Franklin Historical Society-- Franklin, New Hampshire
From Fr. Roger Sargent, a copy of a Civil War era cabinet photo of Arthur H. Perkins, the last remaining veteran from Franklin of that conflict, having served in the famous NH 5th Regiment, accompanied by scans of the pages of his 1936 obituary;
Arthur H. Perkins, age 19, in uniform. Photo taken by E.D. Currier, Franklin Falls
Franklin Historical Society
August 2026
As this is the year to celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary of the birth of the Revolution and its subsequent emergence as a nation, the August meeting will feature Mary Adams from the NH Historical Society and NH Humanities, speaking on “Redcoats and Rebels, New Hampshire and the American Revolution”. PLEASE NOTE the change of venue to the Franklin Public Library in the upstairs meeting room. The presentation will begin at 7 pm, followed by light refreshments and the Society’s regular monthly business meeting. All are welcome, the event is free, and the library is ADA compliant (enter in the rear to use the elevator). As an added bonus, the space is comfortably air conditioned!
Society news in brief: As per agreement with the NH Preservation Alliance and Easterseals, discussions have begun on what and where artifacts found on the property during mandated archaeological excavations will be displayed. The Society will take some, while Easterseals will exhibit, in a prominent place, the balance of the most interesting of the items. This process will continue in the ensuing months.
Easterseals has also asked the Society to update its insurance on the Webster/Tay, with considerable “back and forth” between the Society, its insurance agent, and Easterseals representative. The bill will be due and payable this month, and is one of the most expensive obligations in which dues and donations play a significant role.
Curators Corner: Last month a trunk and a suitcase was left with the Society by Edie Stevens, containing her ancestors 19th century clothing. In beginning to sort through the material, it was determined that most had associations with the name Locke, who resided in Bristol during the period the garments were worn. After considerable effort, a connection was made with the Bristol Historical Society, and the items were transported to take their proper place in their museum.
The sign says “Poochies Snack Shack”. It looks a lot like the Dipsy Doodle in Northfield...
Current Newsletter
[Also last month, a basket of photos was gifted to the Society, which mostly related to activities at the high school (and probably captured by Bob Poblenz, with one actually of him with his camera!). Mixed in with the 8 x 10s, 5 x 7s, and 4 x 6 photos, were smaller, personal snapshot photos. Such is the one below, which begs the question—was this a local eatery? Contact the Society, through the website or FB page, if you have any information to share.
While on the subject of donations, the Society would like to acknowledge the list of recent donors to whom it would like to express its deepest gratitude:
From Brenda and Andrew Desrochers, a 3-ring binder with the winter carnival pin-back buttons from 1963-2024, and articles about the ski area dating in the early 1960s;
And from Bob Lucas, an August 1945 telephone book listing residents and businesses in Laconia, Franklin, and surrounding communities—a valuable item as a resource in an age where such information no longer comes in printed form!
So much changes, so quickly these days, it is being made more difficult each year to maintain the records necessary to remember, appreciate, and learn from the past. Such is the challenge to Historical Societies large and small, but with each new donation, the record becomes clearer and more understandable. Thanks to all our donors, month in and month out, to continue in this important work.