Randy Elliot

Randy Elliott is a resident of the rural Whitley County area. After attending Whitko High School he graduated with a degree in American History from Ball State University. He worked for the Association of Indiana Museums and was Assistant Program Director and Education Director for Historic Fort Wayne. He then worked for the Fort Wayne History Center as Registrar, Education Coordinator, and Exhibitor until 2016. Besides being on the current Historic Fort Wayne’s Board of Directors he is involved with the Fort Wayne West Central Home Tour, the Forks of the Wabash Historic Site, and the Whitley County Historical Museum. Memberships include ARCH and Indiana Landmarks.

Norman Gable, Chairman

Norman Gable is a lifelong resident of the rural North Manchester area. He is a 77 graduate of Purdue University in Agriculture and third generation owner of their family farm, which he and his wife operate. Over the years he has served on several boards and committees including the Wabash Co. pork producers, Wabash Co. Extension Council, Indiana Blacksmithing Association new location committee, and Wabash Co Farm Bureau Co-op board of directors. Through 11 mergers he has remained on the Co-op board and is now serving on the latest incarnation of that organization known as Ceres Solutions Co-op. He came to the Fort in 2005 as a blacksmith and has served as head blacksmith and is currently board Chairman.

Tom Grant, Treasurer

Raised in the Hammond – Gary area Tom graduated from Indiana University School of Business Bloomington with degrees in Accounting and Marketing-Advertising.  Began his accounting career in Fort Wayne with Coopers & Lybrand ( Pricewaterhouse Coopers ), passed the CPA exam and earned his certification in 1977.  Currently practices with the LCPA Group Ltd and has served as Treasurer of Historic Fort Wayne since 2007. Tom also serves a Board member and Treasurer of the William J and Bonnie L Hefner Foundation .  Maintains memberships with the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Assn., Contemporary Longrifle Assn. and the Company of Military Historians and the Allen County Historical Society.

Joshua Grubaugh

Joshua Grubaugh is a teacher at East Allen County Schools and has enjoyed extending that love of education to the Old Fort.  He has bachelor degrees in History, Education and Anthropology and is currently completing his fourth degree as well as starting his Master’s in Education.  The best way to learn is to do and that is certainly his creed with numerous demonstrations being done at the fort including cooking, smelting, block printing, firemaking, and of course chocolate making.

Andrea Boyer Hahn

Andi has been reenacting and researching the French colonial period for over 30 years. She trained in baking pastry in Vanves France and is commonly found at the bake oven or working in the Forts garden. She currently is a manufacturing tech in N.E. Indiana.

Bob Jones, Vice Chairman

A lifelong Hoosier, Bob has lived in Fort Wayne since 1972. He received his BS and MS from Indiana University Fort Wayne in education, following 37 years in public education he retired from the classroom in 2011. In 2006 Bob participated in an historic reenactment at the Old Fort and was hooked. He became a volunteer that same year and currently serves on the Fort’s Board of Directors as Vice Chairman, Education Liaison, and Event committee Chairperson. Bob is also a member of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Midwest Outdoor Museum Coordinating Council, and a life member of the Allen County – Fort Wayne Historical Society.

Sean O’Brien

Sean O’Brien was born in Chicago and moved to Fort Wayne in the early 70’s. He graduated from Bishop Dwenger HS and attended IPFW. After a stint in the U.S. Navy he returned home and started High Angle LLC a commercial window cleaning service. Sean was an integral part of the group that formed Historic Fort Wayne Inc. in 2004 and petitioned the FW Parks Dept. to allow them to operate the Fort as we do today. Over the years Sean has served as past president and currently head of maintenance. He and his wife have two children.

Malinda Pagel

Malinda was born and raised in West Michigan.  She completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids.  She served four years on active duty as an Army nurse and was stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC; Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda; and Fort Knox, Kentucky. Malinda started reenacting at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland in 2012 and became a volunteer at Historic Fort Wayne in 2015 shortly after moving to Indiana.  In addition to nursing and history, Malinda enjoys writing, hiking, jewelry-making, and spending time with her husband, son and four cats.

Gerret Swearingen

Gerret Swearingen is an avid reenactor, who is involved in living history portrayals for several different time periods. He is an elder law attorney with an office in in Waynedale, IN. Gerret is active in his community, serving on the Board of Directors of Bi-County Services in Bluffton, IN, and is also the president of his Waynedale Lions Club.

Other Volunteers

Ruth Swearingen, Volunteer Coordinator

Ruth is originally from Lafayette IN and moved to the Fort Wayne area 4 years ago. Ruth loves working with youth and has been teaching Preschool and Daycare for 4 years in her hometown of Ossian IN. She is very involved at her Church, she enjoys singing in the choir and the worship team. She is also interested in theater, and directed a drama troupe for 11 years. Ruth has been a re enactor for over 25 years.