A Walk Through History

arriages to The Auburn Automobile Company, founded by Charles Eckhart and his sons C ords Frank and Morris, manufactured the first Auburn Automobile. In 1903, the C aptly named Auburn was the first car manufactured in the city on a produc- A Walk C tion basis. (Continued on next panel) Auburn is the county seat of DeKalb County Indiana. The town was platted in 1836 by Wesley Park. The original plat of 308 lots consisted of two parallel In 1906 the W. H. McIntyre Company began production of an inexpen- Through History streets, Main and Jackson, with several intersecting streets, which included a sive, reliable, high-wheeled car. No more than a buggy with a tiller and public square. Park built his log cabin along Cedar Creek but he later built a sec- an engine, this vehicle was extremely popular. By 1912, McIntyre pro- ond home, on South Main Street, which is included on this tour. duced a line of trucks as well as automobiles and the Imp, a cyclecar. Before it’s closing in 1915, W. H. McIntyre Co. had five large plants in Auburn was designated as the county seat in 1837. By 1843, the first court- Auburn, producing vehicles ranging from horse drawn carriages to lux- house was completed on land donated by Park. Between 1840 and 1860, the urious automobiles. county grew to 13,880 citizens. This rapid growth necessitated a larger, more impressive courthouse. In 1864, the second DeKalb County Courthouse was However, the Auburn Automobile Company was by far the strongest of built on the town square. It was a brick structure with a tall bell tower that the city’s companies, producing quality automobiles from 1903 until became a city landmark for over 40 years. 1937 when the “Auburn Auto” era ended. As the county grew, so did Auburn. By 1875, the completion of three major rail The family-owned Auburn Automobile lines guaranteed Auburn’s place in the history of transportation. As in other Company ended when Charles Eckhart died towns acrossoss America during this period, without in 1915. By 1919, a group of investors from the existence of railroads, the era of the Auburnuburn Chicago bought Frank and Morris Eckhart’s Automobile Company would never have existed.xisted. controlling interest in the Auburn Automobile During this time, Charles Eckhart settled in Company. The “Chicago Gang” as they came , Charles Eckhart settled in Auburn. Eckhart began building carriages in his to be called, planned to revitalize the compa- uburn. Eckhart began building carriages in his allel home, a small beginning for a man who meant so ny. Their vision however, never really mate- or a man who meant so , which included a much to the city. By 1890, carriage manufacturing rialized. By 1924 the “Chicago Gang” was acturing eek but he later built a sec- was the largest business in Auburn. With the exis- looking for buyers. Again, the future of the xis- tence of three companies: The Zimmerman Mfg. E. L. Cord company looked bleak – until E. L. Cord came g. Co. established in 1886, W. H. Kiblinger Co. estab- Charles Eckhart along with his ideas. ab- st court- lished in 1887 and the Eckhart Carriage Co. established in 1888, the town E. L. Cord worked out an agreement with the “Chicago Gang”. If he een 1840 and 1860, the became well known for the manufacture of carriages and wagons. e turned the company around and paid off the original investment, the e as By 1896, the largest of these manufacturers was The Eckhart Carriage Co. company would be his. Cord wasted no time; he began production in er that Charles Eckhart, along with his sons Frank and Morris, employed over 100 the fall of 1924 on a line of 8-cylinder powered cars sold at average-man men and produced between 4,000 and 5,000 carriages annually. The Auburn prices. By 1926, Cord became president of the Auburn Automobile Automobile Company was the direct descendant of the Eckhart Carriage Company. By 1930, he purchased or controlled 64 companies. His ail Company. These three large carriage companies, along with a half dozen small- genius and flare for style produced the elegant “cars of the stars” in the ation. As in other er ones, were located near the city’s three rail lines. years just before the Great Depression. In 1928, the sleek Auburn Boat View Prominent Homes Tailed Speedster was introduced and the first front wheeled drive car Prosperity extended to other areas of Auburn also. in the United States, the Cord L-29, was introduced in 1929. From the Golden Age Between 1870 and 1900, other industries flourished with the discovery of natural gas in 1887 and the After the death of his young wife in 1930, Cord returned to Chicago. He of Transportation manufacture of electricity in 1889 by the Auburn left the day-to-day operations of the Auburn Automobile Company to a Mining Company. The establishment of the series of presidents. By 1934, only