Appearing Monday, February 27, 2006: 

History for sale
Old New Albany properties offer modern appeal

By Chris Poynter
mailto:cpoynter@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

There's a historic 1900s firehouse, renovated into a contemporary loft-style home, the fireman's pole still intact. Price: $189,000.

Or, how about a 1926 bungalow with hardwood floors and original metal sconces? A skeleton key opens the front door. Price: $114,900.

"Everything you see here, we've
done," said seller George Riggle,
who has made improvements to
his 1850s Federal home. (Photo
by Sam Upshaw Jr.,
The Courier-Journal)


Or, the Federal-style Capt. Solomon Malbon House on Main Street that has been rehabbed and includes an in-ground pool: $224,900.

"We want people who will take care of these buildings and cherish them," said Greg Sekula, director of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.

Sekula, along with historic preservation advocates and neighborhood leaders, have launched a Web site -- http://www.historicnewalbany.com/ -- that boasts of their city's architectural gems. The city hopes to attract buyers from Louisville and elsewhere who are looking for a bargain.

The Web site contains an inventory of historic homes and commercial buildings for sale. Each property, in turn, has a history, including former owners, a description of its architectural style and details, and interior and exterior photos.

David Barksdale, a historian and teacher at Silver Creek Middle School, voluntarily culls through old city directories and courthouse records to write the histories, at no cost to the homes' sellers or Realtors.

"We want to get the word out," said Sekula, who started a similar program when he worked in historic preservation in St. Joseph, Mo. "Today, more than ever, communities are having to be savvy about marketing their assets."

The background for one home on the Web site, priced at $124,900 and located on East Main Street, describes the former owner, Frank Edwards, as "a broadcaster during the pioneer days of radio. … He also wrote extensively on Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), authoring six books on the subject."

Another property, a commercial building on East Main priced at $50,000, once contained a salon that, during Prohibition, "started serving soft drinks and manufacturing cigars," the history shows.

Sekula believes the Web site, launched in December, will showcase New Albany to people in Kentucky who are reluctant to cross the Ohio River to visit the town, a 15-minute drive from downtown Louisville.

New Albany, population 37,600, had a median home sales price of $105,000 at the end of January, according to the Southern Indiana Realtors Association. In Louisville, for the same period, the median sales price was $132,000, according to the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors.

Sekula, who lives in a Victorian home in New Albany, said he believes his city's architectural treasures can draw Louisville buyers because of the prices, along with the charm of a small town.

Standing inside a 1926 bungalow for sale, Sekula, along with real-estate agent Mary McRae, pointed out building details of yesteryear: strip oak flooring, a slot mailbox, the skeleton key.

"I just think this house is gorgeous," Sekula said.

McRae said the Web site is ideal for advertising homes because it gives buyers a history -- and it costs sellers nothing.

When Realtors write property descriptions to post on the Multiple Listing Service, the property database, there is limited room to describe a house. Now, McRae said, she can send potential buyers to http://www.historicnewalbany.com/.

George Riggle, who is selling his 1850s Federal home, said he and his partner, Kevin Ashabranner, spent eight years restoring the clapboard house to its former splendor. But, Riggle said, as they age they need a one-story house with no steps.

"Everything you see here, we've done," Riggle said, showing off the 3,100-square-foot, two-story house with a full attic.

Barksdale, the historian, said he hopes the Web site will entice people to consider moving to his town.

"New Albany is just filled with historic buildings," he said.

Reporter Chris Poynter can be reached at (502) 582-4475.