Historical Society
The Big Four railroad bridge, which spans the Great Miami River between Sixth Street and Franklin-Trenton Road was photographed March 26, 1913. Looking east, the picture shows the river's great height and captures the helplessness of Franklin's citizens. In the distance, on the west side of the river, are the Franklin Water Works, left, and the Franklin Wheel Co.
FAHS Receives Grants for Preservation of Flood Memorabilia
It's often called “The Great Dayton Flood,” but when the Great Miami River overflowed its banks in 1913, many towns down-river, including Franklin and Carlisle, were devastated.
As the 100th anniversary of the flood nears, the Franklin Area Historical Society is planning to remind area residents of the disastrous event with exhibits and programs called “Memories of the 1913 Flood in Franklin and Carlisle, Warren County.”
Dan Darragh, president of the historical society, says the organization recently received four grants to which will enable the society to restore and preserve its extensive collection of flood memorabilia and sponsor programs and exhibits leading up to the anniversary.
Grants include $5,000 from the Ohio Humanities Council, $1,500 from the Duke Energy Foundation and $1,000 each from the Middletown and Warren County foundations. “We are still looking for donations from individuals, companies and groups in order to be able to do everything we'd like to with our collection,” Darragh said.
Contributions can be sent to FAHS, 302 Park Ave., Franklin 45005 with a note designating the donation toward the flood project.
The historical society is working with Eli Bambakidis of Fairborn on the project. She is a retired archivist with the Dayton Metro Library and has many years of experience in archiving, restoring and preserving documents. She compiled the Dayton Metro Library's flood collection and has presented papers and seminars all over the area. Also involved are the Carlisle Historical Society and the Franklin-Springboro Public Library.
The project will include photographs taken by many who experienced the 1913 flood near Franklin and Carlisle and give complete historical information of important events during the flood and its aftermath, with oral history research and a complete listing of the photographs and newspapers.
Bambakidis says the exhibit will not only be of interest to area residents but it will aid archivists, curators, engineers and historians in preparing their exhibits and obtaining items of importance to them on loan.
The widespread damage along the Miami Valley from Tipp City, north of Dayton, to Hamilton, prompted the formation of the Miami Conservancy District in 1915 with Arthur E. Morgan as chief engineer. His engineering brilliance in flood control and drainage led to the technical success of the Miami Valley Flood Prevention Association. From the project's end in 1923, the work in flood control initiated and maintained by the Miami Conservancy District has essentially eliminated the threat of major flooding in the Miami Valley.
Gorsuch Honored by State Historical Society
FRANKLIN -- Former Franklin resident Geoff Gorsuch was honored by a state historical organization at its annual meeting in October.
The Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museum has selected Gorsuch for its Individual Achievement Award.
Gorsuch was nominated by the Franklin Area Historical Society in July. See the article below.
An employee of the U.S. Department of Energy, Gorsuch was transferred to upstate New York several years ago but has kept in touch with the Historical Society and recently presented it a copy of “Franklin Township (of Warren County, Ohio in the American Civil War.”
The work, which involves research done over 10 years, encompasses five volumes and includes not only text but photos, maps, charts and graphs.
In addition to his most recent effort, through the historical society, he published self-guided walking tour books of historic downtown Franklin, the Mackinaw Historic District, Woodhill Cemetery and a driving tour of Franklin Township. Another book, “Images of America, Franklin,” is 128 pages of historic pictures and explanations.
Not only did he write, he served as an officer in several capacities of the historical society and purchased and restored one of the oldest homes in the city during the 10 years he lived in Franklin.
Historian Writes Book About Franklin Residents Who Served in the Civil War
FRANKLIN -- Ask Geoff Gorsuch a question and you might have to wait awhile for an answer. But when he comes up with it ... well, you can be certain it will be – shall we say – thorough. Just ask Harriet Foley, a longtime Franklin historian and co-author and editor of the local history book “Franklin in the Great Miami Valley.”
“In 2000,” says Gorsuch in the preface to “Franklin Township (of Warren County, Ohio) in the American Civil War,” Harriet ... asked me whether I knew who had served in Franklin's company of the 90-Day First Ohio Infantry, which in July 1861 was present at the First Battle of Bull Run. I did not know the answer, but Harriet's question stimulated me to see whether I could find it for her.”
His answer: the above-mentioned book.
Or should we say “books.” This is no 10-page pamphlet listing of names. “Franklin Township in the American Civil War” is five volumes and includes not only text but photos, maps, charts and graphs.
Gorsuch was in town recently and presented a copy to the Franklin Area Historical Society and the Franklin Public Library.
As a result, and also in recognition of his other contributions to local history, the organization has nominated him for the 2009 Ohio Association of Historical Society Museums Achievement Award.
Gorsuch doesn't even in live in Franklin anymore. An employee of the U.S. Department of Energy he was transferred to upstate New York more than two years ago. But that didn't deter him from answering Foley's question.
He explained that he was able to locate the roster of the men of the company in the “Official Roster of Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion.” However, five other companies in four other infantry regiments were raised in the township during the war and he resolved to use the same method to obtain the rosters of the other companies recruited in Franklin.
“This collection of information is the product of a 10-year journey that has taken me well beyond Southwest Ohio,” said Gorsuch. “It has led me to make six visits to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where I searched service records of the individual soldiers, and compelled me to visit the battlefields of the Franklin men as well as the prisons where they languished in captivity.”
The first volume sets the stage by describing Franklin on the eve of the war. It is followed by a narrative of the various campaigns in which the Franklin soldiers were involved; stories about some of the individuals; what they did after the war and where they were buried. Every soldier who enlisted in Franklin is mentioned.
Volume II is maps showing movements and positions in battle of the units, including Franklin men. Volume III is Civil War illustrations. Volume IV includes the battlefields and other Franklin soldier sites today.
The final volume is made up of articles about the weapons the men carried, the uniforms they wore, the flags they carried and how Memorial Day was observed in old Franklin.
Although he lived in Franklin only about 10 years, Gorsuch left an indelible mark on local history. In addition to his most recent effort, through the historical society he published self-guided walking tour books of historic downtown Franklin, the Mackinaw Historic District, Woodhill Cemetery and a driving tour of Franklin Township. Another book, “Images of America, Franklin,” is 128 pages of historic pictures and explanations.
Not only did he write, he served as an officer in several capacities of the historical society and purchased and restored one of the oldest homes in the city.
15th Annual Ornament is First Christian Church
It may be hot and humid now, but the Franklin Area Historical Society is already thinking ahead to the cold weather with its latest in a series of wooden Christmas ornaments depicting the city's past.
This year's ornament is First Christian Church on South Main Street. See our Historical Store page.
The cornerstone for the current building was laid in June 1872, and the vestry was dedicated in November that year. A formal service to dedicate the new building was held in 1875.
The ornament is the 15th created for the historical society and the fourth church. It is available for $6 at the Harding Museum, which is open from 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays and Fitzgerald Flowers on North Main Street.
Below Bruce Stewart of Architectural Reclamation, holds one of the wood samples from the Log Post Office that the Wooster Group studied.
