The 32 Star Flag .    1858-1859

   Here in Franklin, Maine this July 5th of 1858, as in all the Northern states, we're caught up in abolition fever. Well, some of us are. Most folks around here are too busy with lumbering, shipbuilding, and granite quarrying. This new flag will only fly for a year. Here comes John West, our First Selectman. He says the additional star on this flag is for the admission of Minnesota to the Union this past May 11th.

 and in the State of Maine         or in Franklin    

In 1858-1859 in the United States and the world:

• James Buchanan is still President.
• Charles Dickens writes "A Tale of Two Cities". 
• Charles Darwin stirs up everlasting trouble by publishing his "On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection".
  
• Away down South in the land of cotton, Daniel Decatur Emmett composes "Dixie". However, this catchy tune does not replace "Lips that touch liquor shall never touch mine" on the Franklin Womens' Hit Parade of 1858.
• The first oil well is drilled at Titusville, PA .
• Charles Blondin , French funambulist, crosses Niagara Falls. But how?  
• Work on the Suez Canal begins.
  

• Lot M. Morrill   is Governor.
  

And in the Town of Franklin:

• Selectmen for 1858 are John West, Samuel Wasson, and Sherman Smith.
• Someone just got their hands on a brand new coin!   Click on coin for larger image.