Downtown Franklin is now shining brighter than ever.
In a ceremony on the Johnson County Courthouse Square Thursday, Franklin resident Helen Hodgen’s dream became a reality — the courthouse would be lit up permanently. The 93-year-old lifelong resident of Franklin got to flip the switch to turn on the lights herself, surrounded by family, donors to the project, community members and local and county officials.
For years, Hodgen has questioned why the courthouse is not lit up at night. So in 2020, she started a quest to have spotlights added to the exterior of the building. Last year, she approached the county about the project, and with the help of the Johnson County Community Foundation and other family members, she embarked on a quest to raise the funds.
Over $51,000 was raised for the lighting project — including $30,000 Hodgen and her husband Lee donated for the cause. In November 2022, the group received unanimous approval from the Johnson County Board of Commissioners to move forward with the donation-funded project.
The lighting itself went off without a hitch Thursday, despite a squirrel causing havoc and leading to contingency plans being made.
Around 4:22 p.m. Thursday, a squirrel at a Duke Energy substation on Forsythe Street knocked out power to downtown Franklin and areas of the city’s east side. As estimates put power restoration around or after 8 p.m., the planned lighting of the courthouse at 8:15 p.m. was in danger.
“We did not want to reschedule because we wanted those lights on for the weekend, for the fall festival,” said Beth Auld, Hodgen’s daughter. “That was our thinking when we picked this day. … We were going to do it at nine o’clock if we had to.”
A backup plan soon materialized: a generator. Dan Davis of Davis Electric, who had installed the lights, told Auld they could turn on the lights with a generator if the lights didn’t come back on.
However, it was not Davis’ call, so Auld connected with Eric Leugers, who contacted his brother Brandon to see if they could use a generator.
“He said, ‘Sure. I’ll bring a generator,” Auld said.
Although they had a backup plan, organizers, family members, community members, officials and donors decided to wait and see if the lights would come on. As the clock struck 8 p.m., they were still off.
About six minutes later, the lights along Jefferson Street began to flicker on as power was restored. The lighting would go on as planned — without the generator.
Minutes later, Helen Hodgen was handed the electronic switch and a countdown began. With a flick of a switch, the bright white lights on all four sides of the courthouse came on.
Helen Hodgen’s face lit up as the lights came on amid everyone’s cheers. She later said she was so excited that she probably wouldn’t sleep that night.
“It’s a dream come true,” Hodgen said. “I wanted it for many years, and then … two years ago, I got real serious about it. The people in the downtown area are so generous, so generous. I just can’t tell you how happy I am.”
Seeing the final product was more than Hodgen thought it would be.
“It’s just overwhelming. It’s much more than I expected,” she said.
Kim Kasting, president and CEO of the Johnson County Community Foundation, is happy for the Hodgens and the donors. The completed project makes all time and bumps in the road worth it, she said.
Before the lighting, a reception was planned at 7 p.m. with Hodgen’s family and the donors. With the power out, Auld began to call everyone to let them know to come closer to 8 p.m. with the hope the power would come back on, she said.
“Pretty much everybody said, ‘We’ll be there. We’ll be there,’” Auld said. “I knew once the power was coming on, we would try to get back on track. It just worked out, a little bump in the road.”
When the power went out, Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett had been in communication with Duke Energy for updates. Forty-five minutes before the lighting was set to start, he informed them about the lighting and how important it was for it to go on.
“They actually called me and said they’re doing the best to make this happen,” Barnett said. “I do want to thank Duke Energy for doing the due diligence and trying to accommodate what the city and the county and the Hodgen family were trying to do.”
With the permanent lighting installation, County Commissioner Kevin Walls said people will now be able to enjoy the courthouse at night instead of just during the day. Walls was instrumental in getting the project approved, Auld said.
Barnett said he appreciated the commissioners’ and the city coming together to help the Hodgens’ bring the project to fruition.
“At nighttime, when people come through, they don’t see the courthouse,” he said. “It is a beautiful courthouse — one of the prettiest in the whole state. I think (the lighting) is an addition to downtown Franklin.”
As for the future, Hodgen and her husband Lee don’t expect to do any more projects other than the lighting — for now.
“We’re 93 and 94,” she said. “It’s just something that at last we’re seeing happen. So no more projects right now.”
Auld does have one idea of what her mother may do now.
“I think she’ll drive by a lot, or at least when she drives by, she’ll have a big ole smile on her face,” Auld said.
