What We Did in 2006

We held our Third Annual Quilt Show on Saturday, April 29, at the Acton United Methodist Church. We had 50 entries, with more hanging space than last year, thanks to David Ostheimer. We gave first and second awards in six categories. The Acton church ladies served soup, sandwiches and apple dumplings. We had some 70 guests and made about $450 for the Historical Society. The date for the 2007 Quilt Show is Saturday, April 21, 2007.

We shared in the Memorial Day Program at Acton Cemetery on May 29. FTHS president Sylvia Henricks received a NSDAR (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution) Historic Preservation Medal and certificate from JoAn Nichols, State Regent, Indiana DAR as part of the program.

We participated in Old Settlers Day in Wanamaker on Sunday, June 25, at two locations. Our fund-raising receipts achieved an all-time high of $409, the used book sale bringing in a record $141, in part due to the sorting, arranging and promotion done by Nancy and Alena. On Saturday, September 30, we had a space (for the first time) at the Fenton Fair at the Zion United Church of Christ. We sold our publications and memberships and answered questions about township history.

We celebrated the admission of our Meeting House and Big Run Cemetery onto the National Register of Historic Places and the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures with our Historic Register celebration held on the grounds of the Meeting House on Saturday, July 29. We rented a tent and opened the building to visitors, and also had music, speakers, displays, a vintage car show and refreshments. We had a good crowd and a good time and gained some new members and friends. A bronze plaque honoring the former Big Run Church was donated by Larry and Nancy VanArendonk, and is now on the building. An Indiana Department of Natural Resources marker, donated by Larry and Diana Stevenson, honors the Big Run Cemetery across the street. The landscaping around the cemetery marker was done by Dale Walton’s landscape design company, Walton & Vetor, who also care for the plantings on our grounds.

We had many school children visit the Meeting House in 2006. About 350 students from Bunker Hill, Adams and Arlington Elementary schools visited the Meeting House, and most of them also went on our walking tour of Wanamaker. A group of us took a program to Acton third graders on September 7. About 15 home-schooled students and parents visited on Friday, October 6 and also took the Wanamaker tour. We give each visiting student a pencil with the Franklin Township Historical Society's name and Web site on it.

We had many other visitors, including volunteers from the Historic Landmarks Foundation on April 22, representatives from the Mayor’s Office on August 9, observing "City Hall for a day," and a group of Franklin Twp High School alumni (1956), here for their 50th reunion in September.

Open Hours, held on the first Saturdays and third Sundays of each month from March through October, were well-attended, with more than 60 visitors over the 16 occasions. Total non-classroom visitors are estimated at about 100. (A big thank-you to Society members who helped on all these occasions, greeting, presenting, answering questions, and making students/guests feel welcome.)

We believe our Web site is a valuable tool in promoting our society. Alena Van Arendonk keeps it up-to-date with photos and information. Sylvia receives and answers e-mail queries from the site. We get book orders through our website, and also through the mail.

Our Society worked with the DAR and the Township Civic League to get the DAR’s Acton Camp Ground historic marker accepted by Indy Parks. This was finally achieved, thanks to hard work by JoAn Nichols and others.

We have been working all spring and summer on a new book, a township history for elementary school readers. Dave has written the text, and has drawn maps and objects in common use during the township’s early years. The book will also contain many photos. Miriam, Diana and Sylvia have typed, edited and proof-read the copy. The book is now at the printers. It is being financed by several Society members. Distribution plans are not yet determined, but the book, From Indian Trails to Interstates, although written for students, will be available for purchase by everyone.

Sylvia and others submitted "Remembrances of Franklin Township" as a weekly feature in the Franklin Township Informer. Thanks to members and friends who have supplied photos and information for this column.

We have recieved many gifts and donations during the year, including photographs, clippings, slate pencils, paintings, maps, a calendar, a radio, blacksmith tools, books, a World War II uniform, filing cabinets, and an American flag. We thank and appreciate our donors and well-wishers very much.

We gave copies of our publications to the new Thompson Crossing Elementary School. We give our books to all the township schools, including Nativity, St. John’s and the Lutheran High School, and to the Franklin Road I-MCPL Branch.

Our All-Membership dinner was held on Saturday, October 28, at the Goodrich Sisters Banquet Hall in Fairland. Our speaker was Dave Ostheimer, author of our newest publication, From Indian Trails to Interstates, A History of Franklin Township, Marion County, Indiana, for Young Readers. Dave gave a presentation on interesting facets of local history he learned in researching the book.

In November we are scheduled to have an exhibit of Political Buttons in the case at the Library.

We received 12 new members this year. We lost 6 members by death.

We had 11 board Meetings.

We sent four newsletters and two reminder postcards to our members.

We thank our members and friends for their generous support of our Society. Thanks to Kasie Foster, Editor of the Franklin Township Informer, and her staff for making our publications available in the office, and for promoting our Society and events.

We will participate in the 4th Annual "Christmas in Wanamaker" on Saturday, December 2 with a table in Wanamaker Feed & Seed, selling memberships and our publications.