Welcome Sign
One of the things that makes Franklin unique among American towns is proudly displayed on this welcome sign: it is the home of the nation’s first public library.
The story begins in 1778 then the town, newly incorporated, chose to name itself after Benjamin Franklin. The citizens asked Franklin for a bell for their town and Franklin, instead, to donate a collection of books. His gift became the foundation of what is widely recognized as America’s first public library, a distinction Franklin continues to celebrate more than two centuries later.
The sign also recognized Franklin’s commitment to honoring military service. Beneath the library designation is a marker paying tribute to America’s Combat Wounded Warriors through the Purple Heart program. It serves as a reminder that while Franklin values education and learning, it also remembers those who sacrificed in service to the nation.
I enjoy exploring communities that embrace the stories that make them unique. Many towns are known for a battle, a factory, or a famous resident. Franklin proudly identifies itself with the power of books and learning. The combination of a public library and a tribute to veterans says something about the values of this community. As you enter Franklin, the sign offers a powerful welcome: this is a town that believes education matters and that those who have served will not be forgotten.
Read More From Nancy
America’s First Public Lending Library Memorial
Standing beside this marker for the Franklin Public Library, you are reminded of one of the town’s proudest distinctions: Franklin is the home to what is recognized as America’s first public lending library. The granite marker commemorates a moment in American history when the ideals of education, literacy and public access to knowledge became woven […]
Gettysburg Address Boulder
On the Town Common in Franklin sits the Gettysburg Address Boulder, one of the town’s meaningful Civil War Memorials. Dedicated in 1913 by the Grand Army of the Republic Post 60, an organization of Union veterans who served during the Civil War. This is the first monument that I have seen that has the full text of […]
Benjamin Franklin Statue
Franklin is a town deeply aware of its history and proudly displays the people and ideals that helped shape its identity. Unlike many New England towns named for English places, Franklin holds the distinction of being the first town in the United States named after one of the nation’s founding fathers: Benjamin Franklin. Although Benjamin Franklin is closely […]
