A look at the top of the building tells you why it's called the Lion Block. Local stonemason Henry Tilley carved the stone lion atop the parapet, along with the highly decorative circular and triangular motifs. The convention of the time was to call such buildings "blocks," and the name does not refer to city blocks as it does today. This Italianate style structure, constructed in 1887, was used for commercial retail space. It currently is empty. (NRHP)