Anthony Block

Title of Building: Anthony Block
Address: 125 S. Walnut Street
Year Built: 1888
Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
National Register: Walnut Street Historic District; NR # 88002112; Listed 2/17/1989.

The Anthony Block, designed by architects Otter and Williams, stands out in Muncie due to its Texas Red Buff Sandstone façade which is unmatched within the city.[1] Originally occupying an entire city block, two-thirds of the structure was demolished in the mid-1940s to make space for a new Sears building.[2] The Anthony Block played a prominent role in the city's history, housing various businesses, offices, and meeting halls. It is infamous for its association with the Ku Klux Klan, which used it as a regional headquarters in the 1920s.[3] This building has undergone renovations and changes, with only a part of its historical integrity preserved. Today, the commercial tenants have gone out of business and the building is no longer in use. The upstairs is still used for apartments.

[1] Buck, Ted. “Façade Restoration Project Draws Complaints.” The Muncie Evening Press, October 5, 1989.

[2] Francisco, Brian. “Funds for Façade Restoration Going to Jewelry Store Owners.” The Star Press, July 21, 1989.

[3] “Klansmen.” The Star Press, March 11, 1924.