Do You Know Ben Like I Know Ben? A weekend with Benjamin Franklin.
In partnership with the Franklin County Visitor Bureau, the Conococheague Institute will be sponsoring a special Benjamin Franklin Symposium on June 19-20th to recognize the 225th anniversary of Franklin County. Events will kick off on Friday morning at 9 AM on June 19th with our popular bus tour of Franklin County led by historians Calvin Bricker, Roger Swartz, and Dr. Walter Powell–this year with a special emphasis on Franklin’s connections to the Conococheague Valley and his role in aiding the Braddock Campaign. Following the bus tour will be dinner and an evening of “Music of Benjamin Franklin” presented by David Hildebrand of the Colonial Music Institute. There will be a charge for these programs, which will be open by registration only.
On Saturday, June 20th a full day of programs beginning at 10 AM will feature lectures by eminent Franklin authorities from here and abroad. Kicking off the day will be the opening of a special Franklin Exhibit at the Welsh Barrens Visitor Center courtesy of Roy Goodman of the American Philosphical Society in Philadelphia (which Franklin founded), who will present a talk entitled “Cents and Sensibility: Benjamin Franklin in Popular Culture.” That will be followed by a special program by Lady Joan Reid, Historian of the Benjamin Franklin House in London, England, who will speak about Franklin’s 17 years in England and his special role as diplomat from the Colony of Pennsylvania. The Franklin House, located at 36 Craven Street in London, was restored and opened to the public in 2006. It is the only house still standing in which Franklin lived. Following lunch, the afternoon will feature programs by Jim Srodes, an award winning Washington based journalist who has written the book “Benjamin Franklin: The Essential Founding Father,” Helen Westra, Professor of English at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, who will speak on “The Literary Ben Franklin,” and Jeff Wood, President of the Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle, PA and owner of The Whistlestop Bookshop, who will speak on Franklin’s Cumberland County connections. A panel discussion involving all of the presenters and the audience will conclude the afternoon session. Throughout the day, visitors will have the chance to meet Benjamin Franklin (portrayed by Franklin specialist Richard Fox), browse through books, artwork and other items offered by several vendors and craftsmen, enjoy 18th century children’s games and military drills offered by members of Captain Dagworthy’s Company of the Maryland Forces (F&I War), meet Native American re-enactors, and much more. The evening will conclude with a concert of music of the “Glass Armonica” (invented by Franklin) performed by Dean Shostak of Colonial Williamsburg. A $5 parking fee per vehicle will be charged at the gate, but all events are free and open to the public. All who pay the entry fee and fill out a ticket provided will be entered into a prize drawing to take place at 8PM that evening. Entrants need not be present to win.
Posted: March 5th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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