Chinese Porcelain & Italian Medieval/Renaissance Musicology Collection

examples of Chinese porcelain

Joel Roberts Hunter Sr.’s daughter Elizabeth Hunter Morrill, b. 1913 in Georgia, was a gifted soprano. While attending Radcliffe, she met her future husband, F. Gordon Morrill, a student at Harvard. Together they amassed a Chinese porcelain collection which recently sold at auction for record-breaking $12 million dollars. Mrs. Morrill and her husband Gordon established the Gordon and Elizabeth Morrill Music Library at Villa I Tatti which is considered the finest collection of Italian Medieval and Renaissance musicology in Italy. [i] Elizabeth was a first cousin once removed of Joel Ninde.

[i] “Doyle New York Sells Chinese Porcelain Flask for Over $5.8 Million New York” “Auction House Sets World Record for Chinese Porcelain” http:www.doylenewyork.com/pr/asian/default.htm

Joel's artistic talent: dancing and playing the violin

Several articles from the Pensacola Journal, page 5 col. 2 and the Indianapolis Star. Saturday, November 1914 have recently been found and revealed information regarding Joel Ninde's artistic talent. Information found 1/25/10.

 

"She (Joel) danced, played the violin and says herself that she was ""just to lazy to even boil water.""

"Mrs. Ninde has many friend in Pensacola as she has been here before. She is a violinist of marked ability, and a very charming woman. During her visit to Miss Taylor, her sister, at the Old Mill Inn, (Lillie owned the boarding home) she (Joel) was the recipient of many social attentions."

Women and Business-Eberlein & Ninde

Jennie Eberlain's house

             Joel Ninde's house

                                                                   

Ahead of their time, many of the women in Joel Ninde’s family seemed to buck the traditional roles of women by starting and succeeding at their own businesses. One such business owner was Jennie Roberts Eberlein, aunt of Joel Ninde. According to the 1890 city directory, Jennie Eberlein owned a lumberyard and coal handling facility in Mobile called “J. Eberlein’s”. Jennie owned her own business separate separate from her husband George, who was a wholesale grocer.

Continuing in a seeming family tradition, Joel Ninde was establishing her many businesses in Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1900 to 1916: Wildwood Builders, Wildwood Lumber Company, Wildwood Magazine and Wildwood Design. Joel was the driving force of Wildwood Builders while her draftsperson, Grace Crosby, did the drafting and design work.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Specialization in Wildwood Builders

Specialization was also necessary. Wildwood Builders divided the business into three separate departments: Sales, Construction, and Architectural Design. Joel and Grace Crosby were in charge of the Architectural Design Department and worked in conjunction with the Construction Department. While Joel presented the ideas, Grace incorporated the designs into a working house plan and turned the blueprints over to the Construction Department.[i]
Customer needs came first at Wildwood Builders. From inception to completion expert advice was given on everything: selecting the building site, landscaping the property, and decorating the interior. Wildwood Builders orchestrated the entire gamut of home construction hiring subcontractors from all specialized fields. The total impact created was a picture-perfect neighborhood. [ii]
[i] The Story of Wildwood, n.d. 1-24, (Allen County –Fort Wayne Historical Museum).[ii] Ibid

Startup of Wildwood Builders

2908 Shawnee Dr. Shawnee Place

Since the death of Judge Ninde, Joel and Lee were now free to sell lots from the Wildwood estate. Property was abundantly available.[i] Nationally the building trade was gaining momentum and the country was in an economic boom. [ii]Because of all these factors, the Ninde’s business skyrocketed Grace Crosby, architect was hired to collaborate and assist Joel in the design of houses.

The Nindes made a substantial profit with the sale of each house; however, their expenses were low because they didn’t have to purchase the land.

Lee Ninde utilized his time promoting and selling Joel and Grace’s house designs. Lee’s brother Dan’s role in the company involved negotiating and buying property. One of these land purchases was eventually developed into a neighborhood called Shawnee Place. These lots sold quickly at approximately $400 each because of Wildwood Builder’s established reputation for excellence.

 Within three years of the first sale, these same lots were selling for around $1,000 due to Wildwood Builder’s prestigious reputation. Upon completion of houses these properties sold for between $4,000 and $5,000 [iii]. Compared nationally, similar houses sold for twice that amount.
[i] Harold Lopshire, ARCH, interview by Corinne Toth, Friday, April 7, 1998. Judge Ninde died in 1902 leaving his estate to his three children, Daniel, Harry and Lee.[ii] Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914, n.p. (ARCH files).[iii] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn 1913, 14..

Growth of Fort Wayne

As Joel and Lee’s business began to coalesce and take form. Lee, his brother Daniel, and a few professional friends bought land in the area of South Wayne and Broadway Streets. [i] By this time, dirt streets had been converted to gravel. Improvements such as sewer, extended electrical lines, and street cars lines had been added, making land development more lucrative. Neighborhoods were upgraded as residents strove to improve the unkempt appearance of their property. Lots continued to appreciate in value As more houses were built and sold the business became more lucrative. By the end of 1902, twelve houses had been constructed and sold. With the profit from these houses, the Nindes and their business associates were well on their way to a profitable business.

[i] Harold Lopshire, interview by Corinne Toth, April 17, 1998 and May 1, 1998.[ii] The Story of Wildwood, n.d., 1-24 (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum).

Growth of Wildwood Builders

Growth of Wildwood Builders – Board Members, Stockholders & Employees

Joel’s “little hobby” had become a profitable business with board members, stockholders, and employees. Joel and Grace worked together in Joel’s home office and made an indispensable duo. [i] On the executive board of Wildwood Builders, Lee served as president and Lee’s brother Dan as Vice-president. Other board members included F. K. Safford as Secretary and Fred B. Shoaff as Treasurer.[ii] Wildwood Builders headquarters were located in the Shoaff Building at the corner of East Berry and South Calhoun[iii].

