Brookville, IN — Local businessman George Gillman is the new owner of the old Franklin County Farmers Mutual Insurance building at the corner of Fifth and Main in downtown Brookville.
Gillman submitted the winning bid of $180,000 dollars at an auction Thursday evening.
His plans for the historic building have not been determined.
“We’ve tossed around some ideas of what to do. We don’t have anything definite,” Gillman said. “Down the line, we’ll try something, I guarantee you that. I’ll let you know five years from now if it was a good move.”
The building is located across the street from Gillman’s flagship George’s Pharmacy store.
Franklin County Farmers Mutual is donating proceeds from the sale of the building to the Franklin County 4-H Association. The organization will use the proceeds toward building an expo hall at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Brookville.
“We’re very proud to be able to do that and give the community good recognition for us and them,” said Jeff Sauerland with Franklin County Farmers Mutual Insurance.
Brian Baxter with the Franklin County 4-H Association expressed gratitude to the insurance company for its donation.
“The money from the proceeds will greatly help the Franklin County 4-H Association come to their goal of building the new structure at the Franklin County Fairgrounds that will help generations of families from here on out for 4-H functions and other activities that happen throughout the year,” Baxter said.
The old building has been vacant since the company moved to its new offices at 125 Main Street.
Make a donation to the Franklin County Exhibit Hall building fund here.
