Fort Wayne, IN: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

(Satellite)

In fifth grade (1959), I did well enough in the school's science fair project that I was able to go to the regional fair that was held in the basement of the Coliseum. Back then Coleseum Blvd was called the Bypass (US-30) or the Circumurban. The Bypass was built through farm fields, and it was just two lanes. (I learned from Karen Lambert Schatko's comment on RD Strayer's post that State Street is now State Blvd. I commented on Karen's comment about being a safety patrol boy at a two-lane State Street.)

Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted
1980
Nancy Parker two additions and roof raised since then.
Rachel Love Hard to believe that the Coliseum was that small and so was the parking lot.

Jeff Smith shared two photos.

Check out these photos of the Memorial Coliseum, taken in May 1951 in the midst of construction! Since the facility opened its doors in 1952, we continue to renovate, expand and even "raise the roof" to provide the best experience for our guests! Photo provided - Journal Gazette

Kevin Kimpel I think it was a world record structure of it's type when it was built.

Steve Heller Original parking was $0.25, which was to be eliminated after the parking lot was paid for. Yeah, right.
Kevin Kimpel I was just there for a Komets playoff game. I remarked to my friends that they could pave the parking lot with gold at $6 a car.
[When I-355 was built, the Tollway Agency was still claiming tolls would be removed from the tollways in 2000.]

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Neil Wayer commented on Jeff's share
1953

Tommy Lee Fitzwater added 15 photos with the comment:

Sept. 28, 1952Construction and dedication of Memorial ColiseumCorey McMakenThe Journal Gazette

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May 2, 1951: Memorial Coliseum begins to take shape.

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Sept. 17, 1952: Finishing touches are put on Memorial Coliseum

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May 2, 1951: The sky peeks through as the roof begins to take shape on the Memorial Coliseum.

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Sept. 17, 1952: One of Memorial Coliseum's original locker rooms.

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Sept. 28, 1952: Mr. and Mrs. Walter McGee were among Gold Star parents at the dedication of Memorial Coliseum. Here, they stop with second son, John, to read the list of names inscribed on one of two plaques in the north entrance. Among the 643 names is their son James C. McKee, who was killed during World War II.

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Sept. 17, 1952: The inside of Memorial Coliseum is seen. The Memorial Corridor included four types of marble.

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Sept. 28, 1952: Memorial Coliseum was dedicated in a ceremony that drew 10,000 people.

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Sept. 17, 1952: Work is done on the clock for Memorial Coliseum. It was sponsored by Wolf & Dessauer.

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Aug. 18, 1950: An aerial shot of Memorial Coliseum construction shows the surrounding area as mostly farmland.

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Jan. 24, 1950: The Rev. O.D. Wissler (right foreground), a former Army chaplain and pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church pronounces invocations during a dedication for the site of Memorial Coliseum. (File)
Jan. 24, 1950: The Rev. O.D. Wissler (right foreground), a former Army chaplain and pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church pronounces invocations during a dedication for the site of Memorial Coliseum

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Sept. 17, 1952: Memorial Coliseum is seen a few days before its dedication ceremony.

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Sept. 17, 1952: Final touches are put on Memorial Coliseum before its opening and dedication.

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Sept. 28, 1952: About 600 Gold Star parents were among guests seated near the speaker's platform at the dedication

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Some facts about Memorial Coliseum that appeared in The Journal Gazette on Sept. 26, 1952

[This is the first time I remember seeing "Circumurban" in print. That is the name by which I knew the US-30 bypass.]

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Sept. 17, 1952: The parking lot at Memorial Coliseum had room for 3,000 cars.
[Note that the Circumurban is just two lanes wide. I can remember when they added the second two lanes.]

I'm thinking of adding "and Circumurban" to the title.

Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted

Johnny Appleseed Memorial Bridge US 30

Year?

Howard Pletcher The Circumurban from Crescent to Goshen Rd was built in 1947-48 and from the cars across the bridge, this was taken soon after that. Not US-30 until after the east side was completed in 1958. IN-324 at this time.
Dennis DeBruler When we moved into the 1957 Parade of Homes in Brentwood Park, I'm pretty sure the US-30 bypass existed at that time. State Blvd was State Street and had just two lanes with no curbs. Brentwood School didn't exist yet. I had to go to Slocum School, which no longer exists. I was in the first graduating class of Snider, 1967. In 1964, when I walked to Lane because Snider had yet to be built, I remember having to dodge four lanes of traffic when crossing at Vance Ave.