A picture given to the Franklin School “Marion Fairles Library” by former Principal Marion Fairles returned home to Historic Franklin Thursday September 2.

Miss Fairles was Principal at Franklin School from 1924 to 1964.  During the Bicentennial Program held April 30, 1976,  the picture, titled “Three Reading Girls”*, was presented by Miss Fairles to then Principal Mr. Jacob Wolf, Jr as a gift to the school library.     Notes of the gift information were written on the back.

After the school closed in 2000,  the picture was purchased at a school district auction by Roni Berg.   Berg (pictured) was a teacher at Franklin School from 1990 to 1999.

Flash forward to today,  Roni contacted Historic Franklin wanting to donate the picture to Historic Franklin School,  where she thought it should hang.

According to Historic Franklin School “principal”, Roy Sheppard,  the picture will hang in the room that was last used as the Marion Fairles Library.

“We can’t thank Roni enough for the thoughtful gift to add to the history of the school, ” said Sheppard.

Anyone that might have artifacts from Franklin that they might want to donate or loan are encouraged to contact the school at 252-2400.

The “Three Reading Girls” picture was a reproduction made by BelArt Co of Kenyon, Minn. (undated).   It was a reproduction of a painting done by the German painter Walter Firle (1859-1929) known as “The Fairy Tale” .