FRANKLIN — Driving through Franklin heading north or south on Central Street, you pass by Trestle View Park and the Harris Corliss Wheel. During the holiday season, every year since the mid-1990s and continuing to this day, Kirk and Jill Weyant, local owners of Three Rivers Wreath & Plants Company, have donated the wreaths. 

The wreath is big enough that it fits nicely around the hub of the Wheel. It is 84 inches (seven feet) high, with a sturdy metal frame, and then it is covered by balsa fir limbs on both sides. It takes four hours to complete one. 

When both wreaths are ready to be mounted, volunteers carefully place them on both sides of the wheel. By the way, they are the largest wreaths they make.

In the early days, Kirk, Jill, their daughter, and two sons helped with the installation. As the pictures show, today, volunteers mount this magnificent gift. At the end of the season, the wreath will be taken down and stored until next year. 

For a little context, the wheel stands for the importance of industry in the history of Franklin. The wheel weighs 11 tons, and is at least the height of two people standing one on top of the other. 

When the city originally built the park, Kirk Weyant provided and laid the sod, with help from some of his employees, and they also laid the bricks for the walkway. Their contributions have been significant in giving the visitors a beautiful gateway as they enter Franklin. During your busy day, you might take a minute and stop in the little park; then wander over to the wheel and take in the sheer mass of this monument of the past. 

In addition, if you have an extra moment you might want to volunteer with this or any other volunteer activity in the city. Volunteering in the community is a way to pay it forward for future generations, whether it is to enjoy this little park or any other activity in the city. Once again, we salute Kirk and Jill Weyant and all volunteers working to make Franklin a beautiful community.