Special Programs in honor of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day at the Historical Museum - Apr 27 & 28

April 27 & 28 Special Programs in honor of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (April 24), which marks the beginning of the organized killing of Armenians within the Ottoman empire in 1915. This event was responsible for many survivors fleeing to America, many of whom established a vibrant local community in Franklin, including Camp Haiastan, still located on Summer St.

Saturday, April 27 – During regular museum hours, we expect to share items from Franklin’s Armenian past as well as short films about the Armenian Genocide plus the Silent Saturday showing of Ravished Armenia.

Sunday April 28 - Franklin’s Mark Minichelli will discuss the history of the genocide and the local community and will share video of his grandmother, Helen Boghosian, a genocide survivor who lived most of her life in Franklin.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10AM-1PM and Sunday afternoons from 1:00PM-4:00PM. When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry. 

Questions? Contact Alan Earls at 508 560 3786.   

Visit the Franklin Historical Museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the “Ladybug” - April 20

In 1974, a contingent of Franklin elementary school students, led by beloved teacher Parma Johnson, convinced the Massachusetts legislature to name the useful and attractive ladybug, as the state insect. 

Fifty years later, in coordination with the Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Ladybug Trail walk, the Franklin Historical Museum will be open for extended Saturday hours, from 9-3 and will feature:

• Convenient access to restrooms and trail maps for trail walkers

• Sale of special hand-crafted ladybug items (key chains and book marks) created by local crafter, Rhondy Rosita, with all sales benefiting the museum. 

• At 11 AM, State Representative Jeff Roy will speak about the Ladybug kids and about the legislative process then and now – an informative topic for kids and adults!

• The Museum will also be showing throughout the day, a short Chronicle segment about the Ladybug Trail and a presentation about the 1974 ladybug kids and the 1984 Kennedy School kids that went to the statehouse in 1984, for the 10th anniversary.

• Vintage newspaper clips and ladybug outfits used by Franklin children in their 1974 ‘lobbying’ effort.

• And, late in the afternoon, we plan to release live native ladybugs at the nearby Methodist Church garden as a finale for the celebration.

• All Saturday events are rain or shine (the Downtown Partnership’s Trail Walk, however, has a rain date of Sunday, April 21). The museum will only be open for regular hours, 1-4 pm, on that day.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the “Ladybug” - April 20

Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central St, in downtown Franklin, near the fire station. You can also visit the Historical Museum on the web at

http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/  

Silent Saturdays: "Metropolis" - April 13 at 6 PM

Silent Saturdays start at 6 PM on four Saturdays of the month: Chris Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV. He developed this program of films in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center.

• April 13 – Metropolis, is a formative film in the science fiction genre by Fritz Lang. It portrays a convincing, futuristic and totalitarian city complete with creepy robots. 

Metropolis

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 1 PM and Sunday afternoons from 1 PM - 4 PM. 

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry. Check their current needs listing here ->   https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/pantry-needs/

Visit the Museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

This Old Thing? - An Antique Appraisal Adventure with Jim Johnston - May 5

Who hasn’t been intrigued by something old... and who hasn’t stopped to wonder, ‘what’s it worth’?  On Sunday, May 5, 2024 from 1:00-5:00 PM, local expert, James C. “Jim” Johnston, will dazzle and inform the audience and those seeking knowledge about family heirlooms and garage sale finds alike with An Antique Appraisal Adventure with Jim Johnston.

Johnston, who has been in the antique and appraisal business for more than six decades, has a nearly limitless store of knowledge about all things old, with particular emphasis on Americana, Porcelain, Glass, Rare Books, Coins, Stamps and Pottery. His appraisals often come with the kind of fascinating context and anecdotes that make him – a lifelong educator and author -- much sought after, whether to please an auditorium audience or for the evaluation of a private collection.

Appraisals are ‘on-the-spot’ and oral and are $5 for the first appraisal and $3 for additional items, up to an event maximum of three items and $11.  The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum, a 501(c) 3 non-profit that raises funds to benefit the Historical Museum. All proceeds benefit the museum. 

The Friends can accept cash or check.  There will also be an option to “watch at home” via Google Meets. To learn about payment options, how to participate virtually, or to reserve a contact alan.r.earls@gmail.com. Handicapped Access Available.

Mr. Johnston will preface the appraisal-day program with a discussion of what constitutes “Value”, or more appropriately “Range of Value”, when appraising an item of any sort. He will also discuss various factors reflected in an evaluation such as: the sociological factors, condition issues, rarity, and Adam Smith’s Rule of Supply and Demand as it effects the value of art, antiques, and collectibles in any time period. 

