FRANKLIN TWP. — On Oct. 21st, the Franklin Township Historical Society will dedicate a new historical marker at 5605 S. Franklin Road marking the historical site of the town of Gallaudet. A event starting at 1 p.m. that day will include a luncheon held on the actual site of Gallaudet, live music, presentations about area history, a silent auction of gift baskets donated by area merchants, and the official dedication of the new marker.
“The Franklin Township Historical Society hired the country’s premiere maker of roadside markers to create the sign,” said Society president Nancy VanArendonk. The marker contains a brief history of and the story behind the town of Gallaudet. “We also added a note that the sign is erected in honor of the late Sylvia Henricks, charter member and long-time president of our Society,” VanArendonk said.
The roadside marker will be erected on the property of Grace Church, directly across from the Franklin Road Library, on land that was once part of Gallaudet. A professionally catered luncheon will be held in the Grace Church building. Professor Doug Stringham of Utah Valley University will give a brief Skype presentation about the town and its founder, who named it after the man who had co-founded the first school for the deaf in America.
Accomplished pianist James Kemp will provide a live piano performance at the luncheon.
Reservations for the event are $15 per person, and all proceeds support the non-profit Franklin Township Historical Society. Reservation deadline is Oct. 12th. Reservations may be made online at FTHS.org, or checks may be mailed to FTHS, P.O. Box 39015, Indianapolis, IN 46239.
More information may be obtained at 317-862-1993, at FTHS.org, or at Facebook.com/FranklinTownshipHistoricalSociety.