Pictures | Mysite

One of the oldest pictures of the south side of the square. No automobiles to be seen, only horse and buggy. We know that this photo was taken after 1904 because to the right of the Larue Building is a sign for the Grand Leader which existed from about 1904-1914. To the left of the J.W. Pole Building, (the white building) is a three story building that was called the Montague Building which housed the Crystal Theatre and was torn down around 1918. Simpson County Bank built a new building in its place and moved into it from the J.W. Pole Building.

Between the Knapp Building and RH Moore Drug Company is the Franklin Bargain House which existed from about 1902-1905.

Between the Lovell building on the corner and WR Jackson Jewelers is a short two story building with a pitched roof instead of a flat roof like the other buildings. This is an example of what buildings around the square looked like in the mid 1800s and were often made of wood. It was razed by 1915. Around 1918 the Childress Building was built in its place and was home to Kuhns, Franklin Bank, and now the Simpson County Clerks office.

This picture is of the south side of the square looking east down Cedar Street. This picture is from 1908. One of the more interesting features is the large number of trees shown east of the intersection of Main and Cedar Streets leading up to the railroad. At this time that area was somewhat residential.

This picture is of the south side of the square probably dates around the late 1950s.

This picture is of the south side of the square looking west up Cedar Street. This picture probably dates to around 1960 because Franklin Bank is established and Simpson County Bank has not yet been remodeled.

This picture is of the south side of the square looking west up Cedar Street. This picture was probably from the mid to late 1950s because Chandlers closed in 1958.

This picture is of the south side of the square looking west up Cedar Street. This picture was probably from the mid to late 1950s because National Stores moved in 1960. Parking meters were installed in 1947.

The Lovell and Grainger building at the southwest corner of Main and Cedar Streets which eventually became Lerman Brothers. Over the years the front was remodeled with a new storefront, new second story windows, and the addition of a stone "Lovell & Grainger" sign at the top of the building. Note the older building on the right which no longer exist.

The Childress Building was home to Kuhn's 5-10-25 Cent Store. Later it became Franklin Bank and Trust company.

Jess Mallory Jeweler had once been WR Jackson Jewelry. The sign in front of his shop was well known.

The Patterson and Knapp Building in the early 1900s with pictures of the Knapp family and store employees.

Harris Hardware was here from 1930 until 1947. One of the neatest features of the store was the balcony or mezzanine around the inside around the store. It was removed many years ago.

Palo Sanford bought the business in 1947 and ran it as Sanford Hardware until 1957.

Kuhns 5 and dime moved into the Knapp building in 1958. They also included the Neely Building on the west side of the Knapp building. They remodeled and put in a new storefront.

Dollar General Store moved in the building and the Neely Building in the 1970s and eventually the building fell into a state of disrepair.

The Neely building was so named because it was bought by Dr. BW Neely who operated his practice there and eventually by his son Bassett Neely. Before Dr. Neely bought the building it was the location of Franklin Bargain House. The architectural details are very much like the Gooch Building next door which was more commonly known as the RH Moore Drug Company. Two of the three window were widened at some point but we can't be sure it was built at the same time as the Gooch building but it seems likely.

In 1927 Moran Temple opened a men's clothing store in the Neely Building. Previously Williams, Ferguson and Company had been in the building.

The RH Moore Drug Store was in the middle of the south side of the square for over 100 years. From 1931 until 1955 Kroger was in the east half of the building.

The interior of Moore's changed just about as much as the employees and their attire did over about fifty years.

The Montague building next door to Moore's Drug Store was home to the Crystal Theatre. To the right is a sign advertising a movie by Broncho Billy which was shown there in 1913. In a second floor window we see that there was an office for Dr. Gossett. Also to the right we see the beginning of a Simpson County Bank sign. That building was the original sight of the bank. The Montague building was torn down in about 1915 for expansion of Simpson County Bank.

On the left is the Simpson County Bank building. To the right is Kentucky Utilities in the JW Pole building which was the original home of Simpson County Bank. This picture would have been made sometime after 1927.

The JW Pole building eventually became the location of the National Men's Store. It can be noted that in the photo on the far right the building has a large triangular crown on the top that was gone by the time it became the National Men's Store.

In 1961 the world was quickly changing with hippies, bell bottoms and the Beatles. Old stuff wasn't cool anymore. Modern was in style and the Simpson County Bank changed with the rest of the world making the contribution of covering the original craftsmanship and architectural beauty of their original building and the JW Pole building with a new exterior of marble, glass and aluminum. Hindsight is 20/20 I know and no blame to those that thought this was an improvement, this was just the way of the world at this juncture of time. This wouldn't be the biggest architectural disaster at this location.

The Larue building was build in 1894 and is one of the Franklin's most beautiful architecturally buildings. It was built in 1894. On the downstairs window of the building on the left are Simpson County Bank. In the upstairs window of the building on the left is the name SJ Martin dentist. Dr. Martin added Dr. Arnold as a partner in 1900 and left Franklin around 1901 so this would date the photo at right between 1894 and 1901. Also notable are the two men standing on a balcony of the building at the left near the window of Dr. Martin. The building at left bears little resemblance to the current JW Pole building so we can assume it is the predecessor.

In the late 1920's, Crawford and Gatlin operated in the building. National Stores moved into the building in the 1930's. At some point the company evidentally thought it best to install a new storefront on the first floor and remove the beveled, leaded glass.

In the 1960's Simpson County Bank purchased the Larue Building for expansion. In the 1970's the City of Franklin began Operation Townlift, an effort to beautify buildings around the square. As part of Operation Townlift, Simpson County Bank covered the front of the original Simpson County Bank Building, the JW Pole Building, and the Larue Building with a new white façade with large black letters. A fountain where the entrance of the Larue Building once was completed the look.

It is believed that this is the Wilson Building on the south side of the square. JE Newman operated several businesses at different times in Franklin from groceries to dry goods to bicycles. The picture possibly dates to around 1900 because Cedar Street was still dirt. The occasion of this photo is unknown but the men appear to be wearing soldier uniforms with rifles and sabers. Because many of the men appear young they could possibly be students at Franklin Military Institute.

This was commonly called the Wilson Building for Dr. OG Wilson, a dentist who had an office on the second floor accessible by exterior stairs east of the front entrance of the downstairs. It was later called the Gorin Building after Dr Wilsons daughter, Lucy Gorin, who had inherited the building. The downstairs was home to many businesses over the years such as Newman's Grocery, The Grand Leader, Knapp's Department Store, and Lapidus Men's Wear. Finally in 1942 Gillespie's expanded from the building on the corner of Cedar and College Streets and this became the home of Gillespie's Men's Store. In the 1970 Gillespie's closed and it became the Family Shoe Center. Later Simpson County Bank purchased the building.

This was the view of the west side of the square looking north from the intersection of Cedar and College Streets. Fords Furniture moved to this location in 1950 and two buildings north is American Dry Cleaners which was torn down in the early 1960s.

The west side of the square in probably in the late 1960s or early 1970s. All of the buildings pictured on this side of the square with the exception of the Methodist Church are gone today.

Looking south down College Street probably in the 1980s.

The Harris and Crowdus Building in the 1970s and 1980s.

Next door to the Harris and Crowdus Building was Hughes Hardware, an Oliver Farm Equipment dealer in the 1940s and 1950s. Notable is the exterior stairway to the second floor that disappeared in later years. The photo at right is from about 1982.

The inside of Hughes Hardware sometime after 1933. The Crystal Theatre was located here previously..

A fire destroyed Hughes Hardware and the Harris and Crowdus Building in 1988. American Dry Cleaners was in a small building north of Hughes Hardware until 1963.

The Boisseau Hotel with the Boisseau family and employees. The building caught fire and was torn down in 1908.

The Boisseau House had shops along with the lobby on the first floor with guest rooms on the second and third floor.

The First United Methodist Church bought the lot where the Boisseau Hotel was in 1911.

The red brick building north of the Methodist Church was built in 1951. To the north of it was a building that was known as the Larue Building (not to be confused with the Larue Building on the south side of the square.

These building seem to have been built in the late 1800s. They were torn down in the 1990s.

The Franklin Flower Shop Building was built in 1956..

Built in 1925, this was often called the Hall Building. Kentucky Recappers was located here from 1944 until 1952.

Although the Presbyterian Church dominates this picture, at left is the FM Webb Building which was on the site of the Hall Building. The building burned in 1901. It has FM Webb at the top of the building and Rubenstein Brothers on a sign on the lower floor.

Standing on Kentucky Street looking west at the north side of the square.. Obvious is the Masonic Building on the right. The picture was taken sometime after 1900 because there are electric poles.

The north side of the square during Mule Days in the 1930s. Notable are Donnells Grocery at the right and in the distance The Blue Rose Bakery.

Hammonds Market was on the north side of the square in the 1950. The building is now covered in Permastone.

In the 1970s Crabtree Furniture was on the corner and The Kentucky Grill was where Hammonds Market had been. The Franklin Credit Bureau was located there in the late 1970s.

The Wright Building seemed to have an open front early on possibly for the repair of wagons. It eventually was home to Massey's Furniture. A fire extensively damaged the building later.

After the fire, the Wright Building was remodeled which included removing the heavily damaged third floor and Crabtree Furniture was home there for many years. Next door was Willard Laws TV Service.

After the Kentucky Grill closed the building had permastone, wrought iron, and porches installed.

The Bryan Building probably in the 1930's when the Post Office and Franklin-Favorite were still located there.

The Modern Appliance Store opened in 1946.

In the early 1980s.

The WC Bogle Grocery was located in the eastern portion of the Bryan Building in the 1940's.

Between the Bryan Building and the Masonic Building in the 1980's.

Simpson County Grocery was on the east side of the Bryan Building. This photo probably dates between 1906 and 1914.

After restoration in the 1980's, this was the old Simpson County Grocery.

In 1908 there were no other buildings other than those pictured above on the north side of the square. This photo, taken between 1896 and 1908, shows Masonic Building and its two neighbors at the intersection of Kentucky and Main Streets. At the rear of the Masonic Building is the Presbyterian Church which was torn down years ago. Also visible across Main Street are the buildings which housed Bryant's Photography and Leach and Cummins Law office.

The Masonic Building and it's next door neighbor in the early 1900's. No information has been found on the Welcome Inn. The Quaker Maid Store was a division of A&P and opened in 1926.

HG Hills had a grocery store in the Masonic Building starting in 1927. Bills Auto Store was there from 1946 to 1956. Several windows had been removed and a new store front that faced both Kentucky and Main Streets.

Possibly the most interesting thing in this picture is what you barely see at the edge of the picture, Dunn Bros. They were located next to the Masonic Building originally before moving a couple of buildings up in a few years.

At left is the Masonic Building getting covered in the latest construction technology, PermaStone. At right is the building in the 1980's.

Inside the HG Hill Grocery in the early 1900's.

Inside the HG Hills Grocery Store in the early 1900's.

Looking north on Main Street from the Cedar Street intersection in the early 1900's. No autos to be seen only horse and buggies on muddy streets. The three story building furthest right is the Keystone Hotel that burned in the 1920's along with the other buildings to the south of it. In the distance on the left is the Masonic Building with the steeple of the Presbyterian Church behind it.

Around 1930 Bennett & Smith was on the corner of Main and Cedar Street. In the Franklin Hotel Building was Arnolds Drug Store while Shugart and Hunt was further north. Beyond that are Grainger Furniture, SM Hughes Café, and Draper and Darwin.

In the 1950's the National Store had taken over the corner of Main and Cedar Street. Further down Houchens Market is now located on this side of the square and Shugart and Hunt has become Shugart and Willis

In the late 1970's, Bentley's, Dollar General Store, and Draper and Darwin are seen while the entire Franklin Hotel had become Sullivan's Department Store.

In the 1950's Gambles is on the east side of the square next door to Draper and Darwin.

This picture was taken after 1926 because the Franklin Hotel is on the right. Judging from the vehicles it probably wasn't long after 1926. Furthest right is the Franklin Hotel and the McClean Building on its north side. North of that is the Ray Building which has been home to Kennedy Jewelers for many years.

In the 1980 the McElwain Meguire Bank Building was the Village Inn Resaurant.

Wades Hall became Franklin Billiards.

The Keystone Hotel was where the old Franklin Hotel was built on the east side of the square. It burned in 1926. Notable is the Farmers and Merchants Bank on the first floor of the building. The bank existed from about 1904 to 1913. The lobby entrance is in the middle and the Keystone Drug Store is on the right. Also worth mentioning is on the left is a building with Swifts Pride Soap sign on the front. That was JC McClean's Store and after the fire he built the current Gallery on the Square Building. Also so interesting is Main Street seems to be dirt and there seems to be a iron fence around the courthouse lawn.

Another view of the Keystone Hotel.

This is the inside of the Keystone Drug Store. The Belle Camp Candy display in the center is from a Nashville manufacturer. Also there is an entire display case at left dedicated to ivory goods which contrast with the brass spittoon in the floor at the right. This photo dates from 1921-1926. One of the men is possibly CD White, the proprietor.

Hanging out in front of the Keystone Hotel in your best threads looking cool was evidentially the thing to do in 1914. On the windows is the name JC Hardy, proprietor of the hotel and EM Dunn proprietor of the Drug Store.

This was commonly called the Wilson Building for Dr. OG Wilson, a dentist who had an office on the second floor accessible by exterior stairs east of the front entrance of the downstairs. It was later called the Gorin Building after Dr Wilsons daughter, Lucy Gorin, who had inherited the building. The downstairs was home to many businesses over the years such as Newman's Grocery, The Grand Leader, Knapp's Department Store, and Lapidus Men's Wear. Finally in 1942 Gillespie's expanded from the building on the corner of Cedar and College Streets and this became the home of Gillespie's Men's Store. In the 1970 Gillespie's closed and it became the Family Shoe Center. Later Simpson County Bank purchased the building.