Bricks and Mortar of Elizabethtown's Early Economy

Bricks and Mortar of Elizabethtown's Early Economy. Open for Business. , The oldest brick business building in town, built circa 1812/1815 by Major Benjamin Helm, housed the mercantile of Helm and his partners. Businesses in this alley were at one time referred to as 'Green Row.', The building has been remodeled many times during the years and repurposed for business., In the 1860s it held the publishing offices of the Elizabethtown Democrat newspaper, operated by Martin Hardin Cofer until his departure for service in the Confederate States Army. The paper was a pro-seccession publication leading up to the Civil War., While the town was occupied by the Union Army during that war, Federal forces used the office and its printing equipment to publish the 19th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Zouave Gazette., Duff Green , County Merchant, The first of many business ventures here at the Helm Building was that of a partnership entered into by a young Duff Green recently returned from his service in the Kentucky Militia under the command of General William Henry Harrison during the War of 18 12., Green had married a cousin of Benjamin and John Helm on November 25, 1813, the lovely Miss Lucretia Maria Edwards of Bardstown. While the Helms supplied $20,000 capital for the firm, with goods purchased in Philadelphia, it was Green who provided efficient and profitable management of the firm until 1817 when he sold his share of the business and left the state., Duff Green is remembered as an unofficial advisor of President Andrew Jackson. He served in Jackson's "Kitchen Cabinet," until his vocal support of Jackson's rival, John C. Calhoun of South Carolina., Other businesses housed in this building over the years have included: Skaggs Brothers Barbershop; Claude Given's Insurance; the office of Dr. R.C. Matthews, Chiropractor; and the archives of the Hardin County Clerk., (captions) , Duff Green , Colonel Martin Hardin Cofer C.S.A.