Venango County Historical Society

10/17/2026

The Ebgert-Mullins-Koos House Museum will be closed on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, as our staff participates and attends the Drake Forum. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

10/17/2026

Does anyone in Franklin have any of these surnames? Your ancestors may have met John Wilkes Booth.

In 1864, Louis J. Mackey’s grandmother was postmistress of the Franklin, PA post office, and John Wilkes Booth roomed at her home. Years later, Mackey lived with his grandmother and occupied the same room Booth had used. Becoming interested in the actor’s residency in the oil region, he determined to interview all the people who had known or had had business dealings with Booth.

It is possible that if your family spans centuries in Franklin, your great great great great grandparents may have known John Wilkes Booth!

These are some of the people who spoke to Mackey about their memories of Booth: Gabe Smith, Henry Sires, J. H. Lee, W. C. Rheem, Samuel M. Reid, Elisha W. Smith, H. Stearns Smiley, George Ridgway, A. P. Riddle, C.W. Gilfallan, Mrs. J.T.P. Watson, Ralph M. Brigham, E.W. Smiley, John A. Wilson, Squire Joseph McClelland, Mr. McAmirch, D.R. Campbell, Oliver B. Steele, B.E. Swan, Thomas Miner, Colonel J.H. Cain, Mrs. Sarah Dodd, L.T. Chapman, H. M. Irwin, Robert Brigham, Jerry Allen, James Lawson, A.P. Whitaker, S.P. McCalmont, A.W. Smiley, W. R. Crawford, J. H. Osmer and S.A. McAlevy.

I’ll be telling some hilarious stories about how the locals pretty much knew that “that actor didn’t know the first thing about oil.”

Thursday, October 22, 6 pm at the Wildcat Mansion ballroom. This is a free event open to the public.

10/17/2026

Join us tonight for Rick Sheffer's outstanding program in Emlenton. 7 PM at the Crawford Center!

10/17/2026

These were the items on John Wilkes Booth at the time of his death, including the photos of 5 girlfriends. Imagine their shock when they realized the good looking actor they were dating was actually a cold-blooded assassin. Learn their names and stories on Thursday, October 22, at 6 pm in the Wildcat Mansion ballroom. This is a free event open to the public.

10/17/2026

Mark your calendars for our annual 4-H Benefit Auction!

10/17/2026

10/16/2026

Don't forget we have a great free program on local history tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 17 - 2 PM at DeBence Antique Music World in Franklin and repeated at the Crawford Center (the former HS auditorium) in Emlenton at 7 PM. Rick is a great author, speaker, and he will be presenting a tiny fraction of the over 2,000 rare photos he has donated that were collected by his Aunt Hazel Sheffer Crawford in the 1950's and 1960's and that tell the story of our region from the 1870's until the 1960's.

10/16/2026

Join us at the Transit Building on Monday Oct. 19 for a unique presentation!

10/12/2026

This coming Saturday - join EAA and Vintage Wings for their Fall Pancake Breakfast - help support this great local instution.