Upon establishing Franklin in 1799, founder Abram Maury sold 3 lots in the town plan, including Lot 20 where our building is located, to Joseph McBride, of Nashville.
The building itself, now believed to have been built between 1806 and 1808, is the oldest commercial building still standing in Historic Franklin, Williamson County Tennessee. Known as The Old Factory Store it has housed banks, shops, restaurants, juke joints, officers club, as well as many residents on the 2nd floor.
A landmark building, perhaps the earliest Greek Revival style structure in Middle Tennessee, among other important historic buildings, the Masonic Hall, tallest west of the Allegany’s, and St. Pauls Episcopal Church, the first Anglican church in Tennessee, point to the early culture, wealth and importance of Franklin and it’s residents. Early visitors included such noted personalities as Andrew Jackson, Sam Houston and Davy Crockett. It is believed Andrew Jackson’s troops were paid here in this building upon their long journey on the Natchez Trace returning from the Battle of New Orleans in 1816. John Eaton one of Jackson’s closest friends, earliest biographers, and political allies lived directly across Main Street.
In 1825 Dyer Pearl, Thomas Parkes, and Joseph L. Campbell opened and operated a steam-powered cotton and grist mill on East Margin offering their goods from this prominent brick building on East Main. Other antebellum owners included Anderson & Baldwin (1833), Plunkett & Parkes (1843), M.G.L Claiborne (1855), and Spencer & McCoy (1858).
On December 12, 1862 the union army occupied Franklin, and U.S. Brig. Gen. David Stanley ordered the machinery destroyed at the cotton factory and the stones of the grist mill but he spared the factory store after taking five wagon loads of flour and whiskey.
Like other public buildings and homes in Franklin, this local landmark served as a hospital for the wounded after the horrible conflict on November 30, 1864. In 1869 Enoch Brown purchased the building from M.G.L Claiborne for $ 1,300, separating its economic connection with the mill on East Margin. Jeremiah Shea purchased the Factory Store in 1884, which remained in the family until 1940.
During the 20th century, the building housed Shea’s Grocery, A.J. Edwards Antiques & Furniture Repair, Elva Givens Antiques, Dotson’s Restaurant (1954-1978) and First Citizen’s Bank. For many years, in its later life, the building housed Dotson’s Restaurant before falling into severe disrepair. Kline Swinney Associates of Nashville, Tennessee worked closely with the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County and the owner to restore the building while converting it for use as the main office for a local bank. Additionally, they assisted the owner in having the structure placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Factory Store was placed on the National Register of Historic places in 1972.
In early 2005 the Tomlins purchased the building to open Landmark Booksellers.
Before-after photos courtesy of KSA Architects