2010 HIGHLIGHTS

PRESERVATION

  • Completed Franklin Theatre Design and Bids for the project
  • Applied for and received grants from the Tennessee Main Street Program and Community Enhancement for the Franklin Theatre
  • Continued partnership with the City, County, and private citizens to save Fleming Hall and Breezeway and advocated for Streetscape and gateway improvement
  • Beautification efforts in the historic district with new/refurbished benches, banners and holiday decorations
  • A host for the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference and Main Street Directors Meeting bringing over 750 national preservation professionals to Williamson County

PROMOTION

  • Held the 35th Annual Town & Country Tour of Homes showcasing 8 beautiful homes
  • Held the 37th Annual Heritage Ball at Harlinsdale Park with more than 600 guests
  • The Next Generation Heritage Foundation members hosted the third annual Three Blind Wines
  • Coordinated and designed advertising for Downtown Franklin
  • Worked with City of Franklin to design wayfinding signage to assist tourists with finding the historic district and attractions within the district. Received $10,000 grant funding from Tennessee Main Street to purchase and install the first four signs
  • Worked with other tourism stakeholders to successfully secure increased funding for tourism promotion. At this time, tourism dollars save each household in Williamson County hundreds of dollars in taxes annually.
  • Administered state and nationally certified Main Street Program for Franklin through design, promotion, organization and economic development in a commercial historic district
  • Assisted with the development of the Old Tennessee Trails tour and brochure
  • Reprinted 10,000 copies of the Civil War Driving Brochure
  • Funded ten billboards in Huntsville, Alabama to promote visiting Historic Downtown Franklin

EDUCATION

  • Over 3,500 children participated in the Heritage Classroom Program teaching students the history of where they live.
  • Published “Wish You Where Here”-A Postcard Tour of Franklin & Williamson County by Rick Warwick
  • Published Historical Markers of Williamson County, Tennessee Revised, a pictorial guide by Rick Warwick in 2010, which provides the texts with photographs for over 200 historical markers located in the county.
  • Rick Warwick provided in-service for Williamson County teachers on local history and conducted a tour of the Old Tennessee Trails (Franklin to Mt. Pleasant to Columbia and back).
  • Rick Warwick conducted a tour of the Cove, Pull-tight Hill, Cross Keyes for the Page Middle School History Club in search of Union soldiers buried in these communities.
  • Additional historical markers added since 2009 in cooperation with the Williamson County Historical Society include:
    • Williamson County Poorhouse 2009
    • Thomas Hart Benton 2010
    • Hudgins Cemetery/ Union Valley 2010
    • Liberty Hill School/ Rebecca Frances
    • Lankford Lampley 2010
    • Leigh-Morgan Property at Grassland 2010 Battle Ground Academy 2010
    • St Philip Catholic Church 2010 William White Cemetery/ Westhaven Community 2010
    • Unknown Civil War Soldier at Rest Haven Cemetery 2011
    • Old Harpeth River Bridge 2011
    • Matthew Fontaine Maury-Pathfinder of the Sea 2011

FESTIVALS

  • Produced four award-winning events that brought more than 300,000 people to Franklin: Franklin BrewFest, Main Street Festival, Pumpkinfest, Franklin’s Battle of the BBQ, and Dickens of a Christmas
  • Main Street Festival named Top Twenty Events by the Southeast Tourism Society
  • Partnered in the production of the Unknown Soldier Ceremony and Battle of Franklin illumination
  • The Main Street Festival, Dickens of a Christmas, and Pumpkinfest received first, second and third place, respectively, for favorite community event in the Sizzle Awards sponsored by Southern Exposure Magazine and Franklin Is.com.
  • Main Street voted one of the 5 most romantic Main Streets by the American Preservation Society.