PRESERVING THE PAST​ FOR OUR FUTURE!
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  • Restorations
    • Completed >
      • 549 N Hurricane
      • 600 N Hurricane
      • 800 E King
      • 248 N Water
      • 425 E Jefferson
      • 901 E Jefferson
      • 852 East Jefferson
      • 43-49 N Main
      • 98 North Jackson
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    • Current >
      • 48 E Madison
      • Artcraft Theatre
  • Madison Street Salvage
  • Artcraft Theatre
2014-
  • FHAS launches its own website. 
  • New curtains are installed at the Artcraft theatre. 
2013-
  • Franklin Heritage acquires 48 East Madison Street 
  • Franklin Heritage Architectural Salvage opens to the public for the first time. 
2012-
  • The Artcraft hosts its first Hitchcock Film Festival as well as celebrates its 90 year anniversary. 
  • The Artcraft hosts its first Taste of Home Cooking School class
2011-
  • Franklin Heritage acts as the general contractor with the renovation of the facade for 43-49 north Main street. 
2010-
  • FHI receives the Best Statewide Renovation of a Historic Building by the Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology for the front Facade renovation project of 2009-2010.
2009-
  • Franklin Heritage Inc. celebrates its 25th anniversary. 
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2008-
  • The Artcraft receives a new screen. 
  • Franklin Heritage closes on 901 E. Jefferson St. 
  • The backstage restoration of The Historic Artcraft Theatre begins with the removal of the ceiling. 
  • June of 2008 brings heavy rains causing “The Great Franklin Flood of 2008”     
2007-
  • Christmas came to FHI with the rebuilding of a second 35mm projector. 
  • FHI purchases another property located at 901 East Jefferson.  
2006-
  • Randy Jones and Tracy Mobely become the first couple to wed at the theatre. 
  • Franklin Heritage kicks off it’s capital campaign “Reaching Across Generations-The Campaign to Restore the Artcraft Theatre.”

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2005-
  • A historic home located at 425 East Jefferson Street is donated to Franklin Heritage, Inc 
  • “The Hartkorn House,” was purchased by Franklin Heritage in June of 2005. The home is located at 49 East Madison Street.  
  • 248 North Water Street is sold to Bob and Lois Stone.    
2004-
  • On January 21, 2004 the Board of Directors votes 15-3 to proceed with the purchase of The Artcraft and its contents. The purchase is finalized on April 20th.
  • Franklin Heritage formally acquires its fourth property located at 248 North Water Street.  
  • FHI property at 800 East King Street was sold on July 9, 2004 to David and Debbie Williams after finishing exterior restoration.
  • The Sandi Servaass Memorial Award  was presented to Franklin Heritage, Inc. for a second time in October of 2004 in response to our success with The Historic Artcraft Theatre  
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2003-
  • 600 Hurricane Street is sold to Daniel Wagner 
  • In late April, the owners of The Artcraft first approach FHI about the purchase and restoration of the theatre  
  • FHI develops a program with local schools called “Teaching with History”    
2002-
  • Courses are offered by FHI intended for potential homeowners. These workshops, taught by community leaders and professionals covered topics such as understanding how credit works, pre-qualifications for homebuyers and determining how much you can afford to pay for a home.
  • Webb Elementary Fourth-Grade History Helpers, the Johnson County Museum of History, and Franklin Printing, Inc. assisted FHI’s publication of the Self-Guided Walking Tour of Historic Architecture.
2001-
  • Franklin Heritage receives its third house, Rosalia Ott Farmhouse, including all contents as a donation to the organization. 
  • Kim Smith is hired as FHI’s first administrative assistant.
  • 549 Hurricane Street is purchased by Anne Green and Joseph McGuinness 
  • Franklin Heritage starts "Classic Cinema on a Classic Screen" by renting the Artcraft Theatre from the Willard.     
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2000-
  • FHI was the recipient of a $60,000 Leadership Challenge Grant from The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. This grant matched the $40,000 already raised to create a full-time executive director’s position for Rob Shilts.    
  • Mike Rembusch, owner of the Artcraft, puts the theatre up for sale in May of 2000 and it is purchased by the Williard . 
  • FHI acquired its second property in June of 2000 located at 600 North Hurricane  
1999-
  • FHI was awarded two-thousand dollars from the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and a five-thousand dollar grant from the Johnson County Community Foundation to fund a study to determine if the old Franklin High School was suitable to be used for office space. 
