NEWS
River Views Could Belong to You
Perched on Front Street overlooking the Ohio River, Rising Sun’s Courtyard property occupies a prime half-block in the city’s historic downtown. A collection of buildings adapted for commercial and residential uses, the property offers rich history, river views and a wealth of opportunity. All it needs is the right buyer.
For Sale, With a Storied Past
In 1827, Shadrach Hathaway constructed a two-story brick building at the corner of Rising Sun’s Front and Fourth Streets as a general store. Hathaway moved his business to Main Street 20 years later, and the building on Front Street served a range of uses over the years, including a carriage repair shop and — most recently — a restaurant and bar. On the ground floor, original round interior columns and wood pegs that held windows open remain, reminders of the building’s past. In the stone-walled basement, adapted as a bar and banquet room, the entrance to a long collapsed tunnel to the river serves as a centerpiece.
Not long after Hathaway opened his business, Pinckney James — son of Rising Son founder John James – and Able C. Pepper constructed a series of row houses adjacent to the mercantile. The connected buildings now make up a block of river-view property, along with an unattached row house built in the 1830s for the Rising Sun Insurance Company, a name that appears high on the façade. Over the years these buildings served as residences and recently as hotel rooms and suites.
Around the corner up Fourth Street, a group of attached commercial buildings, also constructed in the 1830s, housed a candle-maker, laundry, bakery, and more. Most of the buildings were demolished over the years, but one section attached to Hathaway’s 1827 building remains, most recently used as a gift shop.
Though some rooms are still used as short-term rentals, others are vacant, and parts of the building need repair or renovation. Today the unique site needs a new owner with the vision and capital to make the property a thriving part of downtown Rising Sun.
Located on the Ohio River Scenic Byway and the Indiana Wine Trail, the city is a growing destination when it comes to arts, culture—and beans. Rising Sun’s annual Navy Bean Festival draws visitors from across the region for fall foliage and entertainment. The two-day event features art displays, craft vendors, stage shows, rides and games for kids, and—of course—lots of homemade bean soup and cornbread.
Have a creative vision for how the Courtyard property could fit into this active scene? Check out the property listing online.
Stay up to date on the latest news, stories, and events from Indiana Landmarks, around the state or in your area.