I wanted this to be a short album, what with trying to wrap up my graphical and news-item research on Fort Wayne's historical areas of interest, but of course there's a ton out there. As usual, I include a mix of photos and postcards, news articles, and some pictures of antiques and collectibles. I reproduce several excellent items from Greg Michell, too.)
It's wonderful that the New York Times gives broad access to its archive [unlike our local newspapers], because they had a great article on the Harvester strike. Not to get too political, but to the nostalgists who think these jobs might come back: they won't! Here's an excerpt of what the New York Times article said in 1983:
FORT WAYNE MOBILIZES TO AID THOSE LEFT JOBLESS BY TRUCK PLANT'S CLOSING
Published: July 16, 1983 - the New York Times
FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 15— As the final shift ended at International Harvester Company's truck-building plant here today, an era came to a close. That point is best understood by the 2,200 workers whose jobs were lost with the closing.
... These workers also know that the skills they learned in truck manufacturing are not the skills needed by business and industry today in an economy shifting toward high technology and away from heavy manufacturing.
Gone are the days of full employment, or nearly full employment, in Fort Wayne, when a high school graduate could land a good-paying job that offered security and stability by simply applying at the factory gate...
Fort Wayne was my hometown so I remember IH, along with GE, as a big employer in town. It was a big blow to the town when IH decided to make its medium sized trucks in just Springfield, Ohio and close the Fort Wayne plant. My dad worked for US Rubber Co, which was east of this truck plant. When US Rubber closed, IH bought it and extensively remodeled it to build Scouts. IH closed its plants by 1983. The original building did not have those green decorated covers in this streetview when I was a kid.
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| Streetview, 2011 |
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| 21Alive from InsideIndianaBusiness Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted David Bradley: What is left of IH (Springfield and Chicago Administration). were sold to Volkswagon a couple weeks ago. They should have stayed in Fort Wayne. |
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| Rohn Rondot commented on Tommy's post Another view of the Harvester. Probably early 1950s. |
The History Center posted eight images with the comment:
By the mid twentieth century Fort Wayne became known as the “Heavy-Duty Truck Capital of the World.” International Harvester established a large plant east of Fort Wayne in 1923 where 1,527,299 heavy and medium-sized trucks were built before the plant closed in July 1983. In addition to trucks, an early sport utility vehicle called the “Scout” was produced in an adjacent plant from November 1960 to October 1980. It was a popular, innovative vehicle and 532,674 were manufactured in its twenty-year run. At its peak “The Harvester” was the largest employer in the area, contributing to the growth of the local economy and providing jobs for 10,000 workers. The brass Crosby Steam Whistle was a symbol to residents of the east end industries. The ship whistle was purchased in 1928 for the International Harvester Company truck plant from a marine supply company. The original whistle, purchased in 1923 when the plant opened, was too shrill and the sound did not carry well. The new high-pressure whistle was used to signal shift changes with tones that could be heard throughout Fort Wayne. It was mounted on top of the Powerhouse at the South Coliseum Boulevard plant and was used until the plant closed in 1983. In 1984, International Harvester donated the whistle to the Historical Society and it was displayed off and on until 2003. Come and see the Harvester Whistle at the History Center where it has been on display as part of our Innovation & Technology Gallery since 2012.
[Until I was seven, I lived at 2014 E Pontiac St., which was a little over a mile away; but I don't remember ever hearing the whistle.
If IH was the largest employer, then GE must have been a close second.]
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| Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted |
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| 20140801 0041 Paquette's Farmall Museum |
I found the InsideIndianaBusiness article in a Facebook posting. This is one of the cases where the comments are more interesting than the article.
Michael Schwiebert I haven't been by that part of Fort Wayne in years, but it'd be interesting to see what the state of repair for the structures on site are. It sounds like from the article that the new owners realize that some of them are too far gone - but want to have a consistent "look" to whatever new they can get to go in there.
Also given what happened there in the past, hopefully the land has been successfully remediated where necessary. Even with all that done it may be a tough sell to go "brownfield" vs. "greenfield" elsewhere.
