NEWS

A Chance to Own One of Vevay’s Oldest Properties

Indiana Landmarks is planning to spruce up Vevay’s 1815 McCormick Tavern in preparation for placing it on the market.

McCormick Tavern, Vevay

200 Years of History

Along the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Louisville, the small town of Vevay lies nestled in the hills of southeast Indiana. Swiss immigrants settled the area in the late eighteenth century and established a prosperous wine-producing industry, a local tradition that takes center stage every August during the Swiss Wine Festival.

By 1815, Vevay settler David McCormick was serving even stronger stuff at his tavern on Walnut Street. Today, Indiana Landmarks is preparing to spruce up the property and place it on the market.

Inside, the two-story frame building offers potential for residential and/or commercial use. A more recent addition to the rear adds extra square footage but could be removed to restore a porch area. The house retains a number of features hinting at its more-than-200-year history, including a remarkable original stone fireplace, built-in cabinets, and a Victorian-era fireplace mantel. With a door that directly accesses stairs to the upper floor and one that opens into the single-story addition, the building could be developed for a mixed use.

Vevay – just named the Midwest’s best small town – has history flowing like wine and just as much opportunity. It’s a thriving community with an elegant nineteenth-century courthouse, popular historic sites including Musée de Venoge and Thiebaud Farmstead, and the historic Hoosier Theatre, which is home to stage plays, musical acts, and movie nights.

The historic tavern is located at 306 Walnut Street, just a block off both the Ferry Street and Main Street commercial corridors. The Ohio River is just a few minutes’ walk from the building; check out the National Park Service’s plans for turning the river into a recreational trail.

Indiana Landmarks acquired the property in December and expects to begin work soon, including roof and flashing fixes, repairs to ground-floor joists, and new paint for the wooden clapboard exterior and historic wood windows.

The subsequent owner will be tasked with completing the renovation and finishing the interior as a new home, office, business, or a mix. The lot includes plenty of room for accessory buildings, a small parking lot, or a serene garden.

For more information, contact Jarrad Holbrook in our Southeast Field Office, 812-926-0983, jholbrook@indianalandmarks.org.

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