The big day is almost here, and it’s time to share more details. I am excited to personally invite you to Project Open House, sponsored by Music City Publications, Inc. So many people have been a part of this journey, working feverishly for the past 10 months, putting the finishing touches on the house, and getting ready for this amazing event benefiting the mission of Folds of Honor Tennessee.

It’s remarkable what can be accomplished when you have a community of small businesses passionate about helping others in need; it brings a very heartwarming feeling. It gives you faith in humanity, knowing people care enough to donate to a worthy cause, and their generosity speaks volumes. These are the types of people and businesses you can trust and prefer to do business with!

As guests approach the house, the red, white, and blue balloon décor by Bespoke Balloons will welcome you at the front door. Home tour attendees will then be greeted with appetizers, drinks served by A Twisted of Lime, swag bags (limited number), and a chance to register to win a FREE AmaWaterways European river cruise*, along with other items to be given away from B.F Myers Furniture, Leslie Curtis Jewelry, Ugly Bagel, Virgin Hotels, Silverbelly Whiskey, and more.

The four-bedroom house built by Carbine & Associates, LLC,  is a beautifully appointed modern European farmhouse that exemplifies Carbine’s quality and the best of contemporary living while embracing the charm of a farmhouse design. Soaring ceilings, expansive windows, custom craftsmanship, and thoughtfully curated finishes selected with the help of designer Dillon Arnold, owner of Haus of Black, create an atmosphere that is both elegant and inviting.

Designed for both gathering and everyday living, the home offers roomy bedrooms, open entertaining areas, and timeless appeal that blends rustic character with modern sophistication. Designer Caitlin Newman with B.F. Myers Furniture will stage the house using a mix of colors, textures, and patterns to create a timeless vibe. Amy Montgomery, owner of Amy Montgomery Home, will make the house feel cozy by adding those personal touches.

Custom cabinets from Franklin Kitchen Center were installed throughout. Graham’s Living mounted on-trend lighting and mirrors. Nashville Murphy Beds designed and built a custom Murphy bed with a desk and shelves, turning one of the guestrooms into a multi-purpose space while still having that luxe feel. 

After you have perused the interior, step outside and notice the handiwork of Tennessee Shade Co. They turned the outdoor patio into a four-season extended living area by installing retractable shades. They also hung the beautiful Roman shades and curtains throughout the house and the garage. After looking at the outdoor living area, step out into the backyard to view the pool designed by Atlantic Pools & Spas. It will be August, so you may want to jump in!

Another space where that special finishing touch was added was the garage. OrangeRhino Concrete Coatings finished the floor, giving it that showroom look that is easy to clean and maintain for years. That luxury car you find parked on the driveway is on loan from 111 Motorcars, your destination for luxury cars.    

Mid-afternoon, be sure to join Amy Montgomery at 2:30 p.m. for a flower-arranging demonstration, where she will share her creative process and floral design inspiration. To conclude the event, Music City Publications, Inc. will present Folds of Honor Tennessee with a check representing funds raised through donations and ticket sales profits.

Follow us on social media for updates about the event @maurycountyliving and @williamsoncoliving. The businesses and contractors who helped bring this project to life look forward to welcoming you in August while supporting the mission of Folds of Honor.

The post Community & Giving Come Together Benefiting Folds of Honor Tennessee appeared first on Williamson County Living.

Gallery 48 has become a colorful location in downtown Columbia. Owner and curator Joanna Kinca established the fine art gallery with a vision to connect people through art, showcasing an inspiring collection of works by both local and international artists. As Gallery 48 continues to focus on cultural appreciation, Kinca has embraced a new initiative through a partnership with BrightStone in Franklin, Tennessee.

BrightStone came to fruition in 1999, when Brenda Hauk felt led to start the non-profit. Hauk, a special education teacher in Williamson County, saw a critical need for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) after high school, recognizing that more than 70% of adults with IDD were unemployed, living at home, and had limited opportunities for ongoing education and community engagement.

When BrightStone opened its doors, there were four students in donated space at The People’s Church in Franklin. Today, it has grown into a thriving organization with an enrollment of 60 adults. It is supported by 30 full-time employees, including a registered nurse and five teachers with master’s degrees in special education. Additionally, BrightStone’s 23,000-square-foot Center for Learning, Art, and Enterprise provides vocational training, academics, computer instruction, health and wellness programs, art, music, and recreational activities that empower participants to lead fulfilling, enriched lives.

Kinca first met BrightStone representatives Susan Sistrunk, Director of Programs, and Missy Naff, Senior Development Manager, in February 2026 at a business event in Spring Hill. When Kinca learned about BrightStone’s art classes, she immediately wanted to visit and see the art the students were making. “After listening to the story about BrightStone, I knew I would love to meet their students and see their pottery pieces,” Kinca said. “I visited BrightStone twice and fell in love with their pottery and the story behind it.”

While Kinca toured the facility, she met students in the ceramics program. She learned about a special project led by Emma Fletcher, BrightStone’s lead ceramics teacher, and vocational coordinator Lindsay Wommer. Together, the two have been helping longtime student Justin launch his own pottery business, fittingly named Pottery by Justin. “BrightStone’s day program offers a ceramics class that provides students with meaningful, hands-on work that promotes creativity, independence, teamwork, and confidence,” Fletcher said. “Each student participates in the process, from rolling and shaping clay to glazing and barcoding finished pieces. Students create unique ceramic pieces all year round.”

Kinca was so impressed, she wanted to showcase the students’ art at Columbia’s First Fridays in May. As the partnership began, Wommer, Fletcher, and Kerri Bryant, Marketing and Communications Manager, were instrumental in coordinating with Kinca to feature BrightStone artists as Gallery 48’s artists of the month and helped plan the opening reception at the gallery.

“[They] have been given the opportunity to showcase their artwork at Gallery 48. Through this partnership, students gain valuable vocational skills, pride in their accomplishments, and opportunities for personal growth,” Fletcher said. “Community partnerships help expand these opportunities by increasing product visibility, supporting sales, encouraging inclusion, and creating real-world experiences that strengthen student confidence and connection to the community.” 

The opening reception in May was a great success. Gallery 48 highlighted the handmade pieces by the group from BrightStone’s ceramics class, and several students, including Justin, were happy to attend the opening reception and talk to customers about their ceramics. Kinca also featured individual pieces made by Justin for his business, Pottery by Justin, as well as ceramics made by Nina, another student in the ceramics class. “This is the first time that their artwork has been displayed and sold in a fine arts gallery!  It was very exciting,” said Wommer. “It was an honor that Joanna chose them as her artist of the month!”

What began as a one-month exhibition has now evolved into an ongoing partnership. Kinca has committed to regularly carrying a selection of BrightStone ceramics and Pottery by Justin pieces at Gallery 48. “This partnership is a perfect example of how our vision is being fulfilled,” Wommer said. “Joanna has recognized the talent of BrightStone artists. She is respecting them and valuing them as the fine artists that they are.”

As the partnership continues to grow, BrightStone artists are enthusiastically working on their contributions for Gallery 48’s celebration of the United States of America’s 250th Anniversary Art Show on July 3 during First Fridays in Columbia. “It is a fabulous opportunity for their work to be included as fine art and recognized for the beautiful pieces that they are,” concluded Wommer. Kinca has invited each gallery artist to create commemorative pieces inspired by the historic milestone, with all pieces on display throughout July.

Kinca’s partnership with BrightStone has created a new opportunity for its students to support creativity and share their artistic talents with the public. The collaboration not only provides a meaningful creative outlet for BrightStone’s artists but also supports the organization’s mission to empower individuals, celebrate their abilities, and enrich lives through opportunity, inclusion, and connection.

For additional information about the gallery’s curated art collection, visit gallery48.art or learn more about the BrightStone mission at brightstone.org. Follow them both on social media @gallery48.art and @brightstonetn.

The post BrightStone Artists Shine at Gallery 48 appeared first on Williamson County Living.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Let’s face it, furnishing a home, or even updating a single room’s décor, can be a daunting task. Selecting furniture for a home is much more than filling a space with beautiful, stylish pieces  — it is about creating an ambiance that reflects the people who live there. From the texture of a cozy chair to the impact of a perfectly placed statement piece, every selection has the opportunity to tell a story of intentional living. The Design Program at B.F. Myers Furniture & Mattress takes the stress out of buying furniture and accessories for your space, blending curated design with functionality to create a beautiful, personalized home.

B.F. Myers Furniture & Mattress, with locations in Goodlettsville and Franklin, is one of Tennessee’s oldest family-owned furniture retailers. For more than 170 years, they have built a reputation rooted in quality, value, and exceptional service. Driven by their customer-first approach, competitive prices, and trusted brands, the retailer has experienced remarkable growth over the past five decades.

The showroom in Goodlettsville is a 60,000-square-foot space filled with indoor and outdoor furnishing, along with a large selection of mattresses. The showroom features a full-service Design Center and the B.F. Myers Outlet is next door. Thus, making it a furniture shopper’s paradise. In May 2025, the 40,000-square-foot Franklin showroom opened and also includes a full-service Design Center.

Like the Goodlettsville store, the nearby Franklin store is filled to the brim with stylish, high-quality indoor and outdoor furniture, as well as a wide selection of comfy mattresses. One could spend hours walking the floors, admiring the tastefully selected furniture, accessories, and art on display, pondering where to place these finds in your home.

The Design Center in Franklin houses thousands of fabric samples and rugs, giving designer Caitlin Newman unlimited options for customizable combinations for any room. Newman has more than 10 years of design experience and is happy to use her skills to craft the perfect designer home you would be proud of. No job is too big, nor too small.

B.F. Myers offers two design programs to choose from — a free in-store consultation or a $500 in-home appointment. The in-store consultation is a fantastic way to get ideas from Newman and peruse the showroom floor. Plus, the online Room Planner lets patrons use the same tools professional interior designers use. It lets you easily visualize furniture placement, map conversational areas, arrange rugs, and determine focal points without the hassle of moving furniture. You can even create the room floor plan on mobile and desktop devices and receive a complete shopping list of all items in the room. So, grab your coffee and start designing today!

The other option for consideration is the full-service in-home design consultation with Newman. “The B.F. Myers Design Program is centered around collaboration. We take the time to understand how our clients live, entertain, and use their spaces,” Newman said. “So we can create rooms that are not only beautiful, but comfortable and practical for everyday living.”

The in-home consultation allows Newman to personally connect with clients and effortlessly design the perfect space. “Whether your style is classic, modern, transitional, rustic, or somewhere in between, our goal is to simplify the design process while delivering a finished space that feels timeless, inviting, and uniquely yours,” said Newman. As a note, the personalized in-home consultation fee of $500 is applied to your purchase if you place an order, making it a smart option to add that custom look to your home.

As part of the in-home design service, Newman and a sales associate visit your home to measure the space and create a customized floor plan tailored to one or more rooms. During the visit, the team will also gain a sense of your personal style, discuss your goals for the space, and learn about any specific preferences you may have. Whether you already have a vision in mind or are starting from scratch, the consultation provides an ideal foundation for designing a space that feels both functional and beautifully curated.

After the visit, Newman will create two different floor plans that include furniture options, fabric selections, rugs, art, and accessories. At a follow-up meeting in the store, clients review the design presentation and work together to refine the plan, creating a home that’s thoughtfully inspired and personalized. “Finally, to ensure a smooth and stress-free design process from start to finish, B.F. Myers offers free delivery and installation,” concluded Newman.

Rooted in integrity, B.F. Myers believes in everyday low pricing and a seamless shopping experience — before, during, and long after the sale. Your satisfaction is their promise. For additional information, call the Franklin store at (615) 606-3679 or visit bfmyersfurniture.com. To inquire about the Design Program, email Caitlin Newman at cnewman@bfmyersfurniture.com.

The post Thoughtfully Inspired, Beautifully Furnished appeared first on Williamson County Living.

In 2022, Autumn and Joe Harrier relocated their family from Minnesota to Tennessee to put down new roots. Joe, being a bassist, had some musician friends who moved to Tennessee and recommended making the move. Autumn, having grown up on a farm, always dreamed of returning to farm life. The couple found their new home in Columbia, and although the property was heavily wooded, they began exploring ways to turn Autumn’s vision for a farm into reality.

About a year after moving to Columbia, the EF-3 tornado hit, and the tornado’s path completely took out the wooded area on the Harrier’s land. Autumn explained, “We took shelter in the basement, and when we came up after the tornado, my husband said, ‘Well, you got your farmland you wanted!’ Everything was entirely flattened, and we could see the sky where we couldn’t see it before because the trees were leveled.”

The cleanup after the destruction was a massive undertaking, and to this day, there is still a lot of work to do on the property. “Honestly, we are still living in tornado destruction because there was just so much. We couldn’t afford to clean it all up, but we have been picking away at small sections at a time,” Autumn said. “Once we finally got an area of land cleaned, I wanted a garden, and that’s when we decided to plant flowers.”  And just like that, Rocky Top Flower Farm blossomed.

One might ponder how the name Rocky Top Flower Farm came to be, and the explanation makes complete sense. As the planting began on the farm, the topsoil was covered with rocks. “My goodness! We have been hand-digging the holes because we literally have thousands upon thousands of rocks in our topsoil, since it is a rocky top,” Autumn said. “And we are at the top of the hill too, so we thought it was fitting with Tennessee, so we decided on the name — Rocky Top Flower Farm.”

That first year, while the initial cleanup was underway, they used raised beds to test whether their plan would work for growing a small selection of summer annuals, and set up an itty-bitty garden off to the side to see what the soil was like. Even though they began their endeavor in 2025, it was a trial year, and the Harriers consider 2026 the first true year.

Rocky Top is a small operation that is now producing flowers, and this spring, they planted snapdragons, vernacular, statice, ranunculus, and calendula. A larger selection of summer annuals, including zinnias, cosmos, basil, mint, sunflowers, and strawflowers, is now available. Going into the fall months, succession planting keeps flowers producing, with additions of eucalyptus, zinnia, and dried arrangements available for purchase.  

The Harrier’s flower farm currently operates on around an 1/4 acre of land. However, as they continue to grow and turn the Rocky Top Flower Farm into a steady business, there is plenty of room for expansion. “We have so much yard left that we could expand into,” Autumn said. “So, the goal obviously is to plant more and sell more, but we are trying to figure out how we want to do that at the moment because it all takes time.”

At present, bouquets are available at Kedron’s Little Loafery (@kedronslittleloafery) in Columbia and The AWAKEN House (@theawakenhouse) in Spring Hill. There are also plans in the works for a roadside stand near their house where their premium cut-flower bouquets will be available.

For additional information on Rocky Top Flower Farm, follow on social media @rockytopflowerfarm. Be sure to stop by and pick up a beautiful bouquet for yourself or someone special today — it’s sure to brighten your day!

The post Blossoms on the Rocky Top appeared first on Williamson County Living.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISIT HENRY COUNTY, GA

Just 30 minutes south of Atlanta, off I-75, lies the perfect destination that blends Southern charm, outdoor adventure, and unforgettable experiences. A little less than a five-hour car ride from Middle Tennessee or a quick flight from BNA, Henry County has quietly become one of the Southeast’s most welcoming destinations for travelers looking for that weekend getaway or family adventure. Whether you are searching for family-friendly entertainment or scenic escapes, discover these unforgettable experiences in Henry County.  

Explore Southern Belle Farm

If you’re looking for a destination that combines family fun, fresh air, delicious treats, and authentic farm experiences, Southern Belle Farm in McDonough, Georgia, deserves a spot on your list. In 2006, Jake Carter, the 5th generation to live and farm this property, transformed the family farm into an agritourism destination by welcoming visitors for the fall season with a corn maze and farm activities. Today, the 330-acre farm invites visitors to experience life on a working farm, from seasonal crops and farm animals to delicious homemade treats. Combined with warm Southern hospitality, every visit offers a welcoming atmosphere where guests are treated like family.

One of the farm’s most popular draws is its U-pick experience, available almost year-round. Depending on the season, visitors can gather strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, muscadines, and vibrant fresh flowers straight from the fields. Fun for all ages!

As autumn approaches, the farm transforms into a festive harvest destination, celebrating fall with a pumpkin patch, a four-acre corn maze, pig races, and more than 20 outdoor attractions. Late November through mid-December, guests can enjoy a farmstead Christmas and partake in the Christmas in the Country celebrations. Visit with Santa for free, stop by Belle’s Animal Barn, and as always, pick up some of Mimi’s homemade cakes, donuts, and sweet treats.

Throughout the year, guests can enjoy a variety of attractions designed for all ages on the farm. Children can race pedal carts, ride the cow train, bounce on jumping pillows, explore Belle’s Animal Barn, and tackle the farm’s many outdoor activities. It’s the perfect place to let kids unplug and experience the joy of outdoor play. Make sure to pet Queenie the Highland cow and Oliver the Belted Galloway cow – they are super sweet.

No visit is complete without a stop at the Farm Market. Here, indulge in homemade ice cream, fresh-baked cobblers, jams, jellies, preserves, and seasonal produce harvested right from the farm. Whether you’re craving homemade ice cream (the peach is amazing) or picking up a jar of homemade preserves, the market is filled with Southern flavors you’ll want to take home.

1658 Turner Church Road, McDonough, Georgia 30252  |  southernbellefarm.com

Visit Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary

For all the animal lovers out there, this is a must-visit! For 35 years, Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary has been the voice for abused, abandoned, neglected, exploited, or surrendered animals. Located in Locust Grove, Georgia, the 121-acre sanctuary is home to more than 100 species of animals ranging from domestic livestock to exotic animals such as tigers, monkeys, bears, foxes, parrots, and more.

With a mission to provide refuge and long-term care, guests quickly discover that Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary is unlike zoos. Rather than being kept in small enclosures, the animals live in spacious habitats, many of which span an acre, designed to mimic their natural environments — a rarity in captivity. Noah’s Ark primarily cares for animals born in captivity that need a permanent home, offering them a safe place to live out the rest of their lives.

Visitors can enjoy self-guided tours or takea Walk on the Wild Side Tour and experience the residents up close and personal. These private or semi-private guided tours are one-and-a-half hours long and take visitors into the habitats between the fences before the sanctuary opens to the public. This behind-the-scenes tour gives visitors an introduction to some of the favorite animal residents while sharing more about their histories, daily care, and how the sanctuary works to save animals with nowhere else to go. Guests can even observe keepers feeding the animals during the tour.

For families with children, Critter Day is for you! This monthly three-hour program occurs on the second Saturday of the month, from 9 a.m.to noon. Children aged 4 to 12 can join the Animal Care Team for a special guided tour. Pre-registration is required.

As you walk the sanctuary, check out Tortoise Bluff, which opened in October 2025. This half-acre habitat was built for 12 Sulcata tortoises in the sanctuary’s care. In addition, be sure to learn about BLT, also known as the bear, lion, and tiger family. Rescued as cubs from a drug dealer in Atlanta, the bonded three lived together as a family, never fighting until their deaths despite being apex predators. The unlikely trio proved we can all get along no matter where we come from and what we look like!

712 LG Griffin Road, Locust Grove, GA 30248  |  noahs-ark.org

*Always Check the Website’s Top Banner to Verify Daily Updates on Hours and Availability.

Traverse Panola Mountain State Park

Peace, solitude, and great views! For nature lovers seeking fresh air and natural beauty, Panola Mountain State Park offers scenic views, walking trails, and lakeside activities. Located in Stockbridge, Georgia, the park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering biking, hiking, archery (equipment provided), geocaching, and fishing, set within the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, one of only three National Heritage Areas in the state.

Accessible from Highway 155, this area of the park is home to the nature center, which has a meeting room and gift shop, hiking trails, picnic shelters, and a playground. This wooded area helps preserve the mountain’s unique ecosystem while also providing visitors with opportunities to learn about the area’s natural environment.

The park offers nine miles of trails — seven miles of paved paths and two miles of natural surfaces. Alexander Lake is located within the park. The perfect spot to enjoy catch-and-release fishing and non-motorized boating, such as kayaking and canoeing, but swimming is prohibited. Visitors can also enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the four shelters, and the pavilion is available for rent, making this the perfect spot for family reunions and group outings. Reservations are required for both. 

At the heart of the park is Panola Mountain, a remarkable 100-acre granite outcrop that was never quarried, preserving it as a conservation area. Travel up the mountain on a ranger-led hike to learn about this monadnock’s unique ecosystem and take in the view of the Atlanta skyline. This granite formation is one of only three of its kind in Georgia. It is a designated National Natural Landmark.Reservations are required for ranger-led hikes and are the only way to access Granite Mountain. Pets are not allowed in this conservation area, however, leashed dogs are allowed on the other trails.

2620 Highway 155 SW, Stockbridge, GA 30281  |  gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain.  

Experience the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation and Flying Museum

For the thrill seeker or the history buff, this is the ultimate experience! Feel the exhilaration of flight in a Vietnam-era Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, aka the Huey, as military veterans guide you through the skies. The roar of the rotors, the vibration as you lift off, and the wind rushing past your face as you soar above the terrain make for a truly unforgettable experience.   

With the sides wide open, there’s nothing between you and the view but a safety harness and open air. As the helicopter banks and climbs, the power is felt as you ride inside a piece of living history. But don’t worry, the helicopter has basically been rebuilt, is well-maintained, and completely safe! What makes this Huey experience even more meaningful is the connection to its history and legacy. The Huey was nicknamed the workhorse. During the Vietnam War, it earned this name for its ability to perform many roles on the battlefield. The Hueys saved many lives during the war by quickly getting medics to the wounded, earning the term “Golden Hour care in the field.”

Take the time during your visit to peruse the hangar, listen to the veterans’ stories, and imagine what it would be like flying one during a combat mission, being shot at. And if you have the opportunity, say “Thank you for your service!” 

The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation is a non-profit, mostly volunteer-run organization that acquires and restores Cobra and Huey helicopters and honors the men and women who have served in the U.S. Military and Army Aviation, our “Sky Soldiers.”

506 Speedway Blvd., Hampton, GA 30228 armyav.org  |  armyav.org

View Historic Floyd Chapel Baptist Church

We would be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to recognize Henry County as the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. He was born on December 19, 1897, in Stockbridge, Georgia, and was the eldest son of James and Delia King. In Stockbridge, he attended school three to five months a year at the Stockbridge Colored School and, during his childhood, worshipped with his mother at Floyd Chapel Baptist Church.

As one of Henry County’s most historically significant landmarks, Floyd Chapel Baptist Church has long served as a place of faith and was a safe haven for Black residents of Stockbridge. Relocated to its current site in 1878, the church building standing today was constructed in 1949. The church also holds a special connection to the King family, as Martin Luther King Sr. was ordained at Floyd Chapel and delivered his first sermon there before later succeeding Rev. A.D. Williams as pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church.

The Floyd Chapel Baptist Church, still active today, serves as an important link between Henry County and the broader story of the Civil Rights Movement. In 2015, the City of Stockbridge dedicated the M.L. King Sr. Heritage Trail (formerly North Berry Street), and a historical marker was placed in front of the church to commemorate his legacy. Visitors can also stop by the nearby Stockbridge City Hall to view a commemorative plaque acknowledging the King family legacy.

104 1st Street, Stockbridge, GA 30281  |  floydchapel.org

The post Better Explored appeared first on Williamson County Living.

This year marks our nation’s 250th anniversary. Americans across the country are celebrating the courage, vision, and resilience that shaped the United States into what it is today and the freedoms we enjoy. Small towns and counties across Tennessee continue to preserve historic homes, battlefields, and architecture that tell the story of Tennessee’s past. This holds for both Williamson and Maury Counties, each having rich and robust histories.

Pamela Lewis, a Franklin resident, preservationist, and historian, wanted to find the answer to a question she had pondered for years: Why wasn’t there a meaningful tribute in Franklin fully connecting the city to its namesake, Benjamin Franklin? With the 250thanniversary approaching and so much history in Middle Tennessee, there was a unique opportunity on the horizon that Lewis would soon embrace that would connect the dots.

It may come as a surprise to some, but the city of Franklin was indeed named after Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers, and the story goes like this. Early settler Abram Poindexter Maury, namesake for Maury County, initially proposed the name Marthasville in honor of his wife, Martha. Rather than naming the town after herself, Martha suggested honoring Benjamin Franklin, noting his close connection to Dr. Hugh Williamson, a friend and fellow signer of the U.S. Constitution and namesake for Williamson County. The connection made Franklin a fitting name choice for the city and created a historical link that still ties the neighboring counties together today.

