The Historic Nashville House

~by Julia Pearson

Four years ago, Hoosiers read with dismay in the Indianapolis Star, that a much-loved restaurant and Brown County landmark would close its doors. For over nine decades, patrons filled up on the country-fried chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, pies, fried biscuits and apple butter at the Nashville House. This announcement came three months after the passing of owner Andy Rogers. After his estate was settled, Andy’s daughter and son-in-law, Andrea (Andi) Rogers Bartels and Lance Bartels, re-opened this mainstay of hospitality. Many are happy to see that the local history timeline of the Nashville House is continuing.

A sign attached to the Nashville House, located on the intersection of East Main Street and South Van Buren Street (State Route 135), states: “Ever since the year 1867, a public hostelry of one form or another has occupied this corner.” In 1859, the original Nashville House was built from local timbers and was a two and a half story structure. It served the tired public— loggers, travelers, and artists—seeking a place to rest their heads and a table with nourishing food. Civil War re-enactors today use the same recipe for fried biscuits that fed hungry patrons from the Nashville House from that era.

Postcard after the fire.

Postcard from before the fire.

The property was purchased and remodeled by co-founders Jack Rogers and Fred Johnson in 1927. In 1943, a tragic fire consumed the business. But Jack Rogers, with his devotion to Brown County and the community of Nashville, rebuilt on the same location, this time without guest lodging, focusing on home-style cooking and adding a general store.

Andy Rogers took over the business from his father in 1959, making updates to the restaurant but keeping a menu of mouth-watering, hearty homecooked meals in a comfortable, casual dining atmosphere. Dillon Bustin, folklorist and author of If You Don’t Outdie Me, recalled family drives to Nashville from Indianapolis for Sunday dinner at the Nashville House. A boy of eight or nine years old, he was allowed to stand on the counter so he could scrutinize the photos by Frank Hohenberger that were in the lobby. It was almost like a museum. The general store had local handicrafts like walking sticks, baskets, and wooden toys; as well as apple butter, local honey, jams and jellies, candies, and baked goods.

Andy and his wife, Fran, were on-site continuously, making it a true family-owned and run restaurant. Andi and her sister, Gina, grew up in the business. From the time Andi was seven years old, dressed in smaller versions of the wait staff’s dresses, she bused tables, helped the hostess by seating guests, and made change from the cash drawer—no cash register! She recalls that commercial soft drinks were added to the menu after she left home for college. Until then, all beverages were homemade in-house: coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade, and chocolate milk.

Frank Hohenberger photo from 1927.

Frank Hohenberger photo from 1950.

Recent photo of the Nashville House dining room.

Recent photo of the Nashville House store/bar area.

Fran and Andy Rogers, courtesy Andi Rogers Bartels.

As a loving tribute to parents Andy and Fran Rogers, and grandfather Jack Rogers, Andi, along with Lance and children Nolan and Ella, devoted the time afforded by the isolation in the early COVID pandemic to restore and update the Nashville House. A Brown County and family tradition lives on.

Kitchen facilities were updated and a patio added for outdoor seating and entertainment. During cold weather, the musicians perform inside at the loft. A full bar was added on top of the original candy counter. The restaurant and general store have the same big stone wood-burning fireplaces, but the upper loft was renovated for private dining. The loft can seat 25 guests and is an ideal choice for business meetings or family events like wedding rehearsal dinners or birthday suppers.

John Peters has been the general manager since February of 2020. Andi and Lance oversee the restaurant and are there every day. Very much part of the community like her parents, Andi has taught art for 18 years, with the last four years at Brown County High School. Lance has a fixed base operation in Seymour. This involves the maintenance and restoration of aircraft, flight instruction, and banner towing, as well as being a pilot for UPS.

The menu of scratch-made foods that the Nashville House is known for has been greatly expanded to include sandwiches, salads, entrees, and appetizers. The full bar, offering hand-crafted cocktails, wine, and craft beers, is named for the Indiana photographer Frank Hohenberger, .

The Nashville House will have a New Year’s Eve dinner, and special dinners for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s and Father’s Days.

And that apple butter can be ordered by calling 812-988-4554.