He will also discuss “Purpose” of evaluation such as: probate, inheritance, divorce, and insurance, as well as insurance evaluation and replacement value, with the idea of choosing a fearless appraiser with experience in dealing with insurance companies, and with “Court Experience” and experience in delivering “Expert Testimony.”

Mr. Johnston performs written appraisals by arrangement, starting at $125. 

Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central St, downtown Franklin, near the fire station. You can also visit the Historical Museum on the web at

http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/   

The Second Sunday Speaker Series: 'twisted sisters' - April 14, 2024

The Second Sunday Speaker Series at the museum continues on April 14, 2024 with a look back at the ‘twisted sisters’ – the four devastating hurricanes that hit New England (and Franklin) 70 years ago, starting in the summer of1954 and continuing through the summer of 1955. 

Doors open at 1 and the presentation begins at 1:15 PM. The presenter will be Eamon McCarthy Earls, a local author and former town councilor. FREE

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 1 PM and Sunday afternoons from 1 PM - 4 PM. 

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry. Check their current needs listing here ->   https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/pantry-needs/

Visit the Museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

The Second Sunday Speaker Series: 'twisted sisters' - April 14, 2024

Silent Saturdays: "The Thief of Baghdad" - April 6 at 6 PM

Silent Saturdays start at 6 PM on four Saturdays of the month: Chris Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV. He developed this program of films in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center.

The Thief of Baghdad

• April 6 -- The Thief of Baghdad, a Douglas Fairbanks classic with marvelous stunts and production design that brings the audience into a fanciful `Thousand and One Nights’ landscape of mischief, mystery, and intrigue.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 1 PM and Sunday afternoons from 1 PM - 4 PM. 

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry. Check their current needs listing here ->   https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/pantry-needs/

Visit the Museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Franklin's Event Outlook: March 22, 2023 to March 28, 2024

Friday, March 22

7:30pm Choreographers' Concert (sold out) (Dean College)

9:00pm Dom DeBaggis (Live Music) (3 Restaurant)

Saturday, March 23

10:00am Easter Bunny (Franklin Historical Museum)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Grieving Hearts Workshop (Franklin High School)

11:00am Beyond the Palmer Method – Learn about calligraphy (Franklin Historical Museum)

11:00am Master Plan Open House (Dean College)

1:00pm Kids Paint Party (sold out) (Franklin Public Library)

3:00pm Jessica Lepe (Author Event) (Escape Into Fiction)

6:00pm `Cinema 80’ Feature Films "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"  (Franklin Historical Museum)

7:00pm Ballet Franklin presents Cinderella (THE BLACK BOX)

7:30pm Choreographers' Concert (sold out) (Dean College)

Sunday, March 24

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:00pm Ballet Franklin presents Cinderella (THE BLACK BOX)

3:00pm LiveARTS Concert: Romanul Duo (First Universalist Society of Franklin - FUSF)

5:30pm Ballet Franklin presents Cinderella (THE BLACK BOX)

Monday, March 25

10:00am Yankee Quilters Quilt Guild Charity Sewing (Emma's Quilt Cupboard)

6:30pm Self-Defense for Women and Teens Class (registration req'd) (Lifelong Learning)

Tuesday, March 26

2:30pm Rainbow Café (Franklin Senior Center)

7:00pm Trivia Night (Raillery Public House)

Wednesday, March 27

1:00pm Senior Scribblers (recording session) (Franklin TV Studio & remote)

5:30pm Kenyatta Berry (Dean College)

7:00pm Laugh Boston Stand-Up Comedy Show (Glen Pharmer)

Thursday, March 28

1:00pm Henry the Juggler (Franklin Public Library)

6:00pm Franklin Art Association Opening Reception (Escape Into Fiction)

----------------

Why have multiple calendars?

There is a Cultural events calendar upon which other community events are layered to create the Community calendar.

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Franklin's Event Outlook: March  15, 2023 to March  21, 2024

Easter Bunny at the Historical Museum among the events happening on Saturday, March 23

Spring has sprung in Franklin!! The crocus and daffodil are sprouting and the warm weather is starting to creep in! Celebrate Spring by visiting downtown! 

There’s a lot happening in Franklin this weekend- spend some time visiting the Easter Bunny, grabbing brunch, shopping our boutiques, check out a visiting author and visiting an art show. 

See what your downtown has to offer! #shopfranklin #franklinma #downtownfranklin #shoplocal

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C4wS2s8RBIu/

Easter Bunny at the Historical Museum among the events happening on Saturday, March 23

Reminder: Beyond the Palmer Method – Learn about calligraphy - March 23

Learn about this useful artform and get an introduction to creating calligraphy. 

