When Meaford native John Franklin was born, the former Town of Meaford was home to roughly 2,700 residents, and William Lyon Mackenzie King was Canada’s prime minister. Franklin will turn 100 on July 7, and his family has been planning a party to celebrate the special milestone on Saturday, July 11, at the Church of Christ, 113 Nelson St. W.
John was the eldest of five sons born to parents Reginald and Annie Franklin. He grew up in the Layton House, now the site of Meaford’s hospital. John’s daughter Nancy told The Independent that in his youth John played many sports, he also played trumpet in the Meaford band, and he learned to play piano by ear.
“His love of music stayed with him as he joined a couple of church choirs after retirement,” said Nancy.
After landing his first teaching job in 1946-47, John married his wife Betty in 1949, and they had seven children, who have added to the family with 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Nancy said that all of John and Betty’s seven children are planning to attend his 100th birthday party.
John retired as a school principal in the early 1980s, and after retirement he and his wife bought a property near Creemore where he built a house; they lived there for the next 30 years.
“He ran for politics there as he was quite young when he retired, I think 54 or 55,” Nancy told The Independent. “He was town councillor and then deputy reeve. He sang in the choirs in both Alliston and Mansfield. The grandchildren loved going up to the ‘farm’, and John would get them out for rides on the tractor.”
After his wife Betty passed away in 2016, John re-connected with an old friend from Meaford, also named Betty. He sold his house in Creemore, and he bought a new townhouse in Meaford nine years ago, where daughter Nancy said that he is less active, but still walks without a cane.
Nancy said that John’s children and grandchildren have been amazed at his good health and longevity, and she said that he is excited to celebrate his 100th birthday, though he has been adamant that the party announcements stated ‘no gifts please’.
“He was delighted with the certificates we arranged with the Prime Minister and King Charles that arrived, as he does like pomp and circumstance for special occasions!” Nancy shared.
Asked what his secret to a long life has been, Nancy said that John keeps busy both mentally and physically.
“He was 90 and climbing up on the roof of his house near Creemore to shovel off snow, he would use a sled and bring in wood for the stove by tying a rope round his waist and hauling it to the house. He built that house with help from family and friends and he is always just interested in his community,” said Nancy. “After retiring from being school principal, he moved to the country and built the house and a new life to keep him busy. From running for local politics, to being in church choirs, to becoming a woodworker, he just kept learning.”
If you would like to stop by and wish John a happy 100th birthday, his ‘Come and Go’ party will be held on Saturday, July 11, from 1 – 4 p.m., at the Church of Christ, 113 Nelson St. W., Meaford.
