Bessborough

Lady Bessborough and her late husband were able to use their influence to secure the house and also procure a sizable collection of Franklin memorabilia and The Friends of Benjamin Franklin House, U.K. was established as a non-profit charity in 1978.

From the Business Files of the Friends of the Benjamin Franklin House, U.S. « Fondly, Pennsylvania: Notes from Archives and Conservation 2009

Documents from a lawyer retained by the U.K. group threatening Bessborough with legal action if the objects were not returned is how this particular anecdote came to me.

From the Business Files of the Friends of the Benjamin Franklin House, U.S. « Fondly, Pennsylvania: Notes from Archives and Conservation 2009

Governor-General and Lady Bessborough presided at the opening.

Plenty of Nothing: 2009

However, when the case was finished, Bessborough refused to give the items back, citing that the case was inadequate and furthermore that the security of the artifacts would be compromised by the theatrical presentations going on.

From the Business Files of the Friends of the Benjamin Franklin House, U.S. « Fondly, Pennsylvania: Notes from Archives and Conservation 2009

Bessborough and the U.S. group felt that the theatrics were dubious, the upper floors were too fragile to support the foot traffic, and that the high entrance fee would limit attendance.

From the Business Files of the Friends of the Benjamin Franklin House, U.S. « Fondly, Pennsylvania: Notes from Archives and Conservation 2009

Governor-General and Lady Bessborough presided at the opening.

The Winter Club 2009

The cause to save and restore the house was led by Mary Bessborough, the U.S.-born wife of the 10th Earl of Bessborough.

From the Business Files of the Friends of the Benjamin Franklin House, U.S. « Fondly, Pennsylvania: Notes from Archives and Conservation 2009

While a display case was being constructed to house these items, they were given to Lady Bessborough for safekeeping.

From the Business Files of the Friends of the Benjamin Franklin House, U.S. « Fondly, Pennsylvania: Notes from Archives and Conservation 2009

Here I am, sitting in the lobby lounge of the Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon, going over my plans for tonight's Genetics Demystified reading and reception ... and, since I have my Audiovox Harrier with me, and since I recently signed up for an unlimited data plan, I figured I might as well blog.

Archive 2006-01-15 Edward Willett 2006

Below, from top to bottom, a church steeple; the University Bridge, with the University of Saskatchewan in the distance, past the bridge; the view from my hotel room window (I'm in the Delta Bessborough) looking toward the Broadway Bridge (a.k.a. "The Engineers 'Bridge"); a view looking south across the South Saskatchewan River; and the path along the riverbank I walked to get from my hotel to the University this afternoon.

Archive 2006-01-01 Edward Willett 2006