as local policy makers, citizens and community activists debate this historic airport's future in this exclusive documentary presentation from PBS-39.VHS at Allen County Public Library.
Memorial City: The Lindenwood Chronicles Special | 51m 30s Learn about the history of Fort Wayne's historic Lindenwood Cemetery. Aired: 01/04/02 Rating: NR. 'Memorial City: the Lindenwood Chronicles' takes you beyond mausoleums, grass and gravestones to offer insights of some of the people interred at Lindenwood. The history of the cemetery itself is profiled as well as offering a look at how customs have changed since it was founded, providing insights into our own corner of America since Lindenwood's founding in 1859.DVD at Allen County Public Library.
Ann Colone Remembers Special | 54m 31s Ann Colone was a pioneering female broadcaster in Fort Wayne, Indiana whose career in local media spanned three decades as host of "The Ann Colone Show" and other projects. Aired: 10/23/03 Rating: NR. DVD As a host and interviewer, Ann Colone's personality, wit and adventuresome spirit helped make her a viewer favorite during the 50s, 60s and 70s. As performers, political figures and celebrities of every stripe made their way across America, they inevitably stopped in Fort Wayne, or nearby. And, if they could be, they were interviewed by Ann Colone.... Using interviews with Ann, her colleagues and highlights, gleaned from Ann's personal photographic, film and video archives, you'll be transported back to those anticipated afternoons and the memories they created--memories of celebriteis, events and the wonders of the world brought into thousands of homes each weekday, by Ann Colone. at Allen County Public Library.
Fort Wayne memories. The '50s / a production of WFWA-TV39 ; producer, writer, Claudia Johnson ; WFWA-TV39 2005. Accompanied by photographs and film footage, Fort Wayne residents tell what life was like in their city in the 1950s. DVD at the Allen County Public Library.
A Watershed Mentality Special | 27m 5s | Video has closed captioning. The Maumee River is the single largest tributary and watershed in the Great Lakes and deposits millions of cubic yards of sediment into Lake Erie yearly. Aired: 02/04/09 Rating: NR. DVD at the Allen County Public Library.
Brookside - The Bass Mansion Renovation Special | 57m 4s Brookside, also known as the Bass Mansion, was added to the National Register for Historic Places in 1982. Renovations on the former residence of industrialist John Henry Bass were completed in 2009-2010. The mansion is currently an administrative building on the University of Saint Francis. Aired: 10/01/10 Rating: NR.
Honor Flight Northeast Indiana: Honoring a Generation Special | 59m 18s This hour long documentary tells the story of how Honor Flight Northeast Indiana grew from humble beginnings in 2008 and how, by October 2014, it had transported over 900 northeast Indiana World War II veterans -- free of charge – to visit the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Aired: 11/06/14 Rating: NR.
Purdue University Fort Wayne Home For The Holidays Concert Season 2021 Episode 1 | 1h 37m 26s | Video has closed captioning. Celebrate the joy and beauty of the season with this concert, recorded live December 6, 2021 at the Auer Performance Hall at the Rhinehart Music Center on the campus of Purdue University Fort Wayne. Featured Performances: The School of Music Choral Ensembles and the University and Community Orchestra with Kevin McMahon and William Sauerland, conductors; Jonathan Young and Natalie Young, soloists. Aired: 12/07/21 Rating: NR.
After 17 years of leadership, our president and general manager, Bruce Haines, has announced that he will retire in...
After 17 years of leadership, our president and general manager, Bruce Haines, has announced that he will retire in 2025.
During Bruce’s time as president and GM, PBS Fort Wayne successfully increased the stations power, incorporated additional personnel to bring local content to new media platforms, and expanded the reach of our five broadcast channels and local productions through streaming services! These accomplishments are just a few of many made possible through Bruce’s leadership. Thank you for your years of service, and congratulations, Bruce!
