1227 - 1237 W. Wayne

Methodist College Rowhouses

1890, Chateauesque

Approx. 2000 sq ft per unit

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Mixing Gothic and Renaissance detailing, Chateauesque buildings are both elaborate and rare. Through simplified, these rowhouses have typical features of the style: a tower, a parapeted gable, through-the-cornice wall dormer, steep roof with multiple dormers, a variety of corbelled cornices, and both curved and polygonal bays.

The rowhouses were originally built as faculty housing for the Methodist College, which sat at the corner of W. Wayne and Thieme. The largest unit is on the corner, and housed the President of the college.

The college was established in 1846 as the Fort Wayne Female College, on 3 acres of land donated by William Rockhill. In 1855, the college became co-ed and was renamed the Fort Wayne College, better known as the M.E. College. In 1890, the grounds were deeded to Taylor University. The college closed in 1894 and was moved to Upland, Indiana, becoming today's Taylor University.

Note the small plaque next to the door of 1229. It memorializes Estella Kraus, who lived here from 1954 until her death in 1995. Estella, who worked her entire career at General Electric, was known by neighbors as the "Grand Dame of West Central."

Continue down Wayne Street.