Civic Buildings and Gathering Places The historic districts continued to transform as areas saw revitalization and reinvestment. A number of historic buildings were advocated for or saved and rehabilitated by preservation groups through strategic partnerships, community collaboration, and volunteerism. Others saw private reinvestment that led to the preservation and rehabilitation of historic resources, and others were public-private partnerships. Some of these include the County Courthouse and its location, the “Old, Old Jail”, the U.S. Post Office, the Franklin Theatre, and the Factory at Franklin. From 2004 to 2010, the Heritage Foundation lobbied the county government to restore the Williamson County Courthouse, a Greek Revival-style landmark on the Public Square. The organization was also successful in convincing the county government to construct a new Judicial Center and Courthouse in the commercial district, instead of building on the outskirts of town. Local preservationists felt that keeping civic buildings in the historic business district would help keep downtown economically stable.57 The “Old, Old Jail,” an Art Moderne-style landmark constructed in 1942, was saved from near demolition by the Heritage Foundation. Renovation of the long-vacant and rundown building was completed in 2016.58 The “Old, Old Jail” was renovated into a restaurant and later a museum. The Franklin Post Office, a Colonial Revival-style building, was constructed in 1925. Significant alterations and additions were made to the building in 1965 and 1992. In the late 1990s, the United States Postal Service (U.S.P.S.) announced the move of operations out of downtown and thus declared the building as surplus property. Grassroots movement to save the building quickly began, and Williamson County purchased the building. 57 Bibb 2025. 58 Heritage Foundation 2025; Robinson 2017. Later in 2007, the City agreed to a property swap with Williamson County to own the building. In 2012, the City began the process of restoring the building in coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office. Today, a portion of the building still operates as a post office. The Franklin Theatre, an Art Deco-style landmark that operated from 1937–2007 on Main Street. In 2008, the Foundation’s Save the Franklin Theatre campaign resulted in the purchase and rehabilitation as a 300seat theatre and live music venue, completed in 2011. The $8.5 million project resulted in the replication of the original metal marquee canopy and neon lights, which had been removed in 1970. Franklin Theatre today (Source: FranklinTheatre.com; Heritage Foundation) While the Factory at Franklin was saved from demolition during Phase 2 of Modern Preservation, it has continued to see reinvestment and transformation in Phase 3. The property exchanged hands in 2012 and then again in 2021. Beginning in 2022, the adaptively re-developed venue, which includes retail shopping, restaurants, and a theater for performances and plays, re-opened in phases. The Factory at Franklin has become one of the most important economic development projects in Franklin and has already become an economic catalyst and tourism generator for the city. 94 FRANKLIN, TN | PRESERVATION PLAN
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