Immediately after fire gutted the 1899 Morrow Block in Bluffton, demolition looked inevitable. But Brock Rittenhouse, who owns the Morrow Block and several other historic buildings in town, isn’t giving up that easily. Rittenhouse has been hard at work with architects and engineers to stabilize the property and plan for its complete rehabilitation.

Shortly after the fire, Historic Landmarks offered emergency assistance through Arsee Engineers of Fishers, which evaluated the damaged Morrow Block and suggested a plan for repairs.

The building originally housed a department store and law offices behind its unusual temple-like façade. In more recent years it served as office and retail space, with five apartments on the second floor. The disastrous fire started in one of the apartments, sparked by clothes and blankets piled near a baseboard heating unit.

The Morrow Block building is located at 202 W. Market Street in downtown Bluffton. Restoration is expected to be complete by the end of 2010. For more information about the project, contact Catherin Wright at Historic Landmarks’ North Central Field Office, 260-563-4534.