Moore-Youse Home

Title of Building: Moore-Youse House
Address: 122 E. Washington Street
Year Built: 1849
Architectural Style: Federal/Greek Revival
National Register: Moore-Youse-Maxon House; NR # 84001022; Listed 5/24/1984.
The Moore-Youse House is one of the oldest residential structures in Muncie. The building has a storied past and has been remodeled heavily prior to 1883. In 1864, Samuel Porter Wilson purchased a house and deeded it to his daughter, Clara Moore, who along with her husband, expanded it for their growing family.[1] After passing through several generations of mostly women-owners, the house was bequeathed to the final heir, Mary Maxon. She transferred ownership to the Delaware County Historical Society in 1982, ensuring its future as a home museum.[2] The house now operates as an occasional museum and exhibit space operated by the Historical Society. The Moore-Youse House stands as a symbol of Muncie's past and is an important landmark of women’s history in the city.[3]

[1] Hoover, Dwight. The Moore-Youse Home: A Three-Family Tale. Delaware County Historical Alliance, 1990.

[2] “Mission,” Delaware County Historical Society, Accessed June 15, 2023. https://www.delawarecountyhistory.org.

[3] Mary Youse Maxon House, 19 May, 1983, DOC-83.052, Drawer 8, Folder 5, Documentation Collection, Andrew Seager Archives of the Built Environment, Ball State University, Muncie, IN. Please note, this source is student-created.