Courthouse Square
When Simpson County was created in 1819, a log structure was built as a courthouse. No pictures have been found of this structure or if even possibly another structure replaced it before 1859. There were also other structures on the courthouse square such as a sulfur well, police station, new-stand, Chamber of Commerce, and a mineral well. There was even a church in the north west area of the courthouse lawn in the mid 1800's.
The courthouse was built about 1859. Arsonist burned it in May 1882. This view is possibly from the east looking west and possibly the Boisseau Hotel is in the background. Many records and documents were lost in the fire. No one was ever arrested.
One of the oldest pictures of the courthouse is possibly the north east corner of the square. They appear to be working on a well which would indicate this is the north east corner but wells were bored in 1887 at all four corners of the square.
This picture could possibly predate the previous picture because the trees appear to be smaller. Judging from the maturity of the trees this could be be soon after it was built in 1882, This seems to be a view from the north east corner because the seems to be a three story building in the background that is possibly the Boisseau Hotel.
Courthouse 1913
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​In the early 1900's Franklin began to have electricity and telephone service. There appears to be wires running across the photo in this photo. The iron fence is still around the courthouse with gates at the entrances and the trees have grown considerably.
The trees have grown enough that evidently they needed trimming. This seems to be from the south west corner with Wade's Hall in the background on the right. At this time there seem to be shutters on the lower windows.
The fence around the courthouse was removed and sold to Franklin Female College in 1916.
This photo from 1942 shows benches around the square. It is also the first time we see a white clock face and a glass globe street light at the right. The trees are smaller than previous photos so it can be assumed the original trees had been cut and replaced.
This 1951 photo shows parking meters for the first time and the chimneys have been removed. This was taken from the north west corner with the Patterson and Knapp building in the background on the right.
The mineral well was at the north east corner of the square. These pictures can be assumed to be the early 1900's because of the presence of electric lines but the absence of automobiles. Aa bandstand can be seen at the right in the courthouse lawn.
Obviously and early picture of the Mineral Well because of the attire of the ladies on the right but the structure is different from other renderings. The Presbyterian Church is in the background on the right.
The Chamber of Commerce building was built on the North East corner of the square in 1937. It was torn down in 1965.