Current Newsletter
Final reminder: the Open House is the last chance to enter the Scavenger Hunt and become eligible for some really good prizes/gift certificates. Come on down! Each chance is only $10, with the proceeds to help defray operational and maintenance expenses, particularly over the coming winter.
various business memorabilia; info from the 1957 Ted V. Rodgers Journalism Award (the Journal Transcript was a recipient); 2010 Census shoulder bag; proof sheets and B&W photos of children labeled “Joann Manley”; proof sheets and negatives from a production of “Call Me Madam” (Franklin?); a 1996 7th grade project folder of transcribed oral history interviews; a 1979 Journal Transcript “110% Award” plaque; Casey Family Services memorabilia including a box of pencils and a large fridge magnet “Babysitter Notes”; a “MULTO Arithmetic Game”; book “Westward Expansion” from 1972; and several unused tickets to community events.
From Kathy Fuller (also a shopping bag full): several books, including a first edition “History of Salisbury” signed inside “The Brick House Beatrice Campbell 1936” a 1953 book of NH laws, a copy of the state constitution, and a history of UNH; a 1945 booklet from the NH Historical Society on the founders of the Abbot-Downing Coach Company; vintage spectacles (alas, none from Franklin) including, however, a 19th century pair of blue lenses sunglasses, and a police officer’s cap (with no crown badge).
From John Benham (in two plastic storage bins) a large poster advertising “Expo 1” in Franklin (no year); campaign poster “Benham for City Council”; topographical map of northern NH; map of Sanbornton; copies of the Nashua Telegraph for its 150th anniversary; a copy of Life magazine from 1947; a 1948 New England calendar; Journal Transcript advertising posters; about 50 years worth of Hill Annual Reports (which hopefully will end up in Hill); and several scrapbooks, one exclusively about the flood of 1936, one from the 1870s, and two old ledgers turned into scrapbooks from Swanzey, NH; 1850 and 1851 copies of “The Juvenile Wesleyan”; calendar pages that were copies of color Currier & Ives prints; copies of “The Household” newspaper, 1882 and 1883; a March 1865 copy of the Boston Evening Herald; a 1906 copy of “The New York Clipper” with news of vaudeville, circus, and dramatic stage acts; and a Hammond map of the U.S.
From Anita Blake came three volumes of the Methodist Episcopal Church’s records, 1874-1942, with a list inserted in the cover of the volume covering 1910-1942 of those from the Church who were serving in the military and ancillary services. The list appears to be from WWI (see below).
Society News
The leaves are definitely becoming more colorful, there is a decided hint of chill in the night air, but days are remaining pleasant for the most part. Fall is upon us, with all that makes this time of year quite special in New England. Although not autumn-themed, the October program, a substitution for the originally scheduled “History of the Pemigewasset Valley” (postponed to next year due to the speaker’s family commitments on the October date), will be revisiting Andy Nadeau’s recorded tour of the Franklin Firefighters Museum. The viewing will begin at 7 pm, at the Society’s Webster/Tay building at Webster Place. Light refreshments will be offered between the presentation and the regular monthly meeting of the Society. All are welcome and there is no fee.
General news: the Daniel Webster Birthplace State Park, with the Society’s own Randy Kovach fulfilling the role of site manager and docent, will be closing for the season this month.
As response to an inquiry at last month’s meeting, the Boscawen cemetery near the Merrimack Nursing Home, is cared for by the County. A member wanted to know who was responsible, but the answer did not include at what frequency that maintenance occurs.
One of the many donations received included decades of Hill Town Reports.. The Hill Historical Society was contacted by email to see if they had an interest, but unfortunately no reply was forthcoming.
The library “tour of discovery” will hopefully continue with another sojourn very soon. What is found will definitely be sufficient material for a future program or programs, as this could easily be a two-parter next year.
Curator’s corner: From just three of last month’s donors, items came to the Society in either large shopping bags or plastic storage bins. Below (with eternal thanks) are listed the gifts received and the donor.
From Chris Lewis (in a shopping bag): a Journal Transcript paper boy’s cloth shoulder bag; an exceptionally large format tintype of an unknown older woman with hand drawn head covering; an 8 x 10 of the Franklin Fire Department in front of the old station (no year given); a proof sheet of multiple images of snowmobilers; Winter Carnival B&W snaps of the parade in a snowstorm—1970? (see below, with text continuing after);
Franklin Historical Society
October 2024
The Society would like to gratefully acknowledge the efforts of Rev. Roger Sargent and his parishioners for lovingly restoring the orphans Webster Place cemetery gravestones to their original condition. Once again, the identities of these young lives lost are legible, to honor their short time on earth.
In keeping with a cemetery theme, it has come to the attention of the Society that Glenn Laramie organized a mowing and general cleanup of the Shaw Corner cemetery, with a request that anyone wishing to help notify him at the Cemetery Association’s office of their intentions so that he may coordinate efforts with his scheduled plans.
Franklin Historical Society-- Franklin, New Hampshire