Fall in Franklin, NC

I’ve shared with you in the past about my family ties to Franklin, NC in this post about my grandfather’s siblings who all built cabins up there in the 60’s & 70’s. That’s my mom’s side of the family. But I also have some family ties to Franklin on my dad’s side of the family too.

My dad came from a family of 10 kids and he’s next to the youngest (he’s the only one left now, they are all gone). His oldest sister, Alberta (my dad is Albert, not sure where the names came from, but that’s what my grandma named them both), had a son named Billy and he and my dad were 5 years apart, so they grew up together.

When my Dad was 23, he got saved and then felt the call into the ministry and enrolled at Southeastern Bible College in Lakeland, FL. They lived in Panama City and Billy also was saved and went into ministry the same time as my dad, even though he was younger. If you knew my dad’s family, you would understand that it was quite a miracle that 2 preachers came out of that family. Let’s just say the Vickers family was not a church going clan, far from it. They both went to Bible College and met their wives, got married and started their pastoral journeys together, even doing some evangelistic services together before they were married. Oh the stories they could tell! I can still remember the two of them sitting around the dining table telling funny stories of their pastoring adventures. Such good memories!

{the only pic I have of Billy is from Lauren’s wedding in March 2011. If you missed that post, you will enjoy seeing mom and dad a few years younger. We’ve lost 3 family members who were in those pics. Dad walked her down the aisle and Billy co-led the marriage ceremony. He passed away in 2014. Daddy is very tall and Billy was on the short side, so they were quite the pair.}

W.C. (Billy) Richardson and his wife, Dot pastored several churches over the years and were in SC part of the time. We saw them pretty often growing up and they would come to our house and visit and we would go see them too and stay a few days as families do. They had 2 daughters, Judy and Debbie. Debbie is about 5 years younger than me and lives in Lakeland, FL and Judy is in the middle of me and my sister age wise. Without getting too long winded, both Billy and Dot have now passed away in the last 6 years, which makes us so sad.

Billy went on to settle back in Lakeland, FL where he pastored for many years in Winter Haven and was also a full time professor at Southeastern Bible College (now named Southeastern University /I shared a post back in 2008 when I went back to visit). He was a favorite teacher and was there when I went to school in the 70’s. Many of my family members went to school there too. I went two years, but didn’t graduate. Billy was known to so many students over the years and they all loved him. He mentored many new pastors along the way.

Around the same time (early 80’s), Billy and my daddy both built mountain cabins. Mom and Dad had a mountain house in Murphy, NC (click that link for the story on the mountain house, sold 2 years ago) and Billy and Dot built this cabin in Franklin, NC, an A-frame cabin, which I thought was so neat. It has a big wrap around porch. I only went there a couple of times, but mom and dad saw them often when they were both up in the mountains. Both couples so enjoyed their mountain homes.

Judy inherited her parents cabin and has spent lots of time there over the years, driving from her home in Virginia Beach, VA. She got married and moved away and we haven’t seen that much of each other over the years, but through word of mouth, we sort of kept up with each other. We all went to Billy’s funeral in 2014 in Lakeland and that was the last time we’ve seen each other.

Judy emailed earlier this summer and told me she was getting ready to plan a renovation of the cabin and asked if I would like to meet her up there for a couple days and brainstorm/give her ideas on what to do to renovate this cabin so I said sure I’d do that. It would give us a chance to catch up and I love a good renovation story as you know. When I told mom I was going, she wanted to go too. Renee would have gone but she’s still in LA with Lauren and the new baby. They are coming home in a week so we will finally get to meet baby Alex.

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for a short road trip with Fall feels in the air and sunshine both days. Mom and I had a good drive up there and I took her by their old house so she could see it one more time on a drive by. We also stopped by and had lunch with one of her dear friends in Hayesville on the way, so Mom was so happy to get out and go somewhere. We had someone looking in on Daddy while we were away two nights and he did fine. It helps to have that dry erase board and she can tell him what is going on for the day and as long as he reads that he can stay straight on what is happening. His short term memory is so bad so this helps us be able to leave him for a couple of days. We always have someone go by and check on him though. Mom loved the break and I’m so glad she went with me.

Judy, mom and I sat and talked that first day for hours, catching up on all that’s gone on in the last few years. It was great to do that and talk about the past too, remembering so many fun times together. Our parents were great friends over the years and had many fond memories together. We were only there 2 nights but went out to eat both nights and got to see Fall leaves driving up and back. Franklin is definitely showing Fall colors now much more than down our way. I’m so glad Mom got to go, she loved getting to see Judy and we had some great conversations about her parents.

I didn’t take pics inside, but it’s a typical cabin look and hasn’t been updated since it was built 40 years ago. I can’t wait to see what all Judy does to this place, it has such good bones and will be a show stopper for her family to enjoy for years to come. She has already taken down most of the frou-frou wallpaper her mom put up. I gave her some ideas, but she already had lots of her own, so a lot depends on how much can be done for the budget and she has a nice budget for the renovation so it should look stunning. There’s a bedroom and bath on the main floor, as well as 2 upstairs with another bathroom. There’s also an unfinished basement with storage and a space that could be turned into something. I hope that in a year or so I can share the after pics of the cabin after Judy has it renovated, depending on how long it takes to find a contractor who can get started.

Let’s enjoy some Fall looks in Franklin, NC!

We drove down on Main Street before we went to dinner and saw some gorgeous displays of Fall.

This little area was one of the best Fall displays I’ve ever seen in a downtown area. So cute and quaint! I love that truck piled with pumpkins.

They really went all out with the Fall decor and it felt so festive. Several people were out there taking pics and they had some perfect backdrops for that.

Loved that big corn stalk display and all the Fall mums and pumpkins. It was such a happy display!

I sat down on a hay bale to take a selfie.

Perfect for family pics and babies enjoying Fall.

So cute set up like a sofa for photo backdrops.

I wanted to share these pics with you all so you could enjoy it all too. It was such a fun surprise to see all this.

Gorgeous old truck!

Isn’t that fun?

We ate at Fat Buddies BBQ the first night and the second night went to another spot I had heard about.

I had several people tell me to go to the gas station and eat at Cafe Rel. I didn’t get what it was all about until we got there, but it’s a Hot Spot gas station that is still open and in business and part of the gas station is a neat cafe called Cafe Rel.

My cute mama with her mask on.

Cafe Rel did not disappoint, my meal was so good.

I got crab bisque and this salmon sandwich and everything was so tasty. We ate outside because their inside dining wasn’t open. The weather was so nice and I’m so glad we got to try Cafe Rel. I would definitely go back.

On the drive both evenings I couldn’t help but take some pics of the mountains and all the pretty clouds.

We went out both evenings before the sun was setting and drove home to these pretty clouds on the horizon.

Judy had one stop she wanted to show us and it was so neat.

She drove down a road and we came to this beautiful church, St. John’s Episcopal church, a historic little church in Franklin built in 1880 originally. It fell into disrepair and had to be torn down, but was rebuilt much like the original in 1945. It’s an active church and they still have services here, even a spot for outdoor services. It was so pretty and I loved seeing it. Because of the pandemic, they aren’t having in person services at this time, but on Zoom.

So quaint and pretty.

Loved these Fall wreaths on the rustic doors.

Inside it’s small with church pews and stained glass windows.

I loved these sconces in the church all embossed with ferns.

Beautiful stain glass windows.

The grounds of the church has a burial ground and feels so sacred.

There’s a labyrinth of rocks at the back of the church, I think for praying and meditation.

Outdoor services are usually held in summer months weather permitting.

A Cherokee Indian Chief Chuttasotee and his wife, Cunstagih native to the area were buried on church property and a headstone erected in their memory.

Franklin is a pretty little mountain town in NC and I love the backdrop of mountains always in the distance.

NC has a piece of my heart and always will. I’m sure many of you feel the same. Our family has so many memories in this beautiful state.

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