Marblestone Building
Address: 208 N. Center Street
Built: 1869
Architect: Rudolph Richter
Rudolph Richter
Born around 1827 in Prussia, Richter arrived in Bloomington in 1854 with experience as a draftsman and carpenter. He quickly developed a close relationship with Samuel Rounds, a prominent contractor and brick maker. Richter established a school to teach architectural drawing, focusing on perspective and other technical aspects. Known for his expertise in ornamental iron work and his preference for the straightforward Italianate style, Richter was entrusted with designing a variety of buildings, both commercial and residential. One notable example is the Rounds Block on West Front Street. Richter continued to contribute to Bloomington's architectural landscape until 1875, when he moved to Indianapolis.
Style: Italianate (1840-1880)
Italianate (1840-1880)
Italianate style commercial buildings featured low-pitched roofs, bracketed cornices, round and segmented arched windows with decorative headers, and recessed entrances. Sometimes known as Tuscan, Lombard, Round, or Bracketed, the versatility of this design made it almost a national style in the 1850s.
Bloomington architect Rudolph Richter also designed this Italianate style building in 1869 for Manuel Marblestone. It was occupied by N & M Heldman men's tailoring & furnishing goods. Marblestone had moved from Bloomington to Cincinnati to go into the clothing manufacturing business in 1864.
It was built by a Mr. VanSchoick, and the brick work was done by Rounds & Bros. Pressed brick with stone trimmings. It was adorned with a very large wooden cornice. The Pantagraph reported: “But how about that heavy wooden cornice, in a fire? It looks as if it would take special delight in catching fire, if a building on either side of it should be burning.”
The 6 round-arched windows feature a decorative molded hood mold with a prominent central keystone and ornate bottom corbels.
It was occupied by Heldman until 1886 when Wolf Griesham rented it, after parting with Maik Livingston, to open his own clothing business. It was remodeled to lower the floor to be even with the sidewalk and to put in a glass and steel front with show windows. Griesham moved to his new store at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets in 1896.
From 1916-1955, the Thompson Restaurant chain was on the first floor of the building before selling it to Osco Drugs.
Osco Drugs (208-210 N. Center Street)
In 1952 Osco Drug Store and EGS Development Company occupied 210 and in 1955 Osco (building owned by Herman Grossman) purchased 208. By 1957 they had expanded their business into the new space. In 2006, CVS bought out Osco and operated in the combined building until 2020.
The first floor has been modernized, using large aluminum framed windows.
In 2026 new owners have renovated the building and plans are to have residential on the second and third floors, retail on the first floor.