Franklin is a small town in northwestern Vermont, just a handful of miles south of the Canadian border. On its broad main street is a 140 year old brick building that has been home to the offices of the Franklin Telephone Company and the Franklin Electric Light Company since the mid 1920s. It is a building that many insulator collectors would look upon with considerable interest. Incorporated into the two front porches are almost 23 styles of glass insulators.

The Telephone and Electric Light companies are very small as rural utilities go. They serve the Town of Franklin and about 50 square miles of countryside. Hugh Gates manages both of the privately owned utilities and says that the companies are very much a family affair. His grandfather started the telephone business and operated the switchboard, which was located in a general store across the street. When fire destroyed that building in 1926, the company moved to its present location. The Electric Light Company was started by Hugh's father, and his daughter is now the 3rd generation working in that business. His son-in-law, cousins, and nephews fill out the work force roster.

A sign on the door wisely advises
"Don't Complain About Farmers With Your Mouth Full".

A large Vermont State flag that hung from the porch disappeared late last year
 -- probably becoming a souvenir, since Vermont was celebrating the
Bicentennial of its Statehood, 1791 - 1991.

Hugh, who is not an insulator collector, had a supply of surplus glass insulators from the businesses. When he needed two porches put on the building about 10 years ago, he decided to use the insulators as an appropriate accent. The glass in the lower porch includes CD 152s and 154s, with a few CD 155s. There are also some CD 107s, 106s, and 102s tucked in where the spacing got tight. The upper porch also has common insulators, mostly CD 107s, CD 106s, and CD 102s. Not surprisingly, the names of Brookfield, Dominion, Hemingray 9 and Whitall Tatum predominate. 

The porches have their imitators elsewhere in Franklin. A number of rural mailboxes hang from crossarms handsomely outfitted with insulators. Those of us who like porcelain and the larger power insulators might feel a little left out, but the overall effect of all those insulators in Franklin will definitely put a smile on any collector's face.

Close up of the lower porch. All the insulators are on wood pins.