West Central in Fort Wayne in Allen County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

John Claus Peters House

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 14, 2024

1. John Claus Peters House Marker

Inscription. This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.

Location. 41° 4.601′ N, 85° 9.045′ W. Marker is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Allen County. It is in West Central. It is at the intersection of West Wayne Street and Jackson Street, on the left when traveling east on West Wayne Street. Wayne Street is one-way eastbound. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 832 W Wayne St, Fort Wayne IN 46802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, 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

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Samuel Brenton Home (within shouting distance of this marker); The Historic Canton Laundry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carole Lombard (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Aqueduct Club Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Trinity Episcopal Churh (approx. 0.2 miles away); Billon/Keegan House (approx. ¼ mile away); The Home Of Sion Bass, Civil War Hero (approx. ¼ mile away); The Roman Catholic Parish of St. Paul (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Wayne.

Regarding John Claus Peters House. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:

The Peters-Heffley House, built in 1885, is historically significant because its builder, John Claus Peters, followed a Horatio Alger, rags-to-riches pattern to wealth, occupying a prominent place in the growth of late nineteenth-century Fort Wayne. Architecturally, the home is an impressive example of the Queen Ann style. …

Blessed with excellent business sense and management skill, Peters made the company [Peters Box and Lumber Company] such a success that by 1878 it employed over 100 men and produced
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 14, 2024

2. John Claus Peters House Marker
15,000 board feet of lumber per day. … Peters plowed his profits into other ventures and between 1880 and 1900 was involved in a large number of Fort Wayne businesses, including the Indiana Road Machine Company, Eel River Drain Company, Horton Manufacturing Company, Indiana Machine Works, and Fort Wayne Knitting Mills, to name just a few. …

His many prosperous ventures made him wealthy and, in 1885, Peters built his statement of success – the Peters-Heffley House — at 832 West Wayne Street. Peters, in common with other wealthy, self-made men of the period, meant the mansion to be both proof and symbol of his prosperity and importance.

Also see . . . John Claus Peters House (PDF). National Register nomination for the property, which was listed in 1980. (Prepared by Wi11iam L. Heffley; via National Archives) (Submitted on July 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 457 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.