Preface/Introduction

Preface/Introduction

This oral history project turned out to be quite a lengthy, complicated—but enjoyable—endeavor. It spanned almost four years.

There are many people and organizations to thank for its success. They are listed in the Credits/Thank You document at the end. Please read it.

The concept for this history project started one day at lunch when the Township staff was listening to reminiscences about “the old days” with our native son and elder employee, Larry Pieper, who often imparted tales of interest from his more youthful years.

This was not the first time that “old timers” had mentioned to me how things used to be in the earlier part of the 20th Century—and, how much better they were now.

During that lunch we realized that no history had been written about the Township after the Erie County histories of the late 19th Century; and that, we would lose many memories of how life used to be in Franklin Township upon the passing of our many elder residents. “Couldn’t we do something to get the information recorded,” became the question that day.

It wasn’t long before we learned that the History Department at Edinboro University was a valuable, competent resource and that the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission had grant programs that would support the collection and publishing of our local history.

A three way partnership over two-grant-years was born as an oral history project recorded on digital video tape. These tapes were subsequently transcribed and published in both printed and electronic form with video on DVD. Project materials are permanently archived at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and locally at libraries and Erie County historical societies. Ancillary to the project, the Township staff and helpers compiled a searchable database of Township Censuses from 1850 to 1930. Most of the project materials are on the Township’s website at: http://www.twp.franklin.erie.pa.us

You can see from the Credits/Thank You pages how many different departments, staff members and students at Edinboro University participated in this project. Without their help this could not have been accomplished.

Likewise, the Citizens of the Township supported the project when the Board of Supervisors contributed matching funds for the grant and provided staff time to accomplish the many clerical details required.

Local historians, authors, and history buffs provided assistance and advice to help us along.

Lastly, I would point out that those who were interviewed for this project were just as enthusiastic as any of us about getting this history recorded for posterity. We sincerely thank them. Just think how valuable their videos and transcriptions will be to their relatives who research their genealogy, say a 100 years from now.

Dave Henderson