FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne’s Northwood Historic District is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The National Park Service recently announced the listing for the district, which is part of the larger Northside Neighborhood Association. The Northwood Historic District is centered around Northwood Boulevard and is bordered by Forest Avenue on the south, Kentucky Avenue on the east, East State Boulevard on the north and each side of Saint Joe Boulevard on the west.
The following was released:
Lori Stombaugh, President of the Northside Neighborhood Association, said, “The neighborhood and its residents are proud of the many elements of historic and cultural heritage found in the area. This is the third residential National Register district in the neighborhood, joining the Lakeside and Driving Park-Seven States Historic Districts.”
The Northwood Historic District is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for significance in architecture and community development. The neighborhood’s esplanades and harmonious architecture make it a distinct locally significant development.
The area was part of expanding development for Fort Wayne’s middle class in the early 1900s, and its architecture reflects styles popular during the period of its construction. The most popular styles in the district are American Four Square, Colonial Revival, and Craftsman, along with several bungalow house types. A high number of the homes retain their historical features and this provides an overall feeling of integrity to the historic nature of the neighborhood. Among the homes in the district is the Ninde-Mead-Farnsworth House, known for its association with Philo Farnsworth, the inventor of television.
The plat was a response to the city’s embrace of the City Beautiful Movement, evidenced in Fort Wayne by the enthusiasm of Wildwood Builders and other developers to implement the Charles Mulford Robinson and George Kessler Plans. “North Wildwood” was the second development by Wildwood Builders, a master community builder. The firm planned the Northwood district in 1913, and guided its growth by construction of several homes.
The district also features scenic parkways developed for early automobiles on Northwood Boulevard and Saint Joe Boulevard, which intersect at the west end of the district. Streetcar lines were located on East State Boulevard, which gave residents convenient access to downtown for shopping and employment.
“The Northwood District was identified in the Historic Northeast 2035 Plan as an excellent candidate for listing in the National Register,” said Creager Smith, Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Fort Wayne. “This type of designation builds neighborhood pride and offers property owners eligiblity for an Indiana homeowner historic rehablitation tax credit.”
The City of Fort Wayne received funding for the nomination and listing through a Historic Preservation Fund grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service and administered through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.
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