PRESTON – The Franklin County Historical Society has invited two speakers to address the public for their Guest Speaker Series on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Franklin County Court House’s new addition.
The topics are historically in nature cover a vast number of subjects concerning the local past.
This week speakers will be Necia Seamons and Alexis Beckstead. They will speak about the Oneida Stake Academy and students that attended school there.
“We sponsor about three speakers a year,” said Jeff Olson, the group’s president. “We’ve had some interesting programs. We’ve had descendants of WWII bomber pilots, a historical perspective of Franklin County’s irrigation system, how the sugar beet industry affected the county and other topics of interest to the community.”
As Franklin County’s population continues to grow and local leaders plan for the future, a reflection on those who planned the communities now present within the county’s borders should be enlightening.
“Beckstead and Seamons are expected to talk about individuals that went to the Oneida Stake Academy,” Olson said. “The academy was established in the 1800’s and served for several decades as the only high school in the area for years.”
The Oneida Stake Academy Foundation, of which Beckstead and Seamons are a part, has been trying to raise money to restore the building and has held events along the way to draw attention to its efforts.
Some of their thoughts have been included in “Academy Memories,” a book published by the foundation last fall. The tome covers over a century of local history. Although it is centered on the Oneida Stake Academy, the school’s history is tied to the growth of the community.
Many people in Franklin County can still trace their roots to early settlers.
Seamons and Beckstead’s stories, some poignant and some humorous, reveal the roots of the principles todays’ communities are built upon.
“We hope those who come will enjoy the discussion of many of their ancestors,” said Seamons. “They really had a vision for a better world for their children.”
The free event is open to anyone who wants to learn about the historic building and what it means for future generations.
Copies of “Academy Memories” and other local history books will be available at the event.
For more information, contact Jeff Olson at (208) 252-0950.