West Central in Fort Wayne in Allen County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Blackstone Building

c 1927

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 14, 2024

1. Blackstone Building Marker

Inscription. has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.

Location. 41° 4.635′ N, 85° 8.374′ W. Marker is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Allen County. It is in West Central. It is on West Washington Boulevard west of South Calhoun Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 W Washington Blvd, Fort Wayne IN 46802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

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of this marker: Fort Wayne Printing Building (a few steps from this marker); Schmitz Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Kresge-Groth Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Embassy Theater (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Louis Mohr Block (about 400 feet away); Emboyd Theatre (about 500 feet away); Indiana Hotel (about 500 feet away); St. Mother Theodore Guerin (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Wayne.

Regarding Blackstone Building. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:

The Blackstone Building is primarily of local architectural significance as an example of terra cotta construction in the Neo-Classical style, and as one of the few extant commercial designs of Charles R. Weatherhogg, who was a prominent Fort Wayne architect. …

His vanished works included not only such other downtown landmarks as the Anthony Hotel (1907, Louis H. Sullivan, associate designer) and the Keenan Hotel (1922), but also a suburban commission related to the origins of the Blackstone Building, his 1915 design for the same client, William H. Noll, of a palatial mansion
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 14, 2024

2. Blackstone Building Marker
Marker is at lower right corner of the building.
that was arguably the most elaborate residence built in Fort Wayne during this century. William H. Noll was a prominent businessman who made his fortune mass-producing a cough syrup originally developed by his pharmacist father. Noll later opened the nation's first factory to mass produce liquid nail polish. He bought the site of the Blackstone Building along with the adjacent Schmitz Block in 1912; in 1927, Noll erected this building to house Blackstone Shop, an exclusive women's clothing store owned by his wife, Laura Green Noll.

Also see . . . Blackstone Building (PDF). National Register nomination for the building, which was listed in 1988. (Prepared by Craig Leonard; via National Archives) (Submitted on July 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 223 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.