Walter Aiken Roberts

Walter Aiken Roberts. "The Developer of Main Street Franklin". , Walter Aiken Roberts (June 4, 1865 - July 3, 1948), born in Pulaski (Giles County) Tennessee, son of Dr. Joseph Coleman Roberts (11.18.1821 - 3.24.1898) and Sarah Jane Anthony Roberts (1.23.1832 - 12.24.1901)., W.A. Roberts married (11.6.1889) Sallie McGavock Ewing Roberts (5.16.1865 - 11.28.1924) at the Methodist Church in Franklin and they were blessed with three daughters, Susie Lee Roberts Briggs (7.22.1893 - 7.7.1979)(George), Ewing Roberts Green (3.13.1898 - 10.19.1980)(John) and Sara McGavock Roberts Berry (9.3.1907 - 9.2.1979)(Tyler, Jr.), each of whom he deeded a separate farm: Susie ("RobertsHaven"), Ewing ("EwingCrest") and Sara ("Rural Plains")., Sallie was artistic and a romantic and Walter was an entrepreneur and visualized the "big picture" in both his plans and his actions., Visualizing Franklin's bright future, W.A. Roberts invested heavily in downtown Franklin, and specifically on Main Street (described by a Franklin mayor as "one of the most famous (and shortest) Main Streets" (Continued on other side). , (Continued from other side). in America). At one time, W.A. Roberts owned 345 Main, 344 Main and 342 Main ("Hanner Building"), 334 Main ("Roberts' Dry Goods"), 326 Main ("Roberts-McGavock" Building), 236 Public Square ("Roberts Building"), and 137 4th Ave S (former Kroger grocery store), in addition to other real estate throughout Franklin., Visualizing Franklin's permanent place in history and the need to preserve its historical past from commercial development, in 1948, shortly prior to his death, W.A. Roberts donated the 9.75 acre Winstead Hill, command post of the CSA forces during the 1864 Battle of Franklin, to the UDC. It was the first historical preservation action taken to assure future generations would know the historical significance of the Battle of Franklin., With true Tennessee Volunteer spirit, at age 52, Walter A. Roberts volunteered to serve his Country in World War I in Europe with the YMCA in support of the troops in combat, which he did., Later, he was a founder and President of The Harpeth National Bank of Franklin Tennessee and later Director of the Williamson County Banking and Trust Company., Berry Roberts Hughes McBride Halfacre Reams Fleming Holdings, LLC , The Rural Plains Charitable Foundation, Franklin Tennessee , Sara Avalyn Berry Swain - Franklin Tennessee.