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People of Allen County, Indiana
F Surnames
Fabini, Jason - football player
Born August 25, 1974, Fabini played high school football at Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A former American football offensive lineman originally drafted by the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cincinnati. See Jason Fabini at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Born March 7, 1974 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Her mother, Anne (Miller), is a history teacher; and her father, James E. "Jim" Fischer, is an engineer. She has one younger sister, Emily, a third grade teacher. She first performed at the age of six, when she participated in an acting workshop taught by her mother at Henry School in St. Louis, a workshop also attended by actor Sean Gunn, with whom she grew up. Stars in the Office TV show as Pam Beesley for which she received an Emmy nomination. From Jenna Fischer on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Television star on "The Office" An Emmy nominee, plays Pam Beesley on "The Office" television show since 2005, and appeared in several movies. Jenna was born March 7, 1974 in Fort Wayne, but raised in Saint Louis, Missouri. See biography on Internet Movie Database and Wikipedia for more information.
August 25, 1922 - February 11, 2016, a son of George William Fishering and Muriel (Baxter) Fishering. He was a 1941 graduate of South Side High School. Awared the state's highest honor Sagamore of the Wabash. He was survived by his beloved daughter, Lisa (Fishering) Osmon; and his truly cherished granddaughter, Meret V. Duvall; and sisters, Nancy (Philip) Wehrenberg and Suzanne (William) Carl. He was preceded in death by his adored wife, Kathleen (Koenemann) Fishering in 1999, whom he married on Valentine's Day 1956; and brother, George W. Fishering II in 2008. From his February 11, 2016 obituary at Greenlawn Funeral and Cremation Services.
Fitch, Jon
From the June 12, 2012 Journal Gazette newspaper article Local MMA fighter Fitch subject of documentary "Fort Wayne native Jon Fitch has something else to add to his résumé other than world-class MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter. He can add film star. The former Purdue and Carroll wrestler, who fought for the welterweight title, is featured in a documentary, Such Great Heights, which will be released today. The film follows Fitch as he prepares for his 2008 fight against UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. Fitch lost the fight by unanimous decision, ending a 16-match winning streak. Since then, he has a 5-1-1 record." See also Jon Fitch Documentary Director Jonah Tulis: Aspiring to Great Heights written by Brian J. D'Souza 25 June 2012. Such Great Heights - TrailerYouTube. Such Great Heights on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Fitzwater, E. Oliver Al
Died November 3, 2014, son of Ellis O. Sr. and Margaret E. Fitzwater; brother, Oren Fitzwater, sister Jenny (Tom) Busch, daughter Lori K. (Michael) Ianucilli, son E. Oliver. See D.O. McComb and Sons obituary. Enlisted in the Army in 1961, earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star while leading nine men during the Vietnam War, Fort Wayne 'hero' among those laid to rest in Arlington by Mahamed Sulejmanagic published January 31, 2015 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Fleming, William
Born in 1828 in Wicklow, Ireland, married Ann McLaughlin in January 1850, she died in 1854 Ann. His second marriage on July 7, 1859 was to Helen F. Mayer whose father George operated Fort Wayne’s Mayer House hotel. He died on January 13, 1890. Fleming bought the Wabash and Erie canal in 1876 and was founder of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, which became the Nickel Plate Railroad. See his photo and read more in William Fleming Helped Open the Way for Fort Wayne by Tom Castaldi published October 16, 2014 by History Center Notes & Queries blog.
Florea, Richard
Born in New York City on May 22, 1937, his family (his parents were originally Hoosiers) eventually moved to Marion, Ind., when Florea was a 7th-grader. His broadcasting career began at radio station WMRI while he was still a Marion High School student. He was one of five inductees honored Saturday, May 18, 2019 at the 54th annual Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame luncheon in Indianapolis. Copied from THE LAST WORD: Dick Florea, ‘Fort Wayne’s Walter Cronkite,’ inducted into Journalism Hall of Fame by Kerry Hubbartt published May 20, 2019 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. Florea served 48 years in broadcasting, including 17 years as anchor at WKJG, where he was also host of “Editor’s Desk” and “Our Town,” both focused on community issues and people. ... Florea, the hall concluded, had been dubbed “the Walter Cronkite of Fort Wayne.” When he retired in 2001, Florea told The News-Sentinel he had loved his work but looked forward to having more time to explore his interest in genealogy. Copied from Fort Wayne TV pioneer Dick Florea named to Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame by Kevin Leininger published March 13, 2019 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. A graduate of Purdue University, he was the main evening news anchor at WKJG-TV-33, the city’s first TV station, from 1966 until 1983, as well as News Director from 1970 to 1987. A past president of the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers and the Associated Press Broadcasters of Indian, he retired from WKJG after 35 years in 2001. Dick was inducted into the Richard M. Fairbanks Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame November 14, 2015 in Indianapolis. See Fort Wayne Newsman in Hall of Fame by Eric Olson, 21Country Featured Reporterformerly published November 17, 2015 on 21AliveNews.comnow in the Wayback Machine. He was also active in Habitat for Humanity discussed in Florea's faith flouishes at Habitat for Humanity published July 2, 2013 in Senior Life newspapers. Richard's wife Phyllis, 75, died September 15, 2011. Her D.O. McComb and Sons obituary says she organized the first Johnny Appleseed Festival in 1975 and remained active in its leadership for many years. Fort Wayne broadcast legend Dick Florea to be inducted into Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame with video by Linda Jackson published March 13, 2019 on WKJG NBC.
Publisher of The News-Sentinel newspaper, was born on December 12, 1910, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a daughter of Oscar G. and Esther Anna (Deuter) Foellinger. She died March 25, 1987, mother Esther Deuter died July 24, 1969, and father Oscar Foellinger, died October 8, 1936, was publisher of the The News-Sentinel newspaper. Esther Deuter Foellinger and her daughter Helene Foellinger established the Foellinger Foundation which has a video about three generations of Foellinger's. Helene established the Foellinger Theatre in 1949 at Franke Park in honor of her father Oscar. In 1979 she funded the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory to honor her mother, and at Helene's death in 1987 a very generous gift was given to the Foellinger Auditorium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where Helene was in the Class of 1932. See our Foellinger Foundation section.
Honoring Helene Follinger Primetime 39 Season 2023 Episode 3120
Guests: Cheryl Taylor & Sarah Strimmenos. 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. Aired; 05/19/2023
Photo with the statement: The Foellinger family's home on Old Mill Road was designed by prominent local architect Guy Mahurin in the late 1920s. Mahurin also designed Fort Wayne’s Scottish Rite Auditorium, Chamber of Commerce, Plymouth Congregational Church, and other iconic structures. Copied from a November 10, 2022 post by the Foellinger Foundation on Facebook.
Helene Foellinger graduated valedictorian at South Side High School in 1928. She was the editor of The South Side Times during her junior and senior years, during which the paper won four national awards, including Best High School Newspaper in the United States by the National Scholastic Press Association.
A March 17, 2023 post by the Foellinger Foundation on Facebook announced the video that tells the life story of Helene Foellinger and the three generations of Foellingers who preceded her: 'An Influence for Good' is now available to watch online!
The History Center proudly contributed video segments from our collection and footage of our displays for the Foellinger Foundation documentary, "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". Use the link below to watch the documentary on the Foellinger Foundation's website.
Fort Wayne’s history has been comprised of extraordinary people from all walks of life. One of these was Helene Foellinger. In 1936 after the sudden death of her father, the owner and publisher of the News-Sentinel, she became the youngest newspaper publisher and one of the only female owners in the nation. Foellinger owned the paper until 1980 and retired from it in 1981. Along the way she, along with her mother, founded the Foellinger Foundation to serve the people of Allen County and continue the family’s tradition of civic involvement. The Foellinger Foundation recently released a documentary, "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story," in celebration of this extraordinary woman. The History Center proudly contributed video segments from our collection and footage of our displays for it. Today we share those video segments in a set of three posts. The first video is of the announcement of the construction of the Botanical Conservatory. The video is from our collection of WANE-TV videotapes and is from March 20, 1979. #sociallyhistory
Here is the second video segment from the History Center's collection that was provided for "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". It is from our collection of WANE-TV videotapes and is from groundbreaking of the Botanical Conservatory on October 9, 1981. #sociallyhistory
Here is the final video segment from the History Center's collection that was provided for "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". It is from our collection of WANE-TV videotapes and is from Helene Foellinger’s retirement on October 30, 1981. #sociallyhistory
Foellinger Foundation exists today because of the generosity of the Foellinger family. But how did the Foellinger family generate their wealth? Their family values of integrity, accountability, responsibility, and results—plus a commitment to civic involvement—led to successes for both the family, and all of Allen County.
OSCAR G. FOELLINGER, president and general manager of the News Publishing Company of Fort Wayne, deserves a large share of credit for the making of the News-Sentinel, one of the outstanding examples of Indiana journalism. The community of Fort Wayne has reason to esteem him for many other activities, leadership in matters vital to the city and to the welfare of its inhabitants.
Mr. Foellinger was born at Fort Wayne, April 11, 1885, son of Martin C. and Christina (Stellhorn) Foellinger. He was educated in the parochial schools of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and began life without any particular advantages, social or financial, except a resolute purpose, an unwavering ambition and ability to work, and with experience to direct the work of others.
