Franklin Idaho Pioneer Association

The town of Franklin was founded in the spring of 1860 by Mormon pioneers moving north through Cache Valley. In 1872, Lorenzo Hill Hatch built his elegant stone house on one of Franklin's largest lots on Main Street, across from the city square. Hatch was the town's temporal and spiritual leader from 1863 to 1875. He was the second Mormon bishop and the first appointed mayor of Franklin. He was also the first Mormon legislator in Idaho.
The Hatch House is a rare Idaho example of the Greek Revival style of architecture that was popular in the U.S., generally, 1825-1860, but saw continued popularity in Utah and Idaho during the 1870s. The home was occupied by descendants of Bishop Hatch until the 1940s. It was acquired by the Historical Society in 1979 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Hatch House main level and the adjacent Doney House (moved onto the site) have been renovated and feature stunning interpretive exhibitions that tell the story of Franklin and the Cache River Valley. The Hatch and Doney Houses are owned by the Idaho State Historical Society and managed in partnership with the Franklin Idaho Pioneer Association.