Rev. Willard Parsons
In 1877, Rev. Willard Parsons,
who was Pastor of a small Pennsylvania Church, encouraged his
parishioners to take in New York City children who were stifling in the
tenement housing heat. This started the Fresh Air Fund that still
exists today.
Reverend Parsons was born
in Franklin. He also retired here. Franklin was one of the
early villages to take Fresh Air Children.