Y Not Experience Local Historian Joe Landry Sat. Afternoon?

People in Franklin like historian Joe Landry because he is a knowledgeable and engaging storyteller who shares personal anecdotes and connects with local history through vivid presentations and a deep personal history with the town, such as his childhood memories of the railyards. He is also a published author with a musical background, which further endears him to the community and adds another dimension to his public persona.

Saturday at 1 pm, Landry will be the featured speaker at the Franklin Historical Museum on the topic of the original Franklin YMCA, which was built more than 100 years ago behind the current location of the US Post Office.

For decades, the Emmons Street YMCA was a vital community hub—offering lodging, recreation, and social programs to Franklin residents and boarders. The Y was a vital part of the Franklin community and an important resource for young men in particular, in line with the broader YMCA mission of promoting healthy bodies, minds, and spirits in an era when wholesome alternatives to saloons and boarding houses were in short supply.

As the 20th century progressed, programming broadened beyond its original narrow focus on young men, in step with both regional and national trends in the YMCA movement, which increasingly served families, women, and children.

In another of his enriching talks, Landry will bring alive a bygone era with connections that make it relatable to present day Franklin. The event is FREE.