Before & After pics of Fort Wayne

**WaCoTS** · May-23-13, 10:29 AM

The human mind sometimes takes for granted what it observes over time, and gradual changes can sometimes go completely unnoticed. Therefore we have decided to do a before/after project showing the progress that has been made at Fort Wayne since our group [[Historic Fort Wayne Coalition) started maintaining the fort in 2001.

So far, the pictures we have used for this only go back as far as 2005, but even the changes that have taken place in that time are jaw-dropping.

The pictures are posted in this album on the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition's facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7580084&type=1

Who can remember when the Fort resembled the Land Before Time?

Well it doesn't look that way anymore. Granted, to the untrained eye the place still may look like a pitiful, decayed "eyesore," but if you remember when the grass was neck-high, and mature trees were growing out of the revetments, the appearance today is more akin to a PGA golf course. Keep in mind, all this was started by a couple guys with tiny, underpowered riding mowers, one following behind the other because the field grass was so heavy...and today we are the de-facto guardians of this cultural landmark. If not for those couple volunteers seeking permission from the city to mow and hold events here back in 2001, Fort Wayne may have been relegated to Packard Plant or MCS status by now, featured in every cliche parachute-journalist's ruin-pornish photo, story, or documentary lol.

I only wish we had more pictures of more areas from back then, or of more of the things we have improved, but who could have known we would be doing this 12yrs later? Also, it's kind of hard to stop working to take a picture of the work you just did, lol. You don't get as much done when you're fiddling around with some camera.

**marshamusic** · May-23-13, 10:32 AM

Wow, I was just looking for the previous thread that we had on Fort Wayne, to post this event that I saw online:

http://www.detroited.org/holdthefort/

**Honky Tonk** · May-23-13, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by WaCoTS

The human mind sometimes takes for granted what it observes over time, and gradual changes can sometimes go completely unnoticed. Therefore we have decided to do a before/after project showing the progress that has been made at Fort Wayne since our group [[Historic Fort Wayne Coalition) started maintaining the fort in 2001.

So far, the pictures we have used for this only go back as far as 2005, but even the changes that have taken place in that time are jaw-dropping.

The pictures are posted in this album on the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition's facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7580084&type=1

Who can remember when the Fort resembled the Land Before Time?

Well it doesn't look that way anymore. Granted, to the untrained eye the place still may look like a pitiful, decayed "eyesore," but if you remember when the grass was neck-high, and mature trees were growing out of the revetments, the appearance today is more akin to a PGA golf course. Keep in mind, all this was started by a couple guys with tiny, underpowered riding mowers, one following behind the other because the field grass was so heavy...and today we are the de-facto guardians of this cultural landmark. If not for those couple volunteers seeking permission from the city to mow and hold events here back in 2001, Fort Wayne may have been relegated to Packard Plant or MCS status by now, featured in every cliche parachute-journalist's ruin-pornish photo, story, or documentary lol.

I only wish we had more pictures of more areas from back then, or of more of the things we have improved, but who could have known we would be doing this 12yrs later? Also, it's kind of hard to stop working to take a picture of the work you just did, lol. You don't get as much done when you're fiddling around with some camera.

AMAZING transformation! KUDOS to all the volunteers! Visitors might now stay for 20 minutes, maybe even a HALF HOUR!

Looking forward to my first visit this year.

**cramerro** · May-23-13, 12:22 PM

This is great! Fantastic work to the whole crew... keep up to good fight.

**EastsideAl** · May-23-13, 12:32 PM

Absolutely wonderful work WaCoTS & friends! Thank you so much for caring and for your time and effort. Your pictures just brightened up my day!

**gazhekwe** · May-23-13, 04:38 PM

Love the Before and After pix. The Mound looks much better. Miigwech, miigwech, miigwech.

**Guideboat** · May-23-13, 05:41 PM

Huzzah to all the fort volunteers! What an extraordinary feat! Good to see the Fort getting some love.

I always thought NCO Row houses would make great homes. They are incredibly solid. Would be nice if they could be repaired and leased out as dwellings, with the income stream benefiting the fort and grounds.

Also, would love to see the Riverwalk make down to the fort some day.