Harris & Crowdus Building 1908
There were masonry buildings located at the northwest corner of College and Cedar Streets in the late 1800's. In 1876 Francis M. Harris and R.F. Moore sold groceries and provisions. Later G.P. Tidwell and J.W. Skeen made boots and shoes there. There was also a meat market and butcher shop.
It was said that in the early 1900’s, Joe Aspley would bring his horse drawn wagon loaded with baked goods and sandwiches to this location daily to feed the people of Franklin. Alf Harris and Bob Halcomb had purchased this business from Dickey and Black in 1898, and later John Crowdus purchased Halcomb’s interest. The Harris and Crowdus partnership purchased Aspley’s business and in 1908 they constructed a new building for their grocery and hardware business. The upstairs was the office of attorney Laurence B Finn. The business carried on for several years after the deaths of the founders but did close in 1943.
In 1944 the Red Cross was in the building and in 1945 Ray’s Furniture moved into the building. In 1949, Ray’s furniture was bought by Ford’s Furniture and the name was changed. Western Auto opened in 1936 on East Cedar Street. They carried tires, radios, batteries, tools, and accessories. They moved to this location from South Main Street in 1965. The store closed in 1978. The building was destroyed by fire in 1988.
Hughes Hardware Building 1908
In 1908 a new building was constructed here by Alf Harris and John Crowdus when they built the building next door. It was the home for many years of the Liberty Theater and eventually the Victor Theater. Hughes Hardware was established in 1926 at a different location but began operation in 1885 with several different owners under the Franklin Hardware name. It became Hughes and Tiffany Hardware in 1926. They moved it to this location in 1933 with the closing of the theater and it was renamed Hughes Hardware in 1934. The exterior of the building was remodeled in 1965 and then again in 1974.
In 1988 a fire destroyed the building and it was razed. Also damaged was the Harris and Crowdus building next door. It was eventually decided to raze both buildings. The First United Methodist Church next door purchased the property.
Mahin & Harris Building ca 1901
There was a building located here prior to 1900 with a masonry front and wood frame addition on the rear of the building. In 1901 there seems to be a new building located here. E.D. Mahin and H.M. Harris operated a tonsorial parlor, more commonly known as a barber shop, here in the early 1900’s. It was also occupied by a shoemaker J.E. Dillon.
American Dry Cleaners was located as early as 1924 and owned by Mrs. Lida Arnold. In 1928 the business was bought by Andrew Moore. In 1932 Bobby Jackson purchased the business. In 1945 James “Pap” Henderson purchased an interest in the business with Jackson. In 1963 the business moved from the west side of the square to the corner of West Kentucky and High Streets. The business is remembered by many for its phone number, 1.
The Tiny Tea Room was located here in 1935. In 1944 Doris Yokley opened Doris Beauty Shop here. It was still operating in 1961 supposedly in this location but no more records are found, and it can be assumed the building was torn down in the early 1960’s.
Boisseau Hotel ca 1845
Exactly when the Boisseau Hotel was built is unknown. Some have said it was built as early as 1810 but we do know that it existed before the Civil War and our safest guess is around 1845. It had the reputation as the best stagecoach stop between Louisville and Nashville. The hotel catered to the upper clientele and was the location of many community and social events. The building seems to have been four store fronts in one building. The southernmost portion of the building was divided into a barber shop and a retail store. Next was the entry area to the Boisseau Hotel. North of the Boisseau Hotel entry were two additional store fronts.
As the years passed, even though the hotel was remodeled, it became more and more outdated. In 1908 Mr. D.S. Henry started tearing down the hotel and selling the hardware, fixtures and lumber. In 1911 the First United Methodist Church Board of Stewards purchased the lot and made plans to erect a $20,000 church building. Today the First United Methodist Church stands on this spot.
Hatter & Dinning Building 1951
In 1874 a fire destroyed all the buildings from this location to the intersection of Depot and College Streets. After the fire it seems to have been left as a vacant lot for many years.
