South Wood Park, Harrison Hill Alternative Title Harrison Hill, South Wood Park, Hilgeman & Schaaf, surveyor Hofer, A.K., 1920-1930, Description: Plat maps of Harrison Hill subdivision, Fort Wayne, Indiana is on one side of the sheet and South Wood Park subdivision, Fort Wayne, Indiana is on the other side of the sheet. Both subdivisions were developed by Hilgeman & Schaaf. Maps prepared by A.K. Hofer, C.E. of Fort Wayne. Not dated. At the History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network.
South Wood Park, Hilgeman & Schaaf, surveyor Hofer, A.K., Description: Plat map of South Wood Park subdivision's remaining lots in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Also advertised a contest for giving away a $9,000 home in South Wood Park. "The house is being built in accord with the plans and specifications awarded first prize by McCall's Magazine in a nation-wide contest." Map surveyed by A.K. Hofer, C.E. Map not dated.
An important step in any Historic Preservation effort is identifying the historic resources that exist. Our National...
An important step in any Historic Preservation effort is identifying the historic resources that exist.
Our National Register of Historic Places nomination was the biggest effort to identify what is significant about Southwood Park. Our neighbor Angie Quinn completed our nomination when she was Executive Director of ARCH, Inc. The nomination was paid through a grant administered by City of Fort Wayne Historic Preservation.
If you want to take a "deep dive" into Southwood Park history, during National Historic Preservation month, this nomination is a must read. There is so much information!
Southwood Park Historic District 003-215-49000 166-page National Register of Historic Places Registration Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) OMB No. 1024-0018 Nove 13, 2009 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service.
Same image in a May 4, 2024post by Historic Southwood Park Neighborhood Association on Facebook: National Historic Preservation Month continues: Here's a 1918 newspaper ad that shows the names of the persons who purchased lots in Section A and Section B.
Throwback Thursday: A.K. Hofer prepared the Plat of Southwood Park Section "C" and it was recorded on April 12, 1918. Here is a picture he took of a steam shovel digging for the sewers later that year.
Throwback Thursday: A.K. Hofer prepared the Plat of Southwood Park Section "C" and it was recorded on April 12, 1918. Here is a picture he took of a steam shovel digging for the sewers later that year.
TBT Here is another picture of the sewer being built in Southwood Park Section "C". We estimate the picture was taken...
TBT Here is another picture of the sewer being built in Southwood Park Section "C". We estimate the picture was taken around 1919. History shows the more things change, the more they stay the same. We count 7 people standing outside the trench watching 1 guy in the mud working!
Do you have plans for Halloween tomorrow night? A house in Southwood Park has elaborate skeleton displays, live actors, and more, all open to the public from 6-10 p.m.
Do you have plans for Halloween tomorrow night? A house in Southwood Park has elaborate skeleton displays, live actors, and more, all open to the public from 6-10 p.m.
"A flag can be a great way to share your community pride. I would say try to draw inspiration for your flag from what your neighborhood means to you and your neighbors, and go for it!"
"A flag can be a great way to share your community pride. I would say try to draw inspiration for your flag from what your neighborhood means to you and your neighbors, and go for it!"
Thanks Input Fort Wayne for featuring us in today's story about Southwood Park's tree canopy!
“A lot of people have never planted a tree in their life, so they don’t know how to do it,” says Derek Veit, Tree Canopy Growth Fund Co-Founder, “We hope more groups get involved to make the process more approachable.”
Historic Southwood Park Board President Steve McCord ... is the defacto local historian of Southwood Park. He explains that the neighborhood’s roots go back about a century to its developers, Frank H. Hilgeman and Albert H. Schaaf, who purchased much of the land in the 1910s. They referred to the area as a “forest primeval” and incorporated a variety of deed restrictions into its development, specifically forbidding the removal of trees, “except as may be necessary for the construction of a dwelling house and its appurtenances.” “Some of the goofy curves of the sidewalks and streets in our neighborhood were laid out specifically to accommodate our big trees,” McCord says. “Even so, many trees still came down as houses were built, and many others have died over the last century.”
