Old Auburn Indiana Neighborhood

Old Auburn Indiana Neighborhood Welcome to Old Auburn. This historic neighborhood is where the City of Auburn was founded in 1836.

This page is dedicated to sharing the history, architecture, and stories of Auburn's original neighborhood. The Old Auburn Neighborhood is bounded by Main Street to the west, First Street to the north, Cedar Creek to the east, and 7th Street to the south. Some of the earliest and most significant buildings and homes are located in the neighborhood. A host of people have called the area home as wel

l ranging from the first female physician in DeKalb County, the first attorney, the first librarian, August Duesenberg, and Gordon Buehrig to name a few.

I hear and see the rumor mill has been working over time these days. I was asked the question three different times tod...
09/23/2020

I hear and see the rumor mill has been working over time these days. I was asked the question three different times today as to the status of the Baxter-Hood home.

For the record.

It's not for sale
It's not being demolished
I declined the offer to sell

Some things are more important than money . . .

Good Morning Everyone. I'm sorry I've been so slow posting to the page here, but I'm glad to see many of you enjoy hear...
06/13/2020

Good Morning Everyone. I'm sorry I've been so slow posting to the page here, but I'm glad to see many of you enjoy hearing tidbits on the homes of Auburn's original neighborhood. I hope to do better for the remainder of the year of putting up a new post once a month. As always, I would love to hear from you if you would like to share some additional info on a property I highlight.

We've had a lot of new folks like the page over time, and it has been 4 years since I introduced myself to readers. My name is John Bry. I am the volunteer appointed County Historian for DeKalb County. I am a native of Auburn and Jackson Township. My family roots in the city and county run deep back to the earliest days of its settlement.

My degrees are in Historic Preservation, and for the past 25 years, my career and work have taken me around the nation working with various local organizations and governments. My real job is leading the only countywide downtown development program in the U.S. (known as Main Street) for the Oakland County, Michigan Department of Economic Development and Community Affairs in metro Detroit.

I still get home to Auburn on a regular basis to lend a hand to my 93 year old Grandma Yarde, volunteer on local history projects, visit with friends, and of course to do research. My interest in the neighborhood really took off when I acquired and restored one of the city and neighborhood's oldest homes. Some may know it as the Hood House on the corner of 6th and Cedar Streets. I couldn't stand to see the house be potentially demolished, and took a leap of faith.

108 North Cedar is the second structure to stand on the site. It was built in 1859 for John Miller from Wilmington Township. He and his father in law would operate a foundry next door. Miller was also the Sherriff of DeKalb County. Following the Millers the home was occupied by the Baldock family for many years. Thomas Baldock was a carpenter originally from England. Following the deaths of the Baldocks, the home was acquired by County Clerk and attorney John Baxter who came from Butler. He was also the first President of the Zimmerman Mfg.Company that would become one of the leading carriage and auto making companies in Auburn. He was also a staunch Prohibitionist. His daughter Mary was a well known educator, and his son Frank would be killed in the Avalon Hotel fire in Fort Wayne in 1907. The family eventually converted the barn next door to a house as their new home and moved to it on 6th Street. Following the Baxters, it was Dr. John Baxter who took up residency (no relation to the attorney, but they were friends) Dr. Baxter would add the front porch seen today around 1917. The house would pass down through Dr. Baxter's descendants for 90 years including the Hood family. The photos are the before and after although there is still work to be done, and of a Baxter Family reunion photo taken outside the house in 1900 passed on to me from Attorney John Baxter's granddaughter in Seattle.

It's been awhile we know. You can finally see the handsome bungalow at 603 North Cedar Street in the Old Auburn District...
06/13/2020

It's been awhile we know. You can finally see the handsome bungalow at 603 North Cedar Street in the Old Auburn District. Trees and shrubs that have been obscuring it are being removed.

Constructed around 1920, it is a "twin" to the bungalow around the corner from it on East First Street. The first two decades of this home was largely as a rental property with the William Lonergan family being among its first occupants. Mr. Lonergan was a native of Ireland, and operated a junk yard on North Van Buren Street for many years.

