Board Members - The Old Fort

Norman Gable, President

Norm is a lifelong resident of rural North Manchester. He is a 1977 graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelors in Agriculture. He is a 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 County Pork Producers, Wabash County Extension Council, Indiana Blacksmithing Association New Location Committee, and Wabash County 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 Old Fort in 2005 as a blacksmith and continues to serve as lead blacksmith.

Joshua Grubaugh, Vice President

Josh 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. He 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 credo with numerous demonstrations being done at the Old Fort including cooking, smelting, block printing, fire making, and chocolate making.

Thomas Grant, Treasurer

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

Nancy Stansberry, Secretary

Nancy moved to Fort Wayne in 2006 to accept the position of District Curriculum Coordinator for FWCS. She was in charge of the K-12 Gifted Program, K-12 Social Studies, and 6-12 English. Nancy worked with teachers, academic coaches, and department chairs to facilitate policies as well as improving teaching methods. Nancy has a BS in Social Studies, and MS in Special Needs, and an Educational Specialist (ED S) in school administration. After 35 years in public education, Nancy now works as a Behavior Consultant for clients in the city. As Secretary of the Historic Fort Wayne, Inc. board, she enjoys the energy and enthusiasm the meeting attendees have for history, the city, and the Old Fort.

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. She also works in the Old Fort’s garden. She currently is a manufacturing tech in Northeast Indiana.

Robert Jones

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 a historic reenactment at the Old Fort and was hooked. He became a volunteer that same year and currently serves as the Old Fort’s 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.

Brian Kilmer

Brian was born in Fort Wayne and was raised in Middlebury, IN. He has been a history buff from a young age. He has been reenacting over half his life now, focusing on time periods from the 12th century, Normans, to the French and Indian War. He came full circle and moved back to Fort Wayne in 2017. Shortly after moving back to Fort Wayne, he became a volunteer at the Old Fort, where he became the Master Tinsmith.

Kean A. Lytle

Kip, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has been interested in historic reenacting and woodworking since childhood. He moved to Fort Wayne in 2009 after accepting a position with the 122d Fighter Wing. In 2010, he visited the Old Fort for the first time and volunteered to join the organization as a period woodworker and militia member. In 2018, he retired from the Air Force after 27 years of service and took up woodworking full time. He eventually opened his own business, MacAddis, Woodwright, LLC. He joined the board in 2019 and continues as the Old Fort’s woodworker.

Sean O’Brien

Sean was born in Chicago and moved to Fort Wayne in the early 1970s. He graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School and attended Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. 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 Fort Wayne Parks Department to allow them to operate the Old 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.