Archive for June 12th, 2008
Ben Franklin’s Post Office
Click on link below to activate a PowerPoint Lesson Plan of Benjamin Franklin Renaissance Man:
The people who know me well also know that I have collected stamps off & on since I was in the 4th grade. I collect stamps from all over the world. However, I enjoy the United States stamps most. I think the reason I love stamps & therefore continue to collect them is because there a is record of history in stamps. Commemorative stamps do just that, they honor or celebrate the memory of people & events. Since so much of history is done through the study of people & events, stamp collecting really became an outlet for me witness, relive, & daydream about America’s exciting past! I have been planning to develop a teaching lesson on Benjamin Franklin that uses his connection with the United States Post Office as a jumping off point which will drive the unit. It was with this underlying motive that I was so excited to get out to the Franklin Court & find that post office!
My suddenly shrinking “posse” & I took the subway all the way to 2ndstreet after our wonderful, filling, & inexpensive lunch at the Copabanana (fantastic burgers!) Once we got off the subway we immediately found the City Tavern for a few pictures. Since we can’t afford those expensive lunches anymore (cash flow problems) and since my pants aren’t fitting so well anymore (overeating/lack of exercise problems) we decided that pictures were all we wanted for take out. The S.S. (suddenly shrinking) posse & I then hoofed our way the Franklin Court.
CITY TAVERN
It’s easy to tell when you are getting used to a new city. Places that start to seem familar. Remember, I (yes “I”) got lost crossing the street last year in Boston. But now I recognize all these places that we have been or passed. So as I walk into Franklin’s Court I was kind of disappointed. I was here just last week. I have already seen everything. Who recommended that we come here? Who planned this trip? What was the “Executive Council of the Posse” thinking? What kind of “Sméagle” am I to go somewhere I’ve already been? These & other questions were racing through my head when the brilliant thought occurred to me, “Sméagle, go see what’s inside the Ben Franklin Post Office!” So as I through the door, I imagine the great man himself, Benjamin Franklin walking through it too. Now you must think I am a geek or something because that thought gave me goose bumps! The inside had old fashioned counters, some Franklin artifacts inside glass shelves, & a few Franklin trinkets for sale. I took a few pictures and was walking to the door when “Junior” (Bridgeman) said “Hey look at this sign.” Inside a revolving glass display was a handwritten note card that informed all readers with good eyes who happen to glance down just at the right moment that there is a Franklin Post Office Museum on the 2nd floor. Well duh, a real museum? A few seconds later I was inside “History Geek/Stamp Collector” heaven. The museum was filled with stamps, pictures, and artifacts that tell the story of the United States Post Office from it’s inception with Ben Franklin as the postmaster all the way to modern times. What a thrill that I almost have during a most “Sméagle” moment!
Now filled to my forehead with Franklin/Post Office glee, Junior & I went off to find the “women folk” portion of the “S.S. Posse.” We walked into the main building to find the Underground Museum dedicated to Ben Franklin. We walked in just as the 20 minute film was starting & were given “almost” front row seats. It was a very good film that chronicled Franklin’s life from early childhood as an Indentured Servant of his brother, through all his accomplishments, through his death. It was a very “pro” Franklin film which would tend to upset those “Revisionist Franklin Scholars” but I loved every minute of it! As the film ended we, the “S.S. Posse” made our way into the Franklin Museum & Gift Shop where I acted the part of any dedicated teacher & bought lots of “stuff” to help teach about this great “Renaissance Man” Benjamin Franklin!
We also stopped by the carpenter’s Hall. But since I already went there the day before, I spent most of my time snooping in the souvenir counters & snapping pictures for other “S.S. Posse” members. On the way home the heat stroke, which actually was nice compared to yesterday’s 100+ temperature, began to take it’s toll on our thinking. We couldn’t decide what to do, where to go, who to see! We stood for seemingly 10 minutes in front of a subway entrance trying to decide these issues. Imagine what the good people of Philadelphia must have thought watching a bunch of Colorado history teachers all confused and laughing hysterically in front of the subway trying to decide what to do next! It was at this point, after 3+ hours (never did see any other Colorado teacher except the S.S. Posse) exploring this famous historic district, that we were all out of it and we had better go find shelter! And oh, by the way, very weird subway ride. But that’s another tale for another time, in another place far, far away!
Carpenter’s Hall Kelli & Wendy Tired on Subway
