The Town of Franklin’s new Women’s History Park features a striking sculpture, “Sowing the Seeds of the Future,” celebrating diverse women’s contributions. Initiated by Former Vice Mayor Barbara McRae, it honors Cherokee, Black, and pioneer women through art and history.
What began purely as an idea for a walking trail with plaques to honor women of the past in Franklin and their contributions morphed into Franklin’s newest park with a splendid sculpture of three women destined for international attention. The sculpture is of a Cherokee woman, a Black woman and a pioneer woman. Known now as the “Sowing the Seeds of the Future,” the sculpture is the centerpiece of Franklin’s Women’s History Park.
The idea began with the late Barbara McRae, who at the time was Franklin’s Vice Mayor. She had a vision and a desire to promote and recognize the accomplishments and contributions of local women. She called it the Women’s History Trail (WHT). Regrettably, McRae did not live to see her dream of the first women’s history trail in North Carolina. McRae passed while in office.
The statue is sculpted by internationally known sculptor Wesley Wofford, who lives near Franklin, in Cashiers. Wofford sculpted the famous, 2,500-pound bronze traveling statue, “The Journey to Freedom,” which depicts Harriet Tubman and a child. That statue is currently traveling the United States.
The base on which the three figures stand on the Sowing the Seeds represents the passage of time. Nearby is the Nikwasi Mound, which is a cultural and spiritual center of the Cherokee Nation. The WHT sculpture is less than a block away. The seeds shown in the hands of the women within the sculpture represent the importance of agriculture but also symbolize the transfer of knowledge across cultures and generations. A basket of corn is at the feet of the women. The hands of the women are touching, illustrating the ideal of a sisterhood of women that can help bridge cultural divides.
The details of each figure reflect specific elements of each woman’s culture and the place in history and society each woman held. The sculpture is a metaphor for the evolution of modern society, a narrative about three local women, as well as a history lesson with embedded historically accurate details. It is intended to acknowledge and celebrate women’s contributions, to inspire future generations of girls and women to pursue their dreams and to challenge all to learn from the past and aspire for a more equitable future.
“I can say without hesitation these determined ladies from the Women’s History Trail Organization did an absolutely amazing job in raising half a million dollars to create, commission, and construct what I, and many consider a priceless work of art, while at the same time identifying and promoting the values that contribute to our culture, heritage, and history.
“It exemplifies the dedication and sacrifice that women have made from pioneer days to today through their hard work, dedication and perseverance to create and maintain a common bond that we all have in protecting and promoting our beautiful and majestic part of the world. I sincerely hope that this is just the beginning of similar community projects that raise the consciousness of our citizens and visitors in the fact it demonstrates the unique history and culture we may often take for granted,” Franklin Mayor Jack Horton said.
The WHT leadership team raised $600,000 from donors, local government and tourism organizations. The team says its goal continues to “empower and inspire girls and women to forge ahead and follow their dreams for the future.” It took five years. The women prevailed.
The WHT’s website invites and encourages visitors and locals to visit the park to “experience their history in a deeper, more personal way giving a greater sense of identity to these women and their contributions to Franklin and Macon County’s heritage.”
“The process started with the vision of one person and gradually grew to include the entire community. This project will be a focal point for our town for many years and I believe that some will plan a visit to Franklin for the primary purpose of viewing this inspirational work of art,” Horton said.
The sculpture was donated to the Town of Franklin as public art by the WHT.
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Bob Scott is a former Franklin Mayor and former chair of the NC Mayor’s Association. He is a freelance writer, columnist, and photographer.