The spark that set Lewis in motion and would fully connect the city to its namesake occurred in early 2025. Lewis learned from her friend, historian Mary Pearce, that the city and the local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) were discussing plans for America’s 250th anniversary, including the possibility of erecting a statue honoring Benjamin Franklin. She quickly joined the effort, brainstorming ideas and urging them to seek a sculptor capable of creating a detailed statue that would properly honor Franklin and reflect the community.

“This is not a novel concept to honor Ben Franklin. Moreover, everyone knows what Ben Franklin looks like. After all, we all have seen a dollar bill, so the artistry must represent a detailed likeness.” Lewis said. “There must be someone out there who has created a world-class Ben Franklin sculpture. Let’s find him, and I’ll pay for it.”

A fortunate twist of fate accompanied the city’s search for a statue when Buffie Baril, Lovely Franklin founder, discovered acclaimed sculptor George Lundeen. “It was learned that a private collector had recently passed away who owned the Ben on the Bench statue, and the family did not want to keep it, so Lundeen had bought his statue of Ben back,” Lewis said. “When Buffie reached out to George, he said he could have the statue ready in time for the unveiling in January 2026.”

The county agreed to accept Lewis’s generous gift, and meetings began to coordinate the unveiling scheduled for January 17, 2026, Ben Franklin’s 320th Birthday. Ben on the Bench was intentionally placed outside the Williamson County Archives and Museum, located Downtown Franklin on West Main Street, near the city’s historic post office, a nod recognizing Franklin’s role as the first Postmaster General of the United States. Adding to the significance of the unveiling, a joint proclamation from the city and county declared January 17 Ben Franklin Day.

To coincide with the statue unveiling, Lewis released two new books published by Traitmarker Media, about Benjamin Franklin. A full-color commemorative guidebook for all ages, Benjamin Franklin: America’s First Rockstar is a hip, engaging collection of facts and anecdotes about Franklin, interspersed with quotes from other famed and historic figures, emphasizing fun. The children’s book, Ben Franklin Visits Franklin for a Day, is a warm and whimsical story featuring 60 original sepia-toned illustrations by Isabella McKaskill, who grew up in Franklin after being adopted from India by her parents. McKaskill now lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with her husband and two children.

“I have fond memories as a youth ambassador to Japan during our country’s bicentennial celebration,” said Lewis. “The whole world was tapped into the excitement. I wanted to spur that same enthusiasm for America’s 250th — and show my love for my adopted hometown.”

The books purposely take a fresh and playful approach to Franklin’s life and legacy. America’s First Rockstar weaves in quotes from luminaries across the ages — from Eleanor Roosevelt and Shakespeare to Frida Kahlo and Rumi — painting Franklin as a timeless Renaissance man and cultural icon. Ben Franklin Visits Franklin for a Day imagines the Founding Father dropping in on his Tennessee namesake city with its sepia-toned renderings leading the way for young readers.

“I thought, he is really America’s DaVinci — truly our first rockstar and Renaissance man,” Lewis said. “I wanted to amuse, connect the dots, and bring facts, fun, and quirky humor to a story that deserves to be told again.”

As Founder and CEO of PLA Media, Lewis has spent decades working behind the scenes on high-profile endeavors such as MTV and Garth Brooks, but since the unveiling of the statue and the release of her books, she’s the one in the spotlight. Franklinites and visitors alike have embraced the gifted statue and her two books, and the city’s shared history has sparked renewed excitement as a legacy is being built for future generations.

“Every generation inherits a story, but not every generation connects with it,” said Robbie Grayson III, publisher at Traitmarker Media. “Pamela Lewis has taken one of our most brilliant and complex figures and made Benjamin Franklin accessible, engaging, and alive again — for both adults and children. That is no small achievement.”

Lewis’s books are available at downtown Franklin outlets, Landmark Booksellers, The Carter House, Carnton, Denise Carolyn Boutique, Twine Graphics, Belmont Mansion in Nashville, and via online retailers. To learn more about Ben Franklin and our local history, visit the Williamson County Archives and Museum in person or online at  williamsoncounty-tn.gov/26/Archives-Museum.

The post Celebrating our 250th Bronze, Brilliance & History appeared first on Williamson County Living.