Franklin

Images of America: Tennessee

by Joe Johnston

Students of the Civil War know Franklin, Tennessee, for the major battle that happened here, but there is a lot more to the story. In fact, Main Street in Franklin is a glimpse into 250 years of history. Within a few blocks surrounding the public square, some of the city's original buildings now house the newest and most popular shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues in Middle Tennessee. Franklin has been a center for agriculture and manufacturing. It is a place where families can enjoy small-town life on the interstate. It is home to a college. It has always been the seat of Williamson County. Franklin's small businesses have a habit of sticking around for decades, often passing through generations of the same family. Franklin is as quaint and picturesque as it is exciting and progressive, because it continues to attract the kind of people who have always made it that way.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2014

About the author

The Storyhound, Joe Johnston, continues to delight readers as a powerful author of narrative history, with his newest book, "Grits to Glory: How Southern Cookin' God So Good. His criminal histories include "It Ends Here: Missouri's Last Vigilante," "Necessary Evil: Settling Missouri with a Rope and a Gun," and "The Mack Marsden Murder Mystery: Vigilantism or Justice?" all three in the Vigilante Series from Missouri History Museum.

Born in Missouri and reared on the plains of Oklahoma, he naturally became a student of the blending of American culture. His family vacations centered around such Western destinations as the Rocky Mountains, Buffalo Bills grave, and Taos, and his fascination with the history of people, places, and families is unending. He restored a log cabin in the woods of Tennessee, enjoys wilderness adventures, and enjoys outdoor adventures.

Beyond his love for history, Joe is a creative whirlwind, an author, an accomplished artist, and an award-winning songwriter. A career in advertising included the invention of McDonalds now-famous Happy Meal.

Johnston has also published s "Jesus Would Recycle,"other ebooks: "How To Fail in the Music Business or Succeed if You'd Rather," and "Somethin' from Nothin: the Four Dimensions of Creativity." He illustrated books for Thomas Nelson and other publishers, and his writing is published regularly in various magazines.

Reviews

[Tommy Kiedis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joe Johnston provides a delightful pictorial guide to the early years of Franklin, Tennessee. Franklin is the third "Images of America" publication I have read. Each has provided interesting photos, careful documentation, and interesting insights and anecdotes of highlighted city.

Johnston showed me E.M. Bounds, the author of the classic Power Through Prayer, "spending days walking and praying over the battlefield and the city" after the Battle of Franklin. He has me wanting to dig deeper into why General Hood ordered a frontal assault in that fateful battle, against the judgement of some advisors. He introduced me to three of the famed Tuskegee Airmen as well as little known folks who make Franklin what it is today.

Three reasons to read:

1. Historical context: Johnston provides a steady historical narrative through pictures and captions.

2. Great pictures: If you enjoy old photos--clearly identified--you will love this work.

3. A sampling: The book does not claim to be a definitive history, but a sampling of the people and events that made Franklin the place it is today. It hits the mark.

Great for the visitor or the resident who wants to dig a little deeper into his/her town.

[Mark Bullard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of historical pictures and interesting captions. They were not always right. I think some pictures were inverted in printing. They are each interesting but they are not organized in a manner to tell a compelling narrative. There were glimpses but never realized. Trying to do too much and in so doing, achieving little.

[BJ McSt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done. Have lived in Franklin for a total of 30 years out of the last 40+ and learned things I didn't know.