John Brown Stone Warehouse

This historic stone building is Fort Wayne's oldest commercial building still standing and the last in the city associated with the Wabash & Erie Canal. Stonemason and building supplies merchant John Brown constructed it in 1852. A native of Scotland, Brown used it as his warehouse and it was located a mere 50 feet from the canal and the towpath (the path that runs alongside a canal on which horses and mules pulled boats). Currently, it appears that the building is vacant and not being maintained. A historical marker is affixed on next to the front doors and another marker is located just a few feet away.

Brown sold the building in 1862 to another merchant, Henry Drover, who continued to use it as a warehouse. The building was associated with the canal until 1881 when the canal ceased operating (it could no longer compete with railroads). The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company bought it in 1885. The railroad deeded the building to the city in 1971. A local preservation group restored it in 1976 then the organization, what is now called Arts United, moved in the next year. Arts United remained here until 2011 and the building has been unused since then.

"The Canal House." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed April 9, 2019.  https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=100141.

Harter, Randy. "Canal House." Fort Wayne Reader. April 7, 2018.  http://www.fortwaynereader.com/story.php?uid=3391.

Smith, Creager. "John Brown Stone Warehouse." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. December 15, 1997.  https://secure.in.gov/apps/dnr/shaard/r/21c27/N/John_Brown_Stone_Warehouse_Allen_CO_Nom.pdf.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_Stone_Warehouse#/media/File:Brown_Warehouse_Ft_W_IN.jpg