Franklin Park celebrated its 75th birthday with a Diamond Jubilee celebration from August 3rd - August 9th, 1967. Check out an original calendar of events!

Some of the activities that comprised the seven-day event included:

• Commuters were met at the train station with a brass band & lemonade. (Just as Lesser Franklin and his sales team did circa 1892, except commuters then were met with a brass band, lemonade and beer; later they were served a meal at the Pavilion.)
• Old Fashioned Bargain Day Sidewalk Sales were held.
• A 75th Birthday Cake was made.
• A Carnival was held.
• A Kangaroo Court was established.
• Two Parades were held (one for children and one for all ages). See a map of the parade route or more parade images.
• The Giant Spectacular, "FP 75" (a historical pageant), was staged Aug. 5th through Aug. 9th. A Fireworks Display followed the pageant each night (See images of the "FP 75" booklet).
• A Celebration Ball was held, with the crowning of a Jubilee Queen.
• An Inter-faith Vesper Service was held. See images of the Worship Booklet.

• Art exhibits, Dance exhibits, Novelty Contests and Novelty Races were held. (See newspaper story and picture of "best old-fashioned costume").
• A Teen Dance was held.
• A Ladies Luncheon was held.
• A Handicraft Show was created.
• A Family Supper Nite, Working Gal's Breakfast and Business Men's Luncheon were held.
• A Commerce and Industry Day was held with tours of Industries and Water Works.
• A Time Capsule was assembled and buried (See photograph of the burying of the time capsule).
• A Diamond Jubilee Souvenir Plate was created.
• Diamond Jubilee Certificates were available for purchase.
• Men were encouraged to grow a beard, mustache or sideburns - "Shaver's Permits" were issued for those who didn't care to!
• The song "A Diamond Jubilee" was written specifically for the event.
• The business side of the Diamond Jubilee included special letterhead for the event and a tally of expenses by division.


To see more images from the Diamond Jubilee go to our Flickr page.