Footprints of Franklin

Riding the Rails

Riding The Rails – Franklin Interurban Train The subject of building more commuter trains has been discussed in the last few years, but in 1904, there actually was an electric rail service in Franklin that began in the St. Martin’s area. St. Martin’s became a hub for travelers from Mukwonago,…

Read More

Remembering The Area Called Harrisburg

The name was “Harrisburg,” and it once was one of four hamlets in Franklin that developed along major transportation routes, similar to St. Martins, Painesville and Oakwood. Harrisburg was located at the intersection of St. Martin’s Rd. and S. North Cape Rd. near the western edge of Franklin. A mile…

Read More

From Crops to Stone: The Story of The Franklin Quarry

It was 1940 and a man named James Buckley was watching a culvert being built on Rawson Avenue when he noticed a lot of rocks close to the surface of the land. He then decided to buy several hundred acres of land in the area in speculation of finding a…

Read More

Remembering Franklin’s Only Wooden Silo

It was the only wooden silo on a Franklin farm and for years it was recognized as a landmark because of its unusual construction. It was stamped with the dates 1903 and 1914 and made of wood that went horizontally around the outside while the wood on the inside was…

Read More

The Buckhorn Tavern – A Long and Colorful History

For Sale — 1.24 acres — Commercial Property. The realty sign at the northwest corner of Hwy. 100 (Ryan Rd.) and 27th St. is another reminder of changes for the old Buckhorn Tavern in Franklin. Facing an uncertain future, the business is one of two buildings on the corner that…

Read More

Coming to the Rescue – A History of the Franklin Fire Department

In the early years of Franklin, the village of St. Martins was the site of a volunteer Fire Department House located at the intersection of Church St. and St. Martins Rd. Later, the firehouse was moved to St. Martin’s Square (Market Square) and then back again to St. Martin’s Rd.…

Read More

Businesses of St Martins

THE EARLY BUSINESSES OF ST. MARTINS A windmill, a brewery, a general store, and a farm implement dealer—these were some of the early businesses of Franklin. Located in St. Martins, they provided products and services for the rural population of the area. Even though all four of these no longer…

Read More

Pioneer Cemeteries – Reminders of The Past

When presenting the history of the Franklin area, the final resting places of its earliest settlers are sometimes overlooked. Often people pass by these cemeteries and are unaware of their existence or that these grave markers tell a story about the immigrant families that chose to settle in Franklin. What…

Read More

Sacred Heart School of Theology

The Sacred Heart School of Theology, located on Hwy. 100 near Rawson Avenue, was originally known as the Sacred Heart Monastery and as a seminary for the training of men into the priesthood. It was originally built across the street from the present buildings. The original building was built in…

Read More

When Ice Cutting Was Winter Work

PHOTO:  This is an old photo of the ice house that stood in St. Martins until 2008.  It was used as an ice house from 1850-1935. If this was the early 20th century it would be that time of the year when ice harvesting on the lakes, ponds and rivers would…

Read More
Load More

Get Involved with the Franklin Historical Society