Fort Wayne's namesake post replica facing major repairs

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - The replica of Fort Wayne's early 1800s namesake military post is facing a big repair job.

Volunteers who oversee the Old Fort say they've been finding rotting wood among many of the logs used when its cluster of buildings were constructed in the 1970s.

Tom Grant of Historic Fort Wayne Inc. says the discovery of the widespread damage was unexpected and the group has no idea how much the repair work will cost.

Grant says a complication is finding enough of the 12- to 14-foot long logs used to build the fort. Volunteers are checking with lumber yards, construction companies, tree services and parks department in search of long, straight logs.

The group is also seeking donations toward the repairs at the downtown site along the St. Marys River.