Circa 1906 Old Indiana General Store For Sale With River View in an Indiana Ghost Town Reduced to $50K

OHU50K Notes $55,900 Reduced to $50,000

The old Shaffer General Store for sale in a tiny Indiana ghost town of 12 residents, has a water view of the Ohio River.  See the 7-37 high water mark from the Great 1937 Flood on the second floor of the front facade.

Realtor Comments

Previously SHAFFER GENERAL STORE FOR SALE – 1/2 block from the Ohio River – beautiful view of the river! This includes the store and a corner lot. Endless possibilities! Lots of History! Original cabinetry and shelves. Hardwood floors. Back deck overlooks the river.

• Studio
• 2,600sqft
• 0.44acre lot
• Circa 1918

 

If interested in a property, please contact the realtor whose link is provided the post, or contact an agent of your own choosing. Independent verification of details and status is recommended.

6955 Green St SW, New Amsterdam, IN 47110 $55,900

• Contact Realtor: Barbara Shaw with Re/Max Advantage
• Google Map
• Niche

History

The population of New Amsterdam is 12 residents today, but when steamboats travelled up and down the Ohio River, the town thrived. In 1860 it was, in fact,  the largest town in Harrison County. Floods contributed to the decline of the town, and in 1937, 75% of the town was destroyed. A high water mark can be found on the second story of the store.

In the 2000s, Mary Faye Shaffer and her husband quit their jobs at Walmart and purchased the general store when, besides a sometimes open bait shop, was the only business in town. (A Methodist Church, Baptist Church, town hall and cemetery also exist.) Mary Faye moved to the store for the beautiful area and view of the river from the backdoor.  Apparently, the store was closed several years ago, but some inventory still remains.

It is a shame it closed. We recently took the short ferry ride from Rising Sun, Indiana, to Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, another Ohio River town. Rabbit Hash was a thriving little place until the Great 1937 Flood submerged the whole hamlet. Soon it was only a decrepit enclave of a few tumbledown buildings until Louie Scott began buying up the few remaining buildings one by one from the late 1970s to the 200os and renovated them. Now there is the famous general store lorded over by the canine mayor, an antique shop, bed and breakfast, gift shop, log cabin, and a walk-up restaurant which offers delicious tacos.  When we visited, a motorcycle club had biked in, and Rabbit Hash was bustling. I would love to see the same thing happen to New Amsterdam.

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*2011 Photo Below

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