Greetings Neighbors!
It’s another great day in the ol’ West End Neighborhood.
Membership
Our 2025 membership has surpassed 180! While we’re not at all satisfied with that number, it does represent a high mark in many years. Our 2025 goal is to get over 200 so if you’re reading this and aren’t a member, please join. The more members we have, the more influential we’ll be in preserving our history, maintaining and improving our infrastructure, and improving the quality of life for all our residents. It’s never been easier with our new online portal, which auto-renews so you don’t have to think about it going forward. Click here to sign up.
Hemphill Smith Foundation Sculpture Update
Mark Smith of the Hemphill Smith Art Foundation reported to me that their fundraising activities have surpassed the amount needed to get the Amaryllis project underway! As you recall, the WCNA provided a sizeable donation to this project which will be located on the “triangle” formed by West Jefferson, Garden and Swinney Place. The sculpture will include a large stone gateway sign announcing that viewers are entering the “Historic West Central” neighborhood. A poll was conducted to choose the text and this was the name chosen by more than two-thirds of voters. You can read more about this project here.
New Member Mixer
The WCNA held its first ever New Member Mixer on February 10 th at the Electric Works Mezzanine. The theme was cardigan sweaters in memory of Mr. Rogers and boy did we see lots of cardigans! Turnout was fabulous and the WCNA board has committed to funding this new event annually. Special thanks to Sonia Checchia (the brainchild) and Bethany Pruitt for providing the heavy lifting on organizing such a wonderful winter party. They were joined by other volunteer neighbors Cherie Stark, Casi Bromelmeier, Connie Mettler and Assem Nasr. Appreciate you all!
Electric Works Update
At our February member meeting Scott Ferguson was our guest and provided an update on what’s happening at Electric Works. Scott is the owner of Chapman’s Brewery in the EW and recently took over as manager of the Union Street Market. Because of the size of that project – the largest ever undertaken in northeast Indiana – and the amount of public investment, there are lots of complicated relationships. While the developers and leaders would love to see the Market filled with vendors and shoppers every day, Scott noted that they are actually very close to their projections two years into opening. He noted that nearly every single vendor and/or restaurant is a new entrepreneur – which is the intent and focus of that space – so failures are inevitable. So far that rate at EW has actually been below national averages which is a hopeful sign. Scott said you will see new food & market vendors very soon, including a high-end (think Cork ‘n Cleaver) salad bar, a new burger joint, a bakery (yay!) and a yogurt shop with fresh fruit toppings.
In other developments, the Charlie Bar has been replaced by the Crane Bar. The Crane will transition into more of a sport bar feel with large TVs throughout and pool tables. This is in response to feedback received that there’s nothing to do at the Market once you’re done shopping or eating. Another new addition is the Neon Pear, a high-end wine and cocktail bar that will feature a comfortable outdoor patio opening this spring. (NOTE: The West Central Wine Club – WC 2 meets the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Pear starting at 6 pm.)
The day after our meeting the next edition of “The Local” newsletter was released, which featured a story about Electric Works and the Public Market Trust Board. If you’re not a subscriber to “The Local”, I strongly encourage it. It costs $6 per month. They go more in-depth than you might hear elsewhere – including on this topic. It’s behind a paywall otherwise I’d share it.
Yesterday’s West Central
Did you know West Central used to be called “the West End”? That’s why I open each newsletter with that phrase. In order to hang on to our history, each meeting we’ll feature some historical fact (and perhaps some fiction) about the neighborhood. At our February meeting, Dodd Kattman presented on the old Fort Wayne M.E. College that used to have its front door on College Avenue at West Wayne. A photo of the old college from 1889 is below.
While his research into the college answered some question, Dodd noted that it raised several others – like whether the row houses were indeed faculty residences or not. The college had relocated to Upland, Indiana (its current home as Taylor University) in 1896 and was in financial trouble leading up to that move. Based on Sanborn fire maps, the college building was gone by 1902 and the row houses in place, so whether they overlapped is still being investigated. There were also lawsuits filed by creditors against the college around that same time – which may be related. More to come! You can find Dodd’s slides, along with Scott’s Electric Work slides, by clicking here.
Stay Connected
“Communicate” is a verb, meaning it takes action on both ends to be effective. As an association we try very hard to be transparent and provide updates, and it requires someone on the other end to read or listen. Remember we’re all volunteers in this regard. I strongly believe the effort is worth it. That said, if you have ideas on how we can make it better, please share.
Don’t forget we have a WCNA Facebook page to keep us all connected and informed of the association’s activities and events. In addition, there’s the Facebook “Beyond Porch Parties” group, which is not specific to the WCNA, but is specific to the West Central neighborhood. (If you request to join, please pause and wait for the membership questions to pop up.) Last is our mailing list, where we send these president letters straight to your inbox – if you’re not on the email list, you can sign up here. All are great ways to stay in the know.
Spring is not that far off, so outdoor activities will begin soon. We’ll be back on the front porch in no time!
Joel Sauer, President
(260) 433-3672
2025 Board Officers
- Membership: Anita Kuker membership@westcentralneighborhood.org
- President: Joel Sauer president@westcentralneighborhood.org
- Secretary: Bethany Pruitt secretary@westcentralneighborhood.org
- Treasurer: George Taylor treasurer@westcentralneighborhood.org
- Vice President: Kelly Benton VP@westcentralneighborhood.org