The D M Watts Building

Schrader’s Auto Store – “D M Watts 1901” engraved at top of building

116-120 S. Sixth Street, Logansport, IN

Logansport City Directory  Listings:

1897-98 - Daniel M. Watts sells agricultural Implements

1899-1900 – Daniel M. Watts same as above listing

1911 – Daniel (& his son) Harry E. Watts now sell agri. Implements, buggies AND automobiles

1915 – 116-120 S. Sixth also has apartment listings (names of people living in second floor apts.) Note: The Watts’ lived on Helm Street.

1926 – Harry E. Watts “battery service”

1930 – H. E. Watts agri. Implements, buggies

1939---Miller Motor Sales located at this address

1941 - Miller Motor Sales

Above clipping - Logansport Pharos Tribune, August 3, 1901

Above clipping from the Logansport Pharos Tribune also 1901.

2017 view as building is being prepared to house Legacy Outfitters and Black Dog Coffee. 

March 8, 1900

Logansport Pharos Tribune

At a late hour last night the boys at the North street engine house were wakened from their slumbers and informed by a resident of that locality that a stove in the agricultural ware rooms, owned by D. M. Watts, just north of Maurice's butcher shop, was burning at full blast and that there was danger of the building being set on fire by the overheated stove. One of the boys quickly donned his wearing apparel and went to the scene where he found a red hot stove, which would no doubt have been the means of setting the building on fire. The gas was turned off by the firemen, and this morning Mr. Watts was informed of the affair. He informed the fire boys that he is positive he turned down the gas before leaving and is under the impression that someone else, who has no right, carries keys to the building, and that they probably entered the building and turned on the fire in order to warm themselves. Mr. Watts says a careful watch will be kept for the individuals and if caught they will be given the full benefit of the law.

1917 – Obituary for Daniel M. Watts, for many years a dealer in agricultural Implements in Logansport, died this morning at 4:30 at his home, 921 Helm street, aged 61 years, death being due to diabetes, from which he had been a sufferer from a long time but which did not become acute until about two weeks ago, when he was compelled to relinquish his business. Mr. Watts was the son of William and Elizabeth (Daily) Watts and was born in Noble Township, Cass County January 2, 1856. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Alice Patterson, and three sons, William N. H. Watts, Ernest Watts and Harry E. Watts, all of this city. Deceased was a member of Eel Hirer lodge I. 0. 0. F., Purity Rebekah lodge, Woodmen of the World and the Ninth Street Christian Church.

The Nelson Theater aka Roxy Theater

Before it was the Roxy, it was the “Nelson”, and the Nelson name  remained on the building, etched in stone, behind the “Roxy” signage.

Built in 1907 by Judge John C. Nelson, there were numbered dressing rooms and pianos on the 3rd floor. Behind the stage were scenery props and an intricate switchboard used for the lighting system, which required a back stage crew of ten men; usually five carpenters, two electricians and three prop men.

In the basement there were another seven dressing rooms equipped for washing and costume changes. There was also a sign explaining rules, warning actors of fines ranging up to $25 for use of bad language.

In its hey day the theater had four boxes, in the best opera style, with a background of red velvet curtains, golden (actually brass) railings, and gold decorative effects. Their setting matched the red velvet curtains on stage. Those boxes were removed sometime during the 1920s.

Handbill advertising for January and February, 1918, coming attractions, begins with the heading New At Nelson Theater, then goes on to list the schedule: the January 27th production of the play “The Copperhead” from a story written by Logansport’s Frederick Landis and starring Lionel Barrymore. This play co-starred Milt Shanks and was considered “his finest performance, as a Northerner suspected of Southern sympathies during the Civil War” quoted from wikipedia on Barrymore.

November 29, 1918, Logansport Pharos Tribune, page 6

Also listed on the handbill are coming attractions: February 1st, a matinee “Odds and Ends”, coming to us after a successful run in Chicago, February 6,  “Parlor Bed Room and Bath” was to be presented, on the 12th “Pollyanna” and on February 14th “Stop, Look and Listen”, Irving Berlin’s big musical success.

 

Fourteen hundred persons could be accommodated with the use of the balcony and the 3rd floor gallery.

Many companies “broke a jump”, meaning they’d stop in Logansport for a one night stand before going on to Chicago, using our local audiences as a testing ground.

The actor, John Drew, famous uncle of the equally famed Barrymore’s, made several appearances in Logansport.