1998- 
  • May 20th Board elections result in the expansion of the Board of Directors to 21 members. 
  • FHI made an offer on the house at 549 Hurricane Street and closed on the property October 15, 1998.
  • After 16 years, Franklin Heritage finally leases space for an office located in the old REMC building. 
1997-
  • Rob Shilts holds his first Board Meeting as Board President.
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1996-
  • Franklin Heritage decided to get back to the “basics.” i.e.  Restoration and Preservation.
1995-
  • Franklin Heritage contacts The Artcraft in February of 1995 concerning their plans to show a film titled, “Franklin This Is Your City,” for preservation week.    
  • Franklin Heritage asks the City to restrict traffic flow on Yandes and Hurricane Street to keep our brick streets looking beautiful and the City restricted heavy trucks from traveling on these streets
1994-
  • In October of 1994 FHI hosts its bi-annual home tour. 
1993- 
  • On February 27, 1993 the first “Cabin Fever Frolic” is held. The trip was an antiquing trip to Louisville, Kentucky by bus.
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1992-
  • Johnson County Department of Community Correction began to provide eight to fourteen men each weekend to work the brick streets allowing for them to be completed. 
  • The Hopewell Presbyterian Church and Franklin Heritage hold an ice cream social in October. Event includes a speech by Richard Skidmore, Civil War expert and author of The Civil War Journal of Billy Davis: From Hopewell, Indiana to Port Republic, Virginia.
1991-
  • A position statement letter is composed against the zoning ordinance that was allowing single-family homes to renovate into multiple-family homes.
  • Franklin Heritage prevents the Tabernacle Christian Church from the demolition of two identical brick homes and they are standing sturdily in Franklin to this day
1990-
  • FHI Board of Directors is disbanded, with the exception of Teresa Bingham and Bill Longest. 
  • In 1990, Marsh Davis of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana was brought in to facilitate the board restructuring process. 
1989-
  • An emblem featuring Old Main on the Franklin College campus along with the words “Historic Franklin” is designed for promotion of the historic qualities in Franklin and for FHI fundraising.
  • FHI sends questionnaires to current members that are used as an inquiry of what direction our members wanted to move. 
  • Franklin Heritage hosts its Historic Homes by Candlelight Tour. 
1987-
  • FHI hosts its first Bi-Annual Home Tour, including horse-drawn buggy rides starting and a lemonade stand on Martin Place.
  • After Months of battling against Franklin Planning Commission, FHI  wins the zoning battle allowing several neighborhoods, including to remain residential areas.
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1986-
  • FHI Board of Directors oppose city plans to widen North Main Street between Madison and Adams Street. 
  • Thanks to partners HLFI and FHI an “L-shaped” area of homes located are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Franklin Heritage, Inc. is awarded the Sandi Servaas Memorial Award for working with Board Member Sheila Hutcheon’s fifth-grade art students. 
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1985-
  • Johnson County Historical Society, along with Franklin Heritage, Inc. present the first Community Preservation Awards to Suzanne Findley and the Harold Miller family.
  • FHI teams up with the City Planner for the Downtown Revitalization Project.
  • The results of the architectural and historical survey of Johnson County are presented as the Johnson County Interim Report.
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1984-
  • Has classes dedicated to repainting and restoring homes such as "How to Restore Wood Windows" and "How to Paint Your House." 
  • First considers purchasing and restoring homes. 
  • Board discusses preservation of Franklin's historic brick streets. 
1983- 
  •  Franklin Heritage forms when a group of concerned members of the community noticed that our once beautiful old buildings and lush tree lined streets were deteriorating and made a decision to do something about it.
  • FHI Board of Directors meets for the first time in October of 1983.
  • Chris Hext acts as first President. 
  • Dedicates its first tree in its Street Relining project.     
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Franklin Heritage, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) historic preservation group. 317-736-6823
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • Classic Movie Series
    • Volunteer with Us
    • Contact
  • Restorations
    • Completed >
      • 549 N Hurricane
      • 600 N Hurricane
      • 800 E King
      • 248 N Water
      • 425 E Jefferson
      • 901 E Jefferson
      • 852 East Jefferson
      • 43-49 N Main
      • 98 North Jackson
      • 49 E Madison
      • 350 East Madison
    • Current >
      • 48 E Madison
      • Artcraft Theatre
  • Madison Street Salvage
  • Artcraft Theatre