Jones Block

Title of Building: Jones Block
Address: 405 S. Walnut Street
Year Built: 1903
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
National Register: Walnut Street Historic District; NR # 88002112; Listed 2/17/1989.

During Muncie's peak prosperity, L. J. Jones and C. C. Jones constructed the Jones Block, now known as the Murray Building. The Muncie architecture firm Grindle and Cramer designed this building.[1] It features classical design elements on its stone façade in the Classical Revival style such as round-arched windows, Ionic pilasters, and overhanging eaves. Over the years, this building changed ownership to the Murray family in 1982. The first floor originally housed C. B. Fudge, an outfitters store, while the upper floors were occupied by Indiana Business College.[2] Today, Murray's Jewelers and the Caffeinery coffee shop occupy the first floor, while Russell Media is on the second floor, and the third floor remains vacant. This building has undergone minor alterations, mainly to the first floor and façade, to accommodate different retail owners.

[1] “Jones Block 1903 Historical Marker.” May 7, 2023. Accessed June 30, 2023. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=222313.

[2] The Freund Building (Formerly known as the Jones Block), 16 May 1988, DOC-88.049, Drawer 7, Folder 115, Documentation Collection, Andrew Seager Archives of the Built Environment, Ball State University, Muncie, IN.