He was working even while in school, and in 1901, at the age of sixteen, he became an employee of the Citizens Trust Company of Fort Wayne, with which he remained about five years, reaching the post of assistant cashier. His time has been fully taken up with newspaper work since 1905. He was business manager for the Journal Gazette Company until1910, and in the latter year joined the News Publishing Company, was made general manager in 1912, and since 1919 has been both president and general manager. He is also a director of the Lincoln National Bank & Trust Company. Outside of his own business the activities that have perhaps made him best known in the community has been his leadership in the fight against tuberculosis. He has for some years been a director of both the Fort Wayne and Indiana State Anti-Tuberculosis League. He has been a member of the executive committee of the Fort Wayne League, has acted as camp general of the Camp Christmas Seal Health Camp for under-par children and has devoted not only time but his personal means to the success of this charitable progress. He has attended many state conferences of the Indiana Anti-Tuberculosis League and has taken part in the formulation of its policies and in the direction of its interests. Mr. Foellinger individually and through his newspaper has constantly worked for improved highways. During the World war he was a local leader in the first, second and fourth Liberty Loan drives and War Savings Stamp campaigns, in the campaign for clothing for the destitute victims of the war, and in the Red Cross Auction. He was in the original Y. M. C. A. building campaign of 1916; has taken part in the annual Community Chest campaigns, and in those for the Day Nursery and the Red Cross membership drives. He has served as president of the Quest Club and chairman of its civic interest committee, and is a director of the Fort Wayne Boy Scouts Council. He is a member of the Fort Wayne Industrial Commission, the Clinton Street Association, the Rotary Club, Fort Wayne Country Club, Hamilton Club of Chicago, Columbia Club and the Trinity English Lutheran Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with Home Lodge No. 342, A. F. and A. M., the thirty-second degree Scottish Rite bodies and Mizpah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Foellinger as a young man was a first lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard with the Fort Wayne Battery from 1903 to 1906. He is a member of the National Press Club, the American Newspaper Publishers Association. Without official aspirations he has done a great deal of substantial work for the Republican party in Indiana. He was delegate at large from the state to the Republican national convention of 1924, when Calvin Coolidge was nominated. In 1928 he was state manager for Hoover in the primary campaign and state manager for the Hoover for President Clubs.
Mr. Foellinger married, November 16, 1909, Miss Esther Anna Deuter, daughter of Michael and Hannah Deuter, of Fort Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Foellinger have two daughters, Helene Ruth and Loretta Esther.
Esther Deuter (1890-1969) and Oscar Foellinger (1885-1936) were born and raised in Fort Wayne, descendants of German families that immigrated to the area in the mid-1800s. They married in 1909 in a ceremony at Oscar’s home. They had two children, Helene Foellinger (1910-1987) and Loretta Foellinger Teeple (1914-1950) who grew up on Indiana Avenue. Both daughters were outstanding students at South Side High School and returned to Fort Wayne after graduating from the University of Illinois. Oscar Foellinger left school at a young age, but developed practical skills by working at several banks and newspapers. In 1918, he became a partner in The News Publishing Company, owner of The News-Sentinel, and in 1920 he purchased the newspaper. Under his leadership, it became a strong publication in the region with high circulation, continual innovations in content and photography and a “Building Fort Wayne” column promoting civic improvements. From an early age, the newspaper business was Helene’s predominant interest. At South Side High School, she was the valedictorian, excelling in journalism and mathematics and serving as the editor of the newspaper. She was also the newspaper editor at University of Illinois. Following her graduation in 1932, Helene began her career as a reporter and features writer for The News-Sentinel. Soon after, she became editor and columnist for the new women’s section. When Oscar died unexpectedly in 1936, Helene decided she was up to the challenge of running the newspaper. At age 25, she became the youngest publisher in the country and one of its few female publishers at the time. In her 49-year tenure with the newspaper, Helene worked hard to earn the respect of her employees, her profession and her community. She received national attention for her achievements and work ethic. Before her retirement, Helene became the first woman inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, and she received numerous other awards recognizing her outstanding contributions to journalism, philanthropy and her community. Esther and Helene Foellinger decided to focus their resources on the creation of a Foundation to carry forward their family’s tradition of civic involvement and private philanthropy for community betterment. Investments came from their personal assets and estates and contributions from The News-Sentinel. Copied from What’s in a Name? at the Foellinger Foundation.
Clyde Julian "Red" Foley (June 17, 1910 – September 19, 1968)[1] was an American musician who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II. For more than two decades, Foley was one of the biggest stars of the genre, selling more than 25 million records. His 1951 hit, "Peace in the Valley", was among the first million-selling gospel records. A Grand Ole Opry veteran until his death, Foley also hosted the first popular country music series on network television, Ozark Jubilee, from 1955 to 1960. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, which called him "one of the most versatile and moving performers of all time" and "a giant influence during the formative years of contemporary Country music." Copied from Red Foley on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (UPI) Red Foley, the Grand Ole Opry spiritual singer who helped pioneer country music, was found dead in his motel room by a cleaning woman Thursday night.
The 58-year-old singer had been dead 8 to 10 hours, apparently from natural causes, according to Allen County Coroner Gordon Franke.
Foley, the father-in-law of singer Pat Boone, had appeared in two performances of the Grand Ole Opry in Fort Wayne Wednesday and apparently planned to return to his home in NashviUe, Tenn., Thursday afternoon. An airplane ticket with a reservation for Thursday was found in Foley’s pocket, police said.
Born Clyde Julian Foley on a 24-acre farm in Blue Lick, Ky., Foley was considered a “singers’ singer” among his country music contemporaries.
Minnie Pearl, who had starred on the Grand Ole Opry with Foley, burst into tears when informed of his death at Nashville.
“He was one of the dearest friends I ever had,” she said. “I never wanted to follow him on stage because he was so great. No one could sing like him.”
“I’ve lost a very dear friend,” said Roy Acuff.
Tex Ritter called Foley “a great friend and great artist.” Foley was one of the first country and western singers tc record music in Nashville. His biggest hits were “Peace in The Valley,” “Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” “Ole Shep,’ “Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy,” “Tennessee Saturday Night,” and “Cincinnati Dancing Pig.”
Mary Dell Ford was one of Fort Wayne’s greatest writers, and possibly the city’s greatest journalist. Dell Ford, as she was known, worked for the local Journal Gazette as a journalist and reporter for 46 years, from 1953 to 1999. Ford was Fort Wayne’s most notable native-born journalist. She was well educated, well-regarded, and well-connected. Writing was all Ford ever wanted to do. With the guidance of a North Side High School teacher, Ford’s focus turned from fiction to journalism. At North Side, she wrote for the Northerner, at the time the school’s weekly paper. After graduating with a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Michigan in 1952, she briefly worked at the St. Petersburg Times in Florida before returning to Fort Wayne to join The Journal Gazette on Dec. 21, 1953. Ford worked full time for the paper from 1953 until her retirement at the end of 1999, and she continued to contribute stories through 2008. Her work ran the gamut from interviews with future presidents to stories on local theater. As an education reporter for more than a dozen years, she was there for two big stories – school reorganization and desegregation. She also reviewed local theatrical productions and traveling shows and wrote the ‘Night Out’ column for five years in the 1960s. In October 1958, then-Journal Gazette publisher James R. Fleming asked Ford if she’d like to interview ‘the next president of the United States.’ That Sunday, Ford interviewed then-Sen. John F. Kennedy at the Keenan Hotel. When Sen. Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, Ford was in Washington, D.C., covering a local participant in the National Spelling Bee. She stayed over for the funeral and stood with the national press corps on a hill overlooking John F. Kennedy’s grave where his younger brother would soon be buried. Dell Ford passed away on March 22, 2023 and is buried in Lindenwood Cemetery. Visit the History Center to see our new temporary exhibit “Dell Ford: Writer, Journalist, and Legendary Local”. #sociallyhistory
Ford, Mary Forker
Married to Harland B. Ford. Mary Forker was born on Oct. 25, 1905, in Noble County, Ind. She is the daughter of Simon Edward and Mina Mae Bowen Forker. She attended public school in Fort Wayne, Ind. She married Harland B. Ford and they had one daughter, Jane. Before her marriage Mrs. Ford was employed by the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. She later became a free-lance writer. Information from Contemporary Authors. Murder, Country Style. New York. 1964, at 6271396 ACPL; The Silent Witness. New York. 1964; Shadow of Murder. New York. 1965; Long Journey Home. New York, 1966; Roswell Heritage. New York. 1968. Copied from Indiana Authors and Their Books on indiana.edu. She lived in the Reed Street and Colerick Street area and wrote light mysteries from June 29, 2022 discussion on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
Fort Wayne Bicycle Club
Fort Wayne Bicycle Club, 1881. in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library. Charles McClain, C. W. Edgerton, Charles Guild, Perry DeHaven, Stephen A. Bond, Samuel Hanna, Chaussey Griffith, Herman Siemons, Frank Fee, (deceased), Theordore F. Thieme, H. J. Meyer, Charles Schieman, Dave Caldwell, (deceased), A. W. Jaxtheimer, William D. Bostick, (deceased) John Ross, William Paul, (deceased), Frank Phillips, Louis Ohnhaus, A. Roberts and Jess Evans (deceased).
Description: Bicycle Club (Velos): showing men and bicycles, ca. 1900; included are Billy Peltier, Will Gowdy, Harry Pickard, Dave Eckert, Amos Ritcher(?), Dr. Sleman(?), Stephen B. Fleming, Ferd Urbahno(?), Clem Edgerton, Frak Lightfoot, Ross McCullough, John L. Han
Picnic at Swifts Farm, Fort Wayne Cycling Club is sharper and zoomable at the We Do History digital collection by the Indiana Historical Society. Modern bicycles became common in the 1890s in Fort Wayne, and the Fort Wayne Cycling Club used to have races on Forest Park Boulevard. In the late 1890s young people also began to enjoy bicycle parties.
Ordinaries, Safeties and FunA resume of the early bicycle period in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1879 - 1900, Ordinaries, Safeties and Fun is a partial reprint of the original work by Cleo Goff Wilkens. These selected sections are presented with the permission of Mr. William Decker at the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society.
The Bicycle Boom and the Bicycle Bloc Cycling and Politics in the 1890s MICHAEL TAYLOR Earlier that week, Harrison had been joined by wheelmen for a parade in Fort Wayne, home of the Sound Money Bicycle Club. With four-hundred members, the club took part in parades, held public races, and escorted Republican speakers from Fort Wayne to nearby towns such as Cedarville and New Haven. When Richard Guenther came to the city in September to help secure the decisive German vote for McKinley, soundmoney cyclists escorted him to the Princess Rink, where he was to deliver an address on the money question. Gubernatorial candidate James Mount received a similar welcome when he arrived on October 7. 24 24 “In a Big Tent,” Fort Wayne News, October 26, 1896, p. 1; “The Parade To-Night,” Fort Wayne News, October 30, 1896, p. 1; “Wheelmen are Mostly for McKinley and Sound Money,” Fort Wayne Gazette, August 26, 1896, p. 1; [untitled], Fort Wayne News, September 12, 1896; “Political Notes,” Fort Wayne News, October 6, 1896, p. 1; “At New Haven,” Fort Wayne Weekly Gazette, October 1, 1896, p. 2; “A German Rally,” Fort Wayne News, September 15, 1896, p. 1.
Three Rivers Velo Sport, Three Rivers Velo Sport ( 3RVS ) is Northeastern Indiana’s premier cycling club. Founded in 1969, 3RVS is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization that promotes bicycling-related activities in the greater Fort Wayne area.
#TBT to this moment in 1901 when members of the Fort Wayne Bicycle Club were riding through #DTFW.
Tomorrow is #biketoworkday! Members of the History Center staff will be riding the trails to work to celebrate with Kickstart Fort Wayne and documenting some historic sites along the way!
The Fort Wayne Bicycle Club formed in 1884 & primarily rode what style of bike? Find out the answer to this and more sports history at 200@200 - The Spirit of Competition! http://www.fwhistorycenter.com/vex20/index.htm.
In recognition of National Bike to Work Week, we are highlighting local cycling history. During the late 1800s, cycling became popular and was considered a sport and a part of developing good health and citizenship. The Fort Wayne Bicycle Club was formed in 1884. By 1888, practical cycling was popular and bicyclists transitioned from Large-Wheel Ordinary bicycles to Small-Wheel Safety bicycles.
Marion Black was one elite local cyclist. In 1894, competing at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Black and his race partner, Will Peltier, set a state record for tandems, completing the half mile race in 1:00.3 on their Stearns tandem. The men operated a bicycle shop in Fort Wayne, Black and Peltier, at 12 W. Wayne Street. This Stearns bicycle bears an 1898—99 Fort Wayne city license number. Owned by Marion Black, it was likely ridden in many of his racing competitions. You may not be setting records, but you can embrace Fort Wayne’s cycling past and present by riding your bike to work this week.#sociallyhistory
Since the 19th century, bicycles have become one of the most popular and reliable forms of transportation around the globe. The most universal forms are the ordinary and safety bicycles. In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 3 as International World Bicycle Day. Today is a global holiday meant to be enjoyed by all people regardless of any characteristic. The bicycle as a symbol of human progress and advancement, “[promotes] tolerance, mutual understanding and respect and [facilitates] social inclusion and a culture of peace.” World Bicycle Day recognizes "the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the Bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transport.” In celebration of World Bicycle Day, here are some bicycle items from our collection. Enjoy a bicycle ride today! #sociallyhistory
For 50 years the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir has provided music education to thousands of children in northeast Indiana. Originally known as the Children of Peace Choristers, the extracurricular program was created by Jocelyn Basse in 1973 and incorporated in 1984 as the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir. It has since grown to more than 250 singers representing 83 schools in northeast Indiana and western Ohio, as well as 36 homeschools. Five different artistic directors have provided their expert leadership to the group. The FWCC’s mission has always been to unite young singers from diverse backgrounds to achieve artistic and educational excellence. Along with music literacy and theory, the FWCC educates its singers in history, culture, foreign language, poetry, and performance. Teamwork, discipline, leadership, and other practical skills are taught as well. Throughout its 50 year history, the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir has provided its members with numerous opportunities in the world of music at home and abroad. Visit the History Center to see our new temporary exhibit “Fort Wayne Children’s Choir: 50 Years of Excellence in Music Education” presented in conjunction with the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, through June 14th. #sociallyhistory
In 1915, the Fort Wayne Friars, a social club, brought professional football to the Summit City. The Friars fielded amateur teams starting in 1910. That first team outscored its opponents 180-6. Like the River City Rhinos of today [no longer active], the Friars played teams from smaller Midwestern cities. With an investment of $2,000 from Wayne Pump Company, the club started hiring professional players in 1915. Many of the players were hired from the University of Notre Dame team, playing under false names. Former Irish players played for the Friars in 1916, including future Notre Dame president Hugh O'Donnell, future Michigan State coach Ralph "Bull" Young and future Detroit Lions coach Gus Dorias. The players were paid between $75 and $125 per game. The club usually attracted crowds of around 3,500 fans at 50 cents per head. The Friars won the state championship in 1916 by beating Wabash before more than 5,200 fans. Fort Wayne finished that season with an 8-1-1 record. The 1917 team had a 5-3-1 record to finish second for the state title. Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne played left end for the Friars that season -- their last. The team is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Copied from Football kicked off locally in second decade by Blake Sebring in the 1910-1919: THE INDUSTRIALIZATION ERA ofFort Wayne History Stories About Time Periods in I Remember History online tour of Summit City history from the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Bowser’s self-measurability pumps were introduced in the early 1900s, and were a huge success. Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation was founded in Fort Wayne in 1939. The first waterproof diaper cover was invented by Marion Donovan, in 1946. In 1951, she sold the rights to her waterproof diaper cover to the Keko Corporation for $1 million. The Indiana University Maurer School of Law has an Intellectual Property Law Clinic located in Fort Wayne. From Fort Wayne Inventors And Patents at PatentPC.
