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Property Info
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Grounded
in tradition, Depot Square Flats will be an intriguing combination of old world
craftsmanship with the original brick walls, hand hewed post beams and exposed
ceiling rafters, enhanced with today’s modern amenities such as indoor garage
parking. The project endeavors to continue the preservation and revitalization
of a historic landmark. Apartment units will range in size from one bedroom to
two bedrooms with some loft apartments; reminiscent of big city living but with
the quaintness of small town charm.
Batesville’s
early beginnings are tied to Teunis Amack, who in 1852, sold his homestead to
the John Callahan Trust Company to build a railroad right-of-way and establish
a town. It was then that the city was laid out into 45 lots, creating the
original downtown. Joshua Bates, a member of the Callahan Trust Company, was
the first to build his home on lot number one. It is from Joshua Bates that
Batesville is said to have received its name.
All
of the lots on the original plat were rectangular in shape, with one exception.
And that is where the Big Four Railroad choose to build their train station on
Depot Street. The railroad located the station there because of the
availability of water coming from what is believed to be Amack’s well, a
working well to this day.
Batesville
thrived as a town with nine furniture factories and the Batesville Coffin
Company which was also located on that square plot. Back in 1884, the forests
surrounding the town supplied the raw materials for manufacturing coffins and a
concentration of German immigrant artisans provided the craftsmanship. The
coffin company was known for its ornate hand-carved, wooden coffins. It was
purchased by John Hillenbrand in 1906 and renamed the Batesville Casket
Company.
The
Hillenbrand and Romweber families’ divided their interests in the company in
1929 with the Romweber family taking the furniture component, forming the
American Furniture Company. The building continued to evolve throughout its’
history until 2009 when the furniture company closed. At this time it was over
a 130 years old, making it the oldest case good manufacturer in the United
States.
True
to its history, the building has once again begun another transformation giving
it a new lease on life. Construction of 56 market rate apartments is under way.
Located in downtown Batesville, Indiana the apartments are within walking
distance of churches, restaurants, shopping, a bakery, city parks and the
farmers market. Located on the RomWeber campus is also the award winning Big
Four Café, with Chef Devin Murchin, past master chef for Caesar’s Palace in Las
Vegas.
Drawing
upon a sites unique symbolic depiction on an old historic plot seems fitting
for a new beginning, 168 years in the making. Come discover idyllic lifestyle
living in a downtown historic landmark, Depot Square.
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