Date:
1876
Title:
Old City Hall Building: Charles Zollinger Portrait
Description:
In 1892, Mayor Charles Zollinger and his administration commissioned architects John F. Wing and Mar-shall S. Mahurin to devise plans for a new City Building on the southeast corner of Berry and Barr Streets. With its Richardsonian Romanesque style, many local residents dubbed it the "Hapsburg Horror" due to its imposing, castle-like appearance. The new building cost $69,256 and was dedicated in April 1893. The building remained the epicenter of city business until 11 March 1971 when Mayor Harold Zeis proclaimed the new City-County Building (now the Rousseau Center) to be the new home of municipal government and walked from the old city hall with city employees to the new building at the corner of Clinton and Main Streets.
In October 1980, the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society dedicated a new museum in the Old City Hall after an extensive renovations funded by a federal grant of $350,000, contributions from local donors and a matching $100,000 grant from the city. The Society's home had been the old Swinney Homestead sine 1927 but the building was too small and the former City Building, with more than 28,000 square feet of usable space, provided more opportunities to accomplish its mission of serving present and future generations. The Old City Hall Museum was rechristened the History Center in 2002.
Charles Zollinger was born in Germany in 1838 and immigrated to the United States with his parents and siblings in 1848. He was a farmer and laborer until he answered the call for volunteers during the Civil War. He served with distinction and attained the rank of colonel by 1865. From 1871-1873, he was sheriff of Allen County. Zollinger was elected mayor of Fort Wayne in 1873 and served six, two-year, terms until 1885. Elected to a seventh term in 1891, Zollinger served as mayor until his death in December 1893. This 1876 portrait commemorates his service to Fort Wayne and Allen County. After his death, Zollinger laid in state in the city council chambers inside the newly completely City Building; thousands of citizens passed through to pay their respects.
In October 1980, the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society dedicated a new museum in the Old City Hall after an extensive renovations funded by a federal grant of $350,000, contributions from local donors and a matching $100,000 grant from the city. The Society's home had been the old Swinney Homestead sine 1927 but the building was too small and the former City Building, with more than 28,000 square feet of usable space, provided more opportunities to accomplish its mission of serving present and future generations. The Old City Hall Museum was rechristened the History Center in 2002.
Charles Zollinger was born in Germany in 1838 and immigrated to the United States with his parents and siblings in 1848. He was a farmer and laborer until he answered the call for volunteers during the Civil War. He served with distinction and attained the rank of colonel by 1865. From 1871-1873, he was sheriff of Allen County. Zollinger was elected mayor of Fort Wayne in 1873 and served six, two-year, terms until 1885. Elected to a seventh term in 1891, Zollinger served as mayor until his death in December 1893. This 1876 portrait commemorates his service to Fort Wayne and Allen County. After his death, Zollinger laid in state in the city council chambers inside the newly completely City Building; thousands of citizens passed through to pay their respects.
Click to Enlarge
Mayor Zollinger, 1876
City Building, 1894
City Building, 1916
Mayor Zollinger, 1876
City Building, 1894
City Building, 1916