the administration, service and Central Union Telephone Company and The experimental departments remained in Auburn. Home Telephone Company by 1896, provided In 1937, 102 years after Wesley Park built his cabin on Cedar Creek, 65 Auburn with all the facilities and services that one years after Charles Eckhart started making carriages in his living room would expect to find in a thriving community. and 35 years after the first automobile rolled down the streets of W. H. McIntyre W. H. McIntyre The next 30 years would prove to be the most signif- Auburn, the Auburn Automobile Company closed forever. With it the Auburn, Indiana “golden age of transportation” ended in the city. The Hub of Transportation Heritage! icant period of growth for the city. Four major auto companies evolved in the early 1900’s: The Model Gas Engine Company, the Zimmerman Start your tour at the DeKalb County Courthouse. Walk North on Main Manufacturing Company, and most significantly The Auburn Automobile Street on the East sidewalk. Company and W. H. Kiblinger (later W. H. McIntyre) Co. 1. DeKalb County Courthouse (Beaux Arts Classicism) If you have interest in learning more about Auburn or the names listed c. 1911. The 18,000 square foot courthouse, one of here, stop by the Wm. H. Willennar Genealogy Center or the Eckhart Indiana’s finest, includes imported marble staircase and Public Library. corridor wainscoting and magnificent Florentine sky- lights among its many handsome features. Outside, the Research information used: structure is faced with Indiana limestone. Total con- struction costs were less than $325,000. This is DeKalb Much of Auburn’s housing dates from the first County’s third courthouse at this location. 30 years of the 20th century and reflects the 1982 AUBURN ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY prosperity of the “golden age” of transportation Bryant Charles Pedigo, 1982 2. N. Main Street YMCA (20th Century Eclectic) c. 1914. The appearance of the YMCA is quiet, dig- heritage. Take a walk back in time where one can AUBURN THE CLASSIC CITY nified and home-like. Its colonial features are imagine an early automobile such as an Imp, an John Martin Smith, 2002 AUBURN IS A DANCING LADY enhanced by the red oriental brick with white Auburn or a L-29 Cord parked outside the homes stone trim and the house-like Dutch Gambrel roof. of Auburn’s pioneers and visionaries. Rachel S. Roberts, 1999 Charles Eckhart and his son, Frank, donated over HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA 1837-1987 $55,000 to cover all expenses. The building was START YOUR TOUR AT THE DEKALB COUNTY John Martin Smith, Auburn, Indiana, 1990 expanded in 1981. DEKALB COUNTY 1837-1987 FAMILY HISTORIES COURTHOUSE. WALK NORTH ON MAIN STREET 3. 404 N. Main St. (Bungalow-English Tudor Detail) ON THE EAST SIDEWALK. Troas May Wise - Editor HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA c. 1910-1920. DeKalb County Recorder for 8 years in Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago-NY, 1920 the 1870’s, Michael Boland once resided in this home. Mr. Boland was also a telegraph operator for HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA the Lakeshore and Michigan Southern Railroad and B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914 a Director of the First National Bank in Auburn. HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885 MOORE’S STANDARD DIRECTORY 1908-1909 4. 704 N. Main St. (Vernacular Colonial Revival) c. 1905. T. A. Carter, Auburn Postmaster in 1902 LUEDDERS HISTORICAL & PICTORAL CITY DIRECTORY lived in this home. Harry McIntyre also lived here OF AUBURN, INDIANA from 1925-1929. 1925-1940 CURRENT OWNERS HISTORICAL INFORMATION Criteria Used In Selection of Properties: 5. 718 N. Main St. (Queen/Eastlake) c. 1880-1890. • The property was listed in the Auburn Architectural Survey of 1982 Once owned by David S. Ober, owner of Ober & and was listed as having primary significance at that time. Primary Beuquot. Prominent lumber manufacturers, they Significance defined as “buildings with the greatest architectural supplied materials to all the existing railroad com- and/or historic significance.” panies. Mr. Ober served in the Union Army during • Property was built before 1930. the Civil War. He settled in Auburn in 1873. Special Thanks to: 6. 730 N. Main St. This Italian brick home was The Property Owners built in 1903 by Charles Eckhart, founder of The Wm. H. Willennar Genealogy Center Eckhart Buggy Works, later Auburn Automobile The Eckhart Public Library Co., manufacturer of the Auburn and Cord The DeKalb County Auditors Office Roadsters. The house was designed by well known The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum Patton & Miller Architects and restored in 1998 by House Photos by Robert Sbarge the Klink family who still reside here.

Load more