INDIAN VILLAGE LANDMARK REPAIRED

Marilyn Horrell, of Indian Village Community Association, called last Thursday, August 19, 2004 and mentioned that the brick and limestone entrance to Indian Village was being repaired. She invited me over to the Village to take some pictures.
The entranceway was damaged last year by a school bus and Ziolkowski Construction out of South Bend won the bid to repair the old structure. It was originally built around 1928.
The brick and limestone structure had become discolored over the years due to pollution. The black residue from car exhausts was removed utilizing a limestone and brick restoration chemical and the entire structure was power washed. The porosity of the limestone tends to allow moisture into minute cracks and the freeze/thaw cycle had flaked off and defaced some of the original structure.
The through cleaning, limestone replacement, and damage repairs have made a significant difference in the appearance of the structure. The grime has been washed away and the old landmark has a bright new look.
Indian Village was Fort Wayne’s first super sub-division. The City & Suburban Building Company purchased 200 acres that had served since 1864 as the Allen County Farm for the Poor as well as the County’s Orphanage. The new housing addition was designed to hold 700 homes. It was delayed during the depression of 1929 but continued on as the economy recovered. Shortly after the property was purchased the buildings of the Poor Farm were razed to make room for the houses. The main building of the Orphans Home group was left standing to be re-modeled and transformed by the Board of Park Commissioners into a Community Clubhouse.

Editors note: Thanks to Marilyn Horrell for calling the Waynedale News to capture this event. We welcome personal interest stories and information about historic Waynedale and surrounding southwest communities. Each housing addition and neighborhood has its own story. If you have a submission that will be of interest to our readers, don’t hesitate to call us at 747-4535.