ROYERSFORD PA – Ben Franklin – constitutional delegate, almanac publisher, post office founder – will also keep the title “public speaker” on his resume Monday (Aug. 10, 2026).
Franklin, portrayed by William Ochester, is the featured guest of the Spring-Ford Area Historical Society. He’ll tell stories about his life (considered “fascinating”) and Colonial times (think “turbulent”) in a program that is free, open to the public of all ages, and starts at 7 p.m.
Parents of K-6 children are encouraged to register them online to receive a 12-page activity packet. This program is sponsored by Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, Royersford.
It will be held beneath the museum’s outdoor pavilion, at 526 Main St. Parking is available at Calhoun Jewelers.
Historic Items On Display
Several historic items are on display at the museum for Franklin’s visit. They include:
- A 1787 land patent (deed) that was personally signed by Franklin when he simultaneously served as Pennsylvania’s President of the Supreme Executive Council, and as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention at Independence Hall; as well as
- A 1772 copy of Poor Richard’s Almanac.
Those who attend Monday also can learn another fascinating historical fact about the land deed, the museum reports in an e-mail.
Additionally, they have an opportunity to guess the number of wooden nickels in a jar. Guessers who come closest to the number may win one of three Handel’s Ice Cream gift cards valued at $25, $10, and $10 respectively.
Other Local History Programs
The historical society also has two remaining dates for its 2026 local history programs. Both are held at the Royersford VFW post, 730 S. Fourth Ave. They are scheduled to start at 7 p.m., and focus on topics related to the country’s 250th anniversary:
- On Sept. 9 , “Sewing the Symbol,” a history of flag manufacturing in southeast Pennsylvania, by Candace Perry; and
- Nov. 11, “Origins: The Lenape, William Penn and the Colonists,” by Ellen Endslow
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