Meet our resident expert in penmanship, cursive writing methods, and calligraphy, Krishna Swain! 

"Words written in calligraphy have defined thousands of years of our history. In this program, we will dive into the history of the art form, particularly in America, and learn how to create beautiful calligraphy."

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 1 PM and Sunday afternoons from 1 PM - 4 PM. 

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry. Check their current needs listing here ->   https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/pantry-needs/

Visit the Museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Beyond the Palmer Method – Learn about calligraphy March 23

`Cinema 80’ Feature Films Continue (Free) - " The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" - March 23

Silent Saturdays start at 6 PM on each Saturday of the month (except the last): Chris Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV. He developed this program of films in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center.

• March 23 - "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"

Caligari is the first great film in the horror canon, and an excellent specimen of German Expressionism, with warped images and warped characters that hypnotized Weimar Germany.

"The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" - March 23

 

Beyond the Palmer Method – Learn about calligraphy March 16 & March 23

Learn about this useful artform and get an introduction to creating calligraphy. 

Meet our resident expert in penmanship, cursive writing methods, and calligraphy, Krishna Swain! 

"Words written in calligraphy have defined thousands of years of our history. In this program, we will dive into the history of the art form, particularly in America, and learn how to create beautiful calligraphy."

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 1 PM and Sunday afternoons from 1 PM - 4 PM. 

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry. Check their current needs listing here ->   https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/pantry-needs/

Visit the Museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Beyond the Palmer Method – Learn about calligraphy March 16 & March 23

`Cinema 80’ Feature Films Continue (Free) - "The Lodger" - March 16

Silent Saturdays start at 6 pm on each Saturday of the month (except the last): Chris Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV. He developed this program of films in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center.

• March 16 - "The Lodger"

In one of his first thrillers, Alfred Hitchcock paints a picture of paranoia and suspicion with clever camerawork and editing, as a killer stalks the streets of London.

`Cinema 80’ Feature Films Continue (Free) - "The Lodger" - March 16

 

`Cinema 80’ Feature Films Continue (Free) - "The Kid"

Silent Saturdays start at 6 PM on each Saturday of the month (except the last): Chris Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV. He developed this program of films in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center.

• March 9 - The Kid

The Kid is Charlie Chaplin's crowning achievement, using pantomime humor to tell a memorable and heartfelt story.

March 9 - The Kid

Second Sunday Speaker Series: Joe Landry - "The Thomson Press Building " - March 10

The Second Sunday Speaker Series at the museum continues on March, 10, 2024 with popular local historian Joe Landry, discussing the Thomson Press Building and its history (a structure recently added to the miniature Franklin exhibit, on display in December and January). 

Doors open at 1 and the presentation begins at 1:15 at Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street, Franklin, MA. FREE

Joe Landry - "The Thomson Press Building " - March 10

`Cinema 80’ Feature Films Continue (Free) - A trip to the Moon

Silent Saturdays start at 6 pm on each Saturday of the month (except the last): Chris Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV. He developed this program of films in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center.

• March 2 - A trip to the Moon and other short films by Georges Méliès.

Méliès was a pioneer of special effects, using elaborately painted sets and "trick" photographic techniques to entertain some of the first movie audiences at the turn of the twentieth century.

March 2 - A trip to the Moon

"Story of the Personalized Calendars" - on display at Franklin Historical Museum through March 10, 2024

Via Claire Griffin: 

"I know it's last minute, but I have an event that I wanted to let folks know about. For the last couple of weeks I've been scrambling and framing 35 calendars that I created. 

They will be on display at the Franklin Historical Museum this weekend, February 24th and 25th through March 10th.  

As I framed them, I found myself looking back in time, remembering the 37 years I've been married. So many memories of family, friends, neighbors who I've shared them with.  

If you're in the Franklin area, stop by Saturday or Sunday for a visit, and a walk down memory lane."

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/CHjs7REm745zuXQ5/?mibextid=oFDknk

"Story of the Personalized Calendars" - on display at Franklin Historical Museum through March 10, 2024

Cinema 80: "The Freshman" scheduled for showing at the Historical Museum Feb 24

 During February, the Museum will welcome the public to Cinema 80 – a new program of films of the 20th century, curated by Chris Leverone in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center. Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV and is extremely passionate about film. 

Silent Saturdays start at 6 PM on Feb. 17 and Feb. 24.

The Freshman

Then, on Feb. 24 it's The Freshman, a hilarious look at college culture 100 years ago, (we are a college town after all!). Both films are about 75 minutes in length.

"We are excited to provide this free, innovative programming in a time slot that should leave people free to squeeze even more into their Saturday night," said Commission Chair Alan Earls. "The best of the silent films are amazing and just as entertaining as anything Hollywood is doing today, we are sure our Franklin audience will agree," he added.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 1 PM and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.

