The wind was damp and chilly, the garage sale listings were minimal and I found myself at a loss as to how to spend my Saturday. My first instinct was to hit the snooze button and pull the covers over my head, but I stumbled out of bed and headed for the coffee pot.
Determined not to be distracted by the mid-50s temperatures, I decided to take a drive south to view the Fall foliage and enjoy my morning coffee. Half an hour later the gas gauge was dangerously low and so was supply of caffeine, so I took the next available exit and found myself in the town of Franklin, Indiana.
Granted I was only 30 minutes from Indy, but this quaint little burg is like a step back in time. Beautiful restored buildings from the 1800s, great eateries and a cluster of amazing shops made me glad I got out of bed!
My first stop was Madison Street Salvage, located at 350 E. Madison. This is a fascinating conglomeration of antique lighting, furniture, stained glass windows, architectural columns and fretwork ..well you name it, they probably have it! In addition they hold frequent repurposing workshops.
Right down the street at 383 Madison you will find the Rugged Rooster featuring custom finished furniture, salvage and one-of-a kind gift ideas. Here you can also stock up on refinishing products and milk paint.
Salvage Sisters, 398 E. Jefferson Street was one of my favorite shops with truly unique items from a variety of genres. Antique and vintage decor, repurposed and refreshed furniture and one-of-a-kind home accents will assure that you don’t go home empty handed.
Next door at 396 E. Jefferson is Thanks for the Thyme. When you leave here you will have all the stocking-stuffers you need this holiday season. Antiques, collectibles, oils and fragrances, gifts for your gardening friends abound, at prices that will make you glad you took the drive.
Fill your home with the scents of the season at The Curly Willow, 498 E. Jefferson. Black Label, Wind and Willow and 1803 candles make walking into this shop a treat for the senses, plus they have a nice selection Homespice Decor and primitives.
Vintage Whimsy, 462 E. Jefferson, offers a wide selection of inspirational and whimsical hand crafted signs. Crystal chandeliers, shabby chic furniture and vintage home accents, and a large selection of costume jewelry round out their offerings.
The Marshmallow Monkey (I love that name) at 41 W. Monroe, had just received a shipment of driftwood tables which were shown with metal “industrial style” chairs. If you are needing holiday seating you will want to check these out, as they probably won’t last long. Here you will also find a nice selection of Christmas wreaths and hand made decorations for your home.
When preparing this column I asked my friend and long time Indianapolis vendor, Julie Blandford, why she would drive the distance several times a month to set up at Salvage Sisters. In her words, “In recent years greater downtown Franklin has seen a resurgence in the growth of small businesses, similar to what we think of when we remember the “old time” downtowns of rural Indiana. There is an energy and integrity here that it is great to be a part of.”
Take the drive and judge for yourself this Saturday, November 5th, when over three dozen of Franklin’s shops and eateries present their “Downtown Holiday Open House”. For more information go to www.facebook.com/DowntownFranklinHolidayOpenHouse. Until next time…Linda
Irvington resident Linda Kennett is a professional estate liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the valuation of antiques and household content and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or join her on FaceBook at Irvington Retro/Vintage/Antique