Franklin Middle School history

The original records of the Board of Trustees began May 21, 1821.

1847 marked the beginning of female teachers.

In 1848 the General Assembly of Maryland passed an act establishing public schools in Baltimore County.

The first step toward making Franklin Academy a part of the newly organized school system was taken January 1849 when the Trustees rented the Academy and its premises to the County for a small annual sum.

In 1896 the name Resisterstown High School was changed by the Board of School Commissioners to Franklin High School.

In 1897 Franklin really became a high school with the addition of another grade.

Franklin High School moved over to the new building in 1905 which was erected on a lot across from the old Academy building, leaving the old Academy to the elementary school.

In 1915 the Tillard Memorial Free Library was moved to Franklin and people in the community went there for books.

The first class of students, 1927-28, numbered 594.

The fall of 1929 saw the Franklin High making another move.

Principals in the 1930 building following Mr.

In 1937, James Franklin, an airline pilot, and his wife Jean purchased Oak Hill Farm and converted the property from a general farm into a dairy farm.

Interestingly, the multi-million dollar addition was constructed by the Henry H. Lewish Contracting Co., headed by Henry Lewis, a 1947 Franklin graduate.

Franklin Junior High started using both buildings in 1960 with Hammond D. Cantwell as principal.

On June 24, 1982, the Fairfax County School Board awarded the construction contract for Franklin to Fletcher and Sons, Inc., in the amount of $7,183,000.

Franklin became a middle school in 1986 and remains one today, with an enrollment of almost 900 students.