Friday, November 7, 2014

Annual Military Exhibit to open at Franklin Historical Museum


The annual Military Exhibit, honoring those who served, will open at the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday, November 9th. 
This year, we recognize the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. 
Although the US did not enter the war until 1917, the focus of the exhibit will be the more than 400 Franklin men and women who served in the Great War. Much research was done to find wartime articles from the pages of the Franklin Sentinel, Franklin’s semi-weekly newspaper at the time. Included are stories of hometown boys injured and killed in battle, copies of letters written home from the trenches, and details of the support and sacrifices made by those on the home front. 
The story of Franklin native Eddie L. Grant, the only professional baseball player killed in WWI, is told as part of the exhibit. Grant had retired from baseball and was well past the age of being drafted, but enlisted in September of 1917 at the age of 34. Dean College (then called Dean Academy) recognized their brave former student by naming their athletic field in his honor. 
Many items were donated and loaned to the museum for this exhibit. The Cargill family donated photographs of father and grandfather W. Milton Cargill who served in the Naval Military Band. Copies of musical scores written by Cargill during the War are on display. 
The ceremonial helmet of Michael Kearney was donated for display by his grandson Chris Kearney. Many will know the name Michael Kearney as the owner of Kearney’s Drug Store, which served the town for many years on Main Street. 
These items as well as numerous other photos, uniforms, and WWI memorabilia will be on display. In addition the Museum’s collection of other historical military uniforms that honor all of our local heroes will be exhibited. 
The Franklin Historical Museum is open Sundays 1:00-4:00pm, Thursdays 5:00pm-8:00pm (except Dec. thru Feb.), and Saturdays 10:00am-1:00PM. The Museum is located at 80 West Central Street.

Franklin Historical Museum
Franklin Historical Museum

Franklin Historical Museum
Franklin Historical Museum

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