Stock offered to the public provided the money needed for expansion. The Nindes had a wide circle of wealthy and prestigious friends and acquaintances from which to choose their stockholders. Twenty percent of the stock investors were women. Grace Crosby, Joel’s friend, business partner and stockholder, became a driving force in the success of Wildwood Builders [iv]
[i] Harold Lopshire, Interview by Corinne Toth., April 17, 1998 and May 1, 1998.[ii] The Story of Wildwood , n.p. , 1-24, (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum).[iii] Harold Lopshire, interview by Corinne Toth, April 17, 1998 and May 1, 1998.[iv] Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914, n. p. (ARCH Files).

Stockholders

1. Abe Ackerman
2. Christian H. Albersmeyer
3. Dr. Chas. E. Barnett
4. Henry Beadell
5. Max J. Blitz
6. Mrs. Alice Crane Bond
7. Andrew G. Burry
8. Philip E. Bursley
9. Joseph A. Bursley
10. Jacob A. Calhoun
11. Miss Virginia C. Carnahan
12. Ernest W. Cook
13. Edward L. Craw
14. Grace E. Crosby
15. Dr. Eric. A. Crull
16. Philip F. Dixon
17. Mrs. Addie A. Duemling
18. David S. Eckert
19. John W. Eggeman
20. Dr. William Enslen
21. Mrs. Clark Fairbanks
22. Miss Augusta C. Fischer
23. Fort Wayne Iron Store Company
24. Samuel M. Foster

Stockholders

65. Roy Patterson
66. Dr. Apollos F. Phillips
67. Gustave A. Rabus
68. Alfred L. Randall
69. Al. Riegel
70. Catherine Ritter
71. Mrs. Williw Roberts
72. Willis Roberts
73. Frank K. Safford
74. Salina Sauer
75. Gottlieb M. Sauer
76. John Sauerteig
77. L. N. Scott
78. Walter R. Seavey
79. Wm. H. Shambaugh
80. Jas L. Shields
81. Mrs. Susan R. Shoaff
82. Fred B. Shoaff
83. Joseph Slater
84. Joseph Slater
85. Roderick L. Speer
86. Mrs. Minnetta K. Taylor
87. Judge Robert S. Taylor
88. Frank B. Taylor
89. Charles A. Wilding
90. Clinton R. Willson
91. John W. Wisehard
92. Judge Sol A. Wood

List compiled from The Story of Wildwood page 23-24 - on file at Historical Museum-F.W.Ind

Stockholders

25. Mrs. T. R. Gilbert
26. S. A Grable
27. Mrs. James E. Graham
28. Jesse A. Greene
29. Mrs. Martin C. Gross
30.O. N. Gulldlin
31. E. A. K. Hackett
32. Geo. M. Haffner
33. James B. Harper
34. Herman H. Hartwig
35. Judge Owen N. Heaton
36. Benjamin F. Heaton
37. John C. Heller
38. John C. Hinton
39. Edward G. Hoffman
40. Elwin M. Huise
41. Walton H. Ingham
42. Alfred L. Johns, Jr.
43. Fremont L. Jones
44. William Kaough
45. Kell & Kell
46. Mrs. Amelia Ketchum
47. William Lawson
48. Wm. M. Leedy
49. Miss Mary B. Lincoln
50 Edgar J. Little

Stockholders

51. Thomas J. Logan
52. C. J. Lose
53. Mrs. Adalia L. Lumbard
54. James M. McKay
55. Chas. McKeon
56. Robert Millard
57. Dr. Elmer E. Morgan
58. A. G. Muldary
59. News Publishing Co.
60. Charles M. Miezer
61. Mrs. Lee J. Ninde
62. Lee J. Ninde
63. Daniel B. Ninde
64. Miss Emily Parisoe

Wildwood Park

In 1914 Wildwood Builders purchased the Huffman Farm for $38,000. The farm was located south of present West Jefferson Boulevard between Rockhill Park and Ardmore Avenue This farm was to be used for more upscale clienteles. To plan this new community, Lee hired Arthur A. Shurleff nationally recognized a landscape architect from Boston This architect brought history with him as he planned Fort Wayne’s first designed community.[i]

The dream to built Wildwood Park, an exclusive community built for the affluent, failed. Houses built in this area were to sell for at least $6,500. Rules and regulations proposed to prevent undesirable establishments such as saloons, livestock, farms, or graveyards did not deter potential buyers’ fears. Because of the widespread problem of rural boot-legging and being too far out in the country, homeowners were reluctant to buy land. Because of these reasons Wildwood Park did not succeed during Wildwood Builder’s “glory days” By 1920, with the extension of streetcar lines and a paved highway (Jefferson Boulevard West), building conditions had improved.[ii]

Although several houses in this exclusive community were completed, the sole documented example of a Joel Ninde designed house stands at 3408 Washington Road in Wildwood Park .This Craftsman house located on some tree-lined winding road stands as a tribute to Joel’s vision. After 1920, Wildwood community began to grow through the effort of other builders. Currently, Wildwood Park is a thriving community. Daniel B. Ninde, brother-in-law of Joel Roberts Ninde resided in Wildwood Park at 3401 N. Washington Road in a Colonial Revival c/1928 house and Lee J. and Helen Ninde (second wife) resided at 1702 Hawthorn Road in a Colonial style house in Wildwood Park. This Craftsman house stands as a tribute to Joel’s vision. [iii]
[i] Harold Lopshire, Interview with Corinne Toth. 17, April 1998.[ii] Michael Hawfield, “Suburban Living was New Concept”, Fort Wayne News Sentinel, October, 1994, n.p. Historian Michael Hawfield (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum) wrote the Cityscapes column for the News-Sentinel Summit magazine starting in May 1984. The columns are being republished in conjunction with the city’s 200th birthday October 22, 1994.[iii] Harold Lopshire, interview by Corinne Toth, April 17, 1998 and May 1, 1998.

