Let's Go For A Walk

Image by pixelhut via Flickr

Start at the county jail. This building was built in 1880. before that, prisoners had to be taken to Butler County or to Waterloo with Franklin county paying the bill. In 1880 Franklin County built the existing building. D.W. Dow was the contractor and the cost was $6,000, not counting the $4,000 for the steel cells. The sheriff or his deputy occupied the living quarters while the jail was in use. The supervisors had to close the jail in 1988 when it could not be brought up to state standards.

The Methodist Church is across the street from the jail. The first congregation that me was 4 men in 1857-58. They had two services that were conducted a circuit rider preacher. After ten years with only a circuit preacher, they became a separate charge in the Conference. Their first church was a wooden one which they moved across the street South before building the present magnificent brick building in 1893 and 1894. They installed a large pipe organ in 1903. the old frame church was the first building used for entertainment and was known by different names through the years — Opera House, Olympic Theatre and Bailey’s Hall.

Cross to the Memorial Hall and look to the south side of Central Avenue. This church, the Baptist church, was organized during the Civil War. Twelve members banded together in the schoolhouse. In 1870 they erected the first church building in Franklin County. This was a frame building 36’ x 58’ with 20’ high walls. Its tall spire could be seen from the cemetery hill at the Reeve settlement. In 1909 the building was rebuilt and enlarged. The Baptist congregation dissolved in 185 due to dwindling membership.

This tour was prepared by the Franklin County Historical Society.

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
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Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811
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