Downtown Franklin has been chosen as one of 25 main streets across the United States to participate in Partners in Preservation: Main Streets, a community-based partnership created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express to raise awareness of the importance of preserving historic places and their role in sustaining local communities.
Partners in Preservation: Main Streets will award $2 million in grant funding from American Express to Main Street districts in need of preservation support across America. The public will determine which sites will receive funding by voting for their favorite main streets through October 31 at VoteYourMainStreet.org, the online voting portal hosted by National Geographic Travel. 
“We are excited to rally the community together to vote and win this generous funding from American Express, which will go toward preserving the historic Dr. McPhail building,” said Kristy Williams, executive director of the Main Street program. “As one of the oldest buildings in Downtown Franklin, the Dr. McPhail building holds a special place in our hearts, and we look forward to further educating residents and visitors of our rich, historic town.”
From Sept. 25 – Oct. 31, the public is encouraged to vote up to five times per day for Franklin via VoteYourMainStreet.Org. Sites with the most votes at the end of the voting period will be awarded grants, until the full $2 million is distributed. As one of the 25 finalists for this funding, Franklin has chosen to highlight the rich history behind the Dr. McPhail building, located at 209 E. Main St and currently home to Early’s Honey Stand.The Dr. McPhail building, built circa 1815, is one of the oldest structures in Downtown Franklin and once home to the Dr. Daniel McPhail medical practice, which was later taken over by Daniel McPhail’s nephew, Dr. Daniel Cliffe.
Lynda and Curt Gibbs, owners of Early’s Honey Stand added, “We love being the oldest business in Williamson Co. and located in one of the oldest and most unique buildings in Franklin. Early’s Honey Stand has sold authentic southern foods since 1925, including honey, jams, country ham, country bacon and Mr. Early’s own poke sausage, in addition to chocolate covered bacon!”
Voting is now open through Oct. 31 via VoteYourMainStreet.org, the online portal hosted by National Geographic. The public is also invited to share their experiences and celebrate Downtown Franklin on social media using #VoteYourMainStreet. The DFA will be hosting an open house and program launch event on Friday, Oct. 6 during the Franklin Art Scene festivities. Stay tuned for more details about the open house event, including a community paint-by-number piece of art. For more information about the Downtown Franklin Association, visit www.downtownfranklintn.com.
About Partners in Preservation
Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awards preservation grants to historic places across the country. Through this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America’s historic and cultural places. The program also hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities.
