ARCH Announces Most Endangered Structures In Allen County, Indiana for 2008

Fort Wayne, June 4, 2008: ARCH announced its 2008 Most Endangered Structures List at its 33^rd Annual Meeting of the organization on June 4, 2008. This listing includes prominent architectural treasures, local landmarks, and beloved spots in Allen County that are threatened by changing use, vacancy, deterioration, obsolescence, or nearby new development. ARCH announced a call for nominations for the 2008 List in January, and accepted such nominations until April 15.  After review of the nominations and notifications and discussions with property owners, ARCH announces the following list: 

New Additions to the Endangered List

1.   Merchant-Huxford House: The Merchant-Huxford House, 520 Tennessee Avenue, is added again to the list. First listed on ARCH’s Endangered List in 1992, it was also listed in 1996. Both times in the past, restoration activity by the owner satisfied ARCH’s concerns, and the house was removed. Recent deterioration of the house and concern by city residents has prompted this year’s listing. ARCH has notified the owner, but has received no response. The Merchant-Huxford House was built c. 1854 by one of Fort Wayne’s first mayors. Local legend suggests that the wood framing for joists and walls came from the old Fort Wayne, which was disassembled at the same time. Notch marks on timbers in the basement confirm their use on another structure prior to being used on the Merchant-Huxford House. The Merchant-Huxford House is eligible for the National Register.

2.  Historic Township Schools: The loss of the Bullard School in 2007, and the continued deterioration of others around the county have prompted ARCH to include these special resources on the list. While many of the early township school buildings have been restored for use as homes and businesses, others are underused, abandoned, and are at risk. In 2006 local historian Deb Eidson completed a study, and discovered that Allen County had 62 existing small township school buildings, of which forty-two had been converted into homes, and eight were used for business or storage. Eleven former Township School buildings were vacant at that time, and Bullard has since been demolished, leaving ten. There are also a handful of larger school structures, although the Jefferson Township Centralized School will be demolished in the near future. Contact ARCH for more information or to report damage to any of these special resources.

3. Historic Park and Boulevard related resources affected by transportation planning.  Fort Wayne’s legacy of City Planning is threatened by the alteration and loss of integrity of the historic Park and Boulevard system.  Initially begun in 1910 by noted City Planner Charles Mulford Robinson and later added to by George E. Kessler and Arthur Shurcliff, Designed in the City Beautiful era, the comprehensive system created well-loved destination parks, vistas and scenic parkways. Tree-shaded Boulevards serve as vital transportation arteries. Recent plans for the widening and straightening of these Boulevards to increase the speed and volume of vehicular traffic, threatens the character-defining features of the system and the quiet, charming neighborhoods that depend on the Park and Boulevard system.

4. Abandoned and vacant residences in historic neighborhoods. Troubled economic conditions, especially foreclosures, have left a large number of vacant and abandoned residences in historic neighborhoods.  If left unoccupied and un-maintained for extended periods, they serve as an invitation to crime, are likely to suffer further deterioration and prove an economic negative for the neighborhood.  Neighborhoods that have a large percentage of vacant and abandoned and houses, as well as empty lots, lose the cohesion and vitality that are essential to not only property value, but to vital community integrity.  ARCH will continue to work with governmental agencies, neighborhood groups and other concerned citizens to minimize the effect of these abandoned and vacant properties.

These buildings, structures and objects remain from the 2007 Endangered List:

5.  1006, 1014 and 1016 Broadway will continue to be on the list due to the continued uncertainty of their future, as the owner continues to let the buildings sit vacant without needed maintenance and repairs.  In 2007, adjoining property owners petitioned for Fort Wayne Local Historic District Designation, which was approved for all the connected buildings along Broadway. Despite the protections afforded by this designation, there is currently no protection against “demolition by neglect.” It is the concern of ARCH that these buildings will not be repaired, resulting in continued deterioration.

6.  The Findlay, Fort Wayne and Western Railroad Depot will continue to be listed at this time. Owned by ARCH, the structure is available for purchase and relocation. Although several groups have considered the depot for purchase, no final agreements have been made. Please contact ARCH for more information about this structure.

7. The Foster Park Pavilion #3 and other New Deal era structures in Fort Wayne Parks will continue to be on the list at this time. The Fort Wayne Board of Park Commissioners has approved the Cultural Landscape Report for Foster Park that provided suggestions for improving and protecting the Pavilion #3. ARCH heartily supports this document, and will work with Parks and Recreation, to complete identified tasks.

8. The Fairfield-Nestel House, 815 West Creighton Street, while restoration work continues. The Fairfield-Nestel House was sold by ARCH to a private individual who has begun restoration activities. ARCH will monitor those activities, and will remove the home from the Endangered List when work is complete. The Fairfield-Nestel House is a Fort Wayne Local Historic District due to its association with Asa Fairfield, the first person in Indiana to captain a boat on the Wabash and Erie Canal in 1834, and a local mill owner and businessman. He built this home c.1858.

9. The Humpty Dumpty sign, 3237 Fairfield Avenue, is on list due to non-use of the property it occupies and the continued uncertainty of its future. The sign is one of a handful of still-existing colorful advertising signs popular during the 1950s and 1960s, and is a familiar landmark across the street from Packard Park. The property is vacant, and there is concern that the sign might be demolished. It is possible to restore the sign or donate it to a sign museum.

10. Schultz Hall, 3820 South Wayne, also known as the Fort Wayne Bible Training School Building, is listed due to the damage caused to the structure by a fire in 2005.  ARCH thanks Taylor University for their continued consideration of the building as they complete their strategic planning process. Schultz Hall and several of the older buildings on campus are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. ARCH continues to meet with Taylor University about available restoration grants and tax credits and how they could be applied to Schultz Hall and the other buildings.

11. Olds Wagon Works, 200 Murray Street, will continue to be listed until its demolition. ARCH notes that the owner’s plan to salvage both bricks and wood from the building will allow them to be re-used on other preservation projects.

12.   South Side of the 800 Block of West Washington Boulevard A fire, bankruptcy, and a foreclosure have left several buildings boarded and at risk on one of West Central’s most visible streets. ARCH will work with West Central Neighborhood Association and other entities to develop a plan to protect these structures until their successful repair and re-use.

ARCH also continues to monitor several properties located throughout Fort Wayne. If a change in status is noted, or further deterioration occurs, ARCH may add other structures to the Endangered List. Residents of Allen County are also encouraged to report potential endangered structures to ARCH, and staff will review the property’s significance and present condition, and contact the owner before making a determination of its status. Contact ARCH at 260-426-5117 or information@archfw.org.