Historic Buildings in Williamson County

Franklin's First United Methodist Church

This building stands on the site of the church’s third location. The original brick sanctuary, donated by Franklin founder Abram Maury in 1799, was located on the east side of First Avenue, facing Church Street. In 1812, pioneer Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury preached there. In 1830, the church moved to the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Church Street, where the building later served as a hospital during the Battle of Franklin.

Masonic Hall

Built between 1823 and 1826, the Masonic Hall was hailed as an architectural marvel of its day. It was the first three-story building in Tennessee and, at the time of construction, the tallest structure west of the Allegheny Mountains. The Masonic Hall also played a vital role throughout the Civil War years. During the Federal occupation of Franklin, the building multi-tasked as a hospital, quartermaster offices, barracks, and a rallying ground for local Union sympathizers. Confederate spies used the hall’s roof to scout out and sketch Fort Granger, a nearby Union fortification.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the Mother Church of the Diocese of Tennessee, was completed in 1834, and stands today as the oldest Episcopal church in continual use west of the Appalachians. Rector James Hervey Otey oversaw not only the development of St. Paul's and the sanctuary, but was consecrated as Tennessee's first Episcopal bishop in 1834.