The Dix-Kelly Collection

Browse

About the Collection:

In April of 1918 Frank J. Dix, Superintendent of the City Light Plant, and Robert E. Kelly, Chairman of the Board of Public Works, formed the company Dix-Kelly Electric Shop, Inc. and made their store and offices at 216 East Berry Street. Newspaper advertisements of the time show their store sold all things electric including vacuum cleaners, washing machines, irons, toasters, light fixtures, sewing machines, and fans. More importantly Dix-Kelly became one of the largest local electric wiring contractors of the era and had photographs taken of over 50 of the larger houses and buildings that they completed during the period of 1919 – 1930. This rare collection of images is courtesy of ARCH, Inc. which has worked to celebrate, protect, and preserve architecture and community heritage in Allen County and Northeast Indiana since 1975.

Image research by Randolph L. Harter