Today, we bring you one of Sylvia Henricks’ “Remembrances.” You can read more of Sylvia’s columns weekly in The Franklin Township Informer, or in her book From The Ash Grove.
The members of the Franklin Township Historical Society are beginning the 37th year of their mission encourage an appreciation of the history of our community. Some of the Society’s members have been doing this for many years, but never tire of our role in “promoting our local history.”
The group met first in October 1975, as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration. Charter Membership was open until July 4, 1976. Twenty-four persons joined to become Charter Members. I was one, as were many of the persons I considered my friends. Among them was Pat Gooldy,then a township teacher whose husband, Ray, became our first Society President. Many of these good people are no longer with us, but we honor them still.
We were fortunate when the Big Run Baptist Church, disbanding, offered us their pre-Civil War brick church on Franklin Road as our Meeting House.
On the 25th anniversary of the founding of our Society in 2001, we published a Scrapbook. Diana Stevenson, then our president, wrote the introduction. She noted, “We are proud of our achievement during our brief 25 year history. Our ‘Open Hours’ program, offered on the first Saturdays and the third Sundays of the summer months has provided an opportunity for memories and memorabilia to be shared. Our programs for welcoming students have heightened awareness of our community’s past, and built community pride with both parents and school children. The Historical Society received national media attention through our Black Dress TV episodes. We also received local media attention when we were awarded an Indiana Heritage Research grant to publish our book on the township’s pioneer cemeteries and a Build Indiana Fund grant to help improve our building. Of special merit, are the publications created by members who have worked tirelessly to prepare a detail-rich legacy for future generations.”
Diana was active in our efforts to have our Meeting House and Big Run Cemetery listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
We continue our efforts to fulfill our mission, the preservation and promotion of the history of Franklin Township. Our publications are for sale in our Meeting House and at the Informer Office in Wanamaker. Our building is open from 1 to 4 p.m. during the summer months. We have a Newsletter, and our website provides an event calendar. Events are also promoted through our column in the Informer.