Many know Franklin’s bloody history—and, some say, haunted by it. From the creaky halls of historic homes to the offices…eerie encounters abound. Locals and staff alike have reported ghostly whispers, shadowy figures, and chilling sensations in unexpected places. What started as small-town lore has become personal for many who’ve experienced the unexplainable firsthand. As Halloween approaches, we’re sharing spine-tingling stories from some of Franklin’s most haunted spots. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, these tales may just change your mind.

Hyde - Daniel Christian House

404 Bridge Street

Owned by Dianne Christian and Matt Daniel and home to the office of YOUR Community Media and YOUR Williamson, this 1920's cottage is not short on chilling tales from the current tenants. The resident ghost has been named Benjamin—thanks to a ghost detector app used when they moved into the offices. Staff members have had their own eerie encounters that they have shared and, we are positive, more are to come.

Anna says she doesn’t just believe in ghosts—she knows they’re real. Soon after moving in, she heard unexplained footsteps and a door closing, though the office alarms never triggered and all doors were locked. Her most chilling moment came at Christmas time when her three‑year‑old daughter, alone at the end of the hallway, ran to her saying, “Mommy, there’s a man back there.” When Anna investigated, no one was present, but her daughter described the man in detail—hands on his head and there was red in his hair—saying he told her, “I want you.” Anna feels perhaps this may have been the ghost of a soldier from the Battle of Franklin. She does not feel there was any malice and that possibly there was more to what he planned to say before her daughter ran to her… Maybe something not too scary, along the lines of: “I want you to know I am a nice ghost!”

Initially a skeptic, Christian dismissed ghost stories as attention-seeking—until she experienced two encounters herself. While working late one evening, she glimpsed a silhouette of a man in a heavy coat partially hidden behind a door. Thinking it was a trick of headlights, she waited—but the figure never reappeared. More terrifying was her second experience: as she worked one night, a deep, gurgled voice whispered “Hey” or “Hello” inches from her ear. She even felt the breath on her face. Christian bolted from the building without shoes, calling her husband to come get her. Other employees have also seen and heard strange things... including the smell of cigarette smoke inside the building while there alone.

After hearing their coworkers’ accounts, Shelly, Johnny and their children decided to take a lighthearted “Ghostbusters” approach. Armed with a ghost-hunting app and a video camera, they investigated the office late one Saturday night. The footage and readings added a playful but eerie dimension to the building’s already growing reputation. You can watch the frightfully fun investigation on YOUR Williamson’s social media.

Howarth House

137 3rd Avenue North

The Howarth House—also known as Cherry Manor—has long been rumored to be one of the most haunted buildings in the state. Built in the 1800s, the home has served as a Civil War hospital, a nursing home, and even college classrooms. Its long and varied history has left behind more than just stories—many believe it’s also home to lingering spirits. The most well-known ghost is “Peggy,” a female apparition frequently seen on the second floor, especially by men. Former owner Jim Short claimed he awoke to a cold blast of air and saw a misty figure hovering above him. His children later reported seeing a woman at the top of the stairs. Other unexplained events include chandeliers shaking, music mysteriously blasting from empty rooms, books falling from shelves, and decorative plates shattered without cause.

Visitors have reported being watched, hearing phantom footsteps, and even seeing an elderly woman yelling at them through a window—when the house was supposedly empty. Despite its beautiful restoration by the Howarth family, the house retains an eerie energy. Whether skeptic or believer, the Howarth House continues to draw curiosity from ghost hunters and locals alike.

Lotz House

1111 Columbia Ave

Susan and J.T. Andrews, owners of the Lotz House, share some intriguing and unexplainable experiences tied to the historic property. One memorable event involved a 1970s copier on the top floor, which the previous owners couldn’t move. After purchasing tools to dismantle it, they found the tools gone by the next day, despite only them being in the house. After buying more tools, they discovered all the missing tools neatly lined up on a windowsill behind the copier, even though no one had entered the home. 

In 2007, on the anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, Susan and J.T. spent the night in the house. They heard drums outside, but when they went to investigate, there was no activity. Back inside, they heard the drumming coming from upstairs. Later, Susan saw the shadow of a distressed woman in a long gown holding a candle and calling out, “Where’s Ann?” before disappearing.

The ghosts at Lotz House are also known to interact with the Goo Goo Clusters on the counter, often knocking them off or arranging them in strange patterns, such as spelling out “No (heart shape)” with bullets on the anniversary of 9/11. Staff and visitors frequently report seeing soldiers walking the halls, hearing drums, and even spotting a little girl in the red room, where the most activity occurs. The alarm system often goes off in the early morning with no explanation.

Maury Darby Building

304 Public Square

Sitting on Franklin’s square is Maury Darby Building, currently owned by John and Jamie Dooley. The building is home to Twine Graphics and the business owners have experienced several unexplained occurrences over the past eight years. Objects frequently fall off shelves and a mysterious thud, from upstairs, is heard regularly at 3pm. Visitors have also reported seeing magazine pages turn on their own. The Franklin Walking Tours held a special ghost tour last October, highlighting the tragic murder-suicide that occurred upstairs in the 1920s. After one tour guide shared that when they expressed skepticism about the supernatural, they ended up tripping on the stairs multiple times that day—adding to the eerie atmosphere of the location.