The Harding Museum

Driving into Franklin, OH from the west brings you down Park Avenue, a wide, grand street lined with large historic homes. All of the houses on that street are well kept private residences, except for one. Halfway down the street sits a sprawling yellow house, and if you look carefully you can see a small white sign that reads, "Harding Museum". 

That Harding Museum, photo courtesy of Jim Wise

The Colonial Revival house was originally built in 1901 by Clarence and Lilly Harding, a young, wealthy couple in Franklin. They had two sons, Forrest and Justin, before Clarence passed away. Lilly remained in the house after her husband's death to raise her sons, who both later attended West Point and served in World War II. Forrest became an army General, while Justin became an army Colonel and lawyer. Justin Harding was also a judge at the infamous Nuremberg Trials, and his bound copy of the trial transcripts is part of the museum's collection.

Justin Harding's copy of the Nuremberg Trial transcripts,
photo courtesy of Warren County

Aside from the trial transcripts, the house is also filled with General Forrest Harding's war memorabilia, as well as various Harding family antiques and artifacts from Franklin in general. The family donated the house to the Franklin Area Historical Society in 1970, and it opened as a house museum in 1972. Because the museum is only open on Saturdays on a seasonal basis, it remains one of Franklin's best kept secrets, as hardly anyone realizes it is there. Nevertheless, the museum reminds us that local history does not exist in a vacuum, but rather radiates outward to contextualize and humanize monumental global events. 

- Krista Dunkman

Sources:

http://franklinohmuseums.org/

http://www.ohioslargestplayground.com/explore/arts-culture/museums/history-museums/franklin-historical-society-harding-museum/218742

https://storiesfromtheplayground.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/a-history-of-franklin-ohio-the-city-of-murals/