The 30 Star Flag .    1848-1851
 Well, now it's July 5, 1848 and we raised another new flag yesterday. Notice that it's logically symmetrical with five rows of six stars eachor six rows of five stars, depending on whether you're vertical or still horizontal after yesterday's Independence Day celebration. We'll get three years out of this one. The 30th star is for the entry of Wisconsin into the Union on May 29, 1848.
   

 and in the State of Maine         or in Franklin    

 

In the United States and the world:

• Presidents were:
  
• James Polk (STILL President when the 30 star flag becomes official - until 1849)
• Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)
• Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
  
• 1849
• Charles Dickens writes "David Copperfield".
• Edgar Allen Poe dies. 
• Europe is still in turmoil , but things are starting to settle down. 
• Armand Fizeau , French fizzicist, measures the speed of light.
• The U. S. introduces two new coins:  and   click on images to learn more.

• 1850
• President Taylor becomes sick after an Independence Day celebration and dies five days later.
• Millard Fillmore succeeds Taylor.
• Nathaniel Hawthorne writes "The Scarlet Letter", detested by high school students through the ages. If you absolutely MUST know more about this, have a really strong cup of coffee and click here .
• The Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind , tours the U. S. - brought to youse suckers by P. T. Barnum.
• R. W. Bunsen invents ........oh come on, you know....... remember chemistry lab?
• The population of the U. S. is 23 million which includes 3.2 million black slaves.
• 1851
• James Fenimore Cooper dies.
• Herman Melville writes "Moby Dick".
• Hawthorne is at again, this time with the equally detestable "House of the Seven Gables". Find your own link.
• William Thompson (later Lord Kelvin) begins papers on the laws of conservation and dissipation of energy. WARNING - Really Weird Link Ahead: Lord Kelvin
• First double decker bus.
• Schooner "America" wins race around the Isle of Wight and brings the Americas Cup to the U. S.
• The predecessors of the instigators of the infamous Susan B. Anthony dollar coin dream up this little thing: Click on coin for larger image.
  

In the State of Maine:

• John Winchester Dana is Governor until 1850 and is succeeded by John Hubbard .
• 1851 - Maine becomes the first state to approve a total ban on the manufacture and sale of liquor, except for medicinal or mechanical purposes. Hence the expression "getting lubricated".
  

 In the Town of Franklin:

• Selectmen were:
• Joseph Scammon, Nathan A. Swan, and George W. Springer (1848-1849)
• John West, George W. Springer, and Samuel Scammon, Jr. (1849-1850)
• George W. Springer, Nathan A. Swan, and Samuel Scammon, Jr. (1850-1851)
• Joseph Scammon, Daniel W. Clark, and Asa Googins (1851-1852)
• Shipbuilding swings into high gear in Franklin. The following ships were built and launched during this period:
• 1848
• Cleora, 262 ton bark
• 1849
• Grecian, 123 ton schooner
• 1851
• Maine, 123 ton schooner
• Morril, 102 ton schooner
• Orion, 102 ton schooner
• Mariel, 102 ton schooner
• In 1850, Franklin has a population of 736, with eight school districts and four constables.
  
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NOTE: As you can see, we're a little light on Franklin History. We expect to flesh this out as time goes by. Your input and contributions would be appreciated. Contact Us.