FRANKLINTON Driving Tour Franklinton has been a center of commerce and government almost since the establishment of Washington Parish. In 1819, Washington Parish was formed and the county seat was located in the former St. Tammany Courthouse which was actually five miles south of Franklin, close to Enon. That same year John W. Bickham donated 30 acres of land to the parish government in the area of what would become Franklinton. In 1820, the Louisiana legislature named this location as the temporary county seat and in 1821 the legislature named the town Franklinton. It wasn’t until 1826 election that chose the town as the permanent county seat that the courthouse was actually located in Franklinton. A post office was established in 1829 and the brick courthouse was complete in 1830. Franklinton received a town charter in 1861 but the town ran without any active town government. In 1888, the town received a second charter and from that time on, Franklinton was actively governed. 1. The Varnado Store Museum (Pearl & Cleveland) is housed in an historic building in downtown Franklinton, LA, parish seat of Washington Parish. The two-story, century-old structure was a hub of activity in the early days of Washington Parish as farmers would come to town, sell their produce and purchase needed supplies. Daniel E. Sheridan, a timber dealer, real estate agent, Franklinton alderman, and director of the Bank of Franklinton and the First State Bank of Bogalusa built the store prior to 1910. A 1910 map of Franklinton shows that W. C. Lonnergan, formerly of Carriere, MS, owned the business, which had on hand a very large general stock comprised of fancy and staple groceries, dry goods, notions, shoes, hats and clothing along with a big line of feed stuffs, harness and saddlery, and farming implements. The store drew trade from a fifteen-mile radius of town and shipped to points along the N.O. and Great Northern Railroad. Second owner S.F. Burris, third owner, D.A. Varnado. The store operated from being built to the 1980’s. Marie Moore House
2. Marie Moore House, Ca. 1900, Original owner McFadden.
Burris House
6. Burris House, Ca. 1909, Built by Burrises. Served as a popular boarding house for years, left to nephew Joe E. Magee. Square head nails were used in its construction. Hallie Love House
Stella Magee House
9. Stella Magee, named the Mile Branch Settlement (located at the Washington Parish Fairgrounds). Bateman-Ellis House
3. Mary Burris House, Ca. 1935.
4. Smith House, Ca. 1930, Built by prominent dentist.
Breland House
7. Hallie Love House, Ca. 1910, First Girl Scout Leader. Expression teacher (Speech) in public schools in 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Williams House
5. Breland House, Ca. 1919, Original owner E.Y. Breland.
10. Bateman-Ellis, Ca. 1900, First owner A. Magee, Annie Gatlin owned and operated a tavern on the Bogue Chitto River for many years.
11. Franklinton High School, Ca. 1938, on the National Historic Register. First Franklinton High School burned in 1937. This building, which now serves as the 8. Williams House, Ca. 1930, Lumber Company owner and Franklinton Junior High School, was built in 1938. sawmill operator. Here’s Washington Parish! 33