Christopher Allen Howe The Union Belt line still has spurs that split off it into the old facility. That little line was originally the Ft. Wayne Union Railway, jointly owned by the PRR, NKP, WAB, and NYC.
Scott Taipale One business located on the site is an active NS customer receiving boxcars
Current Fort Wayne railroads.
Update:
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| Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted 1961 Men working on production line on International Scouts. Assembly line. Image from International Harvester's Fort Wayne plant. Gregory Hoover Was International Harvester manufacturing the scout in 1961? Nancy Parker first year,till 80. Howard Pletcher 30 built in December, 1960 with production ramping up in January 1961. |
By 1921, it became apparent that facilities at Akron Works would soon become inadequate to handle the increased volume of truck production in all models. Accordingly, motor truck manufacture was instituted at Springfield Works, home of the old Champion line of farm equipment which had only recently been discontinued. At the same time, the Company determined to build a modern plant suitable to modern mass production methods to house the manufacture of its line of heavy-duty trucks. After careful deliberation. Fort Wayne, Indiana, was selected as the site, and construction began in 1922. By 1923, Fort Wayne Works, a thoroughly modern factory in every respect, produced its first vehicle. Akron Works was closed in 1925. By that time, International had become the country's largest manufacture of a complete line of trucks and was producing a vehicle for every important agricultural and commercial need, with the latter predominating. [History and Development of International Harvester, p 14]
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| Becky Osbun posted "Heavy duty truck assembly line" photo taken by Don Alvather, 1970. - International Harvester-Navistar Collection, ACPL in it's hay day between Assembly, Forge, Scout, Truck Processing, Parts, Engineering and etc it was close to 14,000.
Retired after 48 years plus 2.5 more on contract.
The 10,000 employees was in 1979, when Scout was 2 shifts for 250/day, and including Main Plant manufacturing facilities. Not including Engineering and Service Parts. This was just prior to the Oil Crisis which prompted the Scout Sales to fall. Also, the 6-month strike followed in 1979-80, and the last Scout was built on October 21, 1980.
My dad hand built the first 12 of those trucks with the diamond plate fenders. He was all done except the fenders and was waiting for the stamping shop to deliver his fenders, but the assembly line had priority. Big guys were getting nervous about delivery of his 12 trucks. So he hand made a set of diamond plate fenders for 1 truck. The big guys liked it and the prints were changed to incorporate those. Back in the 50's???
Notice the “Butterfly” hood access panels, in later years this r by a Fiberglass Hood which covered the complete engine, radiator, and tires; and was attached with two hinges in front, which allowed 2 rear mounted straps to be released and complete hood to be tilted up and forward, which allowed completely open access to engine and radiator and chassis components forward of cab.
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| Rural American History Captured posted Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana also posted [Some comments about a POW camp that was nearby. The brick tower decorated the plant's water tower. They talk about a steam whistle that could be heard for miles. I wonder why I never heard it when we used to live on Pontiac Street across from the former Fruehauf office building.] Jeff Landis also posted Mike Plummer  We toured the tower in school...there was a corporate office/living space where the windows are....Samii Taylor YakoveticSamii and 320 others joined Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne Indiana within the last two weeks. Give them a warm welcome into your community! I used to watch the trolley cars spark as we waited for my dad to finish work at 11pm. He did 40 yr there and Mom did 7 in the office. I worked at GE for 4yrs. That was "the good life" everyone hoped to live. |
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| Rural American History Captured posted |
Since 1923, when the first truck was produced here, IH became synonymous with Fort Wayne. On July 15th, 1983, the 1,527,299th and last truck rolled off the assembly line. Throughout those decades, 10's of thousands of IH employees from Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio depended upon International Harvester to provide for their families. At peak employment, there were 10,500 IH workers in Fort Wayne alone. For about nine years, in the 1970's, I was one of them.
