The History that Made Us
“After the smoke had cleared, the Harper Buggy factory was gone and with it two of the homes on Ellsworth.”
The Market Street block across from the courthouse has undergone quite a few changes, due in significant part to a large fire in 1921.
Before that, at the approximation of this address, was built livery stables in 1897. In 1909, the company owning this was the Haines & Wigent Liverymen and Cab Stable, which served the downtown area.
Then came the fateful day in March 1921. The Harper Buggy Co., manufacturers of Buggies, Surreys, Etc. was established in 1881. The factory was bounded by Main and Ellsworth streets, with its primary office and other addresses noted from Ellsworth Street itself. It would be safe to call this a place of “major industry” for its time. A fire began on the third floor of the factory in the varnish and paint area. The substance used was highly flammable, and due to floors soaked in this material over the years it would only be a matter of minutes before the fire took over the factory complex.
The local fire departments were still becoming acquainted with new and unfamiliar equipment. On top of that, when pressure from all of the fire plugs were being used at the same time it would result in low water pressure, and this led to major delays which allowed the fire to spread. It posed immediate threats to the nearby neighborhood, and “bucket brigades” made up of community members started to do what they could to save the neighboring homes. Firefighters from Fort Wayne would later arrive and provide assistance in bringing the fire to an end.
After the smoke had cleared, the factory was gone and with it two of the homes on Ellsworth. The fire loss equated to $150,000 for the business, but Harper Buggy had only been insured for $60,000. It resulted in the end of the company. A photo after the fire shows the rubble that was left behind, along with the back of a building facing Market Street. It is said this building, which is 117 West Market St., was the only to survive on that part of the block.
By 1927, it had become the Van Curen & Van Curen Garage. Then it became the Whitley County Farm Bureau Co-Op, and it remained in this building for a number of years. From 1977 to 1988 Auer & Davidson Realtors kept its offices here. Hinen Printing has called this building home since 1989.
Thank you to the Whitley County Historical Museum for sharing photos from their collection and for their outstanding research and writing of the article.
Where are We Architectural History
This cornice tops the building now occupied by Hinen Printing at 117 West Market Street.
Using inset bricks or protruding bricks creates depth to an otherwise flat façade without adding much cost. The resulting texture and shadows provide an interesting visual effect on a building that is otherwise of a very utilitarian style.
Simple details like these on structures of the most basic function such as this former livery stable, show the pride taken when constructing any building more than a century ago.
Thank you to Nathan Bilger for providing the recent photos and valuable insights into the architectural history.
