Children's Museum Founders Have Come a Long Way

Above,  Children's Museum cofounders, Erin Gallagher and Meg Hagen in the transformed, former Franklin Agway building.

For two Franklin friends, it began as a quirky shared vision -- to create a bona fide children's museum in Franklin for the community and for the region. Now, the the two friends, Erin Gallagher and Meg Hagen, who shared that vision can look back on an epic burst of creativity and hard work that transitioned a cool idea into a nearly complete reality.

Along the way, the pair incorporated a 501 (c) 3, brought on advisors and board members, inked a deal for a museum home, and engaged the talents of local builder and developer, Brad Chaffee of the Camford Property Group.

In an April 15 walk through the pair showed off the entrance area, ample toilet facilities to accommodate every kind of kid and adult need and future exhibit areas including a "water area, " and a window looking out on the   commuter rail tracks that is going to feature a kid-size train table....

To date, with the heaviest and most complex parts of the remodeling behind them, Hagen estimates they have raised and spent just over a million dollars and the opening date has drifted toward June. But given the enormous achievements so far, no one is complaining.

As of Tuesday, Gallagher has been able to report another positive development. "We’re so excited that the structure of the tree [a giant quiet space in the shape of a hollow tree trunk] is now complete and a few items for our financial literacy exhibit were delivered today," she said. 

More information on the museum can be found here.

Fundraising Events

Highlights of upcoming events were sent out by the museum yesterday, including an event at La Cantina tonight...(See below)