In 2004, the city of Franklin, Tennessee purchased the historic Harlinsdale Farm to serve as a new park for the community. Since that time, it has become the “crown jewel of the city of Franklin parks system” and residents have come together to tell the story of the farm through a collection of preservation efforts.

‍

906 Studio Architects + Interiors was privileged to take part in the first of two major historical renovation projects on the property, the first of which was the Hayes House. We worked closely with Friends of Franklin Parks, a local nonprofit that facilitates public / private partnerships throughout Franklin and has spent over a decade advocating and fundraising to save this community artifact. We also worked directly with the City of Franklin Parks Department, who own and maintain the park facilities and grounds.

Originally built in 1899, the farmhouse had fallen into disrepair through decades of inactivity and required extensive exterior and interior. Armed with a deep collection of historic information as well as first-person accounts from those who still remembered life on the farm, our team worked to both restore what was beautiful about the home while also equipping it to meet the safety and accessibility demands of the new century.

Any effort of this scope and scale “takes a village” and our team, along with civil engineer Kimley-Horn and building engineer Genesis worked together with the Parks and Friends teams to revive this unique place with an amazing story to tell.

The team aimed at maintaining and enhancing the award-winning parks system and also with the City of Franklin. as well as with the Park at Harlinsdale Farm stands as one of Franklin’s most meaningful historic restoration projects.

The goal from day one was to maintain historic authenticity. This included salvaging original wood flooring, restoring period elements, and designing interiors that tell the story of the home and legendary Tennessee Walking Horses raised on the property, including Midnight Sun.

Today, Hayes House serves multiple community purposes:

A welcoming venue for small events
An educational space sharing the history of Harlinsdale Farm
A gathering place for visitors
Office space for Friends of Franklin Parks, located in the restored attic

As part of a larger historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the project’s guiding principle was restoration-first design—ensuring safety and accessibility while preserving the rural Victorian farmhouse character that defines the property.

‍

The Hayes House restoration reflects a long-term community vision: honoring Franklin’s heritage while adapting historic structures for modern, meaningful use.

‍

A thank you to the design time with Genesis Engineering, Kimley-Horn, and MTLC Building Group.

‍