Northeast Indiana landmark bears piece of history

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WISH) – More than 100 years after Lyles Station was established a man who galvanized our nation’s Civil Rights Movement left a lasting mark on America.

A landmark in northeast Indiana that bears his name will help connect Fort Wayne to a statewide event.

Community members say the Martin Luther King Bridge in Fort Wayne is one of the pre-imminent highlights of the community. The bridge will be a main focal point for Indiana’s statewide Bicentennial Torch Run.

The walk across the bridge will reflect the strides taken years ago to make the bridge a memorial.

The bridge didn’t always bear the King name. It was orginialy built to provide access over Fort Wayne’s Maumee, St. Joseph and St. Mary’s rivers.

In the late 1800s it the bridge became known as the Clinton Street Bridge. In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King spoke in Fort Wayne and in 1967 the bridge was renamed in his honor.

A push for a memorial began in 2006.WANE-TV contributed to this report.