The Heritage Foundation
Who We Are
The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving our historic resources in Franklin and Williamson County, Tennessee. Among our programs is the award-winning Main Street Program, the Downtown Franklin Association, which promotes and revitalizes the 150 unique places to explore in the 15-block downtown National Register District.
What We Do
The Heritage Foundation works together with more than 1,000 members to protect and preserve historic resources and continue the revitalization of Historic Downtown Franklin.
Over the years, our accomplishments have included saving historic buildings and landscapes, doing surveys and inventories of our historic resources, nominating properties to the National Register, Streetscape in downtown Franklin, sponsoring a Heritage Classroom program, publishing books, advocating for preservation and sponsoring educational programs.
Private Preservation: Develop private sector policy initiatives that encourage the protection and preservation of historic sites and landscapes.
Main Street Program: Operate the Downtown Franklin Association under the Main Street guidelines established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Finance: Develop long-range funding plan that will provide financial stability for annual operating and major projects.
Fundraising: Produce special events that promote the mission of the organization and provide funds.
Membership: Attract members who support the goals of the organization.
Our History
In the late 1960s, residents of Franklin witnessed the loss of one of the most well-known, architecturally significant antebellum homes to a gas station. This prominent loss of a home at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Bridge Street, built by landowner Nicholas Perkins, outraged a small group of determined citizens and galvanized them into The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County.
It was becoming clear that a town with historic agrarian roots and a county with a rural legacy were at risk of losing those features to urban sprawl.
On March 7, 1968, an organizational meeting was held to create the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. The founders were some of the most well-known citizens in the community and included: James H. Armistead Sr., John Beasley, Sue Douglas Berry, Billy Billington, Duncan Callicott, Stewart Campbell Sr., Mrs. James H. Campbell, Henry Goodpasture, Judge Frank Gray Jr., Mrs. George Harris, Mrs. Willis Hayes, Judge John Henderson, Mrs. William King, J.N.W. Lee III, Mrs. Livingfield More, Glen Noble, Paul Ogilvie and James Watkins.
The mission established by this group was to “conserve the best of the past and to plan for the benefit of the future.”
The following years saw an organization devoted to saving the architectural, geographical and cultural history of Franklin and Williamson County. It started with saving historic buildings. Individual properties were saved, and the entire 15-block downtown was placed on the National Register, followed by three surrounding residential districts. An education campaign began on the importance of historic preservation to our community, and that spawned the Heritage Classroom that now brings local history programs to more than 10,000 school children annually.
Then attention turned to Franklin’s historic Main Street, already assured its place on the National Register but obscured by aluminum siding, competing signs and lackluster business. The early preservationists in Franklin and Williamson County learned that to make historic preservation meaningful it must be done in the context of the whole community with attention to preserving the historic heritage of all its citizens.
The Heritage Foundation took root as an organization and grew steadily from 207 members in 1972 to 897 families and businesses in 2002. The national preservation movement guided its focus. Board members attended National Trust conferences, visited historic towns and brought back what they learned. Emphasis was first placed on preserving landmarks. Then, like the national progression, efforts were made to save the neighborhoods, provide education and public awareness and revitalization of Main Street. Local successes in these areas gained Franklin national recognition as a historic treasure and brought Franklin a Great American Main Street Award in 1995.
As the heart of our community was saved, the rural landscapes, gateways and corridors were slipping away to strip shopping centers and urban sprawl. This time, growth and development pressure required a more comprehensive approach to historic preservation. The organization began to identify and focus its efforts on the critical growth and preservation issues facing our town and county. The Heritage Foundation has tried to find a way to balance the growth of our community with the importance of preserving a sense of place, on historic, geographic and cultural resources.
Thanks to the Foundation, more than 150 Williamson County properties are on the National Register of Historic Places, more than in any Tennessee County, more in fact, than any place outside of Virginia. In addition, the Foundation helped provide for the revitalization and promotion of Franklin’s historic Main Street and downtown area, purchased the historic properties of the Cotton Gin house and Roper’s Knob, and continues to educate over 10,000 children annually on the history of Franklin, its buildings and its architecture with the Heritage Classroom program. In recent years there have been other struggles too: to keep the post office, the courthouse and the library in downtown Franklin, to urge residential zoning and planning to mitigate sprawl and encourage true neighborhoods.
Another major change took place on November 25, 1998 when the Heritage Foundation merged with the Downtown Franklin Association (which had been created in 1982 to promote the continued viability of Franklin’s central business district) to create a unified force for strengthening Franklin’s rich past and ensuring an equally promising future. The struggle will continue, of course. Some properties have been saved; some have been lost.
Still, the Heritage Foundation has been the one consistent advocate of the quality of life we all hold precious. It welcomes everyone who wants life in Franklin and Williamson County to be as good for their children and grandchildren as it is for us today.