Franklin Historical Society-- Franklin, New Hampshire
Franklin Historical Society
May 2025.
Current Newsletter
A somewhat cool, very rainy, and grey day greeted all those who braved the elements to help out, and show up to purchase, at the annual Society Plant Sale. Despite the extremely adverse weather, mud stretching the length of the lawn, and puddles everywhere else, the event was successful beyond the expectations the conditions would seem to dictate. Over the years, the best sale day pulled in over $800, the least productive netted only around $400 (again when it rained). Amazingly, Saturday’s total was almost $700! Kudos go to those who provided the plants: Annette Andreozzi (also Chair of the event), Elizabeth Jewell, Lisa Martin, Glenn Morrill, Sally Bussiere, Kathy Fuller, and Dan and Karen Darling, and to the helpers on the day which included Annette (of course), Lisa Martin, Linda Stronge, Sally Bussiere (cashier), Vanessa and Emily Hollins, and Frank Genus. Without the participation of all these giving people, the event could never have been possible. THANK YOU!
Heading into June, and hopefully warmer, more friendly weather, the program of the month will be “The Odd Fellows and Burleigh Hall before the Condo Conversion”. Featuring photos taken of the third floor replete with original light fixtures, theatrical electric dimmer, and fabulous scenic backdrops for the performance space. The slideshow will begin at 7 pm, Thursday June 5th, at the Society’s Museum, 21 Holy Cross Road, Webster Place. Directions are on the Society’s website, and all are welcome. There is no admission charge. The regular business and board meeting, to which all attendees are cordially invited, will commence right after the presentation and light refreshments.
As most know, weather on weekends has been an ongoing obstacle to community events. Because of the same type of heavy rain as experienced at the plant sale (luckily with no lightening), Community Day was pushed from May 10th to June 14th, combining with Winni River Days on the same weekend. The Society will have a booth, and will need volunteers to answer questions, sell merchandise, and recruit new members between 9:30 am and 2 pm. With plenty of sunshine, the day promises to be one of great rewards.
Also this month (tentatively) scheduled for June 9th, and in lieu of the Daniel Webster talk usually offered Franklin fourth graders, the return of the Daniel Webster portrait will be witnessed by Franklin school children in Representatives Hall during a tour of the Capitol building. This painting hung in the ward room of the USS Daniel Webster atomic submarine, even after its decommissioning when it served as a training platform in Charleston, South Carolina. It is now being returned to New Hampshire, and will become part of the permanent display honoring the Webster’s service in the Society’s museum.
In a continuing saga, another visit recently to the library’s archives divulged even more treasures, including a real surprise: a first edition copy of “The Reminiscences of Daniel Webster” published in 1877, donated to the library by relatives of Franklin Pierce, and signed (as part of his personal library) by Frank H. Pierce, Franklin’s nephew! The monthly program in October will go into detail about all the fascinating discoveries the library has revealed.
As is its habit, the Society would once again like to extend its thanks to all those donors of archival material in the past month, so important to strengthen what the Society can offer as windows to Franklin’s past.
From Barb Therrien, a vintage postcard of “The Mountain Path” and a vinyl checkbook cover from the Franklin National Bank.
From Lisa Martin, scans of nine snapshots of her father Neil Martin’s WWII experience in the post D-Day European Campaign, a booklet and 8 x 10 photo of the 40th reunion of Franklin High School’s Class of 1939, and another 8 x 10 photo, found in a Boston hotel, of an unknown Hollywood actor from possibly the late 1920s or early 1930s.
And from Marie Creasey, the remainder of Andy Nadeau’s books still left in print. The Society will sell them until the are gone, so if have not purchased your copies of the “History of Papermaking”, or “The History of Railroads in Franklin”, or the “History of Saint Paul’s Church”, now is your chance. You may either visit the Society’s booth at Community Day, or visit the museum any Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm, through Labor Day.