History of The 198

According to the local historical records the building was built around 1920. It was first used as a livery/carriage house. Over the years the building housed the bus station, a Chinese restaurant, a tavern, the Indiana Water Company and a printing company.

In 2013 many of the local buildings were being redeveloped to revitalize downtown and bring the Franklin community back into the local market. The goal was to support small local businesses and make Franklin a destination for all to visit. A local developer, Fred Paris, purchased The 198 building and began a huge renovation including replacing the crumbling façade. In this picture you can see the old carriage doors which are still in use within the building on the first floor.

In 2015 Connie Carson and Shannon Hicks, mother and daughter, purchased the building to operate CJ’s Home Consignments, a resale home furnishings business.

The first floor was fully renovated and used for the retail business, while the second floor had two apartments. One apartment spanned the entire front of the building and the second apartment was used for Cj's office which was located in the rear of the building. The business operated here successfully for another 5 years.

In late 2019 Connie and Shannon made the decision to bring something new and exciting to Downtown, Franklin. A place where guests could stay and enjoy everything Franklin has to offer within steps from its front door. With the help of numerous contractors they completely gutted and remodeled the 2nd floor of the building. They aspired to create 2 music themed loft style apartments that would run the length of the building, with both units facing Jefferson Street. This layout would allow guests the ability to open a French Balcony door and enjoy the sounds coming from the newly planned Amphitheater and splash pad.

Remodeling a 100 year old building came with its own challenges. Including the flat roof which has a major slant to the north and west sides of the building. This can be seen in the units today when looking at the ceilings. The building was also built on an angle and is not perpendicular to Jefferson Street.

The floors were in terrible condition and unlevel and there wasn't a bit of insulation to be found, so the upstairs was gutted down to the studs and new floor joists were installed along with new age efficient items. The front façade was reimaged to include the new French balcony doors on each unit and all new windows that matched the previously completed historical improvements.

The units were equipped with top of the line construction finishes such as

All new plumbing with a recirculation pump for instant hot water.
Separated electrical meters to accommodate updated lighting such as cans and lots of outlets including those in the island and near nightstands.
New energy efficient windows and doors including fire safety tempered windows for protection from neighboring properties.
Custom kitchens with modern cabinetry, open shelving and tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances
Large walk-in custom tile showers and 1.5 baths pre unit.
Laundry rooms and lots of storage for guests.

The building has been completely redesigned into 2 Loft units called Jammin' on Jeff and Just a Stones Throw. Each unit has 2 bedrooms and 1 & ½ bath. The 198 can accommodate up to 14 guests at a time.

Of course, the pandemic of 2020 slowed the progress of this project by almost 2 years, but now that it is completed we believe that you are going to love staying in this beautifully renovated and reimagined old downtown building and enjoy all that Franklin has to offer.

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