When people complain about the condition of modern streets or are nostalgic about the good old days and why didn't "they" keep the brick streets. Take a look at this not so smooth looking section of brick street.
The Lincoln Highway was dedicated one hundred and five years ago today [October 31, 1913]. Over the next few years, the nation’s first transcontinental highway would stretch from New York to San Francisco, crossing through Indiana and Allen County. Allen County’s section of the highway had its own dedication on June 22, 1915. The Hotel Anthony became a local control station for travelers starting in 1915, charging two dollars a night for a room including a bath. The reinforced concrete Lincoln Highway Bridge (today known as the Harrison Street Bridge), which cost $200,000 to construct, provided safe passage over the St. Mary’s River on the way out of town. In 1928, the Lincoln Highway Association erected concrete posts across the country with the aid of Boy Scouts of America to mark the route. The sections of highway in Allen County were later assigned numbers and became U.S. 30 and U.S. 33.#sociallyhistory
The picture below is from 1904 and highlights the process of laying brick streets at the turn of the century on Harrison Street. Fort Wayne historically had many brick streets and alleys. Perhaps as much as 32 miles worth. Now, unfortunately, the city only has 14 brick streets.
Fortunately, the Historic South Wayne Neighborhood Association worked to restore a brick alley between Kinnaird and Wildwood. It is a beautiful example of what restoration could look like. In fact, one of the 14 brick streets left is in the Hoagland Masterson Neighborhood Association on Butler Street. Take a drive, enjoy what once was, and support what it could be.
We LIKE this #tbt to 1947 on the GE campus in #FortWayne. Check out as Broadway still featured brick streets and trolly tracks (once the most popular way to get around town).
What would you like to see happen to the 32 acre campus on Broadway?
Hoch Associates wants to remind you to bring your #powerfulideas to the "Future of General Electric Campus Meeting" tonight at Citzens Square 5:30-7:30PM.
The Porch Off Calhoun is open! Enjoy it! This project is part of the City’s Alley Activation project, which was funded primarily by an $83,000 grant from the Knight Foundation/Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. The project builds on the Art this Way alley mural program by enhancing the alleyways located between Berry Street, Washington Boulevard, Harrison Street, and Calhoun Street. The Porch Off Calhoun Now Open at City of Fort Wayne.
This is the alley between Kinnaird and Wildwood Avenues, bounded by Beaver Ave. and Indiana Ave. It is being reconstructed as one of several projects approved by City Council earlier this year.
I have to give a shoutout to the @cityoffortwayne for redoing our alleyway with the original brick! I’m sure it would have been easier to just take it all out and pour cement, but this just makes my heart happy that they took the time and effort to do it the right way and bring the original beauty back. These bricks were from Metropolitan Block in Canton, OH (where my mom is from) so it means even more to me! I get a little down sometimes knowing that beautiful old things get torn down without a seemingly second thought, so it gives this pessimist a little optimism! Thanks Fort Wayne!
South Wayne recently had another one of our historic brick alleys restored by City of Fort Wayne Government. Good to see infrastructure work being done to benefit our neighbors. What other fixes and improvements would you like to see in our neighborhood? Make it a point to come to our HSWNA Annual Meeting this coming Monday at 7 p.m. at Lifeway Baptist Church to hear about what's going on and how you can get involved in making our neighborhood a great place to live!
Here's an ARCH #TBT for you! Back in 2004, ARCH and the West Central Neighborhood, along with the help of The City of Fort Wayne, partnered to host a brick street restoration workshop which was attended by street department and engineering staff from several cities and towns in our region. From that learning experience, we developed a brochure on restoring historic brick streets. Take a look at Durable Goods: Restoring Historic Brick Streets
Fort Wayne currently has 14 brick streets (41 blocks/3 miles) left. In 1917, there were almost 32 miles of brick streets in town.
A city ordinance passed on Jan. 22, 2013, states: 'the City of Fort Wayne will also preserve and maintain brick alleys identified on an official map, provided by the Community Development Division, which shall not be changed without prior Council approval. Nothing is intended to mandate that the city has any greater obligation to make or pay for the brick alley repairs beyond that which is undertaken for non-brick alleys in the normal course, rather this subchapter is merely evidencing an obligation to maintain the structural and esthetic integrity of the alleys as brick alleys when a decision is made to repair or replace brick alleys in the normal course.”passed on Jan. 22, 2013, states: “the City of Fort Wayne will also preserve and maintain brick alleys identified on an official map, provided by the Community Development Division, which shall not be changed without prior Council approval. Nothing is intended to mandate that the city has any greater obligation to make or pay for the brick alley repairs beyond that which is undertaken for non-brick alleys in the normal course, rather this subchapter is merely evidencing an obligation to maintain the structural and esthetic integrity of the alleys as brick alleys when a decision is made to repair or replace brick alleys in the normal course. Discussed in Reused brick for streets can drive up costs but durable by Dan Vance published January 18, 2019 in Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly.
For a look at different pavement types in various cities see THE STORY BENEATH OUR FEET by Zach Mortice published July 31, 2018 in Landscape Architecture Magazine.
Exciting day! Restoration of another historic brick alley in WWPN has begun This makes a world of difference for our residents who need access to their garages from the alleys.
The Engage Fort Wayne website is officially live. Take a look to see which alleys are slated for improvements in 2024. Don't miss out – check it out now! https://engage.cityoffortwayne.org/alleys
Here is an alphabetical list with Street View photos from Google maps. Many brick streets, including trolley tracks, have been paved over with asphalt, but occasionally re-appear during street maintenance and repairs.
Grand Street at Calhoun Street - Street View photo from Google maps. This is where the Blue Diver mural was painted in 2020 on the stairs of the former Wabash Railroad Depot.
This makes a world of difference for our residents who need access to their garages from the alleys.
Before asphalt roads in Indianapolis, there were:
