USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. I > Part 61
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THE ANTHONY HOTEL.
The organization, in 1905, of the Fort Wayne Hotel Company resulted, in 1908, in the completion of the Anthony hotel, at the northeast corner of Berry and Harrison streets. The building, cost- ing $500,000, is fireproof, nine stories in height, and contained orig- inally two hundred and sixty-three guest rooms. The hotel was opened with a banquet on the 27th of February, 1908, on which occasion Judge R. S. Taylor presided. H. J. Keenan has managed the house from the beginning.
THE BALTES HOTEL.
The Baltes hotel, under the management of William Knapp and Charles Moreland, was opened in 1908. It has been conducted as a place of entertainment of male guests.
BURNING OF THE AVELINE HOUSE.
Early on the morning of May 3, 1908, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the Aveline hotel at the southeast corner of Calhoun and Berry streets. Twelve persons lost their lives. Many guests of the upper floors were saved by leaping from windows or making their way to the roofs of adjoining structures. The site is now occupied by the Shoaff building. (See Chapter XXXVIII).
SCOTTISH RITE CATHEDRAL.
A magnificent stone building, the pride of the Masonic fra- ternity of Indiana, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, was erected during 1908 and 1909, at a cost of $225,000. The dedicatory service occurred in November of the latter year, when a class of two hundred and
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
ninety-one persons was given the higher Scottish Rite degrees. The building is located at the southeast corner of East Washington and Clinton streets.
CYRUS CLINE CONGRESSMAN.
In the presidential election of 1908 Allen county gave William J. Bryan, democrat, 11,975 votes and William H. Taft, republican, 9,468 votes. Cyrus Cline, democrat, of Steuben county, was elected to represent the Twelfth district in congress, over Clarence C. Gil- hams, republican of Lagrange county.2
ACTIVITIES OF 1900.
Rt. Rev. Herman J. Alerding succeeded Rt. Rev. Joseph Rade- macher as bishop of the Catholic diocese of Fort Wayne. Allen county gave William J. Bryan, democrat, 10,764 votes for president, against 8,250 for William McKinley. The official census gave Fort Wayne a population of 45,115, as compared with 35,393 in 1890. During the national encampment of the Union Veteran Legion a captured Spanish cannon, mounted on a stone pedestal in Old Fort park, was dedicated. Prominent partic- ipants in the event were Governor James A. Mount, National Com- mander W. R. Wooster, of Philadelphia, Corporal James Tanner and William J. Bryan, of Nebraska. The citizens, by a vote of 4,805 to 1,565, declared favorably in the matter of granting a subsidy to construct the Butler branch of the Wabash railroad, provided the company would expend $50,000 in the improvement of the local shops. A cloudburst caused the overflow of Shawnee run, and many homes in South Wayne were inundated. The Henry W. Lawton camp, Spanish War Veterans, the first in the state, was organized. The Allen County Law Library was established, with Henry P. Ryan as the first librarian.
The Fort Wayne Academy of Medicine was founded.
ACTIVITIES OF 1901.
The Mary Penrose Wayne chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized, with Mrs. Frances Haberly- Robertson as regent. The charter was granted in 1902. John A. Scott was appointed deputy United States marshal.
Eugene B. Smith succeeded George F. Felts as a member of the board of public school trustees. G. C. A. Ortlieb succeeded to the office of county auditor when the position of William Meyer, Jr., was declared vacant on account of a defalcation. The Knott-VanArnam Manufacturing Company (now the VanArnam Manufacturing Company), maker of plumbers' supplies, was estab- lished. Thomas Turflinger was appointed superintendent of the county farm.
ACTIVITIES OF 1902.
The Fort Wayne Fair association was formed, with Alexander Johnson president, Fred J. Hayden, vice-president, W. H. Fleming secretary and William A. Johnson assistant secretary. The associ- ation took control of the Driving park, northeast of the city. The Heit-Miller-Lau Company, manufacturer of confectionery, was
1
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INTERURBANS-COMMERCIAL ADVANCEMENT
1900 1908
organized. . Postal sub-stations were established in many portions of the city, all located in drugstores. "Brook- side, " the handsome suburban home of John H. Bass, was destroyed by fire on the night of February 11, causing a loss of $150,000; the house was rebuilt. William C. Baade was named to com- plete the unexpired term of George R. Hench, councilman, deceased. In a spirited race for congress James M. Robinson, demo- crat, won over Clarence C. Gilhams by a vote of 8,297 to 6,971. A carrier pigeon owned by Henry Beach broke the world's thousand-mile record; time, eight days, three hours and five min- utes. Straus Brothers established the Commercial bank, a private institution. Dr. Robert Nohr introduced into the public schools a system of physical culture. The Boss Man- ufacturing Company's glove factory was established.
ACTIVITIES OF 1903.
In compliance with a legislative act, Judge Edward O'Rourke, of the circuit court, appointed Jesse Patton as Fort Wayne's first probation officer; the act also provided for the establishment of a juvenile court over which the circuit court judge shall preside. The Craig Biscuit Company, with James C. Craig as presi- dent, was organized. Chauncey B. Oakley succeeded Charles R. Lane as deputy oil inspector for the Twelfth congressional district; upon the death of Mr. Oakley the appointment came to Alfred T. Lukens. Captain Allan H. Dougall was appointed to a position as auditor in the government insular office at Manila, Philippine islands. Henry G. Felger was appointed by the Allen county township trustees to succeed Flavius J. Young. Mr. Felger's office was declared vacant in 1913, and D. O. McComb
became his successor. The polo craze attracted vast crowds
to Princess rink. The Fort Wayne Rolling Mills were estab- lished in 1903; two hundred and fifty workmen were brought from Chicago when the mills were opened. Albert E. Carroll succeeded Alexander Johnson as superintendent of the Indiana School for Feeble Minded Youth. The Tri-State Loan and Trust Company was organized with Charles A. Wilding president and George W. Pixley secretary. Its predecessor, the Tri-State Building and Loan Company, was organized in 1889. The People's Trust and Savings Company was organized, with W. L. Moellering president and P. J. McDonald secretary. The first session of the United States district court, A. B. Anderson judge, was held. Sol Mier and Company established the Bank of Wayne, a private institution which discontinued business in 1914.
ACTIVITIES OF 1904.
Robert Millard was elected president of the Commercial club. The original brick building of the Fort Wayne Bible Train- ing School was erected at the corner of South Wayne avenue and Rudisill boulevard. The building was dedicated in January, 1905. The Majestic theatre, owned by Stair and Rice, was opened October 24. A flood early in March did much damage to property bordering the rivers. The Indiana Grand Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen met in Fort Wayne in
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
April. A homing pigeon owned by Dr. John Schilling broke the world's thousand-mile flight record in five days, two hours and fifteen minutes. The Fort Wayne Retail Merchants' asso-
ciation was organized. The Lake Erie and Fort Wayne Belt Line railway, a short line operated within the manufacturing
district of the west end, was incorporated. Charles S. Bash and Dr. W. O. Gross were appointed to places on the school board.
Wesley I. Work was chosen county truancy officer.
ACTIVITIES OF 1905.
Sol A. Wood succeeded E. V. Harris as referee in bankruptcy.
Ernest W. Cook was appointed to membership on the school board. Edward G. Hoffman was appointed county attor- ney, to succeed Newton D. Doughman, resigned.
ACTIVITIES OF 1906.
Robert B. Hanna, who was appointed postmaster of Fort Wayne by President Roosevelt, served through the succeeding administra- tion of President Taft. Captain Ivers W. Leonard became the first instructor in military tactics at Concordia college. ยท
George B. McGoogan was appointed United States consul at LaPaz, Mexico. B. Paul Mossman succeeded Charles W. Orr as president of the Commercial club. Lew P. Sharp received the appointment of deputy revenue collector. The Mennon-
ite church, with Rev. Ben B. King pastor, was established. Newton W. Gilbert was appointed by President Taft to a judgeship in the Philippine islands; later he became vice-governor of the is- lands.
ACTIVITIES OF 1907.
The East Creighton Avenue (Third) Church of Christ was or- ganized, with Rev. H. E. Stafford pastor. Succeeding pastors were R. A. Thibos, Frank L. Taylor, E. H. Clifford and E. Miller.
E. H. Merritt was elected president of the Commercial club. On the 22d of October, with B. Paul Mossman and Perry A. Randall as speakers, the Mary Penrose Wayne chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a "marker" and bronze tablet on Wayne Trace indicating the route by which Wayne's troops left the fort in 1794 and the way by which General Harrison's troops came to the relief of the garrison in 1812.
On the occasion of the reunion of the Indiana department of the Grand Army of the Republic an imposing parade was given. Benja- min W. Skelton, of Fort Wayne, was elected vice-commander.
The Walther League of America held a convention in Fort Wayne in July. F. A. Klein, of Fort Wayne, was elected national president. The present temple of Fort Wayne Lodge No. 155, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was erected. The overflow of the rivers in January wrought much property dam- age. The Trade-Mark Title Company, with Samuel M. Fos- ter president and E. H. Merritt secretary, was organized.
ACTIVITIES OF 1908.
Floods in March raised the rivers beyond all records of many pre- ceding years. The extent of the flood is suggested by the circum-
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INTERURBANS-COMMERCIAL ADVANCEMENT
1900 1908
stance that the waters of the St. Mary's river swept across Spy Run avenue. The Lyric, used for a time as a vaudeville house, later as a motion picture theatre, was erected. With the consolidation of the Freie Presse and the Staats-Zeitung the German- speaking portion of the citizenship was supplied with but one local daily paper. For a few months, however, the Fort Wayne Abend- post, edited by Anselm Fuelber, was circulated. The first taxicabs were placed in service by the Motor Transfer Company.
The Church of God was organized, with Rev. H. H. Spiher pastor. Succeeding pastors have been Charles Manchester and J. E. McColley.
NOTES ON CHAPTER XLVII.
(1) Minor city officials elected and appointed in 1901 were: Clerk, August M. Schmidt; comptroller, Joseph V. Fox; attorney, William H. Shambaugh; board of public works, Peter Egge- man, William Doehrmann, Henry C. Zollinger; board of public safety, Charles H. Buck, L. C. Kasten, George H. Wilson; councilmen, E. J. Ehrman, Frank Baker, John J. O'Ryan, Ferdi- nand Meier, Charles Sordelet, William Gerding, G. R. Hench, W. J. Hosey, E. J. Lennon, H. C. Baade, A. Foellinger, William Glenn, William Griebel, John J. Bauer, J. E. Zurbuch, P. J. Scheid, Edward C. Miller, John C. Figel, Ber- nard Borkenstein; waterworks trustees, William Kaough, Philip Singleton, Wil- liam Tagtmeyer.
In 1903, the following members of the city council were elected: J. N. Pfeiffer, Henry A. Wiebke, John J. O'Ryan, J. Willis Pearse, F. J. Baker, Daniel F. Hauss, Thomas N. Hall, Charles B. Woodworth, Charles D. Crouse, Joseph Bursley, Byron A. Strawn, Michael Kinder, F. W. Schei- mann, William Meyer, John Grund, Jesse Brosius, Arwid Polster, Philip Wyss and William Sthair. Waterworks trustees, Hugh T. Hogan, Edward White and Julius Tonne.
Minor officers elected and appointed in 1905 were: Clerk, J. Frank Mungo- van; judge of city court, Benjamin W. Skelton; comptroller, August
M. Schmidt; attorney, Guy Colerick; po- lice chief, Martin Ankenbruck; secre- tary of waterworks board, Julian Franke; board of public works, E. J. Lennon, Henry F. Schwartz and Jesse Brosius; board of public safety, George Herrman, James J. Hayes and Calvin K. Rieman; board of public health, Dr. H. O. Bruggeman, Dr. J. W. McCaus- land; councilmen, W. C. Schwier, W. A. Bayer, John H. Welch, Marion B. John- son, R. H. Harrison (succeeded by W. D. Henderson), Gustave W. Boerger, Louis C. Langard, Otto Seidel, J. M. Henry, Dr. George B. Stemen, Dr. Wil- liam M. Enslen, Michael Kinder, Charles H. Rodenbeck, Walter E. Cook and Philip H. Wyss.
(2) County officers elected in 1900 were: State senator, George V. Kell; joint senator, Stephen B. Fleming; rep- resentatives, Charles L. Drummond (died before taking office), George B. Lawrence and George W. Louttit; judge of the circuit court, Edward O'Rourke; judge of the superior court, John H. Aiken; prosecuting attorney, E. V. Em- rick; treasurer, John H. Rohan; sheriff, George W. Stout; coroner, Dr. W. W. Barnett; assessor, Peter Eggeman; sur- veyor, John A. Bushman; commission- ers. August R. Schnitker, Martin L. Moudy and C. E. Orff; clerk, F. J. Belot;
recorder, C. M. Gillett; auditor, William Meyer, Jr.
In 1902, the following county officers were elected: State senator, Lew V. Ulrey; representatives, Michael Sheri- dan, H. L. Somers and William S. Wells; judge of the superior court, Owen N. Heaton; prosecuting attorney, Ronald Dawson; clerk, William A. Johnson; auditor, Dr. J. L. Smith; treas- urer, Jacob Funk; sheriff, George W. Stout; coroner, Joseph W. Stults; sur- veyor; John A. Bushman; commis- sioners, Martin L. Moudy, Charles A. Griebel; county council, Edward Ely, Jacob Gable, H. F. E. Kruse, George H. Loesch, Fred Kahn, William Rorick and William Ringwalt.
County officers elected in 1904 were: Representatives, W. F. Ranke, Michael Sheridan, Albert R. Parker; prosecuting attorney, Daniel B. Ninde; recorder, George L. Ashley; treasurer, Jacob Funk; sheriff, Jesse Grice; coroner, Dr. J. E. Stults; surveyor, David E. Spindler.
County officers elected in 1906 were: Senator, W. F. Ranke; representatives, William S. Wells, A. R. Parker, Wil- liam Fruechtenicht; judge of the circuit court, Edward O'Rourke; judge of the superior court, Owen N. Heaton; prose- cuting attorney, Albert E. Thomas; clerk, Joseph N. Mason; sheriff, Joseph F. Getz; auditor, George Lindemuth; treasurer, William H. Scheiman; as- sessor, William Eggeman; surveyor, David Spindler; coroner. Dr. A. J. Kes- ler; commissioners, F. William Franke, Joseph Tonkel, John B. Wyss; county council, Hiram B. Roller, Louis A. Centlivre, William Smith, Jacob Gable, G. W. Coverdale, Valentine I. Shaffer, Martin V. Metcalf.
County officers elected in 1908 (pres- idential year) were: Joint senator, Stephen B. Fleming; representatives, William S. Wells, R. B. Shirley, A. Roggen; prosecuting attorney, Albert E. Thomas; treasurer, William H. Scheiman; recorder, Robert E. Kelly; sheriff, A. M. Reichelderfer; surveyor, David Spindler; coroner, Dr. A. J. Kes- ler; commissioners, J. D. Butt and John B. Wyss.
In 1910, with the re-election of Cyrus Cline over Owen N. Heaton, for con- gress, the following county officers were elected: Prosecuting attorney, Harry H. Hilgemann; judge of the cir- cuit court, Carl Yaple; state senator, Frank Greenwell; representatives, Clif- ford J. Moran, W. H. F. Moellering, A. Roggen; clerk, William E. Gerding; auditor, Calvin H. Brown: treasurer, J. Herman Bueter; sheriff, A. M. Reichel- derfer; coroner, Dr. Edward H. Kruse; assessor, William Eggeman; commis- sioner, F. William Franke.
CHAPTER XLVIII-1909-1915.
Civic Awakening-"Indiana's Second City"-Track Elevation-The Flood of 1913.
Legislature authorizes Fort Wayne to proceed with civic improvements-
Revision of park laws-The work of Charles Zueblin, Charles Mulford Robinson, George E. Kessler, Metcalf and Eddy and others-Growth of the park system-City Forestry Department-Fort Wayne awarded second place among Indiana cities in point of population-Jesse Grice mayor-The Boy Scouts-Weather Bureau-Art Smith, aviator-Ele- vation of railway tracks-The disastrous flood of March, 1913-The Rotary Club-The Palace theatre-The new county farm-Lincoln High- way celebration-Commercial, religious and civic advancement.
A CIVIC awakening, resulting in permanent activity in the beautification of the city of Fort Wayne and the education of the people along practical lines of sanitation and the conservation of its physical resources, stands forth as a prominent feature of the seven years included within the scope of this chapter.
In compliance with an act of the legislature in 1906, passed in response to an appeal from the people of Fort Wayne, the department of public parks was established to take over the work which formerly had come under the control of the board of public works. The earlier months of effort secured, in 1909, the co-oper- ation of the Commercial club, which, through its president, Howell C. Rockhill, Charles H. Worden, Robert B. Hanna and others, entered actively upon a campaign of civic betterment. Professor Charles Zueblin, of the University of Chicago, was engaged to deliver a series of lectures on municipal improvements; Charles Mulford Robinson, of Rochester, New York, civic improvement expert, made an exhaustive report recommending extensive works of beautification and sanitation. Delegations of interested citizens visited other cities and returned with practical ideas for carrying forward the general plan of improvement. The legislature of 1911 gave to Fort Wayne a duplicate of the park law which had proved to be of great benefit to the city of Indianapolis. Under this law the board of park commissioners was allowed to proceed with the establishment of needed boulevards, parks and parkways, pleasure drives and playgrounds, and to acquire such grounds and their improvement could levy a tax against benefited property ; such levy, however, not to exceed a total of 15 per cent of the value of the land.
The city council created a River Front Commission, composed of city officials and citizens, and a fund for its use was raised by a tax levy of four and one-half cents on each $100 of assessed prop- erty valuation. George E. Kessler, of St. Louis, Missouri, land- scape architect, and Metcalfe and Eddy, sewer experts, were engaged to consider in full the city's needs. The disastrous flood of March, 546
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"INDIANA'S SECOND CITY"-FLOOD OF 1913
1909 1915
1913, turned attention sharply to the paramount need of protection against damage by the overflow of the rivers, and the city council appropriated a fund of $5,000 for the immediate use of a special commission, the River Improvement Association, which entered upon an investigation of means to prevent a recurrence of the damage by floods.
Various forward steps along these lines have been taken. Dur- ing the spring and summer of 1916 Mrs. Josephine L. Nesbit, of Ohio, working in conjunction with the city health board and the management of the public schools, carried forward a "backyard campaign" which was an inspiration to hundreds of children and their parents to create attractive home surroundings.
In October, 1916, Fort Wayne became the center of interest as the city in which was executed one of the most unique plans of modern civic advancement. Following a "city planning" exhibit held under the auspices of the Woman's Club League in the cor- ridors of the courthouse, in charge of John E. Lathrop, director of the city planning department of the American City Bureau, a tour to create interest in the subject of city planning was made in automobiles, under the direction of Lee J. Ninde, of Fort Wayne, president of the Indiana Real Estate Exchange. Many men prom- inent in the work of the advancement of civic ideals united in the movement, the influence of which is shown in a changed public attitude toward questions of housing, home improvement, school gardens, parks, boulevards, playgrounds and many other elements of modern development.
GROWTH OF THE PARK SYSTEM.
Under its enlarged privileges Fort Wayne's park board has taken many forward steps. The original part of Lakeside park, acquired from the Fort Wayne Land and Improvement Company in 1908 for $5,000, received a gift of three entire squares and other areas from the Forest Park Company in 1908 and 1912. In the latter year the city purchased an additional area, making the total cost of the ground $7,800. Improvements to the amount of $17,500 were made in 1912.
Camp Allen park, in the "peninsula" portion of Nebraska, was purchased by the city in 1912; John H. Vesey park, Pontiac Place park and Hirons park were all donations to the city in 1912, but the most considerable gift of park lands in the history of the city came through the munificence of Samuel 'M. and David N. Foster, who gave to the city Foster park, a beautiful tract of sixty- four acres of wooded land bordering the St. Mary's river, south of the Broadway bridge. The formal dedication of this largest of the Fort Wayne parks took place in a ceremony of speechmaking and music in July, 1912.
With the platting of Westfield addition in 1908, the owners set aside about eight acres of land, called Rockhill park, for the use of the city. In the following year Weisser park was purchased from Magdalena Weisser. Other donations and purchases have pro- vided a modern system of parks and boulevards.
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
CITY FORESTRY DEPARTMENT.
Upon the establishment of the municipal department of for- estry, in April, 1912, Carl J. Getz, a graduate of Purdue, was en- gaged to serve as city forester. The work of the department has proved to be of incalculable value in the conservation of the city's trees and in the instruction of the people in the field of tree culture.
"INDIANA'S SECOND CITY."
In October, of 1915, the United States Census Bureau announced that as a result of a comparison of figures representing the com- parative growth of Indiana cities, Fort Wayne had outstripped Evansville and was, therefore, entitled to second place in population among the cities of Indiana. The census bureau estimate gave Fort Wayne a population of 74,352, and Evansville 72,125. The phrase, "Indiana's Second City," came into immediate use.
JESSE GRICE MAYOR.
In the municipal election of 1909 Jesse Grice, republican, was elected to serve as mayor of Fort Wayne over August M. Schmidt, democrat, by a vote of 7,440 to 6,598.1
WEATHER BUREAU.
In July, 1911, Fort Wayne was made an observation center of the United States Weather Bureau, with Walter S. Palmer fore- caster in charge. Upon the death of Mr. Palmer, in 1915, P. J. McDonough succeeded to the office.
ART SMITH, AVIATOR.
Art Smith, twenty-one years of age, who later achieved world- wide fame in the field of aviation, built an aeroplane during the winter of 1910 and 1911, and made his first flight to New Haven, Indiana, and return on the 11th of October of the latter year. He was engaged for a season of flights at the Panama-Pacific exposition at San Francisco in 1915, and spent several weeks in Japan in 1916, and also in 1917.
ELEVATION OF RAILROAD TRACKS.
Years of discussion of means to eliminate grade crossings of railroad tracks within the limits of Fort Wayne resulted in an agreement between the city and the Pennsylvania and Wabash railroads, which saw the beginning of the work in March, 1910. The original bill providing for the elevation of the tracks was passed by the state legislature in 1905. It provided that sixty-five per cent of the cost of such improvement should be borne by the railroads and thirty-five per cent by the city. The plan proved unsatisfactory to the city administration and no action was taken until the legislature passed an amendatory act in 1907 by which the railroads assume seventy-five per cent of the cost and the city twenty-five per cent, while electric railways are required to assume ten per cent of the city's share on streets over which such electric railways operate. Actual operations to elevate the tracks were commenced in March, 1910.
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"INDIANA'S SECOND CITY"-FLOOD OF 1913
1909 1915
THE FLOOD OF MARCH, 1913.
The most disastrous flood in the history of Fort Wayne caused the loss of six lives and wrought incalculable property damage dur- ing the last week of March, 1913. Scores of other cities throughout Ohio and Indiana suffered from the effects of the two heavy rain- storms which broke over a broad region within a few hours' period. On the 24th of March a general rainfall of 2.76 inches, following a heavy precipitation on the 21st, raised the waters of the rivers within Fort Wayne to such a height that by Tuesday, the 25th, two thousand homes were submerged. Many factories and outlying business houses were under several feet of water. Broad areas in Nebraska, Bloomingdale and Spy Run were covered by the flood, and when the Lakeside dikes of the St. Joseph river broke at two points that broad residential section became inundated so quickly that many had difficulty in escaping from their homes.
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