Wildwood Builders Company History

By 1915, Wildwood Builders Company had grown into eight separate companies, one of which was the Lafayette Place Company.  In an agreement dated June 19, 1915, the Lafayette Place Company sold a tract of land called Lafayette Place Addition to Lee J. Ninde, for development.  This tract of land was bounded on the north by McKinnie Avenue, on the west by Calhoun Street, on the south by Pettit Avenue and on the east by Lafayette Street. 

In 1915, Arthur Shurcliff, prominent landscape architect from Boson, was hired to design Lafayette Place.  It is one of Shurcliff's hallmarks of the early 20th Century.  He designed three Fort Wayne subdivisions for Wildwood Builders: Wildwood Park in the curvilinear style in 1914; Lafayette Place with an Esplanade, modified grid and formal pattern in 1915; and Brookview that was designed around the Spy Run Creek in 1917.  Shurcliff also complete master plans for Swinney Park in 1916 and Franke Park in 1924.

In his design for Lafayette Place, Shurcliff suggested the creation of an area to be called he Esplanade..."the high strip 216 fee wide and 1,700 feet long in the center of the tract."

Another discovery of a Joel Ninde House 2016

Another house was serendipity discovered on Maple Place







2522 Maple Place

South Wayne Historic Neighborhood/Wildwood

The South Wayne Historic District is an example of a historic district which

is currently listed only on the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable as a neighborhood which illustrates the expansion of Fort Wayne in

the early 20th century and for its outstanding collection of early 20th

century domestic architecture, the South Wayne Historic District was listed

on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Most of the area which

comprises the South Wayne Historic District was once part of an 80 acre

tract operated as a county farm between 1848 and 1853. When the farm was

 divided and sold, a few houses were built but the area remained rural in

character. One of the best known of the country estates built in the area was

that of Judge Lindley M. Ninde, who in the 1860′s, built an impressive

house known as “Wildwood” on Fairfield where the present Lutheran

Center for Health Services is located.

Joel's houses-location, year built, style

Houses of Convenience - Fort Wayne, Indiana

444 Arcadia - Built 1915- Colonial Revival

1012 W. Berry Street - Built 1914 - Craftsman

2707 Fairfield Avenue - Built 1913 - Craftsman
2545 Maple Place - Built 1913 - Craftsman Bungalow

2551 Maple Place - Built 1914 - Craftsman

1250 W. Rudisill Blvd. - Built 1914- Colonial Revival

1302 W. Rudisill Blvd. - Built 1914 - Colonial Revival

2903 W. Shawnee Drive - Built 1915 - American Foursquare

2904 W. Shawnee Drive - Built 1914 - Craftsman

2907 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2908 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1914-Craftsman

2911 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2912 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Colonial Revival

2915 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2916 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/American Foursquare

2919 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2922 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2923 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/Colonial Revival

3004 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman Revival

3007 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/Foursquare

3011 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/Colonial Revival

3012 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3015 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3018 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3019 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/Foursquare

3020 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3023 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3027 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-American/Foursquare

3028 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Colonial Revival

314-316 W. Suttenfield Street-duplex-Built 1907-Colonial Revival

702 Union Street-Built 1912-Craftsman

1404 Washington Blvd./Swinney Court-Built 1914-Dutch Colonial Revival

3011 W. Washington Boulevard-Built 1915-Colonial Revival

1408 North Washington Road-Built 1915-Craftsman

3031 South Wayne Avenue-demolished - Built 1901-first house built-later 610 W. Wildwood

3131 South Wayne Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman Bungalow

2330 Webster Street-Built 1910-Craftsman,American Foursquare, Colonial Revival

314 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman Colonial

323 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1914-Craftsman

348 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

701 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1914-Craftsman

702 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1913-Craftsman/American Foursquare

705 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

706 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1912-American Foursquare

710 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman Tudor Revival

721 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Colonial Revival

722 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1912-Dutch Colonial Revival

725 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

726 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1912-Dutch Colonial Revival

729 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

730 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

805 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

809 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

810 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

814 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

815 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

818 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1914-Craftsman

902 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1910 (last home built) Colonial Revival

912 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1912-Craftsman Homes

922 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman/American Foursquare

926 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

1002 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

1018 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

1025 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

list compiled in 1998

Additional list
2704 N. Clinton Street - Side gable

3401 North Washington Road - Daniel Ninde House

3424 North Washington Road - Fremont Jones House

3518 North Washington Road Neil McKey House

734 E. State-Daniel Ninde house, one of the founders of Lincoln National Insurance & Philo Farnsworth house (inventor of the television)

Ninde and Crosby houses can be found in other Fort Wayne Historic Districts,

Old West End Historic District (listed 11/15/84)

Williams Woodland Park Historic District (listed 1991)

South Wayne Historic District (1992)

Oakdale Historic District 2000

Illsley Place-West Rudisill Historic District (2006)

Forest Park Boulevard Historic District (March 2007)

Illsley Place/National Historic Register

Frank & Josephine Taft-Adolph & Clara Foellinger House, Joel Ninde architect, c.1914,
Colonial Revival

Two-story, symmetrical, three-bay, Colonial Revival with an asphalt shingle side-gabled roof,

end chimney, clapboard siding, and brick foundation. The central entry porch has an arched roof
supported by paired columns and pilasters. The entry door has an arched fanlight, sidelights over
panels, and a wood surround with a keystone. The porch is flanked by eight-over-eight double-hung windows with shutters. The upper story has a central ribbon of three one-over-one windows with decorative mountings and shutters. It is flanked by eight-over-eight double-hung windows with shutters.

Packard Piano and Organ Company

The establishment of the Packard Piano and Organ Company on

Fairfield Avenue in 1872, led to increased development and population

growth in the area. Eventually a movement was formed to incorporate

South Wayne as a town. After a lengthy court battle with the City of Fort

 Wayne, which wanted to annex the area, the State Supreme Court ruled

 in favor of South Wayne and the town was incorporated in 1889.

Fort Wayne eventually succeeded in annexing South Wayne in 1894,

bringing with it streetcar lines, utilities, and a new school. The

annexation, coupled with growing industrial development, led to

increased residential interest.


Posted by Nancy McCammen Hansen

History of South Wayne

The once unincorporated village of South Wayne comprised the area bounded by Calhoun Avenue on the east and Creighton Avenue on the north. Youngsters of the 1860s and 1870s roamed this paradise and engaged in swimming, nutting, fishing, and in clandestine visitations to orchards and fields of melons. Perhaps it was the knowledge of this enchanted woodland which caused these same persons, later, when mature, to perpetuate their memories by the establishment of the town of South Wayne, now an integral part of Fort Wayne and long forgotten as a separate entity.
South Wayne proper comprised the territory in the farms formerly belonging to the Ewing, Thompson, and Fairfield estates. Asa Fairfield, father of Cyrus, for a long time was the oldest living resident of South Wayne.He then possessed the title of the “Father of South Wayne.” Asa Fairfield, a retired sea captain, while on active duty made his home at Kennebunk Port, Maine; he feared the continuing siren call of a sailor’s life and decided that he could best resist it many miles inland. He migrated west and arrived in Fort Wayne in 1833. In 1834 he acquired land in section II, from Benjamin B. Kerchival and Ann Turner, who had entered the land. The purchase price was $1,800 for 160 acres. Within six months he moved his family to this city. Cyrus Fairfield then was but six months of age.
Asa Fairfield lived the life of a farmer until his death. He was both prosperous and prominent in the community. He made a success of tilling the soil, in spite of the fact that he undertook that occupation rather late in life. His farm with other acquisitions ultimately comprised 240 acres. He also owned the first canal boat on the Wabash-Erie Canal, which he himself built and called the “Indiana.” It made its first trip to Huntington on July 4, 1834. As a coincidence, later, the first car on the interurban line from Huntington to Fort Wayne was likewise called the “Indiana.”
https://historicsouthwayne.wordpress.com/about/

South "Wayne Historical District" - Joel's houses, Residents & other architects

Although examples of her work ranging from modest cottages to large brick homes survive in various parts of the city, the South Wayne Historic District contains the largest concentration of Ninde’s work. The following list comprises known Ninde houses within the district: 701, 702, 706, 710, 722, 726, 810, 814, 818, 902, 912, 922, 926, 1002, 1018, and 1025 Wildwood Avenue and 3131 South Wayne Avenue.

Other notable early residents include: Guy Mahurin, a prominent local architect who resided at 927 W. Wildwood; Charles Worden, a lawyer, banker, and Civic Improvement Association president who lived at 1022 W. Wildwood; Charles Lane, a Fort Wayne newspaper man and Commercial Club director who was active in state and national politics and resided at 917 W. Wildwood; and Senator Homer Capehart who located his phonograph company in Ft. Wayne in 1929, and lived at 709 Packard Avenue.

722 W. Wildwood - Joel Ninde
809 W. Wildwood - Joel Ninde
902 W. Wildwood Joel Ninde
921 W. Wildwood     - Craftsman - Architect Strauss -1925
1025 W. Wildwood - Joel Ninde
1030 W. Wildwood - Craftsman - Theo Frank House
1024 Kinnard Avenue - Neo classical - Miles and Flora Frysinger
1020 Kinnard Avenue - Eclectic John Wing Architect
1010 Kinnard Avenue - Colonial Revival -1925
922 Kinnard Avenue - Colonial Revival-Dr. Kent and Anna Wheelock
909 Kinnard Avenue - American Four-Square/Prairie-1925
803 Kinnard Avenue - Craftsman - Harry & Florene Lydick 1915
717 Kinnard Avenue - Craftsman Square/Swiss 1915
701 Packard Avenue - Carl & Gathern Goebel Electic 1925
714-716 Packard Avenue- Tudor Revival
718-720 Packard Avenue
810 Packard Avenue -Craftsman 1918 - Doehrman/Jackson House

Source https//historicsouthwayne.wordpress.com/about/

1250 and 1302 West Rudisill /National Historic Register

Joel Ninde (1873-1916) designed the Colonial Revivals at 1250 and 1302 West Rudisill. Ninde had no formal
architectural training, but was “recognized as a genius in home design and decorating.” The design of a
house for her husband Lee, as well as subsequent house designs, were a local success for their size and
affordability. In 1910 Lee formed Wildwood Builders, a real estate and construction company, with Joel and
partner Grace Crosby as designers and construction supervisors. Wildwood produced several hundred
houses throughout the city, promoted residential planning, and constructed several subdivisions. They
published articles on house design and decorating in the local newspaper and in their self-published
Wildwood Magazine. The company embraced City Beautiful concepts evident in the layout for Wildwood Park
and Lafayette Place designed by landscape architect Arthur Shurcilff. Ninde’s designs were typically “artistic”
and “moderately priced” Craftsman, Colonial Revival, and Four-square residences. The Rudisill Colonials
21 See Phyllis G. Brockmeyer’s report A. M. Strauss and Strauss Associates, Inc. for Ball State University College of Architecture and
Planning, 1989.
NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
(Rev. 10-90)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section number

Wildwood Builders-Shurcliff -Brookview

Arthur Shurcliff

"In 1917, one of Fort Wayne's largest suburban developers, Wildwood Builders worked with several investors to create the Brookview Improvement Company, to develop the area just sough of Centlivre Park Addition.  With the leadership of Lee Ninde and Fred Shoaff, they hired Boston landscape architect Arthur A. Shurcliff to design a plan for the area.  Shurlock had worked for Wildwood builders previously on the Wildwood Park and Lafayette Place suburban developments, and had completed some work for the Fort Wayne Parks Department as well.  Shurcliff worked with Ninde and the Wildwood Builders engineer, Francis H. Bulot, as well as a Boston firm that specialized in storm and sanitary sewer engineering - Metcalfe & Eddy- to develop the plat for Brookview .  Shurcliff successfully highlighted the natural beauty of the Spy Run and the rolling topography, while creating two parallel automobile parkways that provided convenient and pleasant automobiles travel to and from the development.  Shurcliff also successfully completed the proposed section of State Boulevard that ha been propose but not completely defined by George Kessler's citywide plan for parks and boulevards.  Lots sold quickly, and many homes were built before 1940, primarily in the period revival styles of the area.

Eastbrook Drive-Brookview-National Register

Architect Arthur Shurcliff expanded on that plan by creating meandering roads that follow the natural contours and developing sites focused on the Spy Run Creek. Oak Knoll reflects a railroad-era suburb rare to Fort Wayne and had several homes designed by architects Joel Roberts Ninde and Grace E. Crosby.

Picture/article by Cathy Rowland-Journal Gazette

Lafayette Place -National History District

Wednesday, February 29, 2012  News Sentinel Fort Wayne South East

"Site of the widest esplanade (park strip) in the city, bound by McKinney Ave, South Calhoun St., East Petitt Street, and Lafayette Street.
Along with Wildwood Park in 1914and Brookview in 1917, Lafayette Place is one of three Fort Wayne neighborhoods designed by Arthur Shurcliff of Boston." 

"Early Lafayette Place contractors included the Wildwood Builders Co. and its design team of Joel Roberts Ninde, wife of President Lee Ninde, and architect Grace Crosby.  Shurcliff's original design showed 444 lots, a playground, parks and a community center that was never build.  The neighborhood hosted the city's first home show in 1926."

Historical notes are from the Lafayette Place Magazine, published in 1923 on the occasion of Open House Week, October 24-31. Thousand of visitors came by streetcar and auto to see the modern homes in Fort Wayne's foremost new Addition

Joel Ninde's houses

Joel Ninde's Houses

Farnsworth House

The house on St. Joseph Blvd. was designed by Joel Roberts Ninde for her brother-in-law Daniel Ninde , one of the founders of Lincoln Nation Life Insurance

Article and photo by Cathy Roland June 12, 2009

Designed by Joel Ninde/Grace Crosby

Photo by Cathy Rolland Journal Gazette June 12, 2009
Joel designed this house on St. Joe Blvd. for her brother-in-law Daniel Ninde.

Ninde-Meade-Farnsworth House -National Register of Historic Places

The home at 734 E. State Blvd, was built in 1910 for local attorney Daniel B. Ninde,

but is most famous for being the residence of the inventor of television

 Philo T. Farnsworth and his wife Elma from 1948 to 1967. 

Journal Gazette Saturday, August 3, 2013

North Wildwood Company

North Wildwood Company was formulated under the umbrella of Wildwood Builders to plot the lots in a tract of land bordered by Forest Park on the east, Lakeside Park on the south, Spy Run District on the West around 1914.
                                                                      Map of Fort Wayne



[i] Dan Ninde had purchased this land for Wildwood Builders. These plots, later called BrookView, consist of Dalgrin, Dunnwood, and Field Streets. Wildwood Builders, started building in 1923, based on Joel’s designs in BrookView. Harold Lopshire, interview by Corinne Toth, April, 17, 1998 and Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914 (ARCH files).

Grace Crosby- Architectural Architect

Grace Crosby is significant in Fort Wayne history as the city’s first and most prolific female architect. The 1894-1895 Fort Wayne city directory lists her first employment as tracer of architectural plans. Grace’s specific employer was not listed. The city directory listing of women in this period are inconsistent. In 1898 the directory listed her again as a “clerk .
In the 1900 city directory she was listed as draughtswoman for Alfred Grindle. Again, in 1905, Crosby was listed as “draughtswoman at Alfred Grindle. It is likely that Grace Crosby worked for Alfred Grindle from c 1894 to 1909.
The 1910 Fort Wayne directory lists Grace E. Crosby for the first time as “Architect’ at Wildwood builders.” She continued with this title, with one listing as “clerk” in 1913 through 1915.
In 1917 she briefly had her own architectural company. Due to local architects either enlisted in the U. S Army or relocated in Washington D. C. assisting with World War I effort, Grace probably had the opportunity to form her own company which was located at 409 E. Berry Street.
In the 1918 directory Crosby was listed as “designer, at Steele-Myers Department Store, 113-117 W. Berry. Since she had owned a design company with Joel Roberts Ninde, Grace had the experience to work as a display designer and perhaps a interior designer.
By 1919 Crosby was employed as a “draftsman” for the Bowser Pump Company. Bowser had active design and printing departments that designed and illustrated gas pumps, filling stations, and elaborate catalogs and corporate publications.
Although city directories do not list Crosby’s employment after 1927, she likely completed her career working for architect Leroy Bradley. Together Bradley and Crosby worked at Griffith and Goodrich. Bradley formed his own company of Bradley and Babcock. According to her obituary Crosby retired in 1930 after 35 years in the architectural field. She died in 1962 at the age of 88.

Kreagor Smith -Information obtained from Staff Review of Local Historic District Petition- Petitioner Steven N. Nagy-July 23, 2007

Joel Roberts Ninde and Grace Crosby - Authors

G. Crosby's House
413 W. Dewald

Joel and Grace wrote many articles for Wildwood Magazine. One article in the Christmas 1914 issue featured a house plan inspired by an elm tree. The solarium and upper porch were strategically built so that the tree branches would provide shade. Windows were arranged to provide cross ventilation throughout the upstairs rooms.Another of Joel’s articles, “The Choice of Wallpapers,” published posthumously in the 1916 autumn issue of the magazine went into great detail about the virtues of wallpapering. By using a good quality wallpaper, house value could be greatly increased. Joel believed that the extra expense of imported wallpaper was not necessary because locally produced wallpaper quality was just as good. Joel also recommended buying two extra rolls of wallpaper to be used if cracks appeared in the walls.

Grace Crosby's Home

Gothic Revival with limited alterations in Craftsman style - 1867

The Grace E. Crosby House is located at 413 West DeWald Street, immediately northwest of the Williams Woodland Park Historic District. The Crosby House was built c.1867 on the south side of West DeWald Street, in mid-block between Fairfield Avenue and Hoagland Avenue. It has a modest setback from DeWald, matching the setbacks of other houses on this portion of the street. The lot is slightly higher in elevation than the park strip and the public sidewalk in front of the house; this elevation change requires one step up in the sidewalk that leads toward the house from the public sidewalk. Concrete sidewalks lead to the front door of the house, as well as to a porch on the east side of the house. The landscaping that surrounds the house is well-established; with some of the foundation plantings identifiable in a 1962 photo of the house.

The Grace E. Crosby House is a one-and-a-half story, wood-frame house. It was built in the rare Gothic Revival style c.1867, with limited alterations in the Craftsman style c.1915 designed by Grace E. Crosby. This gable-front house is composed of a rectangular primary block with a steep gable facing the street. The house rests on a brick foundation. There is a long shed dormer on the west side of the primary roof in the Craftsman style. The east side of the house has an over sized side porch in the Craftsman style. The rear of the house is extended by a slightly-setback wing; other sections are one-story with flat roofs. There is a large two-car garage on the rear of the lot that can be reached by an alley that runs parallel to West Dwelt Street. The rear yard is fenced by a combination of wood picket fencing and chain-link fencing.

The Crosby House has a steep-pitched, asphalt shingle-covered, front gable roof with enclosed eaves. The eaves are supported by pairs of thin scroll-cut brackets that are placed at the center of the gable, the front corners of the house, and midway between. The eaves are outlined by a flat frieze board with details and a molding. The west side of the roof contains a shed-roof dormer that also has enclosed eaves, but only a simple molding. The south end of the gable at the rear of the house has a simple brick chimney. Flat roof sections at the rear of the house appear to have built-in gutters.

The Crosby House has wood clapboard walls on all sections of the structure. Thin corner boards are used that terminate in a wood water table that provides a visual break, just above the brick foundation. The windows of the Crosby House are varied; some are original to the Gothic Revival structure and others date to the Craftsman additions. The facade of the house has two, two-over-two windows on the first floor and a grouped set of three windows on the second floor. The set of three windows has a large one-over-one window in the center, flanked by two narrow one-over-one windows. The front door is offset to the right (or to the west) on the facade. It is a single door with glazing at the top, with a transom above the door. The transom contains leaded glass. All openings on the primary facade are capped by pedimented hoods with decorative moldings. Other windows in the house include two-over-two, one-over-one, and casement windows. The dormer contains a ribbon of six-over-one windows. The windows of the facade originally had operable wood-louvered shutters, as shown in a c.1962 photo. Although the shutters have been removed, the mounting hardware remains and the shutters are stored in the basement of the house.

The porch on the east side of the house was built c.1915 in the Craftsman style. It has a flat roof with boxed eaves. The roof is supported by slightly over sized square columns with classical details. A clapboard wall balustrade stretches along the east side of the porch. The porch can be accessed from the front by a set of wide wood steps, or from the rear yard as well. It can also be accessed from the interior of the house. The single front door on the facade has a set of concrete steps with iron railings. There was originally a small wood stoop and wood steps with iron railings at this door.

The garage at the rear of the lot has a low gable roof with a ridge that is parallel to the alley. It has enclosed eaves and wood clapboard siding without corner boards. A large, single garage door faces west, with an asphalt and concrete apron in front of the door. The current garage likely dates to the late 1960s. It replaced an earlier garage or small barn that was lost to fire c.1965.

Grace Crosby Monument

 

Located in Lindenwood Cemetary, Fort Wayne - See office for exact location

Ownership History of Grace Crosby's Home at 413 W. Dewald

The Crosby house was built by Grace E. Crosby’s parents c.1867. It remained in the family until her death. George and Naomi Crosby purchased the lot in Tyler’s Addition from Mary Rockhill Tyler in the 1860s. They were parents of three children; William, Mabel, and Grace, born in 1874. George Crosby worked as a machinist for the Wabash Railroad. Grace Crosby’s sister Mable had a career as a school teacher. Neither Mable nor Grace ever married, living in the home with their mother until her death in 1929. The sisters inherited the home and both remained in the home until their deaths.

The house was purchased from Grace Crosby’s estate by Maria and Joseph Blasko. The Blaskos were immigrants from Hungary. They came to Fort Wayne in 1959 in a refugee resettlement program, after spending several years in a refugee camp in Austria. They had fled Hungary during the 1956 Revolution. In 1962, Maria’s son, Steve Tibor Nagy, was engaged to Siegrid Tagtmeyer, a distant cousin of Grace Crosby. Through this family connection, the Blaskos knew that the home was to be sold with all its contents. (Siegrid and Steve T. Nagy were married in the back yard of 413 West DeWald in 1963.) Maria Blasko left the Grace E. Crosby House to her grandson, Steven Joseph Nagy, the current owner.

Louise Josephen Pellens - Woman Architect at Wildwood Builders

Besides Joel Ninde, and Grace Crosby, Wildwood Builders employed another woman architect, Louise Joephine Pellens.

A recent obituary discovery:

Louise Josephine Pellens

B.S. in Arch. Teacher b. Feb, 18, 1885, Rochester, Indiana

Parents Josephine B. and Nancy (Cobb) Elizabeth Pellans Prepared Fort Wayne, Ind. H. S. Phi Beta Phi.

Draftsman with Wildwood Builders Co., Fort Wayne, 1911-12do for W. W. Griffin Architect Chicago Feb-June 1912.

Teacher Mech draw. H.S. Rockford ,Ill
Address Lo Lo, Mont: Bus: Add Rockford Ill.

Wildwood Lumber Company

Other builders were also taking advantage of the thriving real estate market in Fort Wayne. Wildwood Builders’ closest competitor was Suburban Building Company. However, most companies at this time were still operating within the stereotypical mentality which involved buying only enough lumber and supplies for one house at a time. Wildwood Builders innovation involved buying their products in mass quantities. The purchasing agents for Wildwood Builders purchased enough lumber to build forty houses at a cost of fifty thousand dollars.[i]

Because of this purchasing method, storage space for materials was needed. Necessity dictated that Wildwood Builders purchase their own lumber company. This new company, located on the present, Kinsmoor Avenue (formerly 420 Organ) hired Mr. Sandmueler as manager. Supplies for the foundational, plumbing, and electrical materials were kept in stock at the lumber company. In the morning construction trucks could pull into the lumber company, load everything needed, and continue on to the building site. Efficiency and low construction costs were needed to beat the competition.[ii]
[i] Ibid.[ii] Ibid.

Articles on landscaping, building tips, city planning

Wildwood Magazine

Lee, Joel, Grace, and the executive board members, deciding to expand their repertoire, agreed that a magazine was the perfect vehicle for publicizing their planned residential communities. From 1913 to 1917, Wildwood Magazine was published in order to promote housing styles, building tips, and landscaping techniques. Articles on city planning and landscaping were contributed by Arthur Shurtleff of Boston. In addition to informative articles, several contests for backyard beautification featured in the magazines, enticed homeowners to improve their landscape for neighborhood recognition.[i]
[i] The Wildwood Magazine, Spring1916, p. 2. The Wildwood Magazine sold for fifty cents for one year and seventy-five cents for two years.

Houses of Convenience-Wildwood Magazine

Joel’s Aspirations - Houses of Convenience

Perhaps because Joel had grown up during a time when the popular architecture was formal, ornate, and pompous, in combination with the possibility of living in the dark Italian villa of her father-in-law, she felt a need to build for comfort instead of to impress the neighbors.[i] Joel’s aspiration was to develop a new style of architecture that was more user-friendly to the inhabitants or “houses of convenience.” [ii] Joel found the selection of houses in most neighborhoods undesirable for the homemaker. Dreary, seldom painted box-style houses with shabby lawns and the useless plate-glass doors of garish colored Victorian houses for only the rich were not acceptable housing. Joel focused her artistic creativity in designing comfortable houses for the modern women. Joel’s eye for detail and her design prowess made these houses very popular with the public. [iii]

Perhaps the wide range of social contacts and constant moves as a child stimulated Joel Ninde’s drive and determination to build houses. Like her parents who moved constantly, in 1902 Joel and Lee Ninde built, lived in, and sold five houses in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Lee saw the prestige and satisfaction to be gained in promoting Joel’s economical housing designs and gave up his law career to devote his time promoting Joel’s career. [iv]
[i] Joel and Lee built their first home in 1901 on the northeast corner of the Wildwood estate on a small plot of land donated by Judge Ninde, Lee’s father. Joel’s first architectural design was a Dutch Colonial Revival house that had a main hallway which connected the rest of the first floor. To the left of the hallway was the dining room and to the right the living room. Located at the rear of the house was a kitchen with plenty of cupboards built for efficiency. Upstairs was a centrally located bathroom with four adjoining bedrooms. Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914, n.p. (ARCH files).
[ii] Ibid.[iii] “Houses of Convenience,” The Wildwood Magazine, Christmas 1914, p 23, (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum ) An article written by Joel R. Ninde and Grace E. Crosby describes a prototype, the house of convenience house plan, which provides the homemaker with an efficient comfortable house. Joel and Grace house designs contained most or all of these features.)[iv] Harold Lopshire, ARCH, interview by Corinne Toth Friday, April 7, 1998.

Wildwood Magazine - Advertising

Shawnee Place

Advertising improved customer relations and contributed to Wildwood Magazine’s financial gain [i]. Because of the profitability of advertising Wildwood Builders also regularly, advertised in Sunday’s real estate section of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.[ii] The Wildwood Magazine editorial staff also contributed lengthy articles to the newspaper. Many of these articles promoted the virtues of the innovative concept of a city residential planning as well as Joel and Grace’s world-class designs. The Wildwood Magazine attained national recognition for many articles on urban restoration techniques. [iii]

A description of the floorplan for a house located at 3028 Shawnee Drive was featured in the Wildwood Magazine, August 1913. “ This house of Old Colonial design is very appropriate for a corner lot or can be built on a wide lot with the broad effect of the house to the front or can be turned around so the porch faces the street and the entrance on the side. The formal entrance shown leads into a small hall with the coat closet. The living room has a fireplace, formal entrance shown leads into a small hall with the coat closet. The living room has a fireplace, built-in book cases and two sets of French doors opening onto an exclusive living porch. The dining room and kitchen are on the opposite side of the house. A door in the dining room opens on a common stair landing and gives the effect of a front and rear stairway. The entire downstairs if finished in white with mahogany doors which aids in carrying out the Colonial effect. The upper floor has three nice sized sleeping rooms, abundance of closet space, bathroom with medicine cabinet and stairway leading to a large attic.” [iv]
[i] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn, 1916, n.p.[ii] Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914 n.p., (ARCH files).[iii] Nancy Vendrely, “Ninde Homes a Vision of turn-of-Century Woman” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette People Section Southwest October 21, 1997, n.p.[iv] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn 1913, 14.

Community Outreach - Wildwood Magazine

example of a lake in northern Indiana

Anther article in the 1916 Autumn, magazine describes community outreach. “The civic-minded/community oriented staff at WildwoodMagazine awarded four Fort Wayne lads (boys) ten days at one of the Northern lakes in the summer of 1916 for selling magazine subscriptions.” [i]


[i] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn, 1916, n.p.

Interior Home Design Tips.

Wildwood Design

Another aspect of total customer service involved providing interior decorating tips. Joel and Grace decided to offer this service to the customer. In Joel’s home at 902 W. Wildwood home, these women provided the finishing touches to complete the home. A new company, Wildwood Design. incorporated in 1914, concentrated exclusively on interior home design. [i]
example of Colonial Revival decorating
[i] The Story of Wildwood, n.d., 1-24 (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum).

Fort Wayne's City Planning

XI. Fort Wayne’s City Planning

example of city in need of cleanup

In addition to house design Joel and Lee’s vision expanded city wide; they devised a city plan that allowed streets and roads to follow the natural contour of the land.(42) The board members of Wildwood Builders began to launch a promotion for more naturally designed Fort Wayne neighborhoods. Most residential streets were designed with houses radiating out from central square and flat leveled lots. Alleys of the time tended to be filled with garbage and discarded junk. Joel believed in the elimination of unsightly city areas, and her vision was to clean up these areas.[i] Wildwood Builders wanted to do more than just build houses, so they launched a citywide beautification program. This program included amenities such as parks, playgrounds, and landscaping. Under these new guidelines, lots could be contoured. Houses no longer had to be built at street level. Trees were left standing and provided a panoramic backdrop for neighborhood streets. [ii][iii]
Another important  Wildwood development included new infrastructure that had not been considered previously including individual water supply and a "double sewage" system.

Using the vehicle of the Wildwood Magazine contests were ran to promote beautification and landscaping of individual properties “ In order to stimulate (interest in landscaping) the Wildwood Builders Company, the promoters of the (Shawnee) addition, put up three prizes each year of $10.00, $5.00 and $2.50 respectfully for the best kept property.” [iv] :
[i] Michael Hawfield, “Suburban Living was a New Concept” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel October 22, 1994, n.p. Historian Michael Hawfield (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum) wrote the Cityscapes column for the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Summit Magazine starting in May 1984. The columns are being republished in conjunction with the city’s 200th birthday October 22, 1994.[ii] Ibid.[iii] Greater Builders of Fort Wayne, 1926,425 (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum). “Lee J. Ninde (1874-1953), a Fort Wayne native was prominent in business here and achieved national renown in real-estate and city planning. He was one of the organizers of the Fort Wayne Board of Realtors as well as the Indiana Real Estate Association. He became widely known as the “dean of city planning” in Indiana, and was the first chairman of the Fort Wayne City Planning Commission established in 1916.”[iv] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn 1916, n.p. The residence of Mrs. A. F. Redderson, Shawnee Place (2923 Shawnee Drive was the winner of first prize in the garden contest.

Mobile, Alabama

Samuel Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

Joel Roberts Ninde's Great Uncle -Samuel Alexander Roberts

How a pair of cadets from Alabama started the 1826 Eggnog Riot at West Point             

"It was three days before Christmas and bone-numbingly cold in New York. Two cadets from Alabama, Samuel Alexander Roberts and William R. Burnley, joined Alexander Center, a cadet from New York, at Martin's Tavern to discuss plans to smuggle liquor into the United States Military Academy for a Christmas-night eggnog party."

So begins the story of the 1826 Eggnog Riot at West Point, one of history's lesser-known tales about the custard-y holiday drink, as told in the book "Christmas Tales of Alabama."
The cadets at West Point were not allowed to have liquor on campus but they were determined to have a party. They decided to row across the Hudson River to get two gallons of whiskey, then cadet T.M. Lewis of Kentucky brought a gallon of rum from Benny's Tavern. Someone else would add another gallon of whiskey before the end of what became known as the Eggnog Riot.
West Point Academy superintendent Sylvanius Thayer got wind of the party plans and asked additional faculty members to patrol the campus in the days before Christmas.
However, Roberts, Burnley and Center managed to get the alcohol into the north barracks and, on Christmas Eve, the cadets spiked a batch of eggnog and proceeded to get drunk. The original group of nine cadets, including a young man named Jefferson Davis, was joined by more cadets, and still more, until soon dozens were staggering through the halls, some armed with muskets and bayonets. Sounds of gunfire, breaking glass and threats against academy administrators could be heard across the campus.
When campus officers showed up, they placed 22 cadets, including Roberts, Burnley, Center and Davis, under house arrest. A total of 70 were implicated in the riot and 19 were eventually expelled. However, Davis was not among those expelled and would go on to become president of the Confederate States of America, which had its first capital in Montgomery.
Roberts and Burnley, two of the instigators, were among only four students attending West Point from Alabama that year, according to the 1826 Roll of Cadets. Roberts, who grew up in Mobile and whose father owned a store in Cahaba, Ala., was 17 years old and Burnley was 16 at Christmas 1826.
The riot had another Alabama connection: A Georgia cadet who was involved in the riot but not expelled, John Archibald Campbell, would later move to Montgomery and be elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. He was later appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Burnley and Roberts were expelled. Burnley's bright future, which had looked so promising after his West Point admission recommendations from John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jackson, was stalled. Roberts would eventually move to Texas, where he became Secretary of State.
Join al.com reporter Kelly Kazek on her weekly journey through Alabama to record the region's quirky history, strange roadside attractions and tales of colorful characters. Find her on Facebook or follow her Odd Travels and Real Alabama boards on Pinterest.