"developing a comprehensive digital catalogue"

In the article, the Milford Daily News writes about the effort to catalogue the collection at the Franklin Historical Museum.

Spearheading the effort, Delwyn Arnold estimates that 90 percent of the items now on display have been recorded. He said that more than 1,000 items, currently stored in the museum's basement, have not been entered into the system. 

The bulk of the collection consists of newspapers, town reports, documents and photographs dating back to the 1800s. 

So far, the commission hasn’t unearthed any hidden gems — significant artifacts in the collection that members had no idea existed. But Arnold said it’s still a possibility. 

At present, members don't have a timeline for when the database will be complete.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1890060168/Franklin-Historical-Commission-works-to-catalog-museums-collection#ixzz29S7EVnVc

The Museum will be putting together a display of military uniforms for November to honor the veterans. Have you stopped by to see yet? It is quite the place to visit!

Wanted: Franklin High School Yearbooks

After getting into your closet to do some spring cleaning and donate shoes to the Scouts, check out your book cases for that high school yearbook that you may want to share with the Historical Museum.

Wouldn't it be nice to have your name on the yearbook that folks pick up when visiting the museum?

Specific years that are being looked for are listed in the document:

Franklin, MA: Historical Commission Yearbook Request


You can drop your yearbook off at the Town Clerk's office or at the Museum during their open hours


The Museum website http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/
The Museum Facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/FHM02038

In the News - Car, volunteers, scanner

Car rolls over in Franklin

by Staff reports

Franklin historical commission seeks volunteers

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

For those who need to follow the sirens !

Check out our new online police and fire scanner

by Staff reports

Franklin, MA: Historical Commission

Purpose 

The Historical Commission provides for the preservation, protection, and development of the historic and archaeological assets of Franklin. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Library Room of the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St.
The activities of the commission encompass many areas including: research on places of historical or architectural value, working with the State Archaeologist in conducting surveys and reporting on sites, supporting educational activities, establishing historic districts, providing information for genealogical searches, and operating and maintaining the Franklin Historical Museum. 

Membership 

The Commission consists of seven members who are appointed for three-year terms. Additionally, Associate memberships are available for anyone interested in town history by contacting the Town Clerk's office or any member of the Historical Commission.

Additional information on the Historical Commission can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Historical/historical

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

Would you like a connection to history?  Do you have an artistic flare?  If so, we're interested in your ideas.

The Franklin Historical Museum is searching for an official logo.  This logo will be used on stationary, publications, our web page and promotional items.

The museum moved to it's new location on West Central Street, ½ block from the fire station, last May.  We are approaching our 1 year anniversary, and to celebrate we are holding a logo contest.

If you have an idea for a logo and would like to submit it for consideration, we'd love to hear from you.  Simply send your artistic rendering of your logo idea to Debbie Pellegri, c/o Franklin Town Hall, East Central Street Franklin, MA 02038.  All entries should be received by the deadline Monday, May 16^th.

The selected logo will be unveiled at the Museum's 1 year anniversary celebration on Sunday May 22^nd.

The contest is open to all ages.  You can be part of history!

Historical Museum (video)

Warren Reynolds, a Franklin area realtor who blogs at 02038.com put together this video of the Historical Museum opening on Friday night:



My writing on the new museum can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/franklin-ma-history-on-display.html


Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: History on display

After some expense by the Town, much effort from volunteers and significant donations from the community, the Historical Museum is now open in downtown Franklin. The building was built in 1842 as the Town Hall, repaired and restored in 1916, and given new life in 2010. It also served time as the Senior center. Today, it is a building worthy of displaying the rich and varied history of Franklin.

As you come in the front entrance, art work on the floor comes close to replicating the Town Seal. Ben Franklin's phrase "Industry need not wish" is one I have written about before.

Along both sides of the main hall, wooden base units support the glass display cases. The wooden bases were all crafted by Tri-County Regional Vocation Technical High School students. Students also built the shelving in the "library room" of the museum (not pictured here). As part of the volunteer move from the Washington Street location to downtown, many were quite pleased how ell the tops and cases fit together. They were finely crafted. In this photo Ben looks over the display cases mentioned.

When the TJ Maxx store closed in Franklin, the museum gained with the donation of several jewelry display cases. These cases are quite good for the display of many of the historical artifacts. One set of four cases forms a nice center piece display upon which a bust of Ben watches over all.

The museum is scheduled to be open on

• Saturday's from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Sundays' from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
• Thursday's from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

The museum is staffed by volunteers who are all interested in preserving and sharing the unique pieces of Franklin's history. The museum is also available for special functions. It can seat about 30-40. Inquiries should be made to the Historical Commission or to one of the volunteers during the time the museum is open.

Come on down to re-discover the history of Franklin!

My thanks to Del Arnold for confirming the background information provided here.

Franklin, MA

Museum opens May 15th and 16th

The renovated museum opens on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and again on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Franklin, MA

Volunteers Needed – Saturday, March 27th

The Historical Commission is happy to announce that the new museum will be opening May 15th to the public.  The commission is very excited!

Your assistance is requested in moving some of the materials from the “Old” museum to the “New” museum on March 27th (Saturday) beginning at 10:00am.  Packing has already been completed and now we need help to remove boxes and items.

If you have a van or truck “WE NEED YOU”.  We also need volunteers to transfer items into trucks and vans from the “Old” to the “New”.  You will be directed by Commission members during the move.

Please email dpellegri@franklin.ma.us  Let me know if you will be driving a truck or van/or if you plan to volunteer yourself with the moving of the items. 

Thank you in advance for your continued support of the Franklin Historic Museum.

Historical Commission is looking for help

The Historical Commission is in need of your help.

The Historical Commission is in the process of planning the move of the Franklin Historic Museum from Washington Street to West Central Street and they are looking for assistance.

On December 29th, they are planning a work session at the Washington St. Museum. Your assistance is requested to help pack, label and box items for transfer to the new museum.

If you are able to offer some time, please contact Alan Earls at 508-528-6930 or alan.earls@comcast.net or Del Arnold at 508-528-0867 or delarn@aol.com for more details. Thank you.

Live reporting - Historical, Memorial, CATV

Historical Commission

Jeff - keeping documents up to date, pay a few bills for the historical commission

had increased from 1,000 to 2,000 in anticipation of the new building up and running. It hasn't yet but it will be used fully once the new building is open.

Memorial Day

purchase of flags for the graves to be put on by volunteers

CATV

We have to budget a minimum amount per subscriber
used to offset the costs of the broadcasts going out over the air waves
set by the license

"you get a sense of things over time"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Apr 04, 2009 @ 11:55 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

Town officials are raving about Franklin resident Alan R. Earls' new book, "Franklin Then and Now."

Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting and Councilor Judith Pond Pfeffer, both of whom recently read Earls' latest photographic history book, urge residents to check it out. Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, wrote the foreword to the 96-page book, which came out on Feb. 16.

"I loved it," Nutting said.

"First, I'm a history buff, and I was around for some of these changes - I remember when there was no Franklin Village Mall, and the old swimming hole. Just to see the comparisons of now and then, it's a fantastic job he's done," said Nutting.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Franklin Historical Commission

Amongst the information provided in the 2008 Annual Report is one and a half pages on the Historical Commission. Did you know

A web page on the Town's newly redesigned web site describes the purpose and functions of the Historical Commission. You can find that page here or navigate from the Boards & Commissions link on the Town home page.

The most exciting business the Historical Commision has underway is the move of the museum to the renovated Senior Center/old Town Hall. Moving the museum downtown will make it more accessible to all. The larger space will enable display of key artifacts such as

• 1912 pump organ
• 1890 Trowbridge piano
• Red Brick School scrapbooks
• a hand crank Victrola
• Horace Mann documentation
• items from the Civil War, World War I and World War II

Students at Tri-County Vocational built some display cabinets for the museum artifacts.

Work remains to continue the renovation of the 150+ year old building to bring it into compliance with current museum standards for appropriate heat, light and humidity exposure.

Once opened sometime later in 2009, the museum should continue to operate with free admission and due to the generous volunteer support offer extended visiting hours.

If you have not picked up your hard copy of the report at Town Hall, you can try to view it online here: http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/2008arpt.pdf

Coverage of the Franklin Historical Commission begin on page 91.

Historical Comm Q&A 11

Doak, Bartlett, Nutting, Feeley, McGann

Time: 7 minutes, 17 seconds



MP3 File

Historical Comm Q&A 10

Jane Curran, Eileen Mason, Lynn Narron (?)

Time: 5 minutes, 50 seconds



MP3 File

Historical Comm Q&A 9

Zollo

Time: 1 minute, 57 seconds



MP3 File

Historical Comm Q&A 8

McGann, Nutting, Roche

Time: 6 minutes, 51 seconds



MP3 File

Historical Comm Q&A 7

Michael LeBlanc, Lisa Piana, Carol Harpin (?)

Time: 6 minutes, 26 seconds



MP3 File

Historical Comm Q&A 6

Dave Collier (?)

Time: 2 minutes, 26 seconds



MP3 File

Historical Comm Q&A 5

Susan Speers

Time: 5 minutes, 47 seconds



MP3 File