Following the Lonergans it was the home of Charles Romeiser and his family. Mr. Romeiser was the superintendent of the electric and water works for the city on the south side. From 1940 through 1951, 603 North Cedar Street saw it's longest term resident at the time with the Robert McCrum family. Mr. McCrum was superintendent of the local stoker plant.

In 1940, the McCrum's daughter Marianna married Myron Watson who lived nearby on 4th Street. Myron's family were part of the rich heritage of Auburn Automobile and the Duesenberg Company. Myron was a graduate of both Purdue and Indiana Universities. He had been Treasurer of Auburn Metal Products, but at the time of his marriage, he and his new bride were headed to "MoTown"-Detroit where he worked with the Shatterproof Glass Company of the Motor City.

5 down and 5 to go. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Here Lies Auburn historic cemetery tour today. The lumin...
08/31/2019

5 down and 5 to go. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Here Lies Auburn historic cemetery tour today. The luminaries were a beautiful sight to see this evening. Tours resume tomorrow (Saturday) at 4,5 6,7 and 8 PM.

We're walking the cemetery this Thursday and Friday for the "Here Lies Auburn" Historic Cemetery tour presented by the A...
08/29/2019

We're walking the cemetery this Thursday and Friday for the "Here Lies Auburn" Historic Cemetery tour presented by the Auburn Lions Club. Those 13 and up $10 and 12 and under free.

Come hear the tragic story of mother/daughter Blanch and Martha Van Auken who passed away within 2 weeks from one another, and their connection to Woodlawn Cemetery.

They will be among the 20 stories shared on the 40 minute walk with tours that will take place on the hour starting at 4PM to 8 PM this Friday and Saturday (August 30-31) as part of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival.

We're dusting off an oldie, but s goodie. Join us for the Here Lies Auburn Historic Cemetery Tour during the Auburn Cord...
08/26/2019

We're dusting off an oldie, but s goodie. Join us for the Here Lies Auburn Historic Cemetery Tour during the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival. After a 10 year hiatus, we've partnered with the Auburn Lions Club to tell the stories of 20 famous, and not so famous, of DeKalb County's dearly departed in Roselawn and Woodlawn Cemeteries.

Tours will take place August 30th and 31st at 4,5,6,7, and 8 PM starting at the Auburn Mausoleum. All proceeds go to the Lions Club community projects. Tickets are $10 for those 13 and up in age. 12 and under are free. Tour group sizes are limited to 35 each time. See you there.

Gitchy, gitchy, gitchy goo. Who's a cute little bungalow? You are are! Ok, we're having a little fun with you, but we re...
06/30/2019

Gitchy, gitchy, gitchy goo. Who's a cute little bungalow? You are are!

Ok, we're having a little fun with you, but we really do think 302 North Union Street in the Old Auburn neighborhood is an adorable little bungalow from the early part of the 20th century constructed around 1923-ish we think. (Still pin-pointing the exact year, and verifying that it is not an older home moved to the neighborhood and remodeled which did happen in the neighborhood and city). It was also around this time "Union Street" was renamed from being known as "East Street" from the days of when Auburn was originally platted in 1836.

The realignment of Cedar Creek in the early 20th century began to make possible the development of lots for homes along the street that had been previously left undeveloped for decades due to the marsh like conditions and being prone to flooding.

Lawrence and Clydia Barnhart would have been one of the first families to take up residence along North Union (East Street) at that time. Lawrence Barnhart was born in Eton, Michigan in 1892, and his wife, Clydia Buttermore, was born in Putnam County, Ohio. The couple were married in 1914 in Auburn and by 1920 were residing on North Union Street. (Still called East Street then) Mr. Barnhart was a tire builder for the Double Fabric Tire Company in the city. (Later known as Auburn Rubber)

By the 1930 the Barnharts were living in Connersville for a time where Mr. Barnhart was an auto painter for the Auburn Auto Company located there. By 1932, they had returned to Auburn to their home at 302 North Union Street and during that time Clydia's mother would die here while living with the family.

In 1940, the Barnharts moved to a farm owned by the family in Grant Township near Waterloo and became farmers and rented out their home in Auburn. However, they would eventually return to the cute bungalow on North Union Street once again following World War II, after their children had left the nest, and when they approached retirement age. The Barnhart's observed their 50th anniversary in 1964, and both would pass away just ten years later in 1974.

We're back after a long hiatus, and picking up the pen to profile another Old Auburn building. As a reminder, the focus ...
06/18/2019

We're back after a long hiatus, and picking up the pen to profile another Old Auburn building. As a reminder, the focus of our posts are structures located in one of Auburn's earliest neighborhoods, and where the community got its start. Bounded my Main Street to the west. Roughly First Street to the north. Cedar Creek to the east, and 7th Street to the south.

Minnie's House . . .

Tonight we take a look at 602 North Main Street. This simple little home has seen some changes over the years, and its stucco is hiding a frame home underneath. This little house probably dates from the 19th century, and we will continue to dig a little deeper on its past.

However, we can tell you the property appears to have been acquired by sisters Miss Minne Diehl and Pauline Haft. The ladies were the daughters of D.D. and Susan Diehl of Butler. Mr. Diehl was a tinner there and veteran of the civil war. He died around 1920, and it was about that time the sister's acquired the home on North Main Street for $3,000.

Pauline Diehl-Haft was residing in Chicago in the early part of the 20th century, but made many visits to the area and traveled in social circles. She even spent a winter in Havana, Cuba at one point. Her sister Minnie was a teacher in Butler Schools and eventually became the Assistant Cashier (Think Assistant Bank Manager) for Citizens National Bank in Auburn. Minnie is shown as living in the home as early as 1925. However, Minnie's sister Pauline was living with her as a widow by 1930. By 1940, the sisters were gone.

Minnie died in 1946 at the age of 76 in the Church of Christ Home in Jacksonville, Illinois. She was a long time member of the church locally, and on the occasion of her birthday, the church would have a "Minnie Diehl Day", and take up an offering from the congregation in her honor. .

Come burn some calories by taking a walk through the historic Eckhart-McIntosh Neighborhood as we explore the Classic Ci...
06/15/2017

Come burn some calories by taking a walk through the historic Eckhart-McIntosh Neighborhood as we explore the Classic City's architectural story this Saturday.

From Queen Anne to Greek Revival, this often overlooked section of Auburn was home to some of the city's most colorful residents and textbook examples of historic American Architecture. Hosted by the Eckhart Public Library and the Willennar Genealogical Center.

When
Sat Jun 17, 2017 1:30pm – 2:30pm Eastern Time
Where
Willennar Genealogy Center, 700 S Jackson St, Auburn, IN 46706, USA (map)

Hello Everyone. We're back in the Old Auburn Neighborhood after a brief break. The location tonight we are profiling is ...
09/12/2016

Hello Everyone. We're back in the Old Auburn Neighborhood after a brief break. The location tonight we are profiling is a simple looking home. 216 East First Street was more than likely moved to its current location from somewhere else in the city. Even though the porch has been altered, and the house clad in aluminum siding we can tell the basic lines of this building are probably from an earlier time period in the city and neighborhood's history. Anyone got a pry bar? (Kidding). Like much of the northern part of the Old Auburn Neighborhood, lots in this area remained largely uninhabited until beginning after 1910. These original lots to the city were known as the Cedar Bottoms because the land was marsh and tributaries when Cedar Creek originally passed in this direction before being re-aligned to what we see today in the name of flood control. The lots became a new subdivision known as Henry and Murphy's. Some of the homes in the area were built from the ground up, and others moved in and recycled from other spots in the Classic City like this one. Around 1925, is the first time this home pops up at this site, and it was occupied by A.C. Johnson, his wife Bessie, and six other members of their family. Mr. Johnson was a painter and wallpaper hanger. By 1927, Hugh Robbins and his large family had taken up residence. Mr. Robbins was the caretaker of the William H. Willennar home and grounds just up the street and around the corner on North Main Street. If Willennar's name sounds familiar it should as he was a major player in Auburn industry, business, and President of the Auburn State Bank. The Willennar Foundation made possible gifts for the renovation of the Eckhart Public Library in the mid 1990s, the expansion of the Main Street YMCA in the 1980s, support of the ACD Museum, and of course the Willennar Genealogical Center to be constructed on the campus of the Eckhart Public Library possible. The Robbins family would continue to reside here until the 1930s, and Hugh Robbins continued to be employed by the Willennar's during their time of residency here.

