Medric Martin Store, Franklin, 1973
In 1935, Medric Martin established a general store on Irish Bend Road. Before becoming a store owner, Martin worked on a farm and in sugar mills. Martin was known for his signature red hat, and his store had a lounge area with fans, tables, and chairs where people often stopped by to chat with him. The store was featured in two films, The Apostle (1997) and All the King's Men (2006), and was also a popular destination for taking photographs. At age 77, Martin survived a violent robbery and continued running his store almost up until his passing on Christmas Day in 2009 at 95. The store still stands at 2518 Irish Bend Road.