White Fruit House
White Fruit House 1890's largest wholesale and retail distributor of fruit in northern Indiana and northeastern Ohio at Calhoun and Wayne Streets. James B. White, born in 1835 Scotland, came to Fort Wayne in 1854 by packetboat on the Wabash & Erie canal. In 1892 with his son John organized the White National Bank which later merged with First National Bank. A descendant of this family was Edward White, a Gemini and Apollo-era astronaut and the first American to walk in space. From July 10, 2006 Fort Wayne Reader article. White Fruit House became the Grand Leader department store from newspaper article on Great Memories & History of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
White Mansion
Also known as the Snyderman House, Cement House, Concrete House, or the Rock. See the Knee House.
Around the 7-second mark Carl Erskine with Fort Wayne Wildcat League players in New documentary honors Indiana native and MLB great Carl Erskine Jul 25, 2022 Inside Indiana Business on YouTube
Anderson's Carl Erskine made a name for himself in Major League Baseball...but it was what he did off the field that has sealed his legacy as one of the greats. Ted Green, President, Ted Green Films has details on a new documentary coming out highlighting the life of Carl Erskine.
Here's a link to the home design book published by Wildwood Builders, developers of Wildwood Park, including the work of architect Joel Roberts Ninde and her design partner Grace Crosby. The text has the flowery language of Lee J. Ninde. Enjoy!
In 1959, Donald Will broke free of the grind of working for others and opened his own small storefront with his wife - the very first Will Jewelers!
Read the story of this local business and jeweler on page 36 of glo magazine. Read glo by picking up a copy at a newsstand location or read online: https://www.glo-mag.com/
Architectural firm of Fort Wayne, Indiana. John F. Wing (1852-1947) and Marshall S. Mahurin (1857-1939) were partners until 1907. With Guy M. Mahurin (1877-1941) they also worked as Mahurin & Mahurin. Some projects are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. See their book Wing & Mahurin, architects, Fort Wayne, Ind (1896) on Archive.org shown below. Wikipedia lists many of their Indiana projects under Wing & Mahurin.
First local television station broadcast on November 21, 1953, sister station to WKJG-AM and WKJG-FM the am and fm radio stations started by William Kunkel, the KJG stood for Kunkel Journal Gazette, who owned the local The Journal Gazette newspaper from page 131 of the book Hard News, Heartfelt Opinions: A History of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette by Scott M. Bushnell.
On October 17, 2022, following Gray's acquisition of the station, WPTA-DT2 began simulcasting the main subchannel's morning newscasts in place of producing its own. In November 2022, WPTA announced that, as part of a reconsolidation of its entire news product under the revived 21Alive News brand, the evening Fort Wayne's NBC newscasts would end on December 16, 2022, after which most of its anchors and weather staff were reassigned. On January 9, 2023, WPTA fully completed its reorganization of newscasts, with WPTA-DT2 simulcasting morning, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts on weekdays. Copied WPTA November 21, 2023 on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. WPTA-TV is excited to announce that the ABC21 and Fort Wayne’s NBC news teams will combine to become 21Alive News in early January of 2023. Copied from 21Alive announces news expansion November 22, 2022 on 21AliveNews.com.
NBC33 had a week long series NBC33 Celebrates 60th Anniversary All Week Long by Eric Dutkiewicz in 2013
60 Years On Air: NBC33 Takes A Look Back At 1953 broadcast November 18, 2013
60 Years On Air: NBC33 Looks At Costs In 1953 by Emma Koch broadcast November 19, 2013
NBC33 Megan and Eric sit down with Terri Richardson from the Journal Gazette to discuss newspapers from November 1953 in 60 Years On Air: NBC Looks At Headlines From 1953 by Emma Koch NBC33 broadcast November 20, 2013
60 Years On Air: NBC33 What Was On TV In 1953 by Emma Koch broadcast November 21, 2013
Final 60 Years On Air: NBC33 Goes Retro (FULL SHOW) November 22, 2013 by Emma Koch.
21Alive announces news expansionWPTA-TV, a Gray Television station, announces the ABC21 and Fort Wayne's NBC news teams will combine to become 21Alive News in early January of 2023. By WPTA Staff Published: Nov. 22, 2022 at 8:57 AM EST FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - WPTA-TV is excited to announce that the ABC21 and Fort Wayne’s NBC news teams will combine to become 21Alive News in early January of 2023. Posted at WKJG NBC. From a December 12, 2022 post on Facebook.