  

Shows that played here include Wizard of Qz, Babes in Toyland, The Red Mill and Shakespearean dramas.

The Nelson Theater became The Luna Theater in 1921 and did business by that name until it became the Roxy in 1934.

Logansport Pharos Tribune September 14, 1934 article tells of Roxy opening.

1939

From Logansport Press, September 18, 1949 Page 3:

Big Names of Broadway Once Played the Nelson

Still Behind Curtains At The Present Roxy Theatre - Unused pianos, numbered dressing rooms, third floor gallery with a stained glass window in the dome, these are the mute reminders in the Roxy theater of the days of stage shows in Logansport. The Nelson building, erected in 1907 by the late Judge John C, Nelson, for years was the Nelson Theatre where lovers of the drama went. There it was they heard Harry Lauder sing, and Lionel Barrymore declaim the lines of "The Copperhead written by Logansport's late Fred Landis. On the stage where hundreds now watch Hollywood horses speeding across western plains, actual horses competed in the chariot race from "Ben Hur." The effect was achieved by putting the horses on a treadmill and shifting the scenery. Live bloodhounds ran after the escaping Eliza as "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was presented. And "Little Eva" of the same show, went sailing upwards to heaven, with, the aid of the men behind the scenes. On the back of the huge stage, many of the old scenery props still stand. There's the intricate switchboard used for the lighting system, and the "star's" No. 1 dressing room. Also back stage are two other dressing rooms. Dozens of ropes, pulleys and sandbags are in place. Missing now are the boxes. There were four of them, in the best opera style, with a background of red velvet curtains, golden (actually brass) railings, and gold decorative effects. Their setting matched the narrow catwalk where the stage hands raised and lowered red velvet curtains.....

February 26, 1955 Ad

In July of 1972 the building came down.

I don't usually include my personal thoughts and opinions on this blog, but I must say that these photos make me a little sad. I have a short stack of papers - memories shared with me about this theater and others that were in Logansport, all doing business at the same time. The memories are very interesting in that some will remember a place with fondness, while others will remember how clean or how dirty and grimy the same place was. Most can tell you the price of a ticket, the times of the shows and which movies they watched in what theater. But, while it's sad to see a building - which by the way was allowed to become very deteriorated - razed, it is those memories made within the structure that are important to keep...and my opinion more important to keep and hand down rather than the structure its self. As I say - just my opinion. You are all welcome to your own. 

The Logan Theater

The Logan Theater was added on to the Barnes building in 1929 on the north side of the building. The entrance and ticket booth was on the south side of the building. One would buy their ticket then walk through the building to the theater. The Barnes building also housed the Captain Logan Hotel and several offices.

The theater was removed (torn down) in November 1980 and the ground serves as a parking lot for The Barnes building. See full article in Logansport Pharos Tribune, November 12, 1980, page 8.

The Barnes building, in recent years was renamed "Logan Square" and stands on the northeast corner of 3rd and E. Broadway in Logansport, Indiana.

February 1929 news clip Logansport Pharos Tribune

The interior of the Logan Theater sometime after opening in 1929.

A 1934 movie title shown on the marquee dates this photo.

Gone With The Wind came out in 1939.

This young woman is standing outside the theater entrance, which faced E. Broadway. 1942.

1953 is when the movie The Robe was released.

1947

1950

Ticket Booth 1952

1953

1955

1957 A view from inside the ticket booth of Logan Theater

1964 aerial of Logansport 3rd Street at right - area of the Barnes Building.

The area to which the black arrow is pointing in the aerial photo above.

1. Cass County Courthouse 2. Barnes Building with the Logan Theater behind it.

Note in post card photo above that the Logan Theater marquee is gone.

November 12, 1980, Pharos Tribune, page 8

An excerpt from the Logansport Pharos Tribune, Sept. 9, 1980, page 1 The headline read "EDC Approves $2 Million Hotel Renovation"

Canal Boats,Miami Tribe and Pioneer Day Memories

Memories of Nathan Stackhouse of Anoka, Indiana, Cass County.

Nathan Stackhouse (1848-1939) was a member of one of Cass County, Indiana's pioneer families. He was born in 1848 in an area that became the Purdue University campus at West Lafayette. He came to eastern Cass County as a toddler, a year or two later. Before he died he was interviewed by the local newspapers and I, for one, as a historian, am so glad that he was able to share the following snippets of local history.

A Canal packet boat.