Before and After . . . 604 North Main Street in the Old Auburn Neighborhood is a great example of a home that was transf...
06/30/2016

Before and After . . . 604 North Main Street in the Old Auburn Neighborhood is a great example of a home that was transformed and enlarged from its original appearance and size. Something that was very common throughout the Classic City to keep in style with changing trends of architecture. The east side of Main Street, between First and 7th Streets, makes up the western boundary of the Old Auburn neighborhood.

Margaret Hobson sent us this photo of her grandparents home, but was not exactly sure where it was located on North Main Street. After some detective work, we feel the house in the photo is the same 604 North Main today. Many frame houses in Auburn were covered in stucco in later years. Window openings were changed, and in the case of this home, an entire wing to the south was added (note the raised roof line between the older and newer sections of the house) Another tell tale sign an addition took place. The result was this spectacular Tudor Revival home which was a style that was very popular in the 1920s when this remodeling would have been completed.

Elta and Boyd Davis (Margaret's grandparents) had the original little cottage erected probably between 1905-1909, as they were living at this residence by 1910. By 1925, the home had been acquired by Fairfield Township native Elmer Bower and his wife Carrie. Mr. Bower once served as Superintendent of Schools for a district in Michigan, but returned to DeKalb County to became a prominent merchant in Auburn on Main Street. He attended what is now Trine University, and the University of Chicago. In 1928, the Bowers had completed the transformation of the Davis home, but Mr. Bowers did not live long to enjoy it. He died less than a year later as a result of internal injuries he was not aware he had received from an auto accident. Mrs. Bower continued to reside at 604 North Main until her death in 1950.

(Our photos tonight, as we prepare to begin a new month, are of the Davis home as 604 North Main appeared circa 1912, 604 North Main as it appears today, Carrie (Carolyn) Hill-Bower, and Elmer Bower. Happy 4th of July everyone.

An oldie, but a goodie . . . this simple looking home is located at the intersection of ground zero of East 4th and Nort...
06/05/2016

An oldie, but a goodie . . . this simple looking home is located at the intersection of ground zero of East 4th and North Cedar Streets. This is the corner where Auburn actually began. Wesley Park's log home, and later frame home, stood diagonally to the southeast of this residence. Sometimes this area was known as Park's Corner. Very few structures have stood on these four corners of 4th and Cedar Streets over the years, but this little house is believed the be the earliest survivor of them all that remains in its original location. The architectural form is Greek Revival despite experiencing exterior remodeling. It is a simple but elegant style that was once very popular in DeKalb County and Auburn in the earliest days of the city and county's creation. This little house was probably constructed sometime around 1845 t0 1855. The bumped out little entrance is not original nor is the side porch, and would have been later additions in the 1920s or 30s. The home also sits very close to the sidewalk which is another clue to its early origins. We're still piecing together the history of the occupants of this house, but can report it a has seen various residents over the centuries including a physician, plumber William Sponhower and his parents, and a tool and die maker by the name of Ernest Watson by 1940. Mr. Watson's wife Marcile would serve as the Recorder of DeKalb County, Deputy Assessor, and Deputy Recorder for a number of years. 112 East Fourth Street would remain to be the home of the Watsons for decades until their respective deaths.

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Auburn, IN
46706

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