Franklin Five

Historically, FCTHP featured five historic properties considered the "best opportunities for historic preservation" in Frankfort and Franklin County to bring attention to these properties, possibly to save them from demolition, and to educate the public about the benefits of historic preservation. In 2021, the Trust decided to begin to issue the Franklin Five list annually to bring attention to more properties as they become available or face adverse circumstances.

The properties on the 2022 Franklin Five are 1) First Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church Parsonage, Second Street, ca. 1894; 2) Frankfort's Forgotten Cemeteries, 3) Broadway Bridge c1893 4) Starway Drive-In, 3350 Louisville Rd., ca. 1946; and 5) Scotland/Locust Hill Plantation c1838.

Martha T. Moore Memorial Awards for Historic Preservation

FCTHP awards property owners who successfully renovate and steward historic Frankfort or Franklin County places, maintaining their historic integrity while providing new purpose and life to the structures. Past awards have been for preservation of Weehawken, the T-Boat Marine - Frankfort Motel (Goodwood Brewery), the Macklin House, Bluegrass Realty office, the Clayton-Fincel house (old Montessori School), the John R. Sower home (Corner of Celebrities), the Hoggy's Ice Cream building, Old Taylor Distillery (Castle & Key Distillery), and various other properties in Frankfort and Franklin County. See past award recipients here: Award Winners.

First Corinthian Missionary Baptist Parsonage

Recently the Trust acquired the former First Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church Parsonage to preserve it from potential demolition and moved it to a new lot facing on the opposing block. We installed a new monolithic slab and installed the house on a new foundation. We're looking for a new steward to finish the needed rehabilitation and make this part of history contribute to our future. Contact us for more information and schedule a showing at : For Sale

Save Broadway Bridge

The historic Broadway Bridge was constructed in 1893 as a replacement railroad bridge across the Kentucky River to connect Frankfort and Lexington to Louisville. Originally built in the 1850s, this is the 4th bridge to cross at this point.

The recently adopted Downtown Frankfort Master Plan established the bridge as an important river crossing connection for the development of our city and a key component to the redevelopment of the Capital Plaza area. However recent investigations into the structural stability of the bridge have prompted the state to pursue demolition, after an offer to the City of Frankfort to take ownership failed to gain favor by a majority of the City Commission.

Many local citizens have been working to find an alternative plan and we now have an opportunity to preserve the bridge as a river crossing for pedestrians, cyclists, events and more. There is a way forward to preserve the bridge as an attractive component of our community, but we need to build support for the project. Please join us in this effort!

https://www.facebook.com/Save-Broadway-Bridge-108589957397738/

Past Initiatives

Mason's Grocery - 300-302 Murray Street

Built ca. 1925, this corner grocery building, which became a central gathering place for many decades to Frankfort's Black community, replaced an earlier house on the location. Mrs. Julia Sayre purchased this building in 1939 and owned it until 1957 when she bequeathed the building to Armor Blackburn where he operated Blackburn’s Grocery.

Mr. Andrew Lee "Biddie" Mason, Sr. bought the property in 1976 and operated a corner grocery that most folks from the area remember today. In 2015, the Franklin County Trust for Historic Preservation purchased the property from Mr. Mason and undertook a multi-year stabilization effort after the building faced demolition by the City of Frankfort.

To secure the building's future, the Trust invested in many improvements to the building, preparing it for a new use: new asphalt shingle roof; restored original front door, galvanized steel half-round gutters and downspouts, fully rehabbed double hung original windows; new exterior wood doors, a fully rehabbed original front entry, masonry repointing, rebuilt first floor substructure, new stud on the second floor, and much more.

In July of 2020, the Trust was elated to sell the rehabilitated property to the Franklin County Women and Family Shelter.