Iconic Muncie McDonald's sign down but not out

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - A landmark pointing to the first McDonald's restaurant in the community came down Thursday for repairs.

 The historic first McDonald's in Muncie was opened in 1958 by the Terhune brothers, the late Robert and Charles Terhune. It is one of a few restaurants has the iconic golden arches now only seen in museums or in a smaller version.

 The sign has rusted, and crews from Advanced Signs and Graphics on the Muncie Bypass took it down in pieces to refurnish it and restore the landmark later this year.

Craig A. Mader, an owner of Advanced Signs, said the red signboard with the number of people served was rusted and had to be rebuilt. It was part of the original signage with the first McDonald's in Muncie.

 The Terhune family, like McDonald's, has built more modern box like structures to accommodate drive through and dine in traffic  replacing the old diner style fast food restaurant.

 When the restaurant first opened, the Madison Street address carried state highways through Muncie, and was also on the edge of downtown Muncie, where the old Central High School was located on High Street.

 The highways and their traffic left when the Muncie Bypass was built and McDonald's moved out to McGalliard Road with most of everything else. There are two McDonald's on McGalliard, with one located near the Muncie Mall and one bear the hotel district around Bethel Avenue.