Mallon Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mallon Building
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Contemporary View, Mallon/Minkert Building
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 102 E. Montgomery St., Francesville, Indiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | Skinner, G.A. |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001151 |
| Added to NRHP | September 17, 1999 |
The Mallon/Minkert building is a historic building in Francesville, Indiana. It stands at the corner of Montgomery and Bill streets. A local businessman named John H. Mallon built it in 1899. This new brick building replaced an older wooden one that had burned down.
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The Building's Early Years
John H. Mallon moved to Francesville in 1865. He started working for Samuel Reishling, who owned one of the town's first businesses. A few years later, Mallon opened his own store. By 1883, he was known for running the most successful business in town.
The building itself is a two-story brick structure. It is 40 feet wide and 80 feet deep.
Mallon Family Ownership
After John Mallon passed away in 1915, his son Cecil took over the store. Cecil ran the business until 1949. This means the Mallon family owned and operated the store for 77 years!
Surviving a Big Fire
In December 1945, the building had a very close call. A huge fire broke out next door on a very cold night. People thought the Mallon building would surely be destroyed. But, amazingly, it survived with only minor damage. If you look closely at the east wall, you can still see a small repair from that big fire.
The Minkert's Store Era
In 1949, Oscar and Jean Minkert bought the store. They came from North Judson and opened "Minkert's Dry Goods and Variety Store." For many years, the store kept its old-fashioned look and feel. It had high ceilings, narrow aisles, and beautiful wooden display cases. Oscar and Jean knew their customers well, treating them like friends. Visiting Minkert's was like stepping back in time to an older way of shopping.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
After Oscar Minkert's death in 1992, Edison and Chrisann Gutwein bought the building. They moved their insurance business into the two-story space. Chrisann Gutwein became very interested in the building's history. She oversaw its restoration, bringing back its original beauty.
Her research also led to the building being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This is a special list of important historical places in the United States. The Mallon/Minkert building is one of the few structures in its county to receive this honor.
In 2002, Dennis and Kitty Gutwein bought the building and the insurance business. They are the fourth owners of this historic building. Today, it is still used for different businesses.
The Mallon/Minkert building is very special because it is almost exactly as it was when it was built. It is an important part of Francesville's history.
