Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration, which comes from the teaching of biography and history.
– Carter G. Woodson
Included in today’s issue of The Franklin Press is our annual Business Through the Years special section. It’s a photographic reminder how Franklin looked decades ago.
From the building of the Johnston-Porter Building in 1887 to the opening of Moffit Funeral Care in 2020, businesses have thrived in Macon County, in good times and bad.
Macon County residents endured the Spanish Flu of 1918, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War and the Desert Storm. Businesses and people battled through the Great Depression and recession after recession after recession.
Despite the set-backs and the losses, the county continues to thrive. Yes, geography played a role in our success. While early in the county’s history the mountain terrain made access more difficult, it was the remoteness and the natural beauty that drew people here to find rest and spiritual renewal. That influx of people, coupled with mountain grit and determination, has allowed the county to thrive.
As you look through the pages of Business Through the Years, note the businesses that have anchored our community through the years and enjoy the images that are visual reminders of local history. The photos of buildings, businesses and a way of life long gone are always fascinating to ponder. For some, they are memories; for others a local history lesson to show how far we’ve come.
The focus is on how the local economy has changed over the years, so we’ve included plenty of vintage photos of stores and business. But it is the people who are the engineers of progress and you’ll see many familiar names from days gone by - the ancestors of families that continue to take leading roles in Macon County life.