Talking Sidewalks

"The only real failure is not grasping that opportunity"         Dr. Nancy Snyderman

by Nancy McCammon-Hansen

Have you ever gotten out of your car and walked along Barr Street to see the Talking Sidewalks? This is a great activity to get your kids involved with this summer because the “sidewalks” can lead to further study about Fort Wayne.

In 2008, the City of Fort Wayne developed Barr Street from Wayne to Main, adding quotes carved into new brick along the sidewalks and a Ribbon of Community alongside the east wall what would become Citizen’s Square, formerly Wolf and Dessauer. A Reflection Totem was installed at the corner of Main and Berry where the building which would become the Auer Center, home to Arts United, is located.

According to information on the City’s website:

“The pedestrian-friendly project began this spring (2008) with the replacement of sidewalks and curbs as well as historically streetlamp-styled streetlights and 15 new flowering shade trees plus additional on-street parking. It was funded through a 2004 Indiana Department of Transportation Enhancement grant for $496,000 designated for pedestrian-oriented projects and local matching funds from economic development (CEDIT) funds budgeted in 2004.”

On Saturdays, when the YLNI Barr Street Market is open, you can see the Talking Sidewalks, shop the market and tour the History Center with free admission from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Then go on over to the Allen County Public Library and get some more information on these Fort Wayne notables and their place in our city’s history:

Talking Sidewalks Quotations -- a few that we photographed

“..we're not going to watch it (television) in this household, and I don't want it in your intellectual diet”
    Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor

“If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still be eating frozen radio dinners”
    Johnny Carson, comedian

 “Am I urging the study of the Greeks and Romans for the Atomic Age?  Yes--we have a great civilization to save-or to lose.”
    Edith Hamilton, scholar

“It's a shame we have to go to Miami'. We should just go to Fort Wayne and play this (Superbowl XLI) off.
    Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts coach

“Change happens when you make the invisible, visible.”
    Patty Crisp, Charis House director

“Fort Wayne, there is a vast amount of good to be done.”
    Saint Theodore Guerin

  “Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back”
    Babe Ruth, athlete

 “My people are leaving me for Detroit.  Nobody wants to stay here and have his throat cut.”
    Captain De Raimond

Major Frank Burns: “I wish I was home.”
B. J. Hunnicut: “I wish you was home too, Frank.”