When walking up the steps to 40 and 48 E. Madison Street and onto the porch, you can feel the history that emanates from nearly one hundred years of stories. Opening the solid front door, you'll step into the cozy Wild Geese Bookshop, filled floor-to-ceiling with exciting reads and curated stories meant for you to explore and enjoy. Climbing the stairs, you'll find a stained-glass window letting in beautiful light during mid-day. The second floor is home to the offices of Franklin Heritage, Inc. (FHI). While not open to the public, these offices are where the organization makes the magic happen for the Artcraft Theatre and Madison Street Salvage. As seen in 1957 while acting as a hotel. But what is today a cozy bookshop and office, many years ago was a private residence and hotel. The American Foursquare started out as a private residence in 1911. It then transitioned in the 1930s to become a hotel for travelers. The Madison Hotel was a single-room hotel for people traveling on the interurban electric railway that transported people from Indianapolis on the city's south side to Louisville, KY. As a person would get off at the station located on the southwest corner of Main and Madison, the Madison Hotel or the Willard would be two places they could stay. The Madison had seven rooms, each with its own bathroom. "That's why everyone in FHI calls it The Hotel because it was a hotel at one point in its life," says Glenn Faris, History and Preservation Coordinator for Franklin Heritage, Inc. A photo of The Madison Hotel as published in Life Magazine in 1940. After its time as a hotel, the lodging again transitioned into being private resident apartments sometime in the 70s. Up to 2013, the property was a private residence until Franklin Heritage, Inc. purchased it. "The owner of the hotel wanted a different property across town that we owned, and he owned the property that we wanted. So, we worked out a good deal. He got what he wanted. We got what we wanted. And so now FHI owns a building across the street from the theatre that holds lots of potential," says Dave Windisch, Director of Marketing for Franklin Heritage, Inc. "We thought over time, it could be a place for people to study the history of the community, store archives, or a space to hold workshops. The opportunities were endless, but we knew we needed office space for FHI." When Dave joined the FHI team in 2014, three people worked out of the Will Call office. While renovations started when the property was purchased in 2013, it took several years to get the building restored to its current state today. "I'm not gonna lie; the building was gross and a little lonely at first. I often worked alone in the office since everyone else had to be at Salvage or the Artcraft," said Dave. "But slowly, the second floor started to come together after cleaning up a couple of rooms at a time." Atterbury Job Corps workers preparing to lay attic flooring. The main floor was often a holding area for salvage, the marquee when it was being restored piece by piece, and many other things. At the beginning of the renovations, the Atterbury Job Corps and Artcraft volunteers did outstanding work to get the property back on its feet. Including work on the home's exterior, like renovating the entire front porch to be safe and usable. They also found three sets of writing underneath the 70s wallpaper on the walls in the foyer. "The Atterbury Job Corps removed the plaster and found three sets of writing under the walls from the previous people who renovated the home. It has their signatures and descriptions of what they were remodeling on the home," says Glenn. "If you look behind the different bookshelves in the front of the bookshop and wonder what's back there, you'll see the writing. One of the things we did was cover it with protective glassware like plexiglass to keep it preserved and clean." FHI still wasn't 100 percent sure what the first floor would be when Tiffany Phillips from Wild Geese called them up and said, "Hey, I like your location. Would you consider a tenant?" Wild Geese Bookshop has transformed the first floor into a welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy the space. "I don't think I could be happier about any decision than about having a tenant," said Dave.
Since the renovations needed to be finished on a timeline and meet specific needs, FHI hired out the remainder of the restorations so Wild Geese could move the bookshop into the space. In spring 2020, the renovations were completed, and the bookshop moved in that fall. The Hotel's story is a testament to the strength of historic preservation and community involvement. Its rich history has been kept alive while it grows into a central point for the community. However, it would not have been possible without the help of the local businesses, volunteers, and community.
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About MeganMegan Elaine is a writer and storyteller who lives in Franklin, IN. Archives
January 2025
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