“These paintings were shipped from New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina.” Okay this got our attention.
As we travel we are amazed at how often our native area and culture is intertwined into places we are visiting. So we were in Franklin KY visiting the Old Jail and Jailer’s Quarters home to the Simpson County Museum and our guide was describing various pieces of history. He started discussing paintings from New Orleans and how they were given to the museum. It always amazes us as how we are all interconnected in some way.The museum houses various archived county records including court documents, tax records, marriage records, will and deeds along with a collection of genealogical records. Besides county records, donated personal collections are also housed. Some of the items are funeral home records, family bibles, manuscripts and other personal items such as paintings, household furniture and appliances and so on. These are housed in the jailer’s quarters on both the first and second floor.
In the jail, cells have been left almost untouched. The quarters are small, almost tiny. Despite the size of each cell, multiple inmates were held in each one. Chains were still present, shackles embedded in the concrete structure. Realizing criminals were housed here, it is still difficult to visualize men living in the cells.
Not in the jail or quarters but down the street is the United Methodist Church. This church is part of the unique history of Franklin. In March 1968, Johnny Cash and June Carter came across the state line for a quiet wedding ceremony in the church. One town resident told us that the citizens of Franklin were invited to go to the choir loft and observe the ceremony. She told us, she did not go because she was eight months pregnant and did not want to climb the stairs. To this day her son is upset because he could have told everyone he went to the Cash Carter wedding.
It is an interesting setting for a museum since it is also a working office. With archived records kept in the building, there is always someone needing or looking for an old item.
