History
Explore the rich heritage of the VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System.
Marion VA Medical Center & Fort Wayne VA Medical Center
In an effort to preserve the events that occurred in the past at the Marion and Fort Wayne facilities, the 2008 Shaping My Future Class has composed a history book. The class divided the project between its members, giving each member the opportunity to research a decade of time. Each class member completed research during their time period and a final document was completed. It is the hope and expectation of the 2008 Shaping My Future Class that this book will be considered a living document, one that can, and should be added to each year.
Ward Building (Barracks): 1889-1890
Buildings 1 through 6 are nearly identical in design with the exception of two different roof treatments that break the repetition in the two rows of buildings. Buildings 1 and 3, on the north and south ends of the western row, and Building 5 in the middle of the eastern row are identical. Building 2, in the middle of the western row is identical to Buildings 4 and 6 on the north and south ends of the eastern row.
These six buildings are approximately 175 feet in length and 37 feet in width. They are 2 ½ stories in height on a raised stone foundation wall. The exterior walls are brick. The main elevations are divided in five parts; a tall center pavilion in which the entrance is located; two recessed extensions flanking the center pavilion; and end pavilions that are narrower in width, but the same height as the center pavilion. The rear elevations have only the center pavilion to break the line of the wall. The buildings have very simple ornamentation, primarily in brick corbelling at the eaves.
The roof treatment on Buildings 1, 3, and 5 uses a hip roof with hip dormer on the center pavilion. The gables of the end pavilions in Buildings 1, 3, and 5 have a row of three double hung windows with the center unit topped with a semi-circular light. The end pavilion gables on Buildings 2, 4, and 6 have a pediment defined in the gable with a string course across the bottom of the gable; a single round-headed window is set in the upper portion of the gable. The end pavilion gables in Buildings 2, 4, and 6 have a pair of double hung windows topped with a full-width elliptical fanlight.
Dormers, chimneys, and cupolas which were on these buildings originally have been removed. The original wood windows on the first and second floor windows have been replaced with aluminum double-hung units with storm sash and screens. A 15’ x 18’ loading dock and concrete drive has been added to the south end of Building 3. Original rear sun porches have been enclosed on five of the buildings with the exception of Building 2.
The six barracks buildings that are located between the southern extension of McMahan Ave and Q ST. that form the core of the home are still used today. The buildings are 1-6 and are the lowest numbered buildings built in 1889. These two and one half story brick buildings all measure 60’x200’ and have limestone trim with limestone and concrete foundations. Most of these buildings had porches on three sides. The one story porticos with columns supporting a small entablature or pediment were probably added after the 1894 Columbian Exposition which gave ruse to the use of neo-classical architectural elements on any building considered to be a “Good” building. The buildings are commonly called “Cottages” and the road running behind buildings 4-6 is called Cottage Drive.