On Nov. 21, 1953, WKJG-TV, Channel 33, began broadcasting television in Fort Wayne. Broadcast television was new technology in 1953, and WKJG was the first TV station to bring this new technology into Fort Wayne-area homes. Copied from Broadcast news: Fort Wayne celebrates 70 years of local TV November 21, 2023 The Journal Gazette newspaper.
WLYV AM Radio
Started in 1948. Prior to becoming WLYV, the station was assigned the call letters WANE and was the radio companion of channel 15 television. In the mid-1960s, the radio station was purchased by Sheppard Broadcasting of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following the purchase by Sheppard, the station changed call letters (to become closely related to Sheppard's WLAV in Grand Rapids) and on January 1, 1966 changed formats to become Fort Wayne's first Top 40 station. See WLYV at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia for more information.
The Woodburn Historical Society Collection consists of photographs depicting life in the town of Woodburn and surrounding Maumee Township from the late nineteenth through twentieth centuries. The collection includes a number of postcard views of Woodburn, a portion of which was also known as Shirley City, as well as aerial views and a number of snapshots. Many of the snapshots were taken in the post war era of 1947. The collection also contains photographs of several of the town's founders and civic leaders, as well as pictures of schools and rare images of two of the early log cabins in the township. in the
Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the
Allen County Public Library.
January 23, 2023 the on Facebook posted: It's #waybackwednesday! This picture, from our Woodburn Historical Society Collection, shows the Centlivre Beer Trailer, taken on Union Street in Woodburn in front of the City Hall, with the Post Office on the extreme left.
The small building just above the standing men was a private residence. Next to it is the Keller Blacksmithing and Acetylene Welding Shop, operated by Ed Keller. Beyond it is the Portman Machine and Repair Shop. The high roof at the extreme right is the Woodburn Equity Exchange elevator building.
January 23, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:
It's #waybackwednesday! This picture, from our Woodburn Historical Society Collection, shows the Centlivre Beer Trailer, taken on Union Street in Woodburn in front of the City Hall, with the Post Office on the extreme left.
The small building just above the standing men was a private residence. Next to it is the Keller Blacksmithing and Acetylene Welding Shop, operated by Ed Keller. Beyond it is the Portman Machine and Repair Shop. The high roof at the extreme right is the Woodburn Equity Exchange elevator building.
Check out our digital collection from the Woodburn Historical Society here: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/coll5
Woolworth
The first Woolworth store was opened by Frank Winfield Woolworth on February 22, 1879, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store" in Utica, New York. Though it initially appeared to be successful, the store soon failed.[1] When Woolworth searched for a new location, a friend suggested Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Using the sign from the Utica store, Woolworth opened his first successful "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store" on June 21, 1879, in Lancaster. He brought his brother, Charles Sumner Woolworth, into the business.
The two Woolworth brothers pioneered and developed merchandising, direct purchasing, sales, and customer service practices commonly used today. Despite its growing to be one of the largest retail chains in the world through most of the 20th century, increased competition led to its decline beginning in the 1980s, while its sporting goods division grew.
The chain went out of business in July 1997, when the company decided to focus primarily on sporting goods and renamed itself Venator Group. By 2001, the company focused exclusively on the sporting goods market, changing its name to the current Foot Locker, Inc., changing its ticker symbol from its familiar Z in 2003 to its present ticker (NYSE: FL).
Did you ever shop at a Woolworth's? This once-popular "five and dime" chain (where everything was 5 or 10 cents) had its start in New York in February 1879. But it wasn't until the launch of the store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a few months later (on June 21) that it really caught on.
Woolworth's ultimately became the best-known U.S. five-and-dime chain, until it went out of business in 1997.
This 1879 clipping advertises the opening of that first successful store in Pennsylvania.
