Brookview Civic in Fort Wayne in Allen County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

CCC Projects in Fort Wayne

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 14, 2024

1. CCC Projects in Fort Wayne Marker

Inscription. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Federal Government established a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp on the northside of Fort Wayne. The CCC was part of President Roosevelt's New Deal; it was established in 1933 and expanded in 1935. Young from the CCC left a mark on the city by constructing distinct retaining walls from fieldstone, boulders and cut stone. CCC crews built stone retaining walls along Spy Run Creek. They also built the Brookview neighborhood's beloved iron walking bridge, improved roads in Irvington Park and completed a concrete bridge in Vesey Park that was used until the 1960s. The foundation of this bridge, just west of the modern walking bridge, remains a popular sitting spot. The massive stones at the bridge base were once part of Fort Wayne's old Federal Building and Post Office, built circa 1886 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The building was demolished circa 1935 and the stone was salvaged and reused.

[Captions]
Top left: The iron walking bridge was constructed by CCC workers (ACPL Community Album)
Top right: Article from the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, August 9, 1935
Bottom left:

Paid Advertisement

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Stone retaining walls line Spy Run Creek near the footbridge (Weintraut & Associates)
Bottom middle: Example of a promotional poster for the CCC, 1941 (LOC LC-DIG-PPMSCA-12896)
Bottom right: The old federal building and post office (ACPL Community Album)

Imagining History: Local historians believe the CCC may have been responsible for the construction of stone retaining walls found in front of many homes in northwest Fort Wayne neighborhoods like Brookview and Irvington Park. Can you spot stone walls in the neighborhoods that may have been built by CCC crews?

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Charity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1933.

Location. 41° 5.967′ N, 85° 8.494′ W. Marker is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Allen County. It is in Brookview Civic. It is on Westbrook Drive 0.2 miles south of Grove Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2535 Westbrook Dr, Fort Wayne IN 46805, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 14, 2024

2. CCC Projects in Fort Wayne Marker

this marker is in Northern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Centlivre and Vesey Parks (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brookview-Irvington Park Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Practical Planning: Arthur Shurcliff (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Wayne ~ Fort Dearborn Trail (approx. half a mile away); Home of Philo T. Farnsworth (approx. 0.6 miles away); The "State School" (approx. 0.7 miles away); Chief Little Turtle (approx. ¾ mile away); Meshekinnoquah (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Wayne.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 382 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 3, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.