This little house in Southwood Park is a unique example of Colonial Revival architecture. First listed in the 1949 City Directory as owned by Gerard G. Herber of Herber and Green Contracting, it was sold to Maurice Rothberg, of Rothberg S. Furniture Company Inc., in 1950. Its windows feature some of the classic elements that define this style of architecture. The structure has an asymmetrical façade, with a cross gabled slate roof. Decorative brick patterned lintels are over the bay window, porch windows, and front porch entrance. The staggered brick exterior walls also have random-colored accent brick. Its neighborhood, the Historic Southwood Park area, was developed between 1906 and 1965 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Its development was influenced by the City Beautiful movement. ARCH is proud to present this edition of Throwback Thursday, part of its service as the historic preservation organization serving the greater Fort Wayne area made possible by ARCH members and donors. Thank you.
Ralph & Esther Thompson House (original owners) - a Sears House called “The Barrington” - 4718 Arlington Avenue Tudor Revival, c. 1929
It makes sense that a foreman at Sears, Roebuck & Co. would order his home from the Sears Catalog. You could purchase this complete home kit for about $2,600 in 1929. The steep, brick entry gable, arched door, and irregular shingle siding are features that give this home its Tudor style.
Like Sears, the Harris Brothers Company in Chicago, Illinois
offered a variety of house plans that could be purchased along with all the ready cut materials to build them. The catalog refers to this house as a Colonial Semi-Bungalow and notes the attractive exterior lines and pergola-like porch. Zollinger
was the Captain of Engine Co. #4.
Winterrowd-Whitacre House
(Leighton Bowers, architect)
3917 Indiana Avenue Colonial Revival, c. 1922
A native of Fort Wayne, Leighton Bowers practiced here until moving to Indianapolis in 1933 to become an architect for the state. This balanced home features pedimented dormers, pairs of modillions under the eaves, a porch with a roof balustrade and paired columns, French doors, and an entry flanked by multipane sidelights.
The low-pitched roof with wide vergeboards, deep eaves and brackets of this little bungalow are common to the Craftsman style. The very low, wide shed dormer, open pergola covering the front porch, and sets of French doors with shutters are distinctive. Nelson Richey was employed as an electrical engineer at the General Electric Works.
Henry & Bertha Bruns House (original owners)
4207 Indiana Avenue Tudor Revival Cottage, c. 1925
This little cottage features a roofline constructed to imitate a thatch roof. The knee braces in the gable ends, arched entry hood, shingle siding and porch with large columns add to the cottage feel. Henry Bruns was one of the owners of Henry's Shoe Store at 1208 East Creighton Avenue.
"Hilgeman & Schaaf Subdivisions Always Develop Rapidly Into Beautiful Home Places"
More than a century later, we still agree with that!
For this National Historic Preservation Month post, what is YOUR favorite detail in this photo? Let us know in the comments.
This view is taken from the current location of the Roundabout (which didn't exist until 1998), looking east toward Beaver Avenue. If you look closely, you can see May's Award Home that was featured on our website and social media yesterday. Tip of the Hat to former neighbor Bill Decker for sharing this portion of an original advertisement.
You might think this photo was taken in England... but it's right here in Fort Wayne. We continue to highlight some...
You might think this photo was taken in England... but it's right here in Fort Wayne. We continue to highlight some houses that are featured in the 2008 Southwood Park Historic District brochure for National Historic Preservation month!
Kenneth & Elizabeth Bechtel House (original owners)
4319 Indiana Avenue Tudor Revival, c. 1925
Only a small percentage of Tudor houses have stucco as the primary wall surface. The steep roof, prominent stone chimney, half-timbering and casement windows are classic Tudor features. The stone foundation and entry arch are nice details. Bechtel was employed at S.F. Bowser Company, manufacturer of gasoline pumps.
LaVerne & Mary Slagle House (original owners)
4419 Indiana Avenue Craftsman Bungalow, c.1925
With its low-pitched gables, wide overhangs with exposed rafters and decorative brackets, this home is a classic bungalow. The porch railing and clustered porch supports on high, sloping piers are distinctive. LaVerne Slagle was president/treasurer of Slagle Radio Co, radio manufacturers.
This small Tudor style house with its rustic slate roof and brick holds many surprises. A close look reveals animals, flowers, and decorative symbols like lightning bolts and diamonds scattered throughout the brick and stonework of the walls. Mr. Butler was vice-president of Suedhoff & Butler mens clothing at 1101 S. Calhoun Street.