It's "Wall of Fame Wednesday"! Here is more from the promotional brochure published by JOHN R. WORTHMAN INC. Builder - Realtor for INDIAN VILLAGE. The brochure says Sections B and C were prepared, and Section D was proposed. A.K. Hofer platted Section B in 1945, Section C in 1947 and Section D in 1950. So this brochure is somewhere between 1947 and 1950.
WOWO 1190 AM Radio
WOWO first signs on the air on March 31, 1925 with 500 watts at 1320 kilocycles. The call letters were chosen...
WOWO first signs on the air on March 31, 1925 with 500 watts at 1320 kilocycles. The call letters were chosen arbitrarily. "W" for broadcast station east of the Mississippi and "O" for ease of pronunciation. This is a photo of the Unique Orchestra getting ready to perform in 1927. Did you ever listen to WOWO what is your favorite memory?
They broadcast from studios on the second floor of the Main Auto Supply Co. at 215 W. Main Street. "Fort Wayne's legendary 50,000 watt radio station. ... roster of air personalities, like Bob Sievers, Jack Underwood, Dugan Fry, Jay Gould, Chris Roberts, Ron Gregory, Bob Chase, Don Chevillet, John Cigna and many others created a lifelong bond with the citizens of WOWOland. February 1, 1954, the station would raise the new towers at their site on U.S. 24 near Roanoke to become 50,000 watts from History of WOWO on wowo.com. It was an upgrade that would make the station as strong as the most powerful station in the United States. In its earliest years, WOWO Radio also launched the careers of many prominent broadcasters, including comedian Herb Shriner, Fort Wayne TV pioneer Hilliard Gates, and Tom Carnegie, known to millions worldwide as the voice of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. from the Timeline on The History of WOWO Radio web site.
WOWO Legends Special | 1h 2m 51s Local radio personalities gather at the WFWA-TV39 PBS Fort Wayne studios to reminisce about WOWO (AM radio). Featuring Bob Sievers, Bob Chase, Don Chevillet, Ron Gregory, and Chris Roberts. Aired: 03/02/98 Rating: NR VHS at Allen County Public Library.
A conversation with Bob Sieversfrom WFWA-TV39 PBS Fort Wayne, 1999 "Join Bob as he reminisces with Jane Avery Doswell about his long career in broadcasting from the 'world famous WOWO Fire Escape.' Bob gives an insider's perspective on how the business of radio and advertising has changed over the years, as well as the Fort Wayne area and America itself."--Container. VHS at Allen County Public Library.
Promotional 9 minute WOWO YouTube video uploaded April 27, 2011 by compcore.
You've probably heard Bugs Bunny & Elmer Fudd sing this song in Looney Tunes "Robot Rabbit." Here it is sung by Rosemary Clooney, Aunt of actor George Clooney, and comedienne Judy Canova. Judy started her career singing with Rudy Vallie. Known as "The Queen of the Hillbillies" her daughter Diana Canova played Corinne Tate on the series "Soap" opposite Katherine Helmond. Judy and Rose can belt out a tune with no special equipment needed! "In a Little Red Barn" was also the theme song for the morning radio show on WOWO in Fort Wayne, Indiana, hosted by Bob Sievers for the better part of 50 years.
Entertainment has long been sought after in Fort Wayne. Starting in the 1920s one of the most popular forms of entertainment was listening to the radio. One of Fort Wayne’s first radio stations was WOWO, established by Chester Keen of Main Auto Supply. This station began broadcasting exactly 98 years ago today on March 31, 1925. It initially broadcast at 500 watts of power on the upper floor of Keen’s business. The call-sign “WOWO” was created to satisfy the FCC requirement to use ‘W’ as the first letter, with a length of three to four letters. In 1928, WOWO was sold to Fred Zieg, who gained permission to broadcast at 10,000 watts and create WOWO’s sister station WGL. Zieg sold the stations to Westinghouse Broadcasting Company in 1936, and WGL remained WOWO’s sister station until 1945 when it was sold to Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation. In 1941, WOWO became a clear-channel AM station, broadcasting at all hours at 50,000 watts, except for Sunday evenings. The same year WOWO moved to its familiar 1190khz. The station could be heard by millions throughout “WOWO-land,” which encompassed most of the U. S. east of the Mississippi, and parts of Canada. Its programming, its performers, and its broadcasters became famous. Programs such as Little Red Barn, the Hoosier Hop, Komet Hockey, and the Bob Sievers Show were highly rated nationally. It was also during this time that the station’s weather reporting came from the “World Famous Fire Escape.” WOWO remained a Class-A clear-channel station until 1995 when it was purchased and its license was transferred to WLIB in New York City. Today the people of Fort Wayne can still tune into WOWO. #sociallyhistory
WPTA 6pm Newscast, April 6, 1993 posted May 20, 2015 by NewsActive3 on YouTube.
