The Walter Mathis House
See all Martz residences and studios.

Sometime in late 1941 or early 1942, according to Becky, Karl, Becky & Eric moved from the Green House (which was across a road from the Pink House) to the Walter Mathis House, 58 S. Van Buren St., Nashville, Indiana. The Mathis House was their residence and ceramics showroom/salesroom until the family moved to Chicago in late 1942 or early 1943, shortly after son Brian was born. Karl's ceramics shop/studio remained in the Pink House. They rented the Mathis House from Jack Rogers.

Presumably a Karl Martz Potter sign hung on the front of the Mathis house, but no photos of that house from 1941-2 have come to light. Below is a photo of the Mathis House taken by Eric Martz in 2003, when Becky identified it for him during a walk in Nashville. In 2025, an apparel and housewares store operates out of the Mathis House.


The Martz family moved into the Walter Mathis house after the death of Walter Mathis. Walter Mathis (1861-1941) was the oldest continuous resident of of Nashville, Indiana, when he died September 7, 1941. In his later years, he rented rooms in his house, keeping one room for himself. Here is a photo of the front door of the Mathis House taken by Frank Hohenberger on May 3, 1940. Painted on the door is Walter Mathis Friendly Inn. If Tough Stay Out.

Below are some clippings from the Brown County Democrat newspaper that provide boundaries for the dates when the Martz family occupied the Mathis house, which they rented from Jack Rogers.

Sept. 5, 1940, while Mathis was still living in the house:
Nov. 12, 1942:
April 8, 1943:

Below is a photo of the Mathis House taken in 1902 by an unknown photographer. The front porch seen in the 2003 photo above was evidently added later, before 1940. Thanks to Shelley Kresan, great-great-grandaughter of Walter Mathis, for this photo.