Imagine yourself swept back in time to the mid-1800s when adventurous pioneers were just beginning to settle the vast wilderness of the Northwest Territory. This was a turbulent period in our fledgling nation’s history characterized by personal hardship and social unrest preceding the Civil War.

In the blink of an eye, you are transported to the quaint village of New Athens, population 342, in northeastern Harrison County, Ohio. This rural hilltop community, along with the surrounding historic areas of Mount Pleasant and Cadiz, is nationally renowned for its Underground Railroad activities and leadership in the abolition of slavery.

As you approach the village, a massive two-story building beckons you with its elegant brick facade and stately portico. This impressive landmark is the Franklin Museum of New Athens, Inc., the last remaining building of Franklin College. Reverend John Walker, a leading abolitionist of his day and co-founder of New Athens, established Alma College in 1818, later renaming it Franklin College in 1825.

Once inside the building, you can almost hear the bustle of long skirts and the excited chatter of students from a long-ago era. The 12-room museum commemorates the remarkable history of Franklin College, along with other exhibits depicting local life in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The facility is owned and operated by the Franklin Museum of New Athens, Inc., a nonprofit organization formed in 1991.

Although a small institution, Franklin College boasted numerous influential graduates of national and international renown, including 8 U.S. Senators, 9 U.S. Representatives, 32 State Legislators, 2 Governors, and several Judges. A few of the more notable graduates include: John Bingham, Congressman and author of the 14^th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution and chief deputy prosecutor of President Lincoln’s assassins; Titus Basfield, an ex-slave, who was one of the first African-American graduates from an Ohio college; William Lawrence, first Controller of the U. S. Treasury; John Kuhn, one of the organizers of the Republican Party; and Joseph Ray, who authored "Ray’s Arithmetic Books." The majority of graduates entered the ministry, education, law, or medicine professions, including three of Ohio’s first female physicians – Charity Vincent, Adaline Watson, and Anna Watson.

Fire destroyed four earlier buildings of Franklin College, photographs and renderings of which are displayed in the museum. The present building was re-constructed in 1900, following a massive fire in 1899. Franklin Museum is one of the few remaining historic structures in the area. Most were lost during the tragic 1921 fire that consumed the once-thriving business district of New Athens.

Franklin College closed in 1919, and its charter was later transferred to Muskingum College in Zanesville, Ohio. The building was utilized as a high school from 1927-1971 and served as an elementary school until 1987, when it was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The facility stood vacant for several years until the Franklin Museum Board of Trustees acquired the property in 1992.

Dennis Bauer, the indefatigable museum president, spearheaded the restoration effort, along with curator Judy Secrest and husband, Bud Secrest, board president. After countless hours of research and hard work by this dynamic trio and their volunteer recruits, the Franklin Museum opened for public tours in 1993. Following this debut, they have continued to devote long hours and personal resources to the building’s restoration, completing additional exhibits each year. County and local officials have also assisted with the considerable paperwork necessary to secure funding for building improvements and restoration efforts.

In 1998, the Board of Trustees enlisted the aid of Dr. Lorle Porter, Professor Emeritus of Muskingum College and local historian/author, to promote the Franklin College story. Dr. Porter was instrumental in obtaining various State grants and facilitated the creation of compelling educational exhibits.

A feature exhibit entitled "The College that Helped Divide the Nation" describes the impact of Reverend Walker’s abolitionist stance upon the nation. Life-size mannequins, professionally crafted from photographs and portraits of Reverend Walker, Titus Basfield, and Dr. Anna Watson, add to the poignancy and authenticity of the interactive display. Recently, this exhibit was presented with the Educational Commendation Award, the highest honor given by the Ohio Association of Museums and Local History at their Columbus, Ohio, convention.

Franklin Museum is open for weekly tours and holds an annual summer festival, complete with civil war re-enactments and soldier maneuvers. A cadre of volunteers also organizes regular fundraisers, such as bake sales, community dinners, craft fairs, etc.

USDA Rural Development is very proud to be a part of this valiant effort. Under the Community Facilities program, our Agency provided a $35,000 grant from FY 2000 funds to replace the obsolete coal-powered heating system and the related asbestos removal. Through a collaboration with other State and local partners, Rural Development funds were leveraged with $20,000 of county CDBG funds, $10,000 of ARC funds, $7,000 in Ohio Department of Development funds, and $5,000 raised by the Board of Trustees entirely through donations.

This project embodies the community spirit still evident in rural communities throughout the country. With more enthusiasm than material resources, the Board of Trustees and residents forged a successful partnership with local, State, and Federal partners to make their dream a reality. Through sheer determination, they saved an invaluable historic resource from certain ruin and created a living testimony to the area’s heritage as a social leader on the national stage. In the near future, they hope to join other communities in creating a regional Underground Railroad tour encompassing a popular escape route for slaves through Wheeling, West Virginia, to New Athens, Cadiz, and the Mount Pleasant areas.