Historical Images of Porter County
Merchant's Hotel Block Fire Demolition
Valparaiso, Indiana
Date: 1927
Source Type: Photograph
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Unknown
Postmark: Not Applicable
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: Note that this photograph is stamp dated April 17, 1924; the date
stamp apparently has no connection to the date when this photograph was taken or
the event shown in the photograph.
The photograph shows Indiana Avenue in 1927 at its intersection with Washington
Street after a fire has destroyed the block; this block was commonly referred to
as the Merchants' Hotel Block. The Merchant's Hotel Block was constructed in
1854 by Messrs. Skinner and Mason and was the first brick-constructed block
within the city. The brick buildings were previously occupied by a "thicket of
hazel brush."
Businesses visible from right to left are:
Wayne T. Fidler Piano House
Leetz's Meat Market and Grocery. Louis F. Leetz, "Leetz for Eats" owned
and operated this business.
Family Shoe Store, owned and operated by Morris Linkimer. Morris' son,
Sam Linkimer, later owned and operated the business as Linkimer's Shoes for 51
years. At the time this photograph was taken, the Family Shoe Store specialized
in retailing Peters Solid Leather Shoes.
Valpo Bargain Store, owned and operated by Morris Linkimer.
Barber Shop owned and operated by John G. Marks.
The former Merchants' Hotel, the large building on the right, was later occupied
by Polk's Piano Tuning School before being occupied Fidler's and Leetz's
businesses.
Tragically, this fire took a personal toll. According to the July 15, 1935,
issue of The Hammond Times, Wayne T. Fidler committed suicide on Friday,
July 12, 1935 at his home in Walkerton, St. Joseph County, Indiana:
"The body dangling from a rafter was discovered by his granddaughter. According
to members of his family, he had been despondent for some time over financial
reverses…. Fidler was a resident of Valparaiso for a number of years, and
conducted a music store in the old Merchants' hotel block, later destroyed by
fire. Following the fire in which he was a heavy loser, Fidler moved to a farm
near Walkerton."
Sources
The Hammond Times, Hammond, Lake County, Indiana; July 15, 1935; Page 12,
Column 4
The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; February 22,
1937; Volume 10, Page 8, Column 1.
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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook