Bracken House collection

The Bracken House was built in 1936-1937 for Alexander M. Bracken and Rosemary B. Bracken. Excavation began in September 1936, and the family moved in during Christmas week, 1937. The house was designed in the Georgian Revival style by Walter Scholer, a well-known architect from Lafayette, Indiana. Fred Mullin, a Muncie builder, was the general contractor.

Mr. and Mrs. Bracken, who were both in their twenties when they planned and built their house, were from prominent Muncie families. Alexander Bracken was the son of Thomas E. and Margaret M. Bracken. The senior Bracken was a partner in a Muncie law firm. Rosemary was the youngest child of Frank C. and Elizabeth Brady Ball. Mr. Ball was one of the five brothers who founded Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, now Ball Corporation, of which Alexander Bracken became chairman of the board.

Alexander and Rosemary Bracken had two sons when they moved into the home in late December 1937. Within ten days their third child and only daughter was born. The couple had two more sons and raised their five children in the home. The family occupied the residence for almost sixty years.

In the early 1980s, Mr. and Mrs. Bracken made provision in their respective wills for the home to be left to Ball State University, stipulating that it be used as a home for the university president. This arrangement was carried out following Mrs. Bracken’s death in 1997. Mr. Bracken had died in 1991. The house was renovated in 1999, and became the home of the Ball State University president.