Joseph & Margaret Baltes House
4816 Beaver Avenue Garrison Colonial, c.1940
Popular from the 1930s through the 1950s, Garrison Colonials are defined by the second floor slightly overhanging the first. This home shows the classic symmetry of the style. The shutters, decorative moldings at the overhang, and fluted pilasters flanking the recessed front door add special interest. Baltes was a physician.
John & Edna McMeen House
4601 Beaver Avenue Tudor Revival, c.1930
The steep gables with wood finials, massive chimney, Tudor arched entry and bands of multiple windows are classic elements of the Tudor Revival style. The masonry walls, featuring two sizes of brick and irregular stone are very unusual. McMeen was the manager at Thomson & McKinnon — stocks, bonds, grain, and cotton.
Harry & Zelda Soshea House (original owners)
John Worthman, designer/builder
930 Prange Drive Art Deco/French Eclectic, 1936
This home is a streamlined, modern version of the French Eclectic style. Stepped brick banding is located under the eaves. Rostone, a simulated stone material first displayed at the 1933 Century of Progress, is used to accent the projecting corners. Worthman based the design on a 1935 cover sketch from American Builder magazine.
We tracked down an image of the magazine cover mentioned! There's one for sale currently on Amazon.
Thomas & Irma Merrill House
1021 Pasadena Drive Colonial Revival/Bungalow, c.1927
The gentle curve at the ends of the steep gabled roof, square porch columns, multi-pane windows and entry flanked by long sidelights define the character of this house. The decorative shutters and arched trellis panels are great details. Merrill was the secretary/treasurer of The Merrill Co., outdoor advertising.
Historic Southwood Park can do mid-century, too! We continue to highlight some houses that are featured in the 2008 Southwood Park Historic District brochure for National Historic Preservation month.
Robert & Dorthea Matsinger House
4505 Beaver Avenue Ranch, c.1950
This home illustrates many characteristics of the Ranch style:
asymmetrical one-story shape; low-pitched roof; horizontal emphasis; attached garage; and large picture window. The design is enhanced by the horizontal and vertical wood siding, limestone cladding and large chimney. Robert Matsinger was an
engineer at Magnavox.
In 2024, a "model home" today shows off a builder's abilities on a particular house "model". One might see 5 or 6 copies of a "model home" pop up in a tract of new houses. Or worse yet, a whole street of the same house.
It was different in 1920. The developers of South Wood Park knew their great work was creating a "model neighborhood" by combining a beautiful natural setting with all the modern conveniences of the day. And a "model" neighborhood needed a "Model Home" to show the possibilities to the real estate market of the Roaring '20s. This featured home is "The Model Home". It is a UNIQUE home. You won't find another one like it.
And you won't find another Historic Southwood Park, either. There isn't another neighborhood like it.
Because of that, we think it is time to become a Local Historic District to help maintain the character of our model neighborhood. We will be sharing information about what Local Historic District status means in the coming weeks, why it would be good for Historic Southwood Park, why it would be good for your property values, and why we hope you will choose to support the effort.
Celebrating National Historic Preservation Month, here is what was written about 1032 Westover Road in the 2008 Southwood Park Historic District brochure. In addition to the paragraph from the brochure, we found some newspaper articles for you to enjoy.
Southwood Park Prize House
1132 Westover Road Craftsman, c.1920
In 1920, developers Hilgeman and Schaaf held a drawing and gave away this house as a promotion for the Southwood Park development. With its unusual roofline and form the house has a distinctive style. The wide bands of windows overlook one of the landscaped public green spaces that are characteristic of the neighborhood design.
P. Cornell & Evelyn Morganthaler House
4437 Pembroke Lane Eclectic, c.1927
This house illustrates the imaginative mixing of styles popular in the 1920s: symmetrical, sidegabled Colonial Revival form, Spanish tile roof, and Tudor Revival wing walls and arched entry with decorative brick tabs. Morganthaler was an assistant general manager at General Electric.
