The Franklin Historical Museum is excited to announce the re-opening of the museum to its regular pre-pandemic operating schedule, Thursday evenings, Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons now that all Covid restrictions have been lifted in the state.
The museum will host a re-opening celebration on Thursday afternoon, July 15th at 5 p.m.. With a ribbon cutting, new exhibits and refreshments.
We are working on an exhibit celebrating the History of the Davis Thayer School. The building of course, was opened in 1924 as Franklin High School, and has served Franklin students for 97 years. Sadly, for many, it has closed its doors as of the end of this school year.  Join us for a look back at the building, the students, faculty, athletic teams, stories and memories. Do you have a special memory of the school? Did you spend your High School years there? Attend double sessions in the 70’s when it served as a Jr. High School? Attend Davis Thayer Elementary? Many families had generations of students attend that school. We’d love to hear from you. Visit our Facebook page and share a memory, or email us at [email protected]. The exhibit will run from mid-July through the end of the summer.
We also have a new permanent exhibit on display, The Federal Parlor Room, from the Oliver Pond Home, generously donated by James C. Johnston in memory of his mother Clara J. Foss Johnston. The elegant pieces of furniture, from the Federal and Empire periods, are made of mahogany and were collected by the Johnston family over a period of many years. The room is beautifully appointed with fashionable decor from the family collection.
We will also be resuming our popular Second Sunday Speaker Series in August. The first event on the schedule, Sunday August 8, is a first look at the private collection of glass plate negatives from Franklin photographer Nathan Wales (1886-1969). These priceless images, purchased at auction, depict everyday life in Franklin from approximately 1910-1915. A selection of the now digitized photos will be presented and discussed. Join us and see how early 20th Century Franklin residents once lived. Their beautiful homes, their clothing styles, their cars, their pets and their daily lives were all captured for us to view.
Visit our newly refurbished Gift Shop with many Franklin related items.  We welcome back our regular patrons and new visitors alike. Thursdays 5-7 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sundays 1-4 p.m. Admission is always free and we are ADA compliant. We’re always looking for volunteers to host, so let us know if you are interested in joining our volunteer team that keeps Franklin history alive.
Come in and find your history! We look forward to seeing you soon.