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| W Jeff McClure posted Gary Runge The culprit behind IH moving out was the same group of villians that drove out Lincoln.Rick Papazian The villian behind Lincoln was the CEO who wanted to move it closer to his hometown.Gary Runge It had nothing to do with the city council voting unanimously to raise taxes on businesses employing more than 1,000 people then? GE, IH and Lincoln all pulled out within a year of each other. I can't think of another single company that invested more money supporting, investing and building Ft. Wayne than Lincoln.Jennifer Beck Gary Runge you are 100% correct and that was the worst part. Losing one business? The city could have come back from that quickly. 3 in a single year hurt. It took a while. But we still came back. Luckily, GM, Good-wrench and some other smaller companies rebuilt us.Bonnie Hilsmier Worked there 17 years before we were sent on the adventure to start the new IH plant in Wagoner OK. That plant was only open one year and closed about a year before Fort Wayne. We were transferred to Ohio. I sat and cried when I heard the news on WOWO. Going thru this closing and Our hope for the OK Truck Operations plant was devastating. I personally blame the liberal idiots that had taken over the UAW in late 60’s when I worked at FW Plant, along with company caving to insane demands. I still have my letter I wrote to Pat Greathouse President of UAW about the lies that were told about a good and decent Office local President during our election. He lost!  😡Those years started the mess we still have today. We were so proud of our IH products!! Still upsets me! 😢[My Dad did not work for IH, but he did blame the union for killing the plant with a long strike. His story was a little different because he said the union ended up settling for about what management first offered. But the real damage is that IH customers discovered their were other companies that built trucks. He said that before the strike, about every truck you saw in the Midwest was IH built. After the strike you saw many Kenworths, Peterbuilts, etc. on the roads.] |
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| W Jeff McClure posted Larry E. Stewart You can thank Union for it... Sandy Race Why did Harvester leave? Rick Papazian A long, long strike. When they were unable to reach an agreement The Company decided to close the plant. Rick Papazian The moved some of it to Springfield, OH. Many workers commuted. Some may still do so. The Scout model closed around the same time due to poor sales. IH was unable to resolve performance issues with the Scout. Adam Stiverson The company sent in a union buster named Archie McArdle and the union held there ground but lost the plant. Bob Williams ih-ge-tohkiem--zollner-magnavox-need i say more. Michael Ney All union shops. Job and family killers. Rich Williams Read this book if you want to know what really happened: https://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Tragedy.../dp/0385192096 Roger Vaughn What year did IH close? Carole Garrison 1983 |
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| Don Brown posted 1966 International V line From Fort Wayne Indiana Plant |
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| Becky Osbun posted Wow, now THAT was a punch press! (I.H. photo, via ACPL) |
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Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted two photos with the comment: "1950's International Harvester Motor Truck Division Testing of trucks by their Engineering Department and Laboratories in Fort Wayne, Indiana."
David Pelz: I worked there 1962-2012 50 years 4 days the last day Engineering was open. [I remembered that they retained the engineering department in Fort Wayne after they moved truck manufacturing to Springfield, OH.]
Ron Blanchard: I worked there from 1990 to 2006. Then took a job with Engine group in Melrose Park. Just an FYI Navistar announced that they are closing Melrose Park by November 2021
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| Becky Osbun posted February 27, 1970. "Number 5 million rolls off the line at International Harvester. Left to right: G.C. Berg, Executive Director of FS Service, Inc., purchaser of the vehicle; William Rodgers, Vice-President of Local 305, UAW; Rex Bear, Vice-President of UAW Local 57; H.A. Ehrman, Works Manager of IHC; and R.L. McCaffrey, Divisional Sales Manager, Motor Truck Division." - News-Sentinel, via ACPL Community Album |
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| Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted |
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| Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted 1944 Factory workers assembling the steering gear on a military truck at International Harvester's Fort Wayne Works. |
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| Screenshot The backbones of many Midwestern cities are the heavy industries that have been attracted to these communities. By the mid twentieth century, Fort Wayne became known as the “Heavy-Duty Truck Capital of the World.” The V-549 gasoline engine was built by the International Harvester Company (IHC) for use in heavy duty trucks from 1954 - 1983. The V-549 was installed in many of the trucks manufactured at the Fort Wayne IHC Heavy Duty Truck Plant. This particular engine was manufactured around 1955 at the Indianapolis IHC factory. The V-549 designation references the engine’s V-shaped block of eight cylinders that are angled away from one another, and the 549 cubic inch displacement of the engine. Total production was around 164,000 units. While most heavy duty trucks use diesel fuel, this unique engine operated on gasoline. The engine was designed for low horsepower – high torque use, which is good for hauling heavy and cumbersome materials. It produced 505 ft.-lbs. of torque, a large amount for a gasoline engine. Now through July, come and see this functioning demonstration-modified V-549 Engine on loan to the History Center from the Irvington Historical Society. |
The History Center posted six photos with the comment: "Supplemental International Harvester Company V-549 Engine materials provided by Kent Hankins."
