Mayor Henry Brings Discover Fort Wayne Initiative to the Historic West Main Street Farmer's Market

Outdoor farmer’s market showcases the area’s homegrown and homemade offerings; provides fresh produce and live entertainment

Fort Wayne, Ind. – In his continued effort to have Fort Wayne residents discover all that their community offers, Mayor Tom Henry today visited the Historic West Main Street Farmer’s Market, the city’s largest outdoor farmer’s market.

Mayor Henry applauded the market’s organizers, sellers and patrons as another opportunity to Discover Fort Wayne. Weekly, the Historic West Main Street Market provides a family-friendly setting on a corridor not far from downtown. Residents are able to buy products grown close to home.

“The Historic West Main Street Farmer’s Market is a true gem of our community, where farmers and crafters meet and sell directly to their customers and build a sense of community,” Mayor Henry said. “I love being able to highlight such grassroots treasures like this today through Discover Fort Wayne and hope local residents come out to take advantage of such a wonderful space and environment.”

In its fourth year of operation, the market has grown to more than 50 vendors and offers fresh produce including USDA-certified organic produce, beef, poultry, bread and bakery items, jewelry, clothing, artwork, antiques, homemade soaps, and flowers and plants. Most products are locally grown or made. Each week, the market also has vendors providing hot food, music and live entertainment. Today’s performer was Liz Garrett.

Located at 1936 W. Main St., the market is open 3 to 8 p.m. every Friday from May through October. The market also provides access to affordable, fresh produce in the center of the city. Chris Shatto, market master, notes that the market accepts EBT cards.

The market is owned by the Nebraska Neighborhood Association and was created as part of a plan to enrich the West Main Street corridor. It is located in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. In addition to being the one-time home to many industrial companies, the Nebraska neighborhood includes the Lindenwood Cemetery, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Discover Fort Wayne is an initiative from Mayor Henry to connect Fort Wayne residents to their city and all that it has to offer. Based on the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Soul of the Community report, Discover Fort Wayne is designed to strengthen the attachment Fort Wayne residents have to the larger community. The Soul of the Community study found that increased levels of resident attachment help to drive economic development and growth. Part of Discover Fort Wayne has Mayor Henry highlighting various activities and events that newcomers or long-time residents may not know about.

Nebraska Neighborhood Historical Facts

• In 1832 construction began on the Wabash and Erie Canal where the neighborhood is now located.

• Between 1854 and 1867 the neighborhood was considered so far west, and isolated from the rest of the city by the river and the canal that City residents thought Nebraska residents might just as well live in the Nebraska Territory that was often in the news within the same time period.

• In 1891, Wayne Knitting Mills, opened in the Nebraska neighborhood and became the first factory to produce hosiery in the United States.