Jim and Kathie Barron are the authors of three other books on the subject of Fort Wayne history. Jim is a thirty-five-year radio broadcast veteran and is part of the award-winning morning team on WBCL radio in Fort Wayne. He has also been a professional comedian and a magician/illusionist for more than forty years and performs frequently for church, fundraising and festival events. Kathie is a writer and singer and is planning a future book on Robison Park, an amusement park that was a big part of Allen County history. Jim and Kathie are the parents of four children and four grandchildren and thank Jesus Christ for all the blessings in their lives.

In 'Outpost in the Wilderness: Fort Wayne, 1706-1828' by Charles R. Poinsatte, readers are taken on a historical journey through the early days of Fort Wayne, exploring the challenges, triumphs, and conflicts faced by settlers in the region. Poinsatte's thorough research and meticulous attention to detail bring the frontier town to life, painting a vivid picture of a community on the edge of civilization. The book is written in a combination of narrative and analytical style, making it accessible to both history enthusiasts and scholars alike. Poinsatte's exploration of the socio-political landscape of the time provides valuable insights into the development of frontier communities in early America. The author's engaging writing style and dedication to preserving the history of Fort Wayne make this book a must-read for anyone interested in the early history of the American Midwest.

The history and contributions of African Americans in northeast Indiana have been largely overlooked. This new publication, African Americans in Fort Wayne: The First 200 Years, does not claim to be a definitive history of the topic. It does, however, recognize and honor the pioneers who have made the African-American community in Fort Wayne what it is today. Through diary excerpts, oral histories, and studies of social organizations, religion, and community, a rich, 200-year heritage is vividly depicted. The story begins in 1794, when evidence points to the first black inhabitant of Fort Wayne. The first known, free black in the area was identified in 1809. During the early part of the 1800s, Indiana state funds partially financed a movement to send Indiana blacks to Liberia. Few left, and those who remained worked diligently to make Fort Wayne their own. The fruits of their labor can be partially seen in the development of the first black church, Turner Chapel A.M.E., which was started in 1849 and has been a pillar of the community since its completion. A migration of African Americans from the south, due to industrialization, greatly increased the population from 1913 through 1927, and new churches, organizations, and opportunities were developed. Today, the black community in Fort Wayne is rightfully proud of its extensive past.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Michigan's historic Fort Wayne, located on the narrowest point of the Detroit River, is named for Revolutionary War hero Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne. The fort was built in the 1840s to protect Detroit from British invasion following the strife of the 1838 Patriot War in Canada. Originally constructed of earth and wood, the fortifications were rebuilt in masonry during the Civil War, but the fort has never mounted cannons, as peace came to the international border and remains to this day. Fort Wayne has served the military as a training center, home to infantry regiments, supply depot, prisoner of war camp, and major induction center. It was a source of work for the unemployed during the Great Depression, a place of confinement during the Red Scare of 1920, and home for those displaced by civil unrest in Detroit during the 1960s. The fort continues to invite people to its riverfront view, not as soldiers but as guests, to enjoy community events on its broad parade fields and to learn about those who lived, drilled, and worked there.

Every day we drive our cars through time. One minute we are traveling through the 18th century, then we veer into the era of the Civil War before merging into Prohibition. What if George Washington met John Calhoun? Or if Chief Pontiac had met the inventor of the gasoline pump? They meet on the map of the Summit City. Through simple asphalt and concrete, these figures converge in intercenturial intersections that we drive through to work each day. Not only does the map remember prominent Americans, but it also remembers a simple farmer who loved his three daughters. Join us as we embark on a journey through time to find out why the roads in Downtown Fort Wayne slant 15 degrees, why so many road names change as you drive to work, and why Arron's Oriental Rug company sells rugs on a non-existent street!

A supplemental textbook for middle and high school students, Hoosiers and the American Story provides intimate views of individuals and places in Indiana set within themes from American history. During the frontier days when Americans battled with and exiled native peoples from the East, Indiana was on the leading edge of America’s westward expansion. As waves of immigrants swept across the Appalachians and eastern waterways, Indiana became established as both a crossroads and as a vital part of Middle America. Indiana’s stories illuminate the history of American agriculture, wars, industrialization, ethnic conflicts, technological improvements, political battles, transportation networks, economic shifts, social welfare initiatives, and more. In so doing, they elucidate large national issues so that students can relate personally to the ideas and events that comprise American history. At the same time, the stories shed light on what it means to be a Hoosier, today and in the past.