Franklin 250th Committee Launches

A Committee that was proposed and approved over the summer and had its 15 members formally appointed only in October, finally had its first official meeting Thursday evening at the Franklin Historical Museum, which included being sworn in by Town Clerk Nancy Danello.

But the 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee, as it is officially called has had a long gestation period, drawing inspiration and purpose from each anniversary that has followed the March 2, 1778 incorporation of the Town of Franklin by the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

For the Committee, the "big"  celebrations of the past offer a potential template for action. The 100th, in 1878, among other things, featured a summer day of speechifying to thousands of townspeople and visitors from the summit of Indian Rock. And an official centennial history was written and published.

Similarly, in 1928, the 150th celebration included a history that brought the town's story up to date, including the story of its many proud industrial enterprises, but there was also a temporary museum, historical pageants, and, of course, a parade.

In 1978, the bicentennial parade was led by US Senator Ed Brooke and another book found its way into print, Odyssey in the Wilderness by James C. Johnston.

Last night's meeting saw the election of Jayson Joyce as Chair, Robert Brown as Vice Chair, Alan Earls as Clerk, and  Charleen Belcher as Treasurer. And there were plenty of ideas for fun and substantive activities to bring to the people of Franklin and a reminder of the relatively short timeline -- now just 832 days and counting down.

And, with a state grant that  needs to be allocated by June 30, 2026, planning and budgeting must get underway immediately.. To that end, the Committee has set two meetings for December, one for the 4th and the other for the 18th...