In the early 20th century this was the site of the People's College, the city's high school from 1903-1928. That Neoclassical style brick and limestone building - seen below in a 1913 postcard - was designed by noted New Albany architect Paul Emil Moosmiller. After the completion of the current New Albany High School on Vincennes Street, the People's College was used a junior high school.

Prior to the construction of the People's College, the site had been occupied by the home of Ashbel P. Willard, who served as Governor of Indiana from 1857 until his death in office in 1860 at age 39. The photo below - from the collection of the Indiana Room of the Floyd County Library - shows his stately home, which was demolished for the school's construction.

In 1962, a Frisch's restaurant was built on the site, and served as a popular restaurant, hang-out and cruising site for many years. After serving as some time as vehicle storage, the vacant building was demolished in 2015 to make way for the Breakwater development.