Franklin High Alumni Help Restore Class Photos

Published August 27, 2006

The Franklin High School classes of 1940 through 1944 will once again grace the school's hallways. No, they aren't getting nostalgic and registering for classes. Several alumni from that time period have raised $1,900 to refurbish and reframe their class photos to be hung in some of the school's main common areas. They presented Franklin High Principal Willie Dickerson with a check August 2.

All the funds come from free-will offerings. The money raised is enough to cover the refurbishing of the photos from 1940 through 1944, plus there is enough for three additional classes. Michelle King of Frame and Art Gallery in Franklin is working with the group to help make it happen.

"We're very proud of the project," said Anne Rutherford, Class of '41. "It turned out so beautifully."

Many of the photos simply need refurbishing and reframing. But one class's photo needed a bit more. The class of 1944's original picture was lost in the fire of 1951 that destroyed the original high school. The school didn't use yearbooks at the time, and students instead got a 9x12 photo of their class. Fortunately, someone had an old print of the original class photo, and the group hopes that picture will also be able to be enlarged and framed with the others in the project. The group hopes their actions will prompt other classes to take on the same type of project with their photos. The refurbishing is one of several items on Franklin High's Wish List of future projects. You can view the Franklin High School Wish List HERE.