LOFT TOUR

Have you ever thought, "This is a unique building, I wonder what the upstairs looks like?!" Well, this event is for you! Spend the day touring 8 unique, historic buildings in downtown Madison. This is a biennial event, so we will see you again in 2027!

STAY TUNED FOR OUR 2027 DATES!

EVENT FAQ

The Loft Tour, hosted by Madison Main Street, is a biennial event that is held the first Saturday of October in downtown Madison from 10 AM to 4 PM. This event is not only a fundraiser for Madison Main Street, but it is your chance to see downtown from a new perspective. Loft Tour sites range from polished and fully furnished, renovated spaces to completely raw, untouched floor plans, full of potential. The goal of the Loft Tour is to engage the community with the upper stories or spaces tucked away in downtown Madison.

If I purchased my tickets online, where do I pick them up?

Please check in and pick up your Loft Tour tickets from the MMSP office located 321 W Main Street.

Can I purchase tickets the day of the event?

Yes! We suggest you start the tour no later than 12 PM, and we will stop selling tickets at this time. You can purchase your Loft Tour tickets from the MMSP office located 321 W Main Street.

How long does the tour last?

Depending on your pace, the tour will take at least 2 hours. The tour is walkable. We highly recommend to rent a golf cart and have fun while you are here!

Is the tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?

Most sites are not handicapped accessible and not stroller accessible. The tour is best suited for adults.

Do I have to complete the tour in a particular order?

You may complete the tour in any order you like. We do have a suggested route on the Loft Tour Ticket.

Where is the hospitality site?

Thank you to Timeless Live for providing hospitality for this event! Find restrooms at their location on Main Street (217 E Main St, Madison, IN. 47250) There are also public restrooms located at the Comfort Station, just 2 blocks East of the office.

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

SITE SPONSORS:

J.R. Harrell Coldwell Banker Harrell Associates
Jenner, Pattison, & Sharpe
Brenda Eversole, Broker/ Century 21
Jessica Butler, Managing Broker, Legacy Land Use & Realty
Ruoff Mortgage
Riverwest Antique Mall

2025 TOUR SITES

Get to know each of the Loft Tour sites a bit more! Read and click on the histories of each site to learn more. Thank you to our volunteers, Laura Hodges and Happy Smith for collecting this information!

1. Helton Eye Care (713 W Main Street)

Helton Eye Care, located at 713-715 W. Main St., was originally constructed around 1870 as a duplex residence in the Craftsman style. The building retains its original two-over-two double-hung windows, a central brick chimney, and a full-width front porch. In 2023, the Helton family purchased the property, which had been partially remodeled, and transformed it into professional offices for the optometry practice on the first floor, with an apartment above. The first floor had historically been side-by-side residences, and the upstairs was originally unfinished. During the renovation, evidence of a fire was discovered. One well known former resident of 713 W. Main St. was Thomas P. Vincent, the owner of Vincent’s Grocery. That grocery was located just down the street at 631 W. Main St. – the present site of The Attic/Coffee Mill Café. That building is also on the 2025 Loft Tour.

2. The Attic Coffee Mill & Cafe (631 W Main Street)

The building that now welcomes guests as The Attic/Coffee Mill Café was built in the 1850s. The simple brick building was designed in the Federal style with Italianate influences. That cast iron façade so familiar to generations of Attic customers wasn’t added until 1901. It was made by the Madison Machine Company.

The structure is a two-part commercial block with a foundation of parged (cement coated) rubblestone. The side gable roof features a decorative cornice with brackets and dentils. The historic wood windows have one-over-one double hung sashes. The building retains original shelving from its prior use as a grocery store.

The rear portion of the building (322 Mill St.) is a 1901 addition. It has an open passageway leading to a former carriage house with an iron arch and gate at the entry.
Ove the years, several businesses have operated here.

In the 1923 city directory, it was occupied by the Cofield-Barber Co., a grocery wholesaler started by George W. Cofield and William A. Barber in 1906. At one point later in the 1920s, this building housed the Miller Grocery and Bakery. T.P. Vincent’s Groceries opened around the year 1930.
Margie Webb of Madison lived as a child in an apartment upstairs from Vincent’s Grocery, according to an article in RoundAbout Madison. Ms. Webb went on to establish a business nearly as long-lived as The Attic -- Margie’s Country Store at 721 W. Main Street. It closed in 2022 after 51 years in business.
Bob and Irene List opened The Attic in the spring of 1971. It was originally a gift store featuring art prints and custom framing. During the 1970s, the Lists’ daughter, Judy George, and her husband Phil took over The Attic. Later still, after Phil George’s death, Judy’s children joined her in the business.
In 1993, the Coffee Mill Café was added, offering tea, treats and food items. Chip George learned the craft of coffee roasting and added that to the business. The Attic/Coffee Mill Café celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021. The business has been named Small Business of the Year by the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce.
Since 2024, The Attic/Coffee Mill Cafe has been owned by Chris and Lindsey Hornbrook. They have recently refreshed the interior of the store, and are strengthening the establishment’s brand by emphasizing its core products – coffee and tea. In a nod to the building’s former use, one of the custom blended coffees is called Vincent’s.
Last year breakfast was added, and the Hornbrooks continue to try out new ideas. Brunch is served from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Now, not only can customers eat, drink and shop at the Attic, they can sleep as well. The upstairs bed-and-breakfast offers 2,000 square feet of space, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It accommodates eight people comfortably.

3. Fountain House (402 W Main Street)

Prominently located on the northwest corner of Broadway and Main Street, the Fountain Building is a crown jewel in Madison’s Historic District. This stately brick structure was built in the mid-1800s by steamboat captain Nathan Powell. A man of many accomplishments, Captain Powell was engaged in river trade, the pork-packing industry, and served as President of both the Madison Life, Fire and Marine Insurance Company and the National Branch Bank. He and his wife raised eight children—six sons and two daughters—some of whom are known to have lived in the Fountain Building as adults.
In 2012, native Madisonians Bob and Tammy Courtney acquired the property. By January 2016, they had invested considerable time and resources into preserving Madison’s architectural heritage, with the Fountain Building becoming one of their most visible and celebrated restoration projects. Formerly the Vail-Holt Funeral Home, the building was transformed into an elegant event venue, guest suite, and office space. Bob Courtney is currently Madison’s Mayor.
In 2020, preservationist Ellie Troutman became the new owner, continuing the tradition of restoration and stewardship. Under her care, the building’s historic charm has not only been maintained but enhanced. Notable interior features include:
· Vibrantly painted ceiling medallions that highlight several first-floor light fixtures
· Original fireplaces that offer a glimpse into the home's 19th-century character
· A striking newel post sculpture by New York artist O.L. Warner, depicting a woman holding a lamp to illuminate the staircase
· Distinctive marble sinks tucked into wall niches in two second-floor bedrooms
· A colorful mural along a side corridor featuring many of Madison’s iconic buildings
Most recently, the building welcomed a new chapter with the opening of a bridal shop, Love, Betty, by Ralph London and Juston Preece, who also own two other local clothing boutiques. Their latest venture adds yet another layer of vitality to this storied landmark.

4. Livery Loft (310 Broadway Street)

When this building was constructed in the 1870s, Madison was a city of horses and carriages, not cars. At that time, a livery stable—where horses and carriages were kept—stood here at 310 Broadway. What is now a standard front door was originally a large, arched carriage entrance.
In 1860, Madison had around ten livery stables. This particular one, the Broadway Livery, was owned by Martin Mullen from 1861 until his death in 1891. A local newspaper reported in 1871: “Snow crushes roof of M. Mullen’s Livery on Broadway.”
The current brick structure was likely built shortly after that incident, replacing a large frame building shown at this location on the 1854 Hart and Map other map. It’s quite possible that the 1871 roof collapse led to the construction of the more durable brick building still standing today.
From 1892 to 1909, a second livery proprietor, Frank Hill, owned the property. During his time, transportation in America was rapidly evolving. In 1909, Henry Ford introduced the affordable Model N motorcar, and by 1913, he had revolutionized automobile manufacturing with the first assembly line.
That same year in Madison, Frank and Marguerite Hill sold 310 Broadway to John and Florence Feuerstein. The livery was converted into Feuerstein and Jones’ Garage, reflecting the new automotive era. By 1939, under the ownership of Elmer and Lula Brown, it became known as the Broadway Garage and Transfer Station—a forerunner of today’s moving companies.
In 1947, 310 Broadway changed again, becoming Thompson’s Glass Dairy. For a decade, until 1957, Thompson’s delivered milk in glass bottles via big blue trucks to doorsteps across Madison. The original milk chute, used to load bottles onto the trucks, is still visible on the south side of the building. Many Madison residents still remember the days of fresh milk delivered by a milkman.
The Koehler family acquired the property in 1957, holding it through several generations until 2006. Part of the building served as storage for Koehler Tire, while other sections were rented out. At one point, Frank Mingione operated a plastics manufacturing business here. Later uses included a furniture workshop and an artist’s studio.
In 2018, the building found new life under its current owners, Ronald and Suzanne Hollinger. They have thoughtfully transformed the space into four stylish apartments, including a third-floor loft, while preserving its rich history. The design throughout honors its legacy with a horse and Stablemaster theme—a tribute to the building’s unique past.

5. The Old Cinnamon Tea Room (302 West Street)

Built sometime between 1823 and 1835 by James H. Cowden, this striking building has long stood as a fixture of Madison’s architectural and civic history. Originally serving as one of the town’s early post offices, it was advertised for rent in the Madison Courier by 1842 and sold at a sheriff’s sale just a few years later in 1845.
In 1850, the Madison Insurance Company moved in, transforming the first floor into a general banking office that remained active for three decades. Over the years, 302 West evolved with the times - hosting a saloon, soft drink parlor, restaurant, and eventually residential apartments.
The upper floors once housed professional offices, including the law office of Jeremiah Sullivan, a prominent Madison attorney and Indiana Supreme Court judge, who worked here from 1858 to 1870. A major renovation in the late 19th century added the elegant Italianate cornice and Queen Anne-style woodwork still visible on the second floor today.
From 1895 to 1929, Casper and Lena Krum operated a café here, followed by Gale and Mollie Thomas, who ran a wholesale produce business from 1929 to 1937. Later owners Howard and Polly Hall brought new life to the space as the Blue Flamingo Café and Miss Mickie’s Pub from 1965 to 1983. JJ’s Pub followed from 1984 to 1988, and many Madison residents fondly recall its final chapter as the Cinnamon Tea Room, which welcomed guests from 1994 to 2002.
One day soon, 302 West Street will continue to blend historic charm with modern living - an enduring symbol of Madison’s evolving spirit.

LOFT TOUR

EVENT FAQ

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

2025 TOUR SITES

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