Silent Structures, Living Stories

Celebrating Preservation Month in Franklin

In Williamson County, history is not tucked away behind museum glass but is living throughout the county. As we celebrate Preservation Month, communities across the country take time to recognize the importance of protecting the places that tell their stories. Franklin offers no shortage of examples. Through restoration efforts and a commitment to honoring its past while embracing growth, the city has preserved parts of its heritage that might otherwise have been lost to time. From landmarks to carefully restored spaces, these sites serve as reminders that preserving history is also a way to preserve community. As Mary Pearce, the previous Executive Director of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, so appropriately said, “Historic Franklin did not happen by accident.” Historic preservation not only preserves the city’s stories but also serves as a major economic driver in Franklin.

According to the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, in 2024, historic preservation attracted 8.8 million visitors to Williamson County, spending $3.74 million per day. Preservation efforts have transformed Franklin into a nationally recognized heritage tourism destination, as well as a premier residential community. The Carothers House, American Legion Post 215 and the Merrill-Williams House are only a few examples of the deep-rooted African American history in this county, but they are prime examples of the preservation that can be accomplished and the rich history that is saved in the process.

John Henry Carothers House on Huffines Ridge

This one-and-a-half story limestone farmhouse was constructed by African American farmer John Henry Carothers in 1937 with the help of his son, Ezeal Carothers. John Henry Carothers was well known to locals for his craftsmanship, and the interior stone fireplace, as well as the exterior stone walls, are a testament to his talent. The limestone used to build the home was quarried from the property itself, somewhere on the twenty-six acres. After saving for twenty-six years, in 1933, John Henry purchased the land for twenty-five dollars per acre. The Carothers family farmed fourteen acres of the property, growing tobacco, wheat, hay and a kitchen garden. The house, standing as the centerpiece of the Carothers’ farm, exemplifies early twentieth-century Black landownership in the rural Jim Crow South, a time when many Black farmers didn’t own the land they worked. Ownership of the farm allowed the Carothers to participate in market agriculture on their own terms, as well as grow their own food.

The property witnessed Franklin’s growth throughout the twentieth century and, in 2019, was acquired by residential developers. The Carothers Family, in partnership with Goldberg Companies Inc., the city of Franklin, the African American Heritage Society of Williamson County, and Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation, all acted early to preserve the house and all the history it encapsulates.

American Legion Post 215

Brooks Fleming Jr. American Legion Post 215 on 11^th Avenue in Franklin was first founded in 1946, shortly after World War II, and later chartered to serve African American veterans during segregation. The namesake of Post 215, Brookes Fleming Jr., was one of the first Black soldiers killed in the war. When soldiers returned from overseas, white veterans were supplied with Legion Post 22, but due to segregation laws, black veterans were left without. The late Army SSgt. Williams F. Scruggs sought a place to gather and found the building on 11^th.  The building not only served to support Black veterans but also served as a community hub - welcoming community meetings, family reunions, celebrations and more.

In 1990, the post closed due to dwindling membership. For nine years, Post 215 was inactive. It was feared that, without action, the building would be lost. The “Limestone Five,” Donnell Lane, William Scruggs, brothers David and James Carothers and Harvey Chrisman began fundraising to give the post a new life. Currently, there are approximately sixty-five members, and it is still growing. The Legion has become a very active part of the community and continues to support all veterans in Williamson County, preserving local veterans’ history and legacy.

264 Natchez Street

On April 11, 1881, Moses Merrill purchased the lot where the Merrill-Williams house would later stand. After Emancipation, freedmen began to purchase property in this area, including Moses Merrill, who had been in bondage for forty years. His former owner, Charles A. Merrill, a Nashville slave trader, had bequeathed land and a yearly stipend of $100 a quarter to Moses. Now known as the Natchez Street Historic District, the area became a thriving African American community and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. Moses eventually transferred his property to Thomas A. Williams, a local grocer and teacher. Thomas was the son of the legendary A.N.C. Williams, a freedman and the first African American to own a business in Franklin.

Working in partnership with Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation, the African American Heritage Society has since raised more than $1.2 million to restore and transform the home into an African American heritage center. The house, given new life, will honor the people who lived there and the surrounding Natchez community.

To complete funding for the Merrill-Williams House, the African American Heritage Society is asking for 150 donors to contribute a tax-deductible $1,000 to become a Friend of 264. Help preserve Franklin’s history by supporting 264 Natchez Street.

Juneteenth Coming to Bi-Centennial Park

This year, the African American Heritage Society of Williamson County is hosting its annual Juneteenth Celebration at the new Bicentennial Park. Honoring freedom, community and heritage, the event will be free to the public and offer significant opportunities to learn about the history of the national holiday, celebrating victory over slavery.

---

For more information about the Juneteenth celebration, visit aahswc.org.