Local Legends: A haunted history of Franklin

October is here, and there is a chill in the air! While Franklin is well-known for its historic downtown, what might be lesser known are the local legends and paranormal hotspots that plague Franklin's most beloved sites. Many rumors say that ghosts have claimed their homes in many of the charming buildings downtown. Let's put on our ghost-hunting caps and explore these eerie tales, shall we?

Johnson County Museum of History 
Rumor has it that a "Lady in White" haunts the History Museum, the former Masonic Temple. The museum is a favorite spot for ghost hunters to conduct paranormal investigations. During one investigation in 2012, it was reported that investigators heard voices laughing on their digital recorder.
 
Another occurrence was reported when a museum volunteer went to the women's restroom on the first floor. She heard a whisper in her ear, and a sudden chill came over her. An apparition has also been witnessed within the second-floor auditorium, along with noises in the utility elevator.
 
In 2020, a worker replacing windows heard a static noise from the attic. After some sleuthing, he found an old-fashioned brown plastic radio in the attic. Although it was making noise, as he reached for it, he noticed it wasn't plugged in or had batteries in it!

The Willard
The Willard has been a stately presence in Franklin for more than 164 years. With that kind of age, a ghost or two is bound to be lingering. The original brick home on the corner of Main Street and Madison Avenue was built in 1860. It was a single-family home built by William and Cynthia King McCaslin. In 1922, it was sold to Eliza Patterson Willard. Eliza and her niece and nephew remodeled the interior and created an apartment in the back of the building. What we currently know as The Willard Pub, Eliza and her family ran as a hotel. Eliza was active in the Prohibition Movement in the 1920s and early 1930s, and she passed away in the apartment attached to the building. Her funeral was in what is currently the front dining room.
 
"The irony that the building is now a restaurant and a bar makes us think Eliza haunts the Willard since she was very involved in the Prohibition Movement," says Tony Priola, owner of The Willard.
 
Reports have been made of Eliza's spirit roaming the kitchen and upstairs. After hours, lights flicker, and employees have seen glasses fall off the bar, though no one had touched them. 

​The Artcraft 
According to the Ghost files in the Genealogy Library at the Johnson County Museum of History, many people have reported seeing a shadowy figure in the Artcraft auditorium's third row. Some even say they have witnessed seats moving up and down on their own! Ghost hunters have also sensed the smell of women's perfume and positive energy near the stage. Perhaps a former patron is taking a seat to watch one of their favorite shows!

Main and Madison Cafe
Before it was a beloved cafe, the building home to Main and Madison was the only hospital in Johnson County until World War II. After its time as a hospital, it became a doctor's office until it closed in 2016. The morgue is said to have been located downstairs, and there have been reports of sudden sensations of cold air that people feel and unexplained thuds have been heard in the area. 

FHI Offices and Wild Geese Bookshop 
I heard from the grapevine that a ghost haunts the old Madison Hotel, currently home to Wild Geese and the Franklin Heritage Inc. offices. One morning, when the bookshop staff entered the shop, Stanley Tucci's book Taste was propped up in the middle of the floor a few feet from the shelves as if someone had knocked it off. Late at night, staff say they have sensed something near the basement door, and unexpected noises occur.
 
Are you fascinated by the local lore and want to learn more? Make sure to check out the Historic Walk and Haunted Walk from Franklin by Foot!