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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):
Margie Thessin, 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"). After graduating, she practiced law for seven
years in West Virginia. In 1988, Margie and her husband moved to
Franklin, After sticking around the house for a bunch of years with the
kiddos, Margie became the Heritage Classroom teacher before Rene took
over, and later spent three years as director of group tours, special
events and weddings at Historic Carnton Plantation.
Rene Evans 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. At right, Rene, left, and Margie, right, in front of our sandwich board sign in
front of the old Williamson County Courthouse. Usually we post upcoming
tours; check it out when you're downtown!
Michelle Place,
looking spooky at left here, is our new tour guide. Michelle 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. She is also
a part-time tour guide at Historic Carnton Plantation.
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
House, Talk of the Town, Channel 50, Sonic Hometown Tour (WAKM) and
many others. We have appeared in 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.
Right, Margie and René display their Sizzle Award from Southern
Exposure Magazine in the field trip category.
"For the best possible tour of the town,
call up Franklin
on Foot and take the Classic Frankl in 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. 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.
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