The Fort Wayne Story (1959)

Black and white 16mm film containing the program "The Fort Wayne Story," presented by the Detroit Historical Museum and Detroit Historical Society. The film is hosted by Glenn G. Stille, the curator of military history, and in the later portion he is joined by Robert E. Lee, exhibits preparator at the Fort Wayne Military Museum.
The film begins with Stille seated behind a desk, with a large drawing of Fort Wayne behind him. In his introduction, he discusses the fort's recent role as an induction center during the Korean War, and shows a map of the fort's location relative to downtown. He then begins detailing the city's prior forts beginning with Fort Pontchartrain in 1701. As the camera pans across a model of the fort, he discusses the three expansions of the fort, and Detroit's early French history. He then moves forward to 1778, and the British-built Fort Lernoult. Again, another model is shown. Stille explains that the fort was renamed Fort Shelby by the Americans, and fell out of use by 1826. Before moving to the construction of Fort Wayne in 1848, Stille mentions the Detroit barracks at Gratiot Avenue and Russell Street which were used to house troops in the interim. He also briefly describes the Patriot War of the 1830s and tensions along the Canadian border.
Stille begins detailing the features of Fort Wayne using another model. He points out the demi-lune, embankments, artillery mounts, the entrance, power magazine, and barracks. Then over actual footage of the fort, he expounds on the dry moat, outer embankment and walls. He then focuses on the entrance way, specifically its doors, the entrance tunnel, and the adjacent casement. Inside the fort he then details the powder magazine, and barracks.
Robert E. Lee then joins Stille at the desk to talk about the fort's exhibits. First he shows the panels situated in the entrance tunnel which provide a timeline of Detroit's history prior to Fort Wayne. Each panel includes a representative flag. The panels are titled, "1701-1760 Cadillac," "1760-1796 The British," "1796-1812 American Occupation," "1812-1813 Surrender!!," and "1813-1840 Cold War." After briefly mentioning displays of firearms in the entrance way, he then turns toward the Firepower exhibit inside the barracks. At the desk, Lee shows a Colt revolver and a Civil War-era carbine rifle from the exhibit. He also mentions two rooms of Native American displays. Again, at the desk, he showcases a French-made pipe tomahawk,a boiling stone, and a moccasin. FInally Lee mentions the fort's Sherman tank, and stresses its popularity with children.
In the film's conclusion, Stille provides directions to the museum, its hours, and phone number.
The film is housed within a grey tin with a WTVS label. The label is marked, "The Fort Wayne Story, #529, 3/11/58, Produced by Glenn Stille and Bob Lee."