Southern Indiana Living JulyAug 2016

Georgetown typifes small-town
southern Indiana, with friendly
people, rolling farmland, great
small dining spots, and wonderful
gems of culture and history that not
only bring its heritage to life, but make it
a dynamic, fascinating, and exciting place
to be and experience.
Georgetown - founded in the 1830’s
by George Walt, for whom the town is
named - boasts a population of just over
3,000 and runs along State Road 64 ten
miles east of New Albany.
It’s a peaceful place. Driving through
the town, it is clear many of the homes
have seen their share of generations within
their walls, each with a story to tell.
In 2011, approximately 50 acres of
central Georgetown was added to the National
Register of Historic Places and is
now the ofcial Georgetown Historic District.
Siting unassumingly at 9150 Main
Street, across from Donut Frenzy, is the
Wolfe Hotel.
The hotel was built in 1835 by David
and Mary Wolfe and is one of the oldest
buildings in Georgetown. It was the frst
hotel built on the then Whiskey Run Road.
The hotel was in operation until the 1950’s,
when President Harry Truman was one of
its guests, and is currently the subject of
a redevelopment project by John Beams,
Georgetown resident, owner and development
manager of America First Services.
His family loves historic buildings
and purchased the property at auction 25
years ago.
Beams hopes to see the development
of the property contribute to making
Georgetown a tourist destination. “Our
family would like the Wolfe to be a part
of an Historic Town Center, including
other residences and the Old Town Hall
. . . a tourist atraction of artists, shops,
bed and breakfasts, and senior housing,”
he said, adding that developing the property
would not only maintain the town’s
heritage, but could add tax revenue as the
town grows.
The Georgetown Bank building has
also been the subject of restoration eforts.
It was the town’s frst bank, opening in
1909. In the late 1950’s it became Union
National Bank of New Albany, and eventually
the building became the Town Hall.
In 1992 the town council restored and expanded
the building, however structural
issues and other problems led the town
council to move out of the building in
2009.
In 2014 there was discussion of demolishing
the old town hall, however
community members and a newly elected
town council had another idea. In 2015,
Indiana Landmarks assisted Georgetown
Main Street Development Group in securing
a $10,000 grant from the Indiana Division
of Historic Preservation and Archeology,
which was matched with $10,000
from the town, to put a new roof on the
structure.
Further development eforts are on
pause, but will likely be aided by a $40,000
grant from the Indiana Ofce of Community
and Rural Afairs to forge a downtown
master plan. “Options discussed are
selling it to a sympathetic buyer who will
restore (the building), retaining and leasing
to someone who will complete rehabilitation
for a commercial use, or
retaining for expanded town hall
use and functions,” explains Greg
Sekula, southern regional director
for Indiana Landmarks.
In addition to its Historic
District, there are many other
enjoyable destinations. Polly’s
Freeze is easily recognizable
along S.R. 64 by its bright neon
sign depicting a colorful toucan.
Founded by Elmer and Pauline
“Polly” Gleit in 1952, Polly’s
ofers delicious, timeless eats such
as its family recipe barbecue, upside
down banana splits, Pollyburgers,
and rotating favors of homemade soft
serve ice creams and sherbets.
Geofrey McNulty, a frefghter with
the Georgetown Fire Department says
people come from all over the region every
summer. “It’s busy nearly every night,
but especially on the weekends, and especially
after ball games.” Polly’s has kept
its classic exterior, with outdoor tables for
guests as well as a covered porch. On busy
nights when the parking lot flls up, fans
resort to parking alongside the road just
to experience it.
“Polly’s Freeze is a throwback to a
simpler time,” says current owner, Carol
Boyle, “Where families come together to
get their favorite food and ice cream treats,
sit outside and spend time with each other.
We are defnitely a destination, a great
place for celebrating even the smallest occasion
and a place out of the ordinary.”
On the other end of S.R. 64 is A.J.’s
Gyros, another Georgetown foodie-destination,
selling the traditional Greek gyro
- meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie and
wrapped in a pita. At A.J.’s, you can get
your gyro with lamb and beef; beef, bacon
and hummus, or feta cheese and olives,
along with signature Greek tatiki sauce
and diced tomatoes.
Owner Alison Hanover knows what
Pictured: (left) Te Wolfe Hotel, built in 1935, was operated
until the 1950s. (above) Te Georgetown Bank building, frst
opened in 1905, and has also served as the town hall.
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