Weeknight newscast from the ABC affiliate in Fort Wayne, IN. Commercials are included. Posted for educational and historical purposes only. All material is under the copyright of their original holders. No copyright infringement is intended.
"On Saturday, September 28, 1957 at three o'clock in the afternoon Fort Wayne television viewers witnessed city history in the making when WPTA-TV, under the leadership of General Manager Ron Ross began regular broadcasting on channel 21 as the latest ABC affiliate. Staffed by 12 full-time and three part-time employees WPTA brought the complete 32 hours of ABC programming per week to the Fort Wayne viewing area. This was augmented by 28 hours of film and seven and one-half hours of local live programming."
Eric Olson, 21Country Featured Reporterposts short videos often with old photos on the local history of people and places on their 21County page. They also feature LifesBetterHere and other pages on their website: wpta21.com/. Many of the 21 County videos were saved when they were called Indiana NewsCenter. The Internet Archive Wayback Machine has more than 10,000 Indiana NewsCenter pages saved before they changed their name and website to 21AliveNews.com. Some in 2018 were saved as WPTA21. . Was known as INC Indiana News Center which still has over 170 videos as INCnowTV since 2010 on YouTube.
3402 Fairfield Ave, wunderkammercompany.com, Facebook. A contemporary art center, is located in the former Casa restaurant. Now serving art: Former Casa restaurant site transformed into contemporary art center by Cindy Larson published December 13, 2012 in
The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Wyneken House
2010/08/18: Wyneken House move published September 5, 2010 on AroundFortWayne on YouTube
Home of Indiana pioneer religious leader, Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken (1810-1876), was partially moved into its final position off Winchester Road just south of the Allen/Adams County line. The video is sped up and a compilation of a few angles show the progress of the move.
1730 N.W. Winchester Road near Decatur, Adams County, originally on Adams County Road 1000N in the northwest part the county. Website: Friends of Wyneken Preserving German-American Heritage, Facebook. The wood-frame home built about 1850, served as the residence of the Rev. Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken and his wife, Sophie, from 1859 to between 1860-1862. The German-born clergyman came to this area in 1838 from Germany to minister to German Lutherans on the American frontier. He is credited with helping found or nurture a number of Lutheran churches in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, as well as helping to start Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. Friends of Wyneken, a subcommittee of the Indiana German Heritage Society, formed in 2004 to save the house from demolition and transform it into an interpretive center. Copied from Public invited for first time to tour the historic Wyneken house The house was saved from demolition in 2005 by Kevin Kilbane published June 19, 2014 in
The News-Sentinel newspaper. Wyneken House move – press release, photos and video by: Stephen Parker posted on September 7, 2010 on Around Fort Wayne blog. Can the Wyneken House be Saved? published in the Indiana German Heritage Society newsletter Volume 9 Number 1 Winter 1993.
Today's "What's It Wednesday" features two looms. Before coming to northeast Indiana, many of the German immigrants to...
Today's "What's It Wednesday" features two looms. Before coming to northeast Indiana, many of the German immigrants to the area were both small-time farmers and linen weavers. The larger and older loom is called a "barn loom." There are differing stories about the name. The frame of the loom is constructed with large pieces of lumber that are pinned together like the frame of a barn, which is one explanation for the name. The other explanation is that the looms were large and generated a lot of vibration when in use, so they were used in an out-building or barn rather than a house.
