![](https://media.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/3180/files/2023/09/AvelineHotel-before-fire-300x200.jpg)
Aveline Hotel for 45 years was Fort Wayne’s leading hotel. The hotel, on the southeast corner of Calhoun and Berry Streets, burned on May 3, 1908, taking a number of people to a fiery end. Photo courtesy of Allen County Public Library Community Album.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – You have one more opportunity to take in the Summit City’s rich history as Arch Inc. will wrap up its “Fun & Free Lecture Series” next weekend.
On May 20, you can learn about the history of hotels throughout downtown Fort Wayne.
Arch In.c representatives released the following:
Saturday, May 20, Karen Richards presents “Historic Downtown Hotels,” a lecture on Fort Wayne’s remarkable downtown hotels. Our city has a rich history of hotels both lavish and otherwise.
A gifted storyteller, Richards is a regular guest speaker with ARCH’s lecture series. She will tell the hotels’ stories and share historic images that show what life was like during the heyday of hotels in downtown Fort Wayne, including the story of the Aveline Hotel which for 45 years was Fort Wayne’s leading hotel. Tragically, it burned in 1908, taking a number of people to a fiery end.
The free lecture will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20, in the Spectator Lounge at Cinema Center, 347 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne. Free parking is available across Clay Street. ARCH will record each lecture presentation and post the recordings on its website for people who are unable to attend after the series concludes.
For more information, please contact the ARCH office, by email to archfortwayne@gmail.com or by phone at (260) 426-5117.
ARCH’s community education programming is supported by funding from Arts United, Indiana Humanities and the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.