Historic Happenings at the Franklin Historical Museum for April 2026
Regular Hours: Saturdays 10-1, Sundays 1-4
Saturday, April 11 – Exhibit Opening -- Sons & Daughters of Italy 100th Anniversary
The Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, often called simply The Sons of Italy, got is start in New York City in 1905 as a means to help Italian-Americans in their new country. And, by 1926, Franklin’s Italian community got into the act with a vast affair held at the Morse Theater on Sunday, May 2. The Quattro Eroi (four heroes) Lodge was named to honor the four Italian-American men from Franklin who died in the Great War, Alessandro Patete, Patrick Ristaino, Albert L. Mucciarone, and Emilio Daddario. The officers filed into the theater, filled with members of other Lodges and officials of the Grand Lodge. `Venerable’ Giulio Gentili of the Mansfield Lodge bid them welcome and Arduino De Santes of Mansfield performed an initiation – and the Lodge was “in business.”
The exhibit includes many photographs and memorabilia of the Lodge and the local Italian community and will kick off other related events, culminating in a banquet at the VFW on May 16. Organizers are also hoping to conduct oral history interviews and to gather old photographs for scanning and sharing! The museum is open from 10-1. Admission is free but a suggested donation of $5 or more is always encouraged and appreciated.
Sunday, April 12 - Author Steve Puleo Will Talk About his Book: The Boston Italians
In this lively and engaging history, Stephen Puleo tells the story of the Boston Italians from their earliest years, when an often illiterate and impoverished people in a strange land recreated the bonds of village and region in the cramped quarters of the North End and beyond. Focusing on this first and crucial Italian enclave in Boston, Puleo describes the experience of Italian immigrants as they battled poverty, illiteracy, and prejudice; explains their transformation into Italian Americans during the Depression and World War II; and chronicles their rich history in Boston up to the present day.
The museum opens at 1 and the program will start at 1:15 The museum closes at 4. Admission is free but a suggested donation of $5 or more is always encouraged appreciated.
