William H. Block
Encyclopedia
The William H. Block Company was founded by Herman Wilhelm Bloch who immigrated from Austro-Hungary in 1874 and had Americanized his name to William H. Block, with the opening of a retail store located at 9 East Washington Street
in Indianapolis
in 1896. The company was also self identified as The Wm. H. Block Co., and Block's.
In 1910, a new eight-story store was constructed to designs by Arthur Bohn
and Kurt Vonnegut Sr.
of Vonnegut & Bohn
on the corner of Illinois and Market streets. Mr. Block was active in the business until his death in 1928 when the management of the company was passed to his three sons: M. S. Block, R. C. Block, and E. A. Block. The store was expanded to nearly double in size in 1934. The architect for the 1934 expansion was Kurt Vonnegut, Sr. During the expansion the building's interior and exterior was redesigned in a moderne
style, including furnishings, stainless steel escalators, and two-story polished black marble and stainless steel facade entrances. Architectural drawing
s of the entrances became the trademark logo for the store on gift boxes, print advertisements, and company stationery. A company publication identified the store as, "one of the country's most beautiful department stores." Restaurants located within the Illinois Street store included the Fountain Luncheonette, the Terrace Tea Room, the Men’s Grille, and the James Whitcomb Riley
Room. Block's was the second largest retail company in Indiana
, its primary competitor L. S. Ayres & Co. being the larger. Other competitors included H. P. Wasson and Company
and L. Strauss & Co.
The Block's store was located across Market Street from the Indianapolis Traction Terminal (the largest traction terminal in the United States). From 1900 to the 1930s, the Indiana interurban
system brought shoppers by the thousands from smaller central Indiana towns who wished to shop in downtown Indianapolis. The availability of cheap mass transit to downtown Indianapolis greatly increased the customer base from which the Indianapolis department stores were able to draw. Block's, being directly across the street from the traction terminal, was the first department store shoppers would visit. Block's main competitors were located at least a block away on Washington Street. Central Indiana was networked with the most extensive interurban system in the United States. Most small towns were either on the system or a station was located nearby. Interurbans from Indianapolis reached as far as Dayton, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. The net result of the interurban system to Block's and its competitors was a customer base that rivaled that of much larger midwestern and eastern cities, such as Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
In 1947, Block's was granted a Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) license for television
station WWHB, channel 3. In 1949, the FCC records the station as WUTV, channel three, operated by the William H. Block Co.
In 1954, a small branch store was opened in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Broad Ripple; this location was replaced with a full service department store with the construction of the nearby Glendale Shopping Center in 1958.
There was a Blocks in a southside shopping center called Southern Plaza in the 1960s & 70s. It had two floors, the bottom one in the basement. It was torn down and replaced with a Krogers grocery.
The William H. Block Co. merged with Allied Stores
in 1962. In 1987, Block's was sold to Federated Department Stores
at which time the Block's name was discontinued and many store locations were rebranded as Lazarus
department stores.
Lazarus closed the downtown Illinois Street store in 1993. In 2003, the Illinois Street store building's upper seven floors were converted into residential apartments and the ground floor remained retail; the building complex is called The Block.
Washington Street (Indianapolis)
Washington Street is the primary east-west street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The street follows the route of the National Road for almost all of its length in the city of Indianapolis. For a time, its entire length was designated as U.S...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in 1896. The company was also self identified as The Wm. H. Block Co., and Block's.
In 1910, a new eight-story store was constructed to designs by Arthur Bohn
Arthur Bohn
Arthur Bohn, AIA, was a German-American architect active from the 1880s to 1940s in Indiana. He was a co-founder of the locally renowned Indianapolis architectural firm of Vonnegut and Bohn...
and Kurt Vonnegut Sr.
Kurt Vonnegut Sr.
