About Us 

Franklin on Foot was founded in 2003 by Margie Gould Thessin and Rene Alexenko Evans, both of whom began giving walking tours of downtown Franklin to elementary school students as volunteers for the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County in the mid-1990s.  After several years of being asked to conduct tours for visiting friends and relatives of parents who came along on the field trips as chaperones, the idea for Franklin on Foot was born.  

     Above, Guess what? That's not us.

We talk about ourselves (for a change):

Rene Evans (left in photo), had a career in public relations before she moved to Franklin, fell in love with its history and became a professional pedestrian. She also serves as the Heritage Foundation's classroom teacher which gives her the opportunity to present Williamson County history to thousands of school children every year and proudly wear her growing hoop skirt collection. She holds a B.A. in public relations. 

Margie Thessin, Margie, a native of Vero Beach, Florida, earned a B.A. in history from the University of Florida. Upon graduating, she was dismayed to discover no demand for her particular skill set. Thereupon, she decided to go to law school (That's where she learned to use words like "thereupon").  In 1998, Margie became the Heritage Foundation classroom teacher before Rene took over, and later spent three years as director of group tours, special events and weddings at Historic Carnton Plantation, and also served as interim Executive Director at Carnton in 2008-09.  She is the author of Ghosts of Franklin, Tennessee's Most Haunted Town.

 Michelle Place, looking spooky at left here, was born in a 200-year-old cottage in Scotland and blames that for her fascination with the Celts and the art of storytelling. She holds a B.S. in English Literature and has had five historical novels published.   

Man-about-town, bon vivant, storyteller extraordinaire, fresh from his long-time gig dazzling audiences at the Tennessee state legislature is tour guide Mike Williams. Mike will entertain and thrill our guests on Franklin on Foot's ghost tours. You'll relish his stories, you'll adore his delivery, you'll really like Mike. Be sure and ask him if he's ever experienced a ghost! He is also a big fan of Andrew Jackson and has conducted tours based on Jackson's numerous visits to and connection to Franklin.

This is Zach Brown, who when asked for a bio responded like this:

Mrs. Evans, All right.  I hope these work--I rarely talk about myself...
"Zach is a senior at Brentwood Academy with a knack for history and a love of storytelling.  Born and raised in Franklin, he is a true Southern Gentleman." Yes he is!

Ever since she can remember, Emily Palmer has loved to dress up, and has always counted the days to Halloween (since it affords her an excuse to do so). Every year her mom would wonder when she was going to realize that she was too old to be dressing up, and now--thanks to Franklin on Foot-- she still has an excuse! Emily also has a passion for history, which she plans to make her major in college-- (although she has been second-guessing this resolution since reading Margie's bio...) It must also be said that she loves to scare herself, and others, by the telling of ghost stories. She had often wondered how on earth she could incorporate all of these interests into one... and then she found Franklin on Foot! She is so very thankful and excited for the opportunity to work with them.
In her spare time, Emily loves to act and sing, and has performed in many community theater productions. She dances with the Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance, and is an avid reader of classic literature.

Martha Thuma entered the realm of Franklin storytelling when Margie invited her to be a volunteer docent at Carnton Plantation a few years ago.  She recently joined the FOF group and feels her storytelling skills have been perfected from reading to her six grandchildren.  She lives in downtown Franklin and is the newest addition on the board of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. In addition to being part of the Face of Franklin (as her husband likes to say) she is an active volunteer in other community non-profit efforts.

Media Appearances:

We have been featured on numerous television shows, including Southern Haunts (seen by over 1.4 million PBS viewers), Tennessee Crossroads, Turner South Blue Ribbon, Best Haunted Houses, Talk of the Town, Channel 50, Sonic Hometown Tour (WAKM)  and many others. We have appeared in the New York Times, the Tennessean, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Williamson A.M., the Williamson Herald, The Review Appeal, OnePaper, Franklin Life, The Nashville City Paper, and a bunch of websites, such as the one below, found here.  

 "For the best possible tour of the town, call up Franklin on Foot and take the Classic Franklin Tour. This 90-minute stroll touches on architecture, Civil War tales, and other history. Franklin on Foot is one of the few walking tour places that offers excursions for children. I Spy Downtown Franklin is aimed at kids 5-12, lasts about one hour, and involves a hands-on approach that combines fun and learning. Kids are not recommended for the Ghosts and Gore Tour, which features the best of downtown Franklin's ghost stories and explores some of the crime from Franklin's past--from rape, murder and prostitution to abortion, bootlegging and murder for hire. Daytime tours usually depart from Landmark Booksellers, 114 E. Main St." pictured at right.

Here's an interesting website, where we are listed as the best haunted tour in the Nashville/Franklin area.

Click here for quotes from some of the newspaper articles we've appeared in.

Franklin on Foot offers more than walking tours.  We also provide step-on guides for tour buses and local history programs for community, business and civic groups.  If you need a tour guide or someone to speak about local history, give us a call at 615-400-3808. For information only, email franklinonfoot@comcast.net.