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| American Truck Historical Society posted 🚛 Friday Focus: Fleetstar 🚛 Introduced in 1962, the International Harvester Fleetstar quickly became a staple in the world of heavy-duty trucking. Designed for long-haul routes and demanding jobs, the Fleetstar had a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) range from 26,000 to 65,000 pounds, making it ideal for hauling heavy loads across industries like construction, freight, and municipal services. At the heart of the Fleetstar was its impressive engine lineup. Drivers had the choice of powerful gasoline engines, like the IH 549 V8, or robust diesel options such as the Cummins NH series, Detroit Diesel 6-71, and the International DT466. These engines were built for reliability and performance, ensuring that the Fleetstar could handle even the toughest conditions. With single or tandem axle configurations and dependable transmissions like the Fuller Roadranger and Spicer, the Fleetstar was known for its versatility. Whether hauling steel, moving freight across the country, or working on construction sites, the truck got the job done. It wasn’t just about brute strength—the Fleetstar offered adaptability for various terrains and loads, which made it a favorite among freight carriers, vocational customers, and drivers alike. ____ Preserving the history of trucks like the Fleetstar starts with you. Support the American Truck Historical Society by becoming a member today! aths.org/membership |
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| Harvester Homecoming posted Skyline just won't be the same. Power plant starts coming down next week. [Just the power plant.] Kelly Krinn shared Changes happening at the old IH campus. |
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| Luke Pavell commented on HH's post [I presume that is a Scout parked in front.] |
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| 3D Satellite |
Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted six photos of the Scout plant.
Harvester management felt that the world market for 4WD SUVs was saturated. They also could not meet EPA regulations. GM offered to help them out of the EPA problem, but at a price that would make their Scout unaffordable.
Correct. Economies of scale being what they are, plus the ex-Xerox exec and bad labor negotiations had something to do with their shutting down.
One of the composite body prototypes was at this year's show.
Before it was Scout, this plant was US Rubber. My father worked there as an accountant until US Rubber closed.
Rural American History Captured shared 17 photos that had the comment:
David Augustyniak posted 32 drone photos
Pam Banet Bak My grandparents sold their farm to Harvester in 1920. I think their house was where the tower is.
John R. Banet
Connie Banet Miller
DebDan Banet Fosnaugh
Bill Kintz My grandparents Louis and Gertrude Kintz owned a large farm where the complex and tower now stand. In 1920 developers representing international Harvester, a large tractor and farm implement manufacturer bought the land and built the assembly plant. Grandpa Kintz reinvested the proceeds from the sale and opened a grocery store on New Haven Avenue at St Andrews Lane, next to the Catholic school and church.
John R. Banet Bill Kintz The store building is still there. It’s a food pantry now. When our grandparents moved from the harvester land they lived above the store with several of their children. My grandfather lost his thumb and for finger in a saw mill accident so farming was tuff after that. They probably wouldn’t have sold the ground had that not happened.
Michael Pranger Where the tower is located used to be my Grandfather Louis Kintz's farm. He sold his farm to Harvester back around 1910..
Pam Banet Bak Michael Pranger Hey Cousin! My mom was born in 1915 & she was 5 when Grandpa sold his farm.
[There are comments about Zollner Pistons being next door. It is gone also. Fort Wayne was the "Truck Capital of the World."]
Larry D Mendenhall Bueter Road was a busy street with Magnavox, Zollner Piston, IT&T, and International Harvester.
