Franklin is my home town and boasts a tiny population of 9,000. Situated on the banks of the Bayou Teche, it is a beautiful town overrun with a history all it's own. Main Street, which follows the Bayou, is almost literally lined with elegant antebellum Homes, most still in use as private homes. We are ridiculously proud of our boulevard on the east side of town. Shaded by ancient oaks draped in moss, it boasts our trademark street lamps, many original. It is customary that the city turn the tops of the lamps at the beginning of the sugarcane harvest (which we call Grinding) to prevent damage to the glass globes by passing tractors hauling wagons loaded with cane. A walking tour of a small section of main street is recomended by the Franklin Office of Development to get an idea of the treasures that Franklin is home to. Franklin has over 450 historical properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the site of one of the major Battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Irish Bend. Grevemberg House, Located in City Park, is a miracle of dedication and hard work on the part of the Franklin Historical Society. A wonderful museum now, I remember, as a child, the derelict old wreck of a house that sat in the middle of our playground. Surrounded by modern playground equipment, picnic tables and ancient oaks the poor old house was an oddity. The adults told us it was a haunted house in the hopes of keeping us away from it. For the most part, it worked. Now it is beautifully restored, a treasure to which playground equipment has taken a back seat. More than open to the public, it is available to the people. Grevemberg House is a hands on museum where brides have their pictures done and small parties take place.   Franklin is the home of Louisiana's present Governor, Murphy "Mike" Foster, Jr. He is the Grandson of Governor Murphy J. Foster, who was our Governor at the turn of the last Century. The current Governor Foster's home, Oaklawn Manor, is a wonderful tourist attraction, open to the public. It is a Greek Revival mansion built in 1837. Once the center of a plantation community, the mansion has survived war, hurricanes and floods. Surrounded by more than a hundred Oaks, the house faces Bayou Teche. It is a lovingly restored and maintained showpiece of the Teche. As gracious and beautiful as these mansions are, they are secondary in my mind to the most magnificent building in Franklin, or just about anywhere else. The Church of The Assumption, a Catholic Church, was erected in 1913, though plans for it began in 1907. Hard times slowed the availability of money for the project, and materials were often unavailable. But the dedication of the parishioners did not waver. The ceremony dedicating the church did not end the project. The fabulous German stained glass windows were installed around 1928, once the debt on the building was paid. Then, in 1935, marble side altars were added. The project continued into the 1950's with the addition of terrazzo floors and the beautification of the ceiling. More than fifty years of hard work, dedication and love have made the Church of the Assumption a stunning monument to the faith of the Catholic community of Franklin. Franklin is not all just beautiful buildings, museums and homes. We are a diverse community with many interests and much to offer. As an example, Franklin is the home of Acadiana Aviaries, the special project of Mr. Garrie Landry. A botanist, birds are his first love and his hobby. The Bird Farm, as we locals still call it, has been around since I can remember but became Acadiana Aviaries in 1981, when the large aviary was built. Mr. Landry breeds rare Zebra Finches and Society Finches as well as other exotic finches, dove, quail, etc. Check out his site for lots if info about these special birds, and even purchasing information. While you are there, don't miss his Garden Pages. He is a botanist, after all, his garden is worth seeing. And stop in at his Franklin Louisiana page to see some wonderful pictures taken in and around Franklin. Though tourist think it strange, Franklin is not a Cajun settlement. Franklin was founded in 1808, as Carlin's Settlement, by Alexander Lewis, and was incorporated as Franklin, (after Benjamin Franklin) in 1820. Strangely, St. Mary Parish attracted more English settlers from Virginia and the Carolinas than any other of the Acadian Parishes, after the Louisiana Purchase. They mostly settled near Franklin. They developed large sugarcane plantations, thus controlling the lifeblood of the economic system. The surnames of these settlers, Caffery, Palfrey, Foster and Taylor, still can be found in any local directory. In those same directories you will also find the surnames of the exiled Acadians, in far greater numbers. Though they did not control the direction in which the town grew, they definitely participated in that growth. Boudreaux (pronounced Boo-dro), Comeaux (Co-mo), Benoit (Ben-wah), Dupuis (Doo-pwee), and Breaux (Bro) are all common surnames. Have no doubt, the influence of their ancestors continues to be felt, in the most positive way.  

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