Pro basketball back in Fort Wayne, Nov. 23, 2007: The team plays its first game, a 94-86 loss to the Tulsa 66ers. It’s the first time Fort Wayne has had its own pro basketball team since the Continental Basketball Association went under in February 2001. Only championship, April 26, 2014: After a 34-16 regular season, Fort Wayne, led by coach Conner Henry, sweeps six playoff games and beats Santa Cruz to win the D-League title at Memorial Coliseum, where they won 17 straight games to close the season. Bought by Pacers, Sept. 9, 2015: The Pacers buy the team from Fort Wayne Basketball Group LLC, led by John Zeglis, which had owned the Mad Ants since their inception in 2007. “When it came right down to it, we wanted this franchise,” Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said. Three highlights copied from 12 Highlights of Fort Wayne Mad Ants history by Dylan Sinn May 9, 2023 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Fort Wayne has a rich heritage of individual and team athletics in recreational and competitive sports. One of these teams was our local NBA G League team, the Mad Ants. In April of 2007, it was announced that the NBA Development League was expanding and bringing a team to Fort Wayne for the 2007-2008 season. The team was poised to be the first minor league basketball franchise to play in Fort Wayne since the Fort Wayne Fury were disbanded after the folding of the Continental Basketball Association in 2001. The franchise held a team-naming contest on their website where fans could vote on one of the four finalists: Lightning, Fire, Coyotes, and Mad Ants, the latter name being a tribute to the builder of the first American fort General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. The teams’ original colors were gold and maroon, but were changed in 2017 to navy blue, gold and grey to match their new and only affiliate, the Indiana Pacers. In May of 2023, it was announced that the Pacers were moving the team to Noblesville, Indiana. The 2022-2023 season brought to a close the 16 season run of the Mad Ants as Fort Wayne’s hometown basketball team.#sociallyhistory
Fort Wayne Nurses
Fort Wayne nurses were initially trained at nurse’s schools at local hospitals. Student nurses were offered housing on or near the hospital campus and in some cases received pay. In addition, graduates could obtain training as members of the military nursing corps and the American Red Cross. St. Joseph Hospital’s nursing education program began in 1918 with the first class of graduates in 1921. It was directed by the Sisters, Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and continued operations until its closure in 1988. Fort Wayne City Hospital was founded in 1878. In 1891 it became Hope Hospital, which began an education program in 1897. In 1953, the hospital became Parkview Memorial Hospital, the school became known as Parkview Methodist School of Nursing. Its last class graduated in 1991. Parkview partnered with IPFW after the closure. The Lutheran Hospital Training School For Nurses began operations in the early twentieth century. Students worked and trained six days per week year round. The school later became known as the Lutheran College of Health Professions and was acquired by the University of Saint Francis in 1998. Copied from a January 14, 2019 post with photos by The History Centerfor their current exhibit.
The Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra premiered at the Palace Theatre on October 18, 1944, under conductor Hans Schwieger. Its founding resulted from the concerns of a group of local citizens under Carl Light, the orchestra’s first president, who wished to improve the standards of musical performance in the city. Igor Buketoff succeeded Schwieger as maestro in 1948, and under his leadership the orchestra received national exposure from radio performances and prominent guest performers. He was followed by James Sample from 1967 to 1970; Thomas Bricetti from 1970 to 1978; Ronald Ondrejka from 1978 to 1993; Edvard Tchivzhel from 1993 to 2008; and Andrew Constantine since 2009. The orchestra has received consistently high praise for the caliber of its musical performances, and its growth is the result of contributions from many local civic leaders who have committed to maintaining its standards. The scrapbooks document in detail, through photographs, news clippings and programs, the rise of this major artistic institution in the Midwest.
Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages.
-Dave Barry, American writer and humorist
Fort Wayne Sports
Remembering Not to Forget - A Story of Fort Wayne's Sports History by Chris Treft June 24, 2014 on YouTube A Short Documentary film about Fort Wayne Sport's history and the city's neglect of our great sport's past. Watch and see if you know all the great sporting events that have happened in Fort Wayne or were done by a Fort Wayne native. Blake Sebring and Kaleigh Schrock talk about how they think the city's sport's past should be remembered. This is a film by myself, Chris Treft, for which I completed it in his Memory, Culture and Identity graduate class at IPFW for my final project. To see more of my films and work as an aspiring sports broadcaster please visit my website ChrisTreftBroadcasting.com
January 17, 2023 post by The History Center with several photos of their 2023 Sculpture display on Facebook.
Study for Foster Statue (left), Clay model for Foster Statue (middle), and Statue of Col. David Foster in Swinney Park (right)
"In 1895, Colonel Foster headed up a committee to investigate formation of a municipal park board. He believed that Fort Wayne should have a city park within a 10 minute walk of every home." - fortwayneparks.org. Shown in this undated photo are (from left) David Foster, Adolph Jaenicke, park designer, and 2 unidentified workmen. - courtesy ACPL from a June 13, 2024 post on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
HISTORY JOURNAL ▸ The bronze sculpture of David N. Foster at Swinney Park was dedicated 100 years ago this week. The...
HISTORY JOURNAL ▸ The bronze sculpture of David N. Foster at Swinney Park was dedicated 100 years ago this week. It stands at the West Washington Boulevard entrance to Swinney Park. The statue, designed by Chicago sculptor Frederick Hibbard, was unveiled to a crowd of several thousand people on May 14, 1922. Read more: May 14, 1922: Dedication of David N. Foster statue at Swinney Park.
