By Stephen Smoot
The fire that wiped out downtown Franklin in 1924 left long memories and community scars that took decades to heal. With the centennial anniversary of the disaster approaching, many individuals and organizations have come together in their own ways to ensure that the memory and the history remain in the minds of the community.
The Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce has worked to plan its own memorial to the fire and in its own way. After months of deliberation, Elizabeth Scott, executive director, and the board decided to combine the remembrance with a candidates’ forum.
The highlight of the event will be a video made by the late Woodrow Hartman. The venerable citizen reached his 107th birthday last year. Although he did not live in Franklin at the time, Hartman experienced what happened and shared his memories of both the fire and the times. The chamber had originally considered asking a historian to provide a presentation, but decided that letting someone who witnessed the history would make the event more meaningful.
Also, part of the presentation will be artifacts and images lent by Sherry Crigler and others.
The presentation is planned for 5 p.m. on April 17, the date of the fire itself, at the Pendleton Community Building in Franklin. Scott explained that she “looked for a moderator who could be impartial, but still knows the issues.” Bill Loving, CEO of Pendleton Community Bank, agreed to fill the role.
Scott estimated that the event would likely take approximately two hours.
Details of how the forum will be structured are still being worked out, but Scott shared that she hoped that the candidates take the opportunity to share their views on key issues in front of the voters and the community.
