Aveline Hotel, Fort Wayne IN: reproduced from a printed source dated after the destruction of the hotel in 1908 in the
Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the
Allen County Public Libraryresembles the image and text in the newspaper article below.
1921 - Stories of Old Ft. Wayne - No. 12 by B. J. Griswold - Aveline Hotel The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, July 10, 1921, page 22.
STORIES OF OLD FT. WAYNE - NO. 12 BY B. J. GRISWOLD
THE ORIGINAL AVELINE HOTEL
A Beautiful Hotel Without Any Furniture
At one time, Fort Wayne had a "beautiful" new hotel, which couldn't open for business because the owner found it impossible to get the money to buy the needed furniture. Thus it lay for some time But when it did start on its career it continued for nearly half a century of real service. To many people of today, the Avellne will be remembered only as the scene of this city's greatest holocaust when on the early morning of Sunday, May 3 1908. It was destroyed by fire of unknown origin, claiming twelve men and women as its victims.
The illustration shows the hotel as it looked originally as built by Frances Aveline during the year 1860, 1861 and 1862. For a period of forty-five years the Aveline was Fort Wayne's leading hotel. It stood on the site of the Shoaff building at the southwest corner of Calhoun and Berry streets.
The Aveline hotel was built after three year of effort to secure financial support. Originally, it was a four story brick structure, the largest hotel in this region. D. J. Silver was the builder and contractor. In January, 1863, the hotel was finished, but the proprietor found himself embarrassed by conditions which are revealed in the comment of one of the newspapers of that day which observed that "this house, now finished remains unopened for want of means to furnish it. This being so, are there no moneyed men here to aid in the opening? The edifice is a credit to the city and without being opened is only a thing if beauty. The situation was relieved by the substantial assistance of public-spirited citizens and the hotel was opened with a grand banquet later in the year. One of the toasts of the evening bore the title, "Washington Hall (the first tavern) and the Aveline House-- the First Represented the Primitive Condition of the City, and Latter Our Present Growth and Prosperity."
The Aveline entertained some of Americas most noted people during the near half-century of its existence.
France Aveline was born in Vincennes, Indiana, in 1814, and came to Fort Wayne in 1820, with his parent Mr and Mrs. James Avellne. With Francis Comparet, he built the reservoir which today is known as Sylvan Lake, at Rome City, originally intended to serve as a storage reservoir for water to supply Fort Wayne-to-Lake Michigan canal. He was the contractor and builder of many of the larger pioneer buildings of Fort Wayne. His death in 1865 followed a period of intense grief over the loss of his son, Frank Aveline, who was killed in the Chattanooga campaign in the civil war.
What is the connection with this haunted Aveline house?
1915 - School Teachers to Brave Horrors of Haunted House Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, October 30, 1915, Page 1.
SCHOOL TEACHERS TO BRAVE HORRORS OF HAUNTED HOUSE
Silence! Not a word! "Tis the hour when the witches are about. And this is their rendezvous. It is the "haunted" house.
Something like above is supposed to express the feeling trepidation which twenty young school teachers are supposed to feel this Saturday night as they enter the old house on the Leo road for a Halloween party and for the purpose finding and accosting the spirit which is supposed to have cast its spell over the structure. The teachers are young ladies from the Bloomingdale public school and will be accompanied by their principal, Miss Margaret MePhall. The house belongs to the family of Miss MePhall. The teachers spent a happy time together last summer at Lake James, and to renew their good time once more in a social way they have accepted Miss McPhall's invitation to enjoy themselves together in a Hallowe'en celébration in the historic residence on the Leo road.
The house is an old one, dating back to Fort Wayne's early days, and was formerly occupied by the first citizens of the town. The house was first owned by Mr. Aveline, and used as a private residence. This was as early as sixty or seventy years ago. It later became tavern or inn, so familiar in the history of that time and was used for a meeting place for various organizations. It was about this time, when the country was infested with horsethieves and general lawbreakers of all kinds, that the ancient dwelling became the headquarters of an organzation for the apprehension of thieves and the protection of citizens. The members of the organization were known as "regulators" and many a session they held in the historic house. It was here that one of the regulators was killed, and since that time the house has been haunted, so they say. [ See Aveline family an early area famly of fur traders or Aveline Hotel ]
And why should there be any doubt about it? Is it not in strict accord with the traditions that have been handed down to us by our grandmothers on Hallowe'en that the scene of such a murder shall be frequently visited by the spirit of the victim? And have not strange sights been seen and strange sounds heard time and again in the old relic-ridden house? Yes, it is shrouded in mystery and the old doors never creak on their hinges but to send the visage of a ghost flitting across its ancient corridors thus it is whispered about.
But Fort Wayne's, "haunted house" has probably been the scene of more gala occasions than grewsome ones. In the days when it was used as a tavern, It was the rendezvous for oyster suppers and parties in general. The young society people of the town would run out to the little inn to enjoy a merry evening, and in the winter it was a favorite stopping place for sleighing parties, where there was a redhot fire in the old box' stove and good hot things to eat.
After the house had outgrown its use as a tavern it was rented by private families and was so occupied until a few months ago. It is now owned by Mra. J, A. McPhall.
And so the old house will be the scene of another party tonight which promises to do credit to those of oyster-supper fame of the days gone by. To hold a party within the confines of the walls about which many a fascinating yarn has been told and to investigate the "ghost" stories as a Halloween lark appeals to the spirit of the fun-loving teachers. Thus, afraid and undaunted, they will hie to the scene of Fort Wayne's haunted house tonight, and the erstwhile tavern, famous for its one-time occasions. will once more contain a big, happy crowd, having a big happy time with games and stunts befitting the Halloween occasion.
Newspaper Articles
1908 - Death Threatens Relief Parties - Tottering Walls Cause Work Stop - Two Bodies Still Buried? Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tuesday, May 5, 1908, Page 1.
1908 - The Aveline Fire - Aveline Guests Who Escaped Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tuesday, May 5, 1908, Page 2.
1908 - The Aveline Fire (continued from page one) Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tuesday, May 5, 1908, Page 3.
1908 - No More Bodies Taken From Ruins - Known Dead Still Number Eleven in Aveline Fire The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tuesday, May 5, 1908, Page 1.
1908 - No More Bodies Taken From Ruins (continued from page one) The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tuesday, May 5, 1908, Page 2.
1908 - New Aveline Hotel Before the Fire The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tuesday, May 5, 1908, Page 5.
1908 - No More Bodies Taken From Ruins - Rumors Merely Idol - Backed by Studebaker - Felt the Cold The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tuesday, May 5, 1908, Page 8.
1923 - Fire Destroys Hotel Built in '63 - When the First National Bank Was Established in 1863 The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Wednesday, April 25, 1923, Page 17.
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Take a look at these moving then and now photos from 1908 and 2017, thanks to the Daniel A. Baker collection in our Community Album.