If you drive through downtown Franklin, you may have to stop at the traffic light at the intersection of Route 140 and Main Street. Be patient and enjoy the view. The flowers at the center island and bridge are curated by Franklin's Eileen Mason and teams of volunteers.
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| Eileen Mason |
Mason organizes Franklin’s Beautification Day and Winter Decorating. As a Franklin Garden Club and Franklin Downtown Partnership member, she and her volunteers have been beautifying the heart of town for 22 years. The effort is supported and sponsored by generous local businesses.
“If it helps make someone else’s day that much better just because they’re sitting at the lights and enjoying the beautiful flowers,” she’s accomplished her goal, says the REMAX Executive Realty agent.
Creating an attractive downtown is what keeps her inspired. People can enjoy it each day. “Not every community has that. It speaks well of Franklin, and it leaves everyone that drives through with a good impression of Franklin.” People may not know who does it, but they appreciate that downtown is cared for and attractive, she said.
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Before and After the Beautification Day 2026 -
the center island |
She was first approached by FDP director, Carol Harper, shortly after the Partnership was formed in 2001. She knew it would be a good partnership between the Garden Club and the Downtown Partnership. The Garden Club had been taking care of the trough planter for many years on its own. Then, in the Spring of 2004, the Garden Club, FDP, DPW and Water Departments joined forces annually to make the Downtown look beautiful.
She worked with the DPW to get the window boxes installed at the bridges. She coordinated plantings. Eventually she introduced the self-watering black containers that hold 2 weeks’ worth of water to save time and resources and to keep a variety of cascading flowers and colors flourishing over the years. The trough is the centerpiece and needs watering several times per week to keep it going. That’s where the Watering Team of volunteers come in.
Early on the DPW introduced an improved watering drip system; they turn the water on and off each season, maintain, repair, clean out, and fill containers with soil. Various garden centers in town have provided plants throughout the years, starting with Wadsworth Farms, Hillside Nursery, Agway and now Fairmount Farm.
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Before and After the Beautification Day 2026
- the bridge railing |
Beautification Days are efficient work days with flowers in May and greenery in November.
Mason has volunteers from the Garden Club and the FDP. She has had lots of help from residents and sports teams at Franklin High over the years. The Garden Club cares for the expanded Veterans’ Memorial Garden at the Town Common. Mason coordinates the work in the downtown. Volunteers plant 26 business barrels around downtown, plus the 31 containers at the center island and bridges.
She appreciates that people want to pitch in. At the recent May 16th Beautification Day, Co-Chair, Sandy Sauer and the girls’ soccer team worked downtown while the boys’ baseball team worked at the common. “It’s a good mix and a good vibe. What I like is there are kids that come back each year. They love doing it. There are so many kids who drive through town and say ‘I used to do that!’ "
One memorable time for her was during COVID. “We had so many people in town step up and help do everything. They wore masks, they stayed in their own vehicles, or went to the (Fairmount) farm, picked up plants, brought them downtown and planted. I had the most adult volunteers ever come out and do that. The kids weren’t in school. We didn’t really have the teams that year, so families came out."
"We had such a fun day. You could feel the community spirit. Everyone wanted to get out and just be with people. Those were the years that made a big difference. I am so appreciative of the people in Franklin."
It's a labor of love. It takes months of planning and organizing. Her new Co-Chair in beautifying Franklin is Sandy Sauer at Franklin Tile Carpet One. Sandy has been a huge help with many tasks like organizing and scheduling volunteers to do the watering for 22 weeks during the summer.
It's rewarding. “The friendships, the people and things we’ve been able to accomplish as a partnership have been really big. Even the little things like the museum sculpture – that was a nice project.” She has also been involved in establishing the Ladybug Trail.
Mason’s goal is to keep growing the base of supporters who help beautification by watering, planting or being a member. She’d love to keep it going for another 25 years. “There’s no reason for it to go away. I like the fact it’s a true partnership between businesses, residents and the town DPW and Water Departments. We couldn’t do it without everyone’s help and cooperation.”
Stay up to date on the Downtown Partnership’s Beautification Day and other events here:
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501c3 organization made up of more than 350 business owners, residents, and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. Residents can join the Downtown Partnership for only $25. The Partnership manages events like the Strawberry Stroll, the Harvest Festival, the Ladybug Historical & Cultural Trail, and initiatives such as beautification, streetscape design, greenspace, alley murals, and sculpture projects. For more information go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.