(The Journal Gazette's headline from May 15, 1922, is inset with this photo taken Monday. Some letters are obscured because of damage to the page before it was put on microfilm decades ago. NOTICE online Newspapers.com copy does not have this problem )
A story in The Journal Gazette the next day noted it was a beautiful day to pay tribute to the Civil War veteran who played a prominent role in Fort Wayne's parks system. Foster was at the ceremony, surrounded by family and friends. His granddaughter, Maxine, pulled the cord to lower draped flags and unveil the monument. Speaker Capt. W.A. Kelsey, a representative of Civil War veterans, said the statue " will be an imperishable marker, pointing to our children, their children and all who come after us your great civic and philanthropic work to make our city a better place in which to live." Foster made brief remarks that included, "We of the park board have not been building simply for today or for this generation, but for all the centuries to come. From the depths of a proud and grateful heart I want to thank every man, woman and child in the city of Fort Wayne whose contribution is represented in this testimonial which has just been unveiled." Excerpts from the May 15, 1922, Journal Gazette story are below. Foster was born in 1841 and died in Fort Wayne in 1934 at age 93. He is buried in Lindenwood Cemetery. There is also a memorial stone to Foster and brother Samuel M. Foster at Foster Park. The family donated the initial 100 acres of land for that park.
Samuel Foster is a historical resident of Fort Wayne. The brother of David Foster, Samuel came to Fort Wayne in 1879 and became known for his interest in building our parks system, founding the Lincoln Bank (German-American Bank at the time), the Lincoln Tower, and much more. But perhaps his least well-known but most interesting influence on American life at the time was the development of the shirtwaist. What's a shirtwaist? Read on for an exciting story of how Foster and Fort Wayne became ground zero for the development of the shirtwaist.
In the 1880s, Foster was involved in the dry goods business, but business could have gone better. However, in 1882 on a cold day, Foster got the bright idea to start manufacturing these trendy shirts for boys at the time. They were essentially button-down shirts, sometimes with sleeves, sometimes not, that allowed more freedom of movement than a suit shirt. Foster even stated that these were "the start of whatever material success I have met with since."
Once he started manufacturing them, he got orders from across the country. One example was Frank Cooper, the founder of the Siegel-Cooper stores (their New York location was the largest store in the world in the late 1800s). Initially, the shirts were for boys, but he noticed he was getting orders for larger sizes. This was odd to him as he had fairly good knowledge of what inventory he needed in what sizes. He did some investigating and found out these larger sizes were being purchased by women who were making slight modifications to them. Upon seeing this, he decided to create shirtwaists for women.
Now, what is a shirtwaist? It is a button-down blouse tucked into a skirt's waistband. The first shirtwaist for women was much different than what eventually became shirtwaists, with elaborate details such as stitching on the collars, wrist cuffs, and availability in multiple colors. The shirtwaist was more than a trend; the blouse symbolized female independence. With their own jobs and wages, women were no longer dependent on men and sought new privileges at home and work.
While Foster did not claim to invent these, he did believe he created the first factory dedicated to manufacturing these. At the turn of the 20th century, production of the shirtwaist was widespread, with a majority being made in Philadelphia and New York. Over time, the term shirtwaist was replaced with blouse, and while Foster continued to manufacture them, the competition was significant. Foster, who lived on Fairfield near Creighton, while known for many things, might have been one of the individuals responsible for the modern-day blouse.
75 years since The Four Freshmen’s first gig. September 20, 1948 the group played the 113 Club in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and today, 75 years later, we are flying there to celebrate with friends, family, and past members of the group.
Please enjoy this video of one of our favorite songs, Poinciana, performed by the first group, and the current group a few days ago. Watch the whole thing to see a glimpse into the past 75 years.
Group 1
Lead: Bob Flanigan (1948-1992)
2nd: Don Barbour (1948-1960)
3rd: Ross Barbour (1948-1977)
4th: Hal Kratzsch (1948-1953)
Group 27
Lead: Ryan Howe (2020-present)
2nd: Tommy Boynton (2015-present)
3rd: Jake Baldwin (2020-present)
4th: Bob Ferreira (1992-present)
Past members:
Ken Errair (1953-1956)
Ken Albers (1956-1982)
Bill Comstock (1960-1973)
Ray Brown (1973-1977)
Autie Goodman (1977-1992)
Dennis Grillo (1977-1982)
Mike Beisner (1982-1994)
Rod Henley (1982-1987)
Dave Jennings (1986-1987)
Newton Graber (1987)
Kirk Marcy (1987-1988)
Garry Lee Rosenberg (1988-1991)
Greg Stegeman (1989-2001)
Kevin Stout (1992-1999)
Alan MacIntosh (1994-1996)
Brian Eichenberger (1996-2014)
Vince Johnson (1999-2013)
Curtis Calderon (2001-2016)
Stein Malvey (2013-2020)
Jon Gaines (2017-2020)
Can you guess where this home is located? It is possible that many of you have not seen this beautiful home before. This home, the George Fox home, is located at the corner of Fox and Walnut. The house was built between 1850 and 1875. George was born in Germany, his wife Mary, from Switzerland, and they came to Fort Wayne in 1848. George and Mary had three sons, Louis, Joseph, and August. George eventually passed away in 1892. It appears Louis owned the home at one time. In 1883, George’s sons, August and Louis, got involved in the confectionery business. The establishment was called the Fox Bakery and Confectionary at the corner of Calhoun and Jefferson. Eventually, they sold the company to the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco). This amazing home still stands today and was the beginning of so much history.