George & Anna Frohnapfel House
4414 Pembroke Lane Colonial Revival, c.1927
The classic side-gable roof and symmetrical façade of this Colonial Revival house are enhanced by the eyebrow dormer and the arched, leaded glass fanlights over the
first-floor windows and entry. The entry also features sidelights and a portico with Tuscan columns. Frohnapfel’s Drug Store was at 1836 S. Calhoun Street.
Today's post is courtesy of Mitch Harper, who found this ad from 1917! (Thank you!)
We're borrowing the "South Wood Park" logo as out temporary Facebook logo. It isn't often those details are 107 years old...
There are lots of interesting changes in street names, street routings, and other map details. Which one is a surprise to you? Discuss!
[ One comment: The Wiebke farm was later purchased by the Fort Wayne Bible College but not until the 1940’s, the beautiful old farmhouse was there until about 20 years ago. I’m not sure exactly when it was torn down though, it was a beautiful house until Taylor University let it fall into disrepair. The other farm was the Prange farm which would have been right behind my house on Pasadena Dr. ]
Caption: Map Showing South Wood Park and the Best Routes by Which to Reach it.
Many famlies will doubtless arrange to visit South Wood Park today. Hilgemand & Schaaf extend a glad welcome to all to come-and bring the children. The woods are delightful and all are welcome to enjoy them. All who have been reading int he Daily New about the remarkable lot sales will wish to see just where these properties are located. It is suggested that the above map be cut out and taken along for reference.
THROWBACK THURSDAY - We found this full page ad that appeared 104 years ago on June 6, 1920 in the Sunday Journal...
THROWBACK THURSDAY - We found this full page ad that appeared 104 years ago on June 6, 1920 in the Sunday Journal Gazette.
Enjoy looking at how things have evolved with these homes in that timespan. It's interesting to see how a few houses look nearly identical to when they were new. Others have added fireplaces or changed rooflines and porches. Some yards have fewer trees - and some have more.
One thing we know is all these homes are just as loved today as they were when they were new! We will share 1920 closeups of the homes and some tidbits about the 1920s owners in future posts. If you're wanting to learn how to research your own home's history, we will be sharing information on that in upcoming posts, too.
A few years ago, 4429 Pembroke Lane was forlorn and neglected by its landlord. Neighbors talked about the idea of buying the property and tearing it down...
Mark Everetts saw the potential and purchased it and turned it into a beautiful home. The gardens are spectacular and the home is vibrant, full of life, and creative. Rather than empty lot, this neighborly block is even more cheerful than before - and the Association has a great Board Member.
This is definitely a preservation save. Thank you, Mark!
The house is one of the oldest in Section B. We hope you enjoy the newspaper clipping from 1920 that talks about the original owner. Here is the text: "HAROLD B. CHANEY'S HOME IN BEAUTIFUL SOUTH WOOD PARK
The residence of Harold B. Chaney, of the drafting department of S. F. Bowser & Co. was built in the latter part of 1919. It is situated on Pembroke Lane in South Wood Park, overlooking the wooded section, and near the double boulevard that heads to the old mill road. Mr. Chaney showed his profound belief in the beauties and future of South Wood Park by buying one lot as an investment and another as a site for the bungalow shown above.
This house is furnished in old ivory and mahogany throughout, with hard wood floors, the latest bath room fixtures, and all that goes into the construction of a modern and ideal home. It is reached by way of the beautiful ornamental entrance to South Wood park at Rudisill and Indiana avenues, and then south through the wooded section to Pembroke Lane."
In cutting the streets and boulevards through the forest in South Wood Park, the landscape architect has been guided by the desire to preserve hundreds of the finest specimens of the forest. The photograph is a typical view in the broad wooded seetion of South Wood Park.
Probably no place in Fort Wayne offers attractive natural playgrounds for children to surpass the broad park ways in South wood Park, the new Hilgeman Schaaf development on the south side. Big trees and broad open areas have proved irresistible for many who have already seen the place. Most of the lot purchasers announce, that they will build homes this summer or fall. The work of paving and laying of sidewalks as well as the placing of sewers and water mains, is now engaging attention, ,The yast work has been going forward since midsummer.
August 25, 1918 plat map in The News-Sentinel newspaper from April 15, 2014 discussion on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. September 2, 1918 Fort Wayne News and Sentinel newspaper. 
Thank you, Mark!