The backbones of many Midwestern cities are the heavy industries that have been attracted to these communities. By the mid-twentieth century, Fort Wayne became known as the “Heavy-Duty Truck Capital of the World.” International Harvester established a large plant east of Fort Wayne in 1923 where 1,527,299 heavy- and medium-sized trucks were built. In addition to trucks, an early sport utility vehicle called the “Scout” was produced in an adjacent plant from November 1960 to October 1980. It was a popular, innovative vehicle and 532,674 were manufactured in its 20 year run. At its peak, “The Harvester” was the largest employer in the area, contributing to the growth of the local economy and providing jobs for 10,000 workers. A manufacturing tradition came to an end on July 15, 1983, when the last truck rolled off the assembly line at the Fort Wayne plant. #sociallyhistory
Come see these and other artifacts from International Harvester at the History Center’s table at this year’s inaugural Harvester Homecoming.
Harvester Homecoming
Saturday, August 10
10 am - 7 pm
Scout Park Conference Center
2300 Meyer Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46803
Pam Banet Bak My grandparents sold their farm to Harvester in 1920. I think their house was where the tower is.
John R. Banet
Connie Banet Miller
DebDan Banet Fosnaugh
Bill Kintz My grandparents Louis and Gertrude Kintz owned a large farm where the complex and tower now stand. In 1920 developers representing international Harvester, a large tractor and farm implement manufacturer bought the land and built the assembly plant. Grandpa Kintz reinvested the proceeds from the sale and opened a grocery store on New Haven Avenue at St Andrews Lane, next to the Catholic school and church.
John R. Banet Bill Kintz The store building is still there. It’s a food pantry now. When our grandparents moved from the harvester land they lived above the store with several of their children. My grandfather lost his thumb and for finger in a saw mill accident so farming was tuff after that. They probably wouldn’t have sold the ground had that not happened.
Michael Pranger Where the tower is located used to be my Grandfather Louis Kintz's farm. He sold his farm to Harvester back around 1910..
Pam Banet Bak Michael Pranger Hey Cousin! My mom was born in 1915 & she was 5 when Grandpa sold his farm.
[There are comments about Zollner Pistons being next door. It is gone also. Fort Wayne was the "Truck Capital of the World."]
Larry D Mendenhall Bueter Road was a busy street with Magnavox, Zollner Piston, IT&T, and International Harvester.
Adam Griebel posted eight drone photos with the comment:
I didn't realize how big it was. The tower. The plant. The impact it had on Fort Wayne.
The International Harvester's Fort Wayne Truck Plant 1 on Coliseum Boulevard first opened in 1923, and in the 60 years that it operated, produced 1,527,299 trucks, earning it the name "The Heavy Duty Truck Capitol of the World". Nearby Plant 101 manufactured more than half a million Scouts between 1960 and 1980.
At its peak in the late 70's, the company employed more than 10,000 people in Fort Wayne; even more if you include all the nearby vendors that relied on their business. When it closed down in 1983, it left a big hole in the Fort Wayne economy and psyche.
The tower still bears the INTERNATIONAL name proudly, standing watch over the corner of Coliseum Blvd. and Pontiac St. It's striking to see it in the distance as you're heading southbound on Coliseum. My drone tells me it stands about 130 ft high. It feels bigger than that.
Last summer, a new event,
Harvester Homecoming
, was established to celebrate the legacy of this plant. This year it's scheduled for July 31 - August 2. You can learn more at https://harvesterhomecoming.com/Discussion of IH impact on Fort Wayne begins at 4:22. Fort Wayne was one of 27 towns contacted by IH for a new plant in 1919. First truck was produced in 1923. When the Fort Wayne plant opened, IH closed their Akron, OH, plant. July 1983 is when operations in Fort Wayne were closed.
(new window) At 7:14, it looks like the factory had a polished marble floor? It is mostly Scouts until they go outside at 7:47.
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| 1:44 video @ 0:02 International Harvester Documentary Trailer 2023 "The heavy duty truck capital of the world." [I heard that slogan rather often as a kid.] Terry Wisel Heintz shared Wiill be on PBS Channel again July 14th at 5:00 |
