The City of Franklin currently has seven (7) different locally designated historic districts, ranging in size from Everbright Avenue Historic District (5 parcels) to the Franklin Road Historic District, which extends just under two miles on the City's Northeast side. Not to be confused with the National Register Historic Districts, of which Franklin has three, local historic districts are adopted by ordinance at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and include legal enforcement of compliance with adopted historic district guidelines and regulations.
Local Historic District
Located along Adams and Stewart Streets, the Adam Street Historic District contains dwellings constructed primarily between ca. 1890 and ca. 1940. Before becoming a neighborhood, the area was prime farmland and lay just outside of the original 1800 plat of the town. The majority of homes built along Adams Street are one-story frame houses built in Folk Victorian forms with Queen Anne and Italianate detailing. Bungalow styles were also built on Adams Street during the 1920s and 1930s. The Adams Street Historic District contains a significant collection of late 19th and early 20th century dwellings. This district is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Dwellings located in the Boyd Mill Avenue Historic District consists of a diverse collection of Colonial Revival, Folk Victorian, Bungalow and Cottage residences that were constructed in the early thru mid-twentieth century. These plots were originally sold off from the estates of the White and Bushi families. The exception to this is Magnolia Hall, an 1840 residence in Italianate style built by banker William S. Campbell. The historic district received its name from the Boyd Mill, located on the turnpike that connected Franklin with Old Hillsboro Road.
The Franklin Historic District is composed of sixteen blocks of residential and commercial properties in the oldest section of the town. Within the district are Franklin's oldest residential and commercial buildings, including the public square and courthouse. The majority of the structures were built in the 19th century. Residences in the historic district run the gamut of architectural styles. Early homes were often built in the Federal style and many show through their later additions and renovations the evolution of building styles, techniques and sophistication in Middle Tennessee including Greek Revival, Italianate, and Victorian styles. The many styles of architecture exhibited in both public buildings and private residences in the Downtown Franklin Historic District compose one of the finest concentrations of such buildings in Tennessee and illustrate the continued evolution of Franklin as the governmental and commercial center of Williamson County. The Downtown Local Historic District is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Everbright Avenue Historic District is composed of 1920 Craftsman residences which were originally part of the campus of BGA which was built in 1889. The land was part of Congressman Richard Bostick's Everbright estate and passed thru the hands of Samuel Graham of Pinewood fame, and Franklin Mayor John B. Mcewen before being sold. This district represents some of the finest craftsman structures built in Williamson County.
The Franklin Road Historic District is located on the north bank of Harpeth River southwest of Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway. Included in this district are several historic homes that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places including Wyatt Hall, Riverview, Creekside, Roper's Knob, The Factory, and Harlinsdale Farm. Dates from these properties range from the early 1800's thru the 1950's and represent an array of architectural designs including Federal, Greek Revival, Folk Victorian, Neo-Classsical, and Bungalow. In 2006, Ordinance 2006-73 was passed to add additional properties on Franklin Road, Winslow Road, Myles Manor and Hooper Lane due to their linkage in significance to the Franklin Road corridor. This included, Myles Manor subdivision, which is an early example of Franklin’s subdivision that has retained its integrity of scale and design.
The Hincheyville Historic District is Franklin's first residential addition and is named for Hinchey Petway, a wealthy merchant. The district is primarily comprised of single-family residential buildings ranging in construction from ca. 1828 to the 1930's and represents the influence of Federal, Greek Revival, Victorian, Italianate, Queen Anne, Eastlake, Four Square, Bungalow, Tudor Revival, and Suburban residential styles. Hincheyville stands as an architecturally rich district representative of the major residential building trends evolving from the Federal period to the early 1930s in mid-sized towns of Middle Tennessee. The Hincheyville Local Historic District is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Lewisburg Avenue Historic District consists of an outstanding collection of late 19th and early 20th-century residential architecture located adjacent to the original town of Franklin boundaries. Since 1935 there has been little construction which has helped the district retain its original appearance and character. During the 1880s and 1890s many homes were built along this section of Lewisburg Avenue. Residences built in the district in the late 19th century included examples of the Queen Anne, Italianate, and vernacular forms of the period. Extensive construction within the district continued into the early 20th century and several fine Colonial Revival, English Tudor, and Bungalow influenced residence were built before 1935. The Lewisburg Avenue Local Historic District is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
National Register Districts
In addition to some of the local districts that are also included in the National Register, the Natchez Street Historic District is designated on the National Register but not locally designated. Franklin has numerous other individual properties that are on the National Register but are not located in historic districts.
The Natchez Street neighborhood is comprised of the central section of Natchez Street beginning at Acton Street continuing to West Main Street. The neighborhood is listed on the NR for its association with the settlement and community development patterns of African-Americans in the South from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights movement and integration. The majority of buildings in this district are of a vernacular style, using local materials, craftspeople, and construction that are unique to the Natchez Street neighborhood.
Back to top