Joe Foy was a founding member of the Northside Neighborhood Association and a dedicated neighbor, friend and board member for decades. Our sympathies and gratitude are deep and sincere.
Freeland Farms | Marilyn Hoffman posted Feb 17, 2016 by Pro360 Virtual Tours and Photography on YouTube A rare opportunity to own a work of art, this is one of the great mansions of the world, with over 38,000 GBA sq. ft. of museum quality construction, secluded on 50 acres in a prime Midwest location. In addition to the mansion, there is a guest apartment, a separate 5,567 sq. ft. stone home with 3,329 sq.ft. of finished basement, a 6,720 sq. ft. stable and many acres of emerald green lawns, studded with huge towering trees, a 7 acre private lake, incredible landscaping and gardens.
Her early years took place in northeast Indiana. She was born into a Quaker family and grew up on a farm between Huntington and Roanoke. She was the youngest child of nine. Her niece who lived in New Haven was interviewed in Codebreaker from area subject of documentary by Rosa Salter Rodriguez published January 10, 2021 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
The PBS documentary The Codebreaker was broadcast as an American Experience January 11, 2021.
Elizebeth Friedman's invaluable work in two world wars was hidden for more than 60 years. Its discovery raises the question: what other heroes have been overlooked?
Elizebeth Smith Friedman, born August 26, 1892, was a groundbreaking cryptanalyst whose work decoding thousands of messages for the U.S. government would send infamous gangsters to prison in the 1930s and bring down a massive, near-invisible Nazi spy ring in WWII.
Learn how she faced off with rum runners and drug smugglers—and won—in this comic. https://to.pbs.org/3qEchke
Written by Chad Bowers, Illustrations by Deb J.J. Lee
#OTD in 1892, cryptanalyst Elizebeth Smith Friedman was born in Huntington, Indiana. Friedman broke enemy codes for the War Department and taught U.S. Army personnel how to do the same during World War I with her husband William, future founder of the National Security Agency. The two authored groundbreaking cryptanalytical training material for the federal government and became pioneers in the field of modern cryptology. During the Prohibition Era, Elizebeth Smith Friedman worked to crack the codes of rum runners and narcotics smugglers, dismantling national and international crime rings in the process. During WWII, she helped decipher Nazi codes and toppled their spy networks in South America. She died in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1980.
Born 1838, he never married but had a very interesting and productive life." Read the entire article Wagons to Soquel, Sidney Glenn Freshour from Santa Cruz County History - People Old Soldiers: Santa Cruz County Civil War Veterans by Robert L. Nelson.
Our #SaturdaySuperstar this week is Kathy Friend our Chief Financial Officer. She was honored Monday at our board meeting with a Sagamore of the Wabash award which is the highest honor given by the Governor of Indiana. Kathy has been helping our district become more fiscally responsible since 2000. She is also FWCS' liaison with local legislators at the state house and it has been said that she knows the state education funding formula better than anyone. Thank you Kathy Friend for all your hard work. #Grateful
1878 Born at Maples, Indiana
Attended Hanna School
1901 Nov 4 Married David Charles McKeeman, M.D.
1903 Charles Robert born
1908 David John born
1915 Harriet Elizabeth born
1918 Husband David caught influenza from a patient and died
1920 Living with Robert and Nancy Mercer, David's parents
1924 General supervisor of kitchen at South Side High School
Simpson Methodist Church
1925 - 1943 Kitchen director at Girl Scout Camp at DeWart Lake
1951 Heart attack while working at South Side High School cafeteria
1951 May 16 Died Fort Wayne, Indiana; burial Lindenwood Cemetery.
OBITUARY
MRS. NETTIE MERCER
RITES SATURDAY FOR SCHOOL'S CAFETERIA CHIEF
Services will be conducted Saturday for Mrs. Nettie Mercer, 73, 305 French Ave.
who died at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Joseph's Hospital of a ruptured blood
vessel. She had a heart attack at the South Side High School cafeteria, where she was kitchen supervisor. Rites will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Klaehn Funeral Home, the Rev. Donald E. Bailey officiating. Burial will be in Lindenwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. today.
She was born in Maples, and attended Hanna school here. She was the widow of Dr. David J. Mercer, who practiced at Poe, until his death in 1918. She came to South Side High School in 1924 as general supervisor of the
kitchen. It is estimated that she, over a period of years, directed 9,000 daily
lunch periods there. She also had charge of the preparation of lunches for many school organizations. >From 1925 to 1943 she was kitchen director for the Girl Scout Summer Camp at DeWart Lake. In August, 1944, The Girl Scouts presented her with a "Thanks" Medal for outstanding service to the group. For a number of years she was cook for the "Y" weekend camping parties at Winona Lake.
She was a member of the Simpson Methodist Church, the OES, and the Miriam White Shrine. Surviving are two sons, Robert, Fort Wayne; David, Pendleton; and a daughter,
Mrs. Harriet Adkins, Fremont, O., and 13 grandchildren.
photo: The History Center #valentinesday #notreallybuiltfortwo #riverfrontfw
