On Wednesday, October 30th, many properties in the tourist town of Nashville, Indiana will be placed on the auction block.

Last year owner of the properties, Frank “Andy” Rogers passed away at 87. His family decided to place 16 properties up for auction, including both residential and commercial properties. These include many of the unique shops on the main street of Nashville.

Liana Franklin’s family has owned their shop, the Totem Post, since 1952. Franklin and many shop owners are concerned about the future of their shops.

“The first time I heard it, I thought,  ‘What do I do? (Do I ) close up, go in line, move the shop? Just give up and find something else to do?’ I just didn’t know but at this point I just say it’s going to work out,” said Franklin.

Many of the unique shops in question share buildings. Some owners have rallied together in the hope of buying their buildings that are connected.

“It’s kind of hard to have your livelihood just put up for sale,” said Franklin.

Rogers helped preserve the town to keep it as it was, so for many shop owners, this auction came as a surprise. “He did a lot for this town,” Franklin said, “so then when he passed away, it was like, ‘Now who is it up to? Now what’s going to happen?”

Rogers received the property from his father, and continued to grow his property portfolio over the years, supporting local artists and the history in Nashville. He also was a part the Brown County Playhouse Board of Directors for decades, and eventually donated the facility to the IU Foundation. Rogers was the founding member of the Brown County Historical Society.

The auction will take place on October 30 at 1 p.m. at the Brown Country Historical Society.

For more information click here.