Frankewing: Bradshaw History and Railroad Heritage

Discover Frankewing through its history of names and traces of its former community. The place was initially called Bradshaw Community; in 1909, it was decided that the L&N Railroad would run through the small community. Churches, a former school site, and cemeteries add further points of reference to this history that can be clearly placed in time.

From Bradshaw Community to the Name Frankewing

Frank Ewing persuaded railroad officials to route the tracks through his town. The community was named after him. Together with the decision made in 1909, this forms a local history in which a personal initiative and the planned railroad route are closely connected. The name Frankewing thus recalls the person who advocated for this connection; Bradshaw Community remains part of the area’s history as the community’s former name.

Bradshaw Creek is also an important geographic landmark: the former agricultural community of Bradshaw lay along this waterway and is now a short walk west of Frankewing. A prominent road bridge over the creek is the R. Morris Harwell Bridge on U.S. Highway 64 in Giles County. It lies directly east of the intersection of Interstate 65 and U.S. Highway 64, and west of the Buford Beadle Bridge.

Churches, School, and Cemetery

Mount Zion-Frankewing Cemetery is in Frankewing, near Interstate 65 exit 14. The Frankewing School stood on its grounds from 1913 to 1953. The cemetery and school history are therefore tied to the same site, while the dates provide a precise timeline of the site’s former use. For travelers interested in history, this connection offers a distinctive point of interest: it links a named place to a chapter in the history of a school that was located on these grounds for more than four decades.

The churches also mark specific points in history. Frankewing United Methodist Church was founded in 1817. Mount Zion Cemetery is behind Mount Zion Methodist Church in Frankewing and is still in use. Check locally before visiting to find out what visiting options are available.

Near Mount Zion-Frankewing Cemetery, on the south side of Highway 64, is an old house dating from before the Civil War. It may have a historical connection to the cemetery. The house is described as a historic building; this does not imply that it is open to the public.

Frankewing as a Base for Your Trip

When choosing a vacation rental in Frankewing, you can consider whether the area’s local history suits the kind of stay you’re looking for. The themes range from the former name Bradshaw Community and the 1909 railroad decision to the school, church, and cemetery. The dates mark different events: 1817, the founding of Frankewing United Methodist Church; 1909, the railroad decision; and 1913 to 1953, the years when Frankewing School was located on the cemetery grounds. This distinction makes Frankewing’s historical connections tangible without combining different places and events into a single story.

Discover more destinations: Pulaski.

View the broader travel guide: Giles County.