Stories, News & Articles
History in the Making
Welcome to the new Franklin, Wis., Historical Society website! I was elected president of the FHS in May 2025, but I am not new here. My roots in Franklin history go back more than 100 years to 1875, when my great-grandfather, Fred Ludwig, emigrated here from Germany at the age of 21. He bought 80 wooded acres at 8520 South 68th Street, then known as Colby Road, which he cleared to establish a dairy farm. In 1880, he married Marie Riebe, the step-daughter of Fred Mueller, who operated a farm on the opposite side of the road. Fred expanded his holdings in May 1902, when he paid $6,400 to purchase another 80-acre plat a half mile up the road and he sold his first farm to Oscar Schellhaas. Fred and Marie raised five children and retired to West Allis in 1919 after turning over control of the farm at 7979 Colby Road to their second eldest son, William Ludwig. William married Emma Wendt in 1912, and the family roots grew deeper as they raised five…
Read More >Franklin has been my home ever since I was born, and I love living here. Early members of my family have been here since the mid-1800s on farms that have remained in our family for 100-150 years. For as long as I can remember, I have heard stories of Franklin and its people, about what life was like in the past and how things have changed.
As I grew up, I too became a witness and a participant in the changes that occurred in Franklin. In the early 1950’s when the one-room schools closed and the original Ben Franklin School was built, I was among one of the first classes there. Then, years later, when Franklin High School opened my 8th grade class was moved into the building. Through the years, I have seen farmland disappear and subdivisions built, the Industrial Park developed, and the Civic Center moved to an area near my childhood home.
I also love history, especially family histories and local history. That is one reason why I found it interesting to talk to families in Franklin and do further research when writing the stories that appear in this book. So after retiring from teaching, I was encouraged to join the Franklin Historical Society by Al Block, founder and former president of the society.
I was invited to write a history column for a Franklin newspaper called The Citizen (later The Chronicle). The column was called “Historically Speaking.” Three years and 80 stories later, the column ended. When that happened, I was encouraged to publish these additional stories in order to preserve the history of Franklin. A grant from WaterStone Bank made the book possible, enabling readers to learn more about what made Franklin the city it is today.
The following are excerpts from the book, Footprints of Franklin.
Footprints of Franklin
Franklin has been my home ever since I was born, and I love living here. Early members of my family have been here since the mid-1800s on farms that have remained in our family for 100-150 years. For as long as I can remember, I have heard stories of Franklin…
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Remembering The Area Called Harrisburg
The name was “Harrisburg,” and it once was one of four hamlets in Franklin that developed along major transportation routes, similar to St. Martins, Painesville and Oakwood. Harrisburg was located at the intersection of St. Martin’s Rd. and S. North Cape Rd. near the western edge of Franklin. A mile…
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The Buckhorn Tavern – A Long and Colorful History
For Sale — 1.24 acres — Commercial Property. The realty sign at the northwest corner of Hwy. 100 (Ryan Rd.) and 27th St. is another reminder of changes for the old Buckhorn Tavern in Franklin. Facing an uncertain future, the business is one of two buildings on the corner that…
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Coming to the Rescue – A History of the Franklin Fire Department
In the early years of Franklin, the village of St. Martins was the site of a volunteer Fire Department House located at the intersection of Church St. and St. Martins Rd. Later, the firehouse was moved to St. Martin’s Square (Market Square) and then back again to St. Martin’s Rd.…
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A Call to Duty – A History of the Franklin Police Department
As Franklin changed from a township to a city in 1956, changes in its police department were also occurring. What was a quiet rural farming community now became a city of subdivisions, businesses and increased services. Along with that progress came the realization that the citizens of Franklin needed an…
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A History of the “Free Thinkers” in Franklin
Many people are curious about the quaint old building that sits nestled in a grove of spruce trees off the corner of Ryan Rd. and 27th Street. The community surrounding that crossroad was known years ago as Painesville. It was on the border of Franklin and Oak Creek and settled…
Read More >Other News & Stories from Franklin Historical Society
Loomis Pony Express
Most Franklin, Greendale, and Greenfield area residents have traveled along Highway 36, more commonly known as Loomis Road, but few know the origins of its name. In the early 1800s, the southwestern portion of Milwaukee County was largely a frontier. As townships began to transform the landscape, a pony express…
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Early Franklin Sawmill Was Converted to a Gristmill
An 1840s mill was located in the southwest corner of present-day Whitnall Park. Through the years, the site of the mill had been protected by a barn located next to the mill site. The barn was constructed after the mill operation ceased. (The little red barn located north of Rawson…
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The Legacy of Al Block
ALFRED “AL” BLOCK 1928-2018 Patriarch of the Franklin Historical Society Al Block died February 17, 2018 at the age of 90 after a long, distinguished life. He wore many hats, from teacher and administrator to war veteran and conservationist. But above all, he will be remembered as an educator who…
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From Our Files – Elsie Martin
The photo below was sent to the Franklin Historical Society by Franklin native Lloyd Martin. Shown is his grandmother, Elsie Martin, and an unidentified woman sitting on chairs in the rear of an old farm truck. They were preparing to ride in a parade for the reopening of Rawson Avenue.…
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A Man of Vision – Franklin’s Tom Godsell
As the history of a city is written there are certain individuals who are usually recognized as being responsible for major changes in that city. One of those men was Tom Godsell — often called the “Founding Father of Franklin”. Serving as Town Chairman from 1949 to 1956, he was…
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St. Peter’s Chapel: Then & Now
Franklin: Then and Now ST. PETER’S CHAPEL: THEN & NOW It was once known as St. Peter’s Lutheran Church when it stood on its original site located on S. 68th St., north of Rawson Avenue. Built in 1869 by German Lutherans who had left St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Franklin,…
Read More >SACRED HEART SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
Franklin: Then and Now The Sacred Heart School of Theology, located on Hwy. 100 near Rawson Avenue, was originally known as the Sacred Heart Monastery and as a seminary for the training of men into the priesthood. It was originally built across the street from the present buildings. The original…
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Surprise Wedding Becomse Part of July 4th Celebration
For a local Franklin couple this past 4th of July celebration turned out to be a very important day and one that will hold special memories for a long time. Mary DeMotto and Neil Verburgt not only hosted their annual July 4th picnic for family and friends after the Franklin…
Read More >How Well Do You Know Franklin?
Franklin History Quiz One
DO YOU KNOW……. Here is a list of 20 questions to see what you know about the history of Franklin. All of the questions are taken from articles that appeared in the Franklin Citizen (now called the Chronicle) in the column entitled “Historically Speaking” by Judy Scherrer or appeared in…
Read More >Franklin History Quiz Two
This Franklin history quiz is definitely a challenging one! The first letter clues are given and the answers can be found in the Cabins to Condos publication, in past articles in the “Historically Speaking” column published in the Chronicle or in the past Franklin Historical Society newsletters. Good luck! F_____________former…
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