Kurt Vonnegut, Sr., AIA was an American architect and architectural lecturer active in early- to mid-twentieth-century Indianapolis, Indiana. He was partner in the firms of Vonnegut & Bohn, Vonnegut, Bohn & Mueller, and Vonnegut, Wright, and Yeager...
of Vonnegut & Bohn
Vonnegut & Bohn
Vonnegut & Bohn, was an architectural firm active in early- to mid-twentieth-century Indianapolis, Indiana.Founded in 1888 by Bernard Vonnegut Sr., FAIA and Arthur Bohn , all the partners were German Americans and were trained in both American and German architectural academies, which gave their...
on the corner of Illinois and Market streets. Mr. Block was active in the business until his death in 1928 when the management of the company was passed to his three sons: M. S. Block, R. C. Block, and E. A. Block. The store was expanded to nearly double in size in 1934. The architect for the 1934 expansion was Kurt Vonnegut, Sr. During the expansion the building's interior and exterior was redesigned in a moderne
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style, including furnishings, stainless steel escalators, and two-story polished black marble and stainless steel facade entrances. Architectural drawing
Architectural drawing
An architectural drawing or architect's drawing is a technical drawing of a building that falls within the definition of architecture...
s of the entrances became the trademark logo for the store on gift boxes, print advertisements, and company stationery. A company publication identified the store as, "one of the country's most beautiful department stores." Restaurants located within the Illinois Street store included the Fountain Luncheonette, the Terrace Tea Room, the Men’s Grille, and the James Whitcomb Riley
James Whitcomb Riley
James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer, poet, and best selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the Hoosier Poet and Children's Poet for his dialect works and his children's poetry respectively...
Room. Block's was the second largest retail company in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, its primary competitor L. S. Ayres & Co. being the larger. Other competitors included H. P. Wasson and Company
H. P. Wasson and Company
H.P. Wasson and Company, aka Wasson's, was an Indianapolis, Indiana, based department store chain founded by Hiram P. Wasson. Its flagship store, the H.P. Wasson & Company Building, was built in 1937 and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.- History :H.P. Wasson bought the...
and L. Strauss & Co.
L. Strauss & Co.
L. Strauss & Co. was a distinctly upscale department store chain headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The store was founded in 1853 and declared bankruptcy 140 years later in 1993. The store originally was named the Eagle Clothing Company. Eagle Clothing became one of the city's retailing...
The Block's store was located across Market Street from the Indianapolis Traction Terminal (the largest traction terminal in the United States). From 1900 to the 1930s, the Indiana interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
system brought shoppers by the thousands from smaller central Indiana towns who wished to shop in downtown Indianapolis. The availability of cheap mass transit to downtown Indianapolis greatly increased the customer base from which the Indianapolis department stores were able to draw. Block's, being directly across the street from the traction terminal, was the first department store shoppers would visit. Block's main competitors were located at least a block away on Washington Street. Central Indiana was networked with the most extensive interurban system in the United States. Most small towns were either on the system or a station was located nearby. Interurbans from Indianapolis reached as far as Dayton, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. The net result of the interurban system to Block's and its competitors was a customer base that rivaled that of much larger midwestern and eastern cities, such as Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
In 1947, Block's was granted a Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) license for television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
station WWHB, channel 3. In 1949, the FCC records the station as WUTV, channel three, operated by the William H. Block Co.
In 1954, a small branch store was opened in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Broad Ripple; this location was replaced with a full service department store with the construction of the nearby Glendale Shopping Center in 1958.
There was a Blocks in a southside shopping center called Southern Plaza in the 1960s & 70s. It had two floors, the bottom one in the basement. It was torn down and replaced with a Krogers grocery.
The William H. Block Co. merged with Allied Stores
Allied Stores
Allied Stores was a department store chain in the United States. It was founded in the 1930s as part of a general consolidation in the retail sector by B. E. Puckett. See also Associated Dry Goods. It was the successor to Hahn's Department Stores, a holding company founded in 1928...
in 1962. In 1987, Block's was sold to Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
at which time the Block's name was discontinued and many store locations were rebranded as Lazarus
Lazarus (department store)
F&R Lazarus & Company — commonly known as Lazarus — was a regional department store retail chain operating primarily in the U.S. Midwest, and based in Columbus, Ohio...
department stores.
Lazarus closed the downtown Illinois Street store in 1993. In 2003, the Illinois Street store building's upper seven floors were converted into residential apartments and the ground floor remained retail; the building complex is called The Block.