FTHS News: Expansion Project launch & more!

Historical Society has opportunity to expand

…but we have only 90 days to raise the funds!

The Franklin Township Historical Society has been an important part of our township for the past 50 years, supplying facts, photos, books on local history, articles, historical and genealogical information, material for township teachers, a museum of physical objects from the last 200 years of our township’s history, and more. But now the Society needs room to grow in order to continue its important service in our township. We have started an Expansion Project Fund to make growth opportunities possible, and we would love to have your support!

As time passes we have found ourselves the custodians of not just the early township history but also of its continuing story, along with the items and artifacts that document it. As a result, we are out of room in our Meeting House museum. The Historical Society receives many requests to accept important and historic township items, but we simply don’t have the space in our 154-year-old building. We also want to be able to create additional displays and to present educational programming on our grounds, and – let’s face it – we’d love to have running water and toilet facilities on site, too!

We have the opportunity to acquire the property immediately adjacent to the Meeting House, with its 1930s house and excellent garage, and we also have plans drawn up for a new building north of the Meeting House on our property. But doing EITHER of these things will take more money than we currently have. We have set an initial fundraising goal of $300,000 to take the initial steps toward making one or both of these expanded facilities a reality, but we have only 90 days to raise the funds if we want to obtain the property next door.

We are grateful for ALL contributions, regardless of size! The Historical Society is 501(c)(3) organization and your gifts are tax deductible. In addition, if you wish to leave a visible legacy or to honor someone with a memorial gift, we have some special giving opportunities available:

• Contributor ($100-$199) – Receive a small thank-you gift from the FTHS
• Supporter ($200–$999) – Your name or designated recipient’s name will be engraved on a permanent commemorative brick used in our project landscaping
• Partner ($1,000–$4,999) – Your name or designated recipient’s name will be engraved on a donor plaque inside our new facility
• Legacy ($5,000–$9,999) – Your name or designated recipient’s name will be honored on a large granite stone to be displayed on our grounds
• Patron ($10,000 – $49,999) – Your name or designated recipient’s name will be engraved on a wall plaque in an area of your choice within the new facility
• Founder ($50,000+) – Primary sponsors of the expanded facilities will be recognized with your name or designated recipient’s name on a permanent exterior plaque mounted at the main entrance of the expanded facility.

For more information about the Historical Society’s Expansion Project, or if you’d like to talk with one of us about this project, you can reach FTHS Treasurer Ann Hansen at (317) 432-7037, or you can email us at [email protected] or contact us by postal mail at Franklin Township Historical Society, P.O. Box 39015, Indianapolis, IN 46239. Donations can be made via cash, check (payable to Franklin Township Historical Society), ACH, or credit card. Thank you for your interest and support!

Aerial view of our 1871 Meeting House (indicated with red marker) and of the house and property immediately south of it, which we have an option to buy if we can raise the funds in 90 days.

Antiques & Rummage Sale coming, Donations & helpers sought

Our biggest fundraiser of the year, our popular Antiques & Rummage Sale, will be held June 13th (from 8 to 6) & 14th (from 8 to 2) at the Civic League, 8822 Southeastern Ave. Donations can be brought to that location on Thursday June 12 from 12 to 6. Tax deduction receipts will be available. Would you be willing to help us set up for the sale, work at the sale, or pack up after the sale? We’d love to have assistance with any of these. Contact us at [email protected] or by phone at (317) 432-7037.

REMINDER: Meeting House Open Hours are the first Saturday and the third Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 PM, now through October. There will be no Open Hours on Easter Sunday, April 20^th.