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Franklinville church demolition July2023

Spirits up as Franklinville church building comes down

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Demolition crews were working at the site of Franklinville United Methodist Church last week. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal)

FRANKLINVILLE – Members of the Franklinville United Methodist Church are saving what they can as the church is demolished following a wall collapse July 6.

Emergency crews responded to the Franklinville United Methodist Church on South Main Street after a report of a commercial fire. The arriving units didn’t find a fire but did find that one of the walls of the church had collapsed.

Initial reports from fire crews were that the collapse may have been caused by an explosion from a gas leak, but the explosion theory was quickly ruled out as the cause as the gas leak was believed to have been triggered by an air-conditioning unit falling onto a gas line during the wall collapse.

The next day, two additional sections of the wall also collapsed.

“This was expected to happen,” said Rev. Michele Hill in an email. “Those falls opened the gaping hole more and took two very old and beautiful stained-glass windows with them.”

The congregation isn’t letting not having an available building keep them from their usual worship services.

“(On July 9) we worshiped in the local park with members from several other United Methodist Churches joining us for support, as well as people from the community,” Hill said. “We shared Holy Communion, and it was a lovely experience.”

In upcoming weeks, the church will be meeting at the Franklinville Diner, just a short walking distance from the church.

Many early records for the church have been lost to time, but according to the Town of Franklinville website the church’s history dates to 1839, when Elisha Coffin deeded 1.64 acres to “Trustees for the Methodist Episcopal Church … who shall erect thereon a house or place of worship.”

That’s old enough to pre-date the town itself which was incorporated from a village to a town by the state legislature in 1847. The organs and chimes were added in 1953.

With that much history in one building the entire town is affected by the church’s demolition.

“This church held memories for all: baptisms, recitals, confirmations, weddings, graduations, funerals and so much more. The church was used by the townspeople in many ways through the years,” Hill said.

Crews have been able to demolish the entire sanctuary, but not before Franklinville firefighters were able to save the baptismal font, the Bible, the church bell (which they rang one last time before taking it down), the cross from the steeple, and several stained-glass windows.

A time capsule exists under the steeple that dates to the late 1800s, but church officials aren’t sure if they will ever be able to retrieve it.

Hill continues to express her gratitude to the first responders as well as the community.

“We are so grateful for all the first responders who were there that night, specifically the Franklinville Fire Department who has gone was beyond the call of duty,” she said.

Franklinville church collapse III June2023

Church wall collapse causes commotion in Franklinville

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Emergency workers gather at Franklinville United Methodist Church. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

FRANKLINVILLE – A side of Franklinville United Methodist Church collapsed Thursday night, with one wall blown out.

There were no injuries and no one was in the building at the time of the incident, according to emergency workers on the scene.

Here’s a look at the scene shortly after the wall collapse at Franklinville United Methodist Church. (Courtesy photo)

The cause of the collapse is unclear and there were a couple of early theories. One, it has been linked to a wall collapse of the brick structure without other factors. The other possible cause was a gas explosion.

An initial call to the Franklinville Volunteer Fire Department came in as a commercial fire. When department members arrived, they reported a partial collapse of the structure from a gas explosion.

Church officials said it was just a wall collapse.

A witness nearby said it sounded like two trucks hitting each other. Deputies with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office deputes just up the road reported that they didn’t hear anything from the site.

There was a big response to the church wall collapse in Franklinville. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

Part of North Main Street was closed.

The church dates to the late 18th century.

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Franklinville family receives new heating system for Christmas

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Triad Heating & Cooling owner Eric Ward presents Lily Barham as she hugs son Steven of Franklinville with a certificate for their annual Publisher Clearing House style free furnace giveaway on Dec. 22, 2021 in Franklinville. (PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL)

FRANKLINVILLE — One Franklinville family rested easier over Christmas with a new furnace courtesy of Triad Heating & Cooling. Lily Barham won the heating system after her friends and family nominated her. The surprise was presented by Triad’s owner Eric Ward in a Publisher’s Clearinghouse-style front door presentation last Wednesday. “It makes me feel good that people care that much about me,” said Lily.

Triad Heating & Cooling owner Eric Ward presents Lily Barham of Franklinville with a certificate for their annual Publisher Clearing House style free furnace giveaway on Dec. 22, 2021 in Franklinville. Friends and family gathered prior to going to Lily home at Whites memorial Baptist Church and drove to her home. About 20 cars took part in this 10 min drive. (PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL)

Each year Triad Heating & Cooling gives away a new furnace to a deserving Randolph County resident before Christmas. This year’s recipient is known in her community as someone who is always willing to help others in need.

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Franklinville’s tight races lead to mayoral change

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A.C. Hurley

FRANKLINVILLE — A.C. Hurley has spent more than two decades in municipal government as a town commissioner in Franklinville.

He’s moving to another seat after an incredibly close election earlier this month.

“I want to get more for the people in the town,” Hurley said. 

Hurley received 50 votes. Incumbent Perry Conner, who was seeking a fifth term as mayor, received 49 votes.

Hurley, who has been on the town board for about 28 years, didn’t file for the mayor’s seat until the final day of the filing period in the summer. He said he weighed the pros and cons of giving up his seat as a commissioner. 

“I decided I’ll throw my name in there,” he said.

Now, he’ll no longer be a voting member of the board when the change takes place in December.

“I can bring up ideas,” he said. “I’m hoping I can bring up more stuff.”

Hurley, 68, retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Asheboro. He runs a lawn mower repair shop in Franklinville.

One of his goals is to clean up Franklinville and make it more visually appealing, Hurley said.

He said he was surprised by the turnout, calling it a good race in that regard.

“A lot of people said they liked me and they liked (Conner) and they weren’t going to vote for mayor,” he said.

It wasn’t the only Franklinville race with close vote totals, though the margins in the other race didn’t have quite the consequences.

For commissioner seats, Richard Goodwin and Brandon Hurley, who’s the newly elected mayor’s son, both received 55 votes. They were the top vote getters in a contest to select three commissioners, so they both remain on the board. 

They’ll be joined by William (Billy) Farias, who received 41 votes in the six-person race.

Brandon Hurley also said he thought it was a high turnout for an election without a national or statewide race.

“I was shocked,” he said. “It was higher than I expected.”

Brandon Hurley ran unopposed when he first gained a commissioner’s seat four years ago. He said he would like to see more youth-oriented initiatives gain support in the community.

“What I’m trying to concentrate on is providing things for the children in the area,” he said. “Where we make it affordable for all kids to be involved.”

He said that would mean an emphasis on sports and recreation programs in Franklinville.

The younger Hurley is owner of Carter’s Family Pharmacy in Asheboro.