Franklin Historical Society-- Franklin, New Hampshire
The Franklin Historical Society was incorporated in 1981 to study and preserve the history of Franklin.
Housed in the Historic Webster Tay/House, a part of Daniel Webster's "Elms Farm" from 1799-1855, later the New Hampshire Orphanage from 1871-1959, the Society meets on the first Thursday of the month from April through November.
View or Print Directions to the Webster/Tay House
21 Holy Cross Rd
So what does go on when cold weather sets in as a matter of course? In years past, a “building check” was carried out on a regular basis, especially when the mercury was in the single digits, to check for warm pipes in the basement delivering hot water from the buildings across the driveway. That ended when the heating plant was shut down and the Society installed its own boiler. Now the protocol is to regularly monitor the level of propane in the outside tanks to ensure an uninterrupted flow to heat the lower two floors of the Webster/Tay house. Even though the thermostats are set at 45 degrees (to keep pipes from freezing), consumption is still considerable. The first fill of the two tanks this season resulted in a bill in excess of $500. This is why the Society is fortunate to have a loyal membership, and invested savings, should the need arise to augment the checking account balance. Donations to the Society continue, albeit at a more leisurely pace, as does the responsibility to properly credit and catalog them.
Our Society Cookbook, $12, available online at Lulu.com, or from the Society.
MEMBER PRICE: $10, from the Society.
The verbal history book “Echoes from the Mills” has been reprinted by the Society and is now available for only $15. Also available, NEW! is a 13 1/2 by 23 1/2 copy of the 1890 map of Webster Lake, with a legend identifying businesses (ice houses) and owners of homes around the lake. Suitable for framing! On card stock for only $10. Please click on “Contact” and fill out the required information if you are interested in obtaining copies.
For those wishing to communicate or send dues, donations, or packages via the US Postal service, please use the Society’s mailing address of
PO Box 43,
Franklin, NH 03235.
The Society DOES NOT accept mail deliveries at the Holy Cross Road address, the use of which could cause the mail to be returned or delayed.