Annual Report Of The Franklin Historical Commission: FY 2023 Report

It was a good year for the Franklin Historical Commission and the Franklin Historical Museum as we dusted off the cobwebs of COVID and went head on into a full program of events, exhibits and speakers.

The museum's goal is to provide community events and programs that encourage and invite people to visit and learn about the town's history.

Second Sunday Speaker Series

A strong and varied list of speakers filled the schedule this past year, from a presentation on Senator Edward W. Brooke by commission member and local historian Alan Earls as well as his presentation on Massachusetts, the Library State; to former Town Administrator Wolfgang Bauer talking about his childhood in the wartime ruins of Hamburg Germany; to TV personality Ted Reinstein's book presentation 'Before Brooklyn'; to the History of the Wrentham State School by Ingrid Grenon; We also saw a history of the Union Street Cemetery and the Life of Horace Mann, both by commission chair Mary Olsson; Historian Joe Landry did a popular talk on Trains; and Local Historian Jim Johnston did a presentation on the Madness of Collecting; The Second Sunday Speaker Series is supported with funding from the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum.

Community

The museum is proud to participate in all community events hosted by the Franklin Downtown Partnership, The Franklin Cultural Council and the Franklin Cultural District. This past year we all enjoyed the annual Harvest Festival and Strawberry Stroll. In September we participated in the 2nd Annual Cultural Festival on the Common. We were also happy to host the Fifth Annual History Exhibition & Reception for the Dean College History Majors as part of Dean's Humanities in Action program.

Demolition Requests

The Historical Commission reviewed the following properties presented in accordance with the town's Demolition Delay Bylaw:

94 East Central Street 

803 Washington Street

201 Main Street - the Carriage House at the former Hayward Estate.

Two requests were approved for demolition; the request for demolition of 201 Main Street was denied. Demolition is prohibited for at least 12 months from the hearing date and the Commission is hopeful a preservation option will be considered.

Special Projects & Exhibits

December brought a very popular exhibit to the museum, one that will be expanded each year. TRAIN TOWN FRANKLIN. Commission member Scott Mason shared his remarkable skills in creating an exact scale model of the Franklin Train Station area circa 1932. The scene will be expanded for the upcoming exhibit in December 2023.

For the first year the museum hosted Silent Saturdays featuring Silent Movies on either end of the February School Vacation Week. We welcomed visits by the Senior Center's Sunshine Club for movies while the Senior Center was closed for repair. Two Cub Scout pack meetings were hosted at the museum which helped Scouts earn a badge.

Archivist Update

After more than a year with the position vacant, we welcomed our new archivist, Rowan Lowell in December. Rowan has picked up the reins and is working diligently at organizing the museums collections of photos, documents, artifacts, books, ephemera, etc. As of July, Rowan is now a full-time employee of the town which will serve the archiving goals of the museum and the town well.

New Members

We welcomed two new commission members, Jan Prentice and Scott Mason and a new associate commission member William Lee. A warm welcome to all.

Historical Commission Board Members

Mary Olsson Chairperson

Phyllis Malcolm Treasurer & CPC Rep Paul Pisani

Randy LaRosa 

Alan Earls

Jan Prentice 

Scott Mason

Associate Members

Kai Olsson 

William Lee

For current information follow us on Facebook and visit our website at Franklinmuseum1778.com where you will find event postings, research resources and much more.

The Historical Commission report can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sfWw2J5SVzZG0X8LI91tgx7AzWRjLz-M/view?usp=drive_link

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report Of The Franklin Historical Commission: FY 2023 Report

Cinema 80: Feature Films Return to the Historical Museum - Feb 17 & Feb 24

During February, the Museum will welcome the public to Cinema 80 – a new program of films of the 20th century, curated by Chris Leverone in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center. Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV and is extremely passionate about film. Silent Saturdays start at 6 PM on Feb. 17 and Feb. 24.

Safety Last

On Feb, 17 Cinema 80 will screen the first of two treasures by comic genius Harold Lloyd, Safety Last, an over-the-top version of a young man trying to make good in the big city story (in this case, bustling, Jazz-Age Los Angeles). 

Then, on Feb. 24 it's The Freshman, a hilarious look at college culture 100 years ago, (we are a college town after all!). Both films are about 75 minutes in length.

The Freshman

"We are excited to provide this free, innovative programming in a time slot that should leave people free to squeeze even more into their Saturday night," said Commission Chair Alan Earls. "The best of the silent films are amazing and just as entertaining as anything Hollywood is doing today, we are sure our Franklin audience will agree," he added.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 1 PM and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.