It’s hard to believe nearly a year and a half has passed since officials floated the idea of converting Muncie’s old Harrison Elementary School into apartments. Progress on the site has been slow, but the news brought back memories of the time I slipped inside the historic building to take a few photos before its next chapter -whatever that may be- finally begins.
Muncie’s Harrison School replaced an older ten-room structure that once stood on the same site. The earlier facility consisted of two one-story frame buildings shaped like an L1, which were later remodeled and moved to become six rental cottages2. Construction of the “new” Harrison began on June 26, 1909, when contractors Flass and Humphreys broke ground3.
The first Harrison School served students in grades from first through fifth, but its expanded successor relieved congestion in other nearby schools with enough classrooms for grades one through eight5.
The new Harrison School cost $40,0004 and was designed by one of Muncie’s most accomplished architects, Cuno Kibele. Kibele was also responsible for local landmarks like Wilson Junior High School, Ball Gymnasium, the Masonic Temple, the YWCA, and others6. I can’t believe I haven’t written about Wilson yet! It’s a landmark, and that’ll have to change.
Harrison officially opened its doors late in 1909 with 214 students7. It remained a fixture in the neighborhood for more than six decades! When the school closed in 1971, officials cited annual savings of $120,000 in salaries and another $10,000 in yearly maintenance8. Harrison’s 275 students were dispersed among five other schools, including Garfield, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt9. In a bittersweet twist, none of those buildings remain open today.
The school’s closure came with little advance notice. Because of that, a small, but vocal group protested the turn of events, calling the process “devious” and “underhanded10”. Plans moved ahead as expected, but the Harrison building didn’t stay empty for long. In 1971, Ivy Tech announced plans to move in and spend $14,000 to remodel the structure11. The state college only spent seven years at Harrison, though, before they moved to a new facility at Cowan Road12.
Not long after, Muncie’s Full Gospel Temple church purchased Harrison for $20,000 and repurposed it as the congregation’s educational center. That was the building’s role in 2019, when I took a chance, cold-called the pastor, and was granted a look inside.
I had a small digital point-and-shoot with me, and the dim lighting inside didn’t do me any favors. Still, I was able to catch a few revealing glimpses of Harrison’s interior. The first floor was laid out with multiple classrooms, restrooms, and the original principal’s office. While the ceilings in the central hallway had been lowered over the years, many of the classrooms still soared 12- to 14-feet high.
The top floor held even more classrooms and, somewhat unexpectedly, the school’s cafeteria and kitchen. It was an odd arrangement by modern standards, and one that immediately caught my attention. Hidden away inside the kitchen is an even stranger detail: access to the roof, provided by a metal ladder hidden behind what look like ordinary cabinet doors. Modern schools don’t feature utilitarian quirks like that!
Today, Full Gospel Temple is putting the finishing touches on a new youth education center along Walnut Street. It’s nearly complete! What that means for the old Harrison Elementary building remains to be seen.
Whether it’s eventually converted into apartments or simply waits a little longer for its next reinvention, the sturdy brick school has already lived several full lives. From classrooms to college to church, Harrison has repeatedly adapted to changing needs without fanfare. Whatever comes next, it’s hard not to hope the building’s long habit of reinvention isn’t quite finished yet.
Sources Cited
1 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana (1902). Sanborn Map Company. Web. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
2 Transforming School Building Into Houses (1910, July 7). The Muncie Evening Press. p. 8.
3 Contractors Begin Work (1909, June 26). The Muncie Star. p. 9.
4 The Excellent Public Schools In This City (1909, November 24). The Muncie Press. p. 8
5 (See footnote 4).
6 Plans Are Completed For Harrison School (1909, April 15). The Muncie Star. p. 12.
7 A Gain of 17 Is Shown (1909, December 19). The Muncie Star. p. 4.
8 Loy, B. (1971, June 11). Closing of Harrison School Is Ordered. The Muncie Evening Press. p. 13.
9 (See footnote 8).
10 Wessel, K. (1971, June 26). Parents Protest Closing of School. The Muncie Evening Press. p. 1.
11 Ivy Tech Plans Move in October (1971, September 30). The Muncie Evening Press. p. 1.
12 Region’s Ivy Tech Board Re-Elects Officers, Establishes Parking Fees (1978, June 21). The Muncie Star. p. 11.
Interesting article. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading!