Historical Sites of Franklin County
The Old Jail Museum was built in 1897. It not only preserves features and equipment of the historic jail, but it displays many artifacts of the frontier, Civil War, and other historic periods. The sturdy brick jail house served as the county jail for more than 75 years. It is located at 400 First Ave., N.E. just off the Court House Square. It is open mid-March through mid-December. Call (615) 967-0524 or 967-0850.
Tims Ford State Park is an outstanding recreation area. The park was developed along the banks of Tims Ford Lake, which was created after the construction of TVA’s Tims Ford Dam on the Elk River in 1970. With the coming of the lake, the community of Awalt was flooded and many people were displaced from the lands of their fathers.
On 12 Aug. 1806, Jefferson Co., TN, Davey married Mary “Polly” FINLAY and soon after decided to go to the territory being settled on the Duck and Elk Rivers. He, Polly and their two little boys left Jefferson County and moved to the head of Mulberry Creek in what was then Lincoln Co., Tennessee. They lived there in the years 1809 and 1810.
He was living ten miles below Winchester, on Rattlesnake Spring Branch of Bean’s Creek in Franklin County, when the war broke out. Against the wishes of Polly, Davey went to Winchester where the muster was being held and enlisted as a private in Capt. JONES’ Tenn. Mounted Riflemen. He was engaged in many battles.
Davey stayed in Franklin until the close of the war. Polly died in 1815 and is buried in the Polly CROCKETT Cemetery in Franklin County. Davey married the second time, in 1816, to the widow,Mrs. Elizabeth (PATTON) PATTON, daughter of Robert PATTON and widow of James PATTON. There is a picture of a monument to Elizabeth at Acton, TX.
In 1817 Davey moved his family to the territory that would soon be Lawrence County. His next moves were to Obion County, Carroll County (later Gibson) and to Texas where he was killed at the Alamo on 6 Mar. 1836.
His homeplace in Franklin County was named “Kentuck” and is marked by a well standing in a field. The marker is on U.S. 64 at the road junction, 3.3 miles west of Belvidere, Franklin County.
The Davy Crockett Highway leads to historic Falls Mill, which was built in 1873. The century-old, 32-foot waterwheel is still used to power the antique milling equipment. A country store, gift shop and a restored log cabin bed and breakfast also welcome visitors. It is located off Highway 64, 12 miles west of Winchester near Old Salem. Call (615) 469-7161 for details.