Nathan's uncle, Joe Cuppy, was captain of a canal boat - the "Americus" -  and Nathan was thrilled to ride on it because he was allowed to ride on the roof where he could get a great view of the passing landscape. "The mules slowly plodded along the tow path in front of us and in our floating through the towns of West Logan and Logansport, including our trip across the Eel River on the aqueduct at what is now 5th Street. We finally got off the boat at the lock in Miami Township and met a wagon pulled by oxen which took us across the Wabash River to my grandmother's house."

George Winter painting "Indians on The Eel River" 1850

People crossed the river at other points but the very best and only real ford of the Wabash between Logansport and Peru was the old Indian ford between what is today Cass Station bridge and the eastern end of Country Club Island. The ford stopped being used only after bridges were built at Lewisburg, 18th Street and finally Cass Station.

The correct name for Country Club Island is Cedar Island. Nathan's wife's Uncle was the first white man who owned it, buying it from the US Government, which had of course obtained it from the Native Americans.

Vintage post card image of a cliff at Cedar Island, Logansport, Indiana

Cedar Island was a favorite place for family picnics. Large numbers of people from the city of Logansport would go to it on Sundays in carriages, buggies and canal boats. For a time there was a baseball diamond at the west end of the island. Later Charles Bowyer grew a watermelon patch on the site and even later it became home to Soloman Brandt's fine chickens and dogs.
Much later the Country Club bought it and converted the west end of the island into a lawn and built a clubhouse.

The "cliff" is about 30 feet high and is plainly visible from Cass Station Bridge. Solid limestone - it overlooks the ancient Indian ford.

Nathan in an interview in 1938 - his 90th birthday - "I distinctly recall the Indian trails of the area. I used them for many years before any wagon roads were built."

It might be good to mention here that one of Nathan's friends was Gabriel Godfroy, a Miami Tribe leader, son of Chief Francis Godfroy.

Gabriel Godfroy

Chief Francis Godfroy (1788-1840)

"The Miami liked my family, especially my grandmother, very much. One of the trails led from the Mississinewa valley Indian towns past Pipe Creek Falls to the south side of Logansport. I often saw parties of as many as 15 to 20 Indians coming down this trail, sometimes on horseback, mostly on foot. They always marched in single file and at a dog-trot pace. Sometimes they brought their hunting dogs along."

"Sometimes the Indians would camp near to our home. Often they would dismount their ponies and command them to return to the Mississinewa country. The ponies were well trained and would follow the lead pony that had a small bell around its neck."

Nathan continued, "When the Indians were making a long trip they sometimes brought a cow or two along with them. My grandmother would send me out with a pail to get some milk. They not only let me milk their cow, they would insist that I fill the pail to the brim."

Though he never knew where they went after crossing the Wabash River, Nathan remembered an old Indian trail that led from near Onward to this ford at Cass Station, because just east it crossed a trail that passed his own home. He told of seeing mothers carrying babies on their backs, swaddled onto boards...an early type baby carrier.

Golf course - Logansport Golf Club

Most of the area of the Country Club - later the Logansport Golf Club - which now serves as a beautiful golf links was formerly a vast checkerboard of ponds, swamps and rocky hummocks.

More from Nathan's interview - "Though the Indians as a whole ceased living in Tipton Township a few still lingered and one fellow even worked for us for a long time. His name was Bannion, but we called him 'Billy'. He was short, but muscular and strong as an ox. He had long black hair which he wore tied back or braided. I think he liked us because we were a music-loving family, and he certainly loved music. He would play the fiddle for hours on end for our enjoyment. But he was a good worker and valuable to have around the farm.

Photo images courtesy Miami of Ohio

We knew and understood the Miami - understood much that was meaningless to our less informed neighbors. For example, we knew that if the Indians were wearing red handkerchiefs around their foreheads they were on their way to visit somebody. That is, we knew they weren't out on a hunting expedition."

JUDGE DYKEMAN SUPPLIES A STEER TO FEED A LARGE PARTY

"One time the Miami were planning a big barbecue near Peru (Indiana, in neighboring Miami County) but were having trouble gathering enough steers to roast for the occasion. They came down into our region to hunt for steers. Judge (David) Dykeman, who had several on his Washington Township place - Dykeman's Spring - cheerfully donated a steer to them. Gabriel Godfroy and one other Indian came to get this steer. We helped them lasso and load it. As a reward for our assistance, we were guests of Gabriel Godfroy himself at the gathering."

Nathan Stackhouse lived out his days in Tipton Township, Cass County, Indiana. He died in June, 1939.