In 1951 Forrest A. Dinning and Emmett P. Hatter moved into the new building and operated their law firm here. Hatter had previously been law partners with GW Roark since 1915. The building was torn down in the late 1990s. It is now occupied by a portion of the First United Methodist Church Christian Life Center.
Larue Building ca. 1886
In the 1860's there was a building here that was the home of John P. Hutchins, a leading dry goods merchant. In 1874 that building was destroyed in a fire.
This two story masonry building seems to have been a residence as far back as 1886 but exactly when it was built is unknown. In 1915 John Milliken , born 1855, spoke said that at one time, Volney Boisseau and his family lived in a home next to the Boisseau Hotel. It is possible that this was the home of Volney Boisseau. The building stood alone as the property to the north to the corner of Depot Street was vacant with the exception of a small wood frame barber shop for many years. It seems to have remained a dwelling until 1913 when it is shown as a boarding house. In 1925 it was listed as a dwelling again. We have been unable to find out much else about this building until the 1930's.
The Franklin-Favorite advertised Dr. Byron Rogers had moved from the McClean Building to the first floor of the Larue Building on the west side of the square in 1934. He practiced there until 1977. At that point it became the office of Dr. Keith Richards, then Dr. W.L. "Bill" Judge, a chiropractor. In the late 1970's it was owned by Ferguson, Gray and Simpson and the exterior was remodeled. Attorney Clyde Thomas had an office there starting about 1973. I was the office of attorney David Martin, Dick Downey and Harlin, Parker and Rudloff. The upstairs seems to have been residential apartments for many years. The building was torn down in the late 1990s. The lot is now occupied by a portion of the First United Methodist Church Christian Life Center.
Unknown ca. 1897
In the 1860's this was the approximate location of a long, wood framed building that housed the tin shop of Henry and Brownlow Atkinson. The building burned in 1874.
This building first shows up in 1897 as a dwelling. It actually seems to have been two buildings as the north half is not as deep as the south half. It seems to have remained a dwelling until 1913 when is is listed as offices. In 1925 and 1940 it is a retail store. From 1984 to 1992 this was Sarah's Goodwill Center.
Franklin Flower Shop 1956
In the mid 1800's this was the site of the Hope Tin Shop run by Sam Hope and his sons James and Frank. Adjacent to the north was the Hope home. After fire destroyed the building in 1874, the lot remained vacant until 1956.
Franklin Flower Shop was started in 1947 by Mary Ann Harrell. In 1956 the business moved to a new building on the west side of the square. This building also was torn down in the 1990s and is now occupied by a portion of the First United Methodist Church Christian Life Center.
Hall Building ca. 1925
In the mid 1800's this was the site of a two story frame dwelling where Sam Hope and his family lived. Adjacent to the north was the Hope home. Henry Wade seems to have owned the building when fire destroyed it in 1874. The lot seems to have remained vacant until about 1896 when there was a stately building that housed a dry goods store on the first floor and the gallery of F.M. Webb who was a well known photographer in Franklin. That building burned in 1901. Mr. Webb died later that year. A new single story building was built by 1908 and was the business location of J.F. Arnold, city plumber, in 1913. That building was gone and by 1925 a vacant lot existed there.
Soon after Hall Building, known as such because it was owned by W.E Hall was located here. It was described as a concrete block building with a store on the first floor and four 2-room apartments on the second floor. Around 1925, Lige Dunn Grocery occupied the building and Harris and Yokley Grocery occupied the front of the building at least as early as 1932.
TIn 1938 E.L. Elliott moved his auto repair shop into the rear of the building. Also, in 1938 Foster Temple and Clifford Haydon bought the Harris and Yokley Grocery. In 1941 Temple bought out Haydon and it became Temple Grocery. It became Kentucky Recappers in 1944. It was in this location until 1952.