The past came to life for students at Washington Street School during a recent field trip to the Franklin Square Historical Museum, where fourth graders stepped back in time to discover what the community looked like a century ago.
Elementary school students in the Franklin Square School District have the opportunity to visit the museum twice during their early education — once in first grade and again in fourth grade.
The Franklin Square Historical Society helps to preserve the area’s history, through artifacts and hands-on demonstrations in the museum, at 861 Naple Ave. Displays capture what life was like for schoolchildren, while another exhibit highlights larger pieces of U.S. history, including the story of the first credit card born in Franklin Square.
Upon entering, students step back another century, seeing firsthand objects from another era — toys, typewriters and kitchen essentials that once belonged to families in the community.
During their trip, the fourth graders eagerly rotated through different stations designed to recreate everyday life from the past. Each stop introduced them to a different aspect of daily routines, including school life, banking, communication, toys and the homestead kitchen.
The museum, which relies heavily on donations, recently received a $25,000 contribution from Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, which will help the museum purchase iPads and support the continuation of the program for students next year.
Mary Anne Gray, the museum’s director, said the museum operates entirely through volunteers. Many of them have deep roots in the community and remain passionate about preserving the town’s history and passing those memories along to the next generation.
One volunteer, Val Mazzone, grew up in Franklin Square and later taught in the district before retiring. “I see it as a duty and a privilege to help pass on the history of our town to the younger generation,” Mazzone said.
Another volunteer, Adrienne McKenna, guided students through the homestead kitchen station, where they learned what daily chores looked like long before modern appliances existed. McKenna explained that many tasks — such as milking cows, gathering eggs and collecting water from an outdoor well — were completed before the school day even began.
During the demonstration, students tried their hand at some of those historic chores, learning how to grind coffee, operate a butter churn, use an old-fashioned iron and scrub clothes on a washboard.
After the demonstration, McKenna expressed hope that the students leave with a “greater appreciation of the conveniences of their chores today.”
Volunteer Julie Soffientini also plays a key role in helping students explore the museum’s exhibits. She said that after completing each station, students leave not only with hands-on experience, but also with a deeper understanding of their community’s past.
As the students moved from one station to another, the sound of a bell echoed through the museum, signaling it was time to rotate. The bell carries a special piece of Franklin Square history, once ringing through the halls of Monroe Street School, an elementary school that served generations of students before it was demolished in the early 1980s due to declining enrollment.
The museum itself was built through community determination. When construction of the Franklin Square Historical Museum began in the 1970s, it was funded entirely by community efforts rather than taxpayer money. Schools in Franklin Square organized penny drives and fundraisers such as plays to help bring the museum to life — a spirit of community support that continues to sustain it today.
On April 15 at the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant, the Franklin Square Historical Society will host its main fundraising dinner, marking the organization’s 45th year. During the event, the society will present its Person of the Year award to Matt Buck, general manager of Plattduetsche Park restaurant.
Events such as the annual fundraiser help support the museum’s volunteer-driven programs and ensure that the history of Franklin Square continues to be shared by future generations of students.
