Philadelphia celebrates Ben Franklin's 300th birthday

PHILADELPHIA --To the ever-growing list of Benjamin's Franklin's avocations -- statesman, philosopher, inventor, flirt -- you can now add one more: Psychic.

"I have sometimes almost wished it had been my destiny to be born two or three centuries hence," he wrote to the Rev. John Lathrop in 1788.

