Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Fifty years ago, in April 1975, a group of Franklin citizens was planning a centennial celebration to mark Franklin’s 100th anniversary as a town.  The celebration was scheduled for 1976.   On March 15, 1876, the VILLAGE of Franklin, following approval by the Virginia General Assembly, was officially designated an incorporated TOWN.  

However, Franklin traces its origin, as a VILLAGE, to the year 1836.  In 1835, the Portsmouth & Roanoke Railroad was built through the area and crossed the Blackwater River at the river’s northern-most navigational point – next to a land area that was to become known as Franklin Depot.  At about the same time, the Albemarle Steam Navigation Co. started operating steamships up and down the Blackwater and Chowan rivers.  Transportation conveyances and linkages, carrying both freight and passengers, were developed between the railroad and the steamship company at Franklin Depot.   

On April 22, 1975, in a public meeting at Franklin City Hall, one hundred and twenty-five representatives from many community organizations and churches were given preliminary plans for the observance of the Town of Franklin’s 100th year, to occur in 1976 and were asked to participate in the celebrations.   

The Franklin Centennial celebration was to be combined with a 1976 bicentennial celebration of the United States of America – two hundred years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.   Planning and organization for those celebrations were expected to take about a year.   

The proposed schedule of events for a week-long series included a musical program featuring patriotic music at Franklin High School auditorium.  A parade featuring military bands, school bands, and floats from civic clubs and businesses was scheduled for the Saturday activities.  

Following the parade, a special program was planned to be held at the athletic field.  That program was followed by a reception at the General Vaughan Armory for elected officials, dignitaries, and other invited guests. 

A “Miss Franklin Centennial” queen would be named, with various civic groups sponsoring attendants to the queen.  

Churches were asked to include appropriate references to the Centennial and Bicentennial in their worship services. 

Nancy Watson, chairman of the Franklin City School Board, assured the people that attended the organizational meeting that in 1976, all city school students from kindergarten through the twelfth grade would receive instruction in the city’s history and the nation’s revolutionary period.

Paul D. Camp Community College and the extension service were planning arts and crafts exhibits. 

The Franklin Centennial Committee included Waring Smith, chairman; Gaynelle Riddick, vice chairman; Edward Gilliam; Violet Harrison; Bob Hinson; Pauline Morton; Hap Purnell; and Thomas Joyner.   Many committees and sub-committees were appointed to plan, conduct and carry out, in 1976, the various activities pursuant to the combined celebrations – the 100th anniversary of the TOWN of Franklin and the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence – creating the United States of America.  

NOTE: On Dec. 22, 1961, the Town of Franklin was officially designated an independent CITY and was jurisdictionally separated from Southampton County.  In 2011, the city celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.

CLYDE PARKER is a retired human resources manager for the former Franklin Equipment Co. and a member of the Southampton County Historical Society. His email address is magnolia101@charter.net.