The Willams-Woodland Park
Neighborhood Collection
This collection contains images and documents relating to the history of Fort Wayne’s first “planned” neighborhood and its early residents— the Williams-Woodland Park Historic District.
Scroll down to browse individual collections and a brief historical overview
A Brief History
Originally part of Jesse Williams' landholdings, the chief engineer of the Wabash and Erie Canal, the area now known as the Williams Woodland Park Historic District was a private park opened to the public by the Williams family in the 1870s. After Jesse's passing, the city declined the family's offer to sell the park at half its value. In 1903, Henry Williams sold the 66 lots to real estate dealer Louis Curdes. Capitalizing on the expansion of the city’s streetcar lines, Curdes, after setting very specific deed restrictions, quickly sold all lots via lottery at the Fort Wayne Commercial Club.
The first homes in Williams Woodland Park were built in the early 1890s, and the neighborhood quickly became home to some of Fort Wayne's most prominent citizens, including lawyers, doctors, and businessmen. In 1985, the neighborhood became an official local historical district and in 1991 was listed on the National Register for Historic Places. The modern boundaries of Williams-Woodland Park are W. Creighton Ave, Pontiac St, Hoagland Ave, and S. Harrison.