30 years owned by the Fought Family-
Byron and Marilyn Fought researched the home's history
about 15 years ago at the Museum. Their son lived there for a few years,
but primarily it has been a rental.
Living in Ligionier, the maintenance of the old home was
becoming more difficult, and a fatal fire some years ago in
made it easy to accept the purchase offer. They will be sorry to see
it gone, but know it would require much cost and time to bring it back to a good condition.
Some residents are unhappy about the prospect of
losing another historic building. James Nicholson, whom it is said was married to
a first cousin of Daniel Boone, is buried in the Cathcart cemetery behind the Museum.
This connection to Boone is likely the source of the urban myth of Bristol that
Daniel Boone had slept in the house. Boone died in 1822 in Missouri, and likely was
never in Indiana.
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Historic Decision: Nicholson home fate in hands of new owners
Since 1860, the house now known as 117 Division Street, according to
tax records, sat in the heart of downtown Bristol.
Believed to have been built by George Ross Nicholson, son of James Nicholson, one of the
earliest settlers of the Town, it has been acquired by the Bristol United Methodist Church
along with the old buildings on the corner of St. Rd. 120 and 15.
Rumors speculate that it will be torn down or burned down by the Fire Department to
make room for a new parking lot on that corner, since the Church already owns most of
that block, except for the Mason Hall.
Inquiries of Church officials are met with a
"decision not yet made" reply. It has been said that the two rear buildings
on Division will be torn down, and the small brick building to the west
made into a teen center. The old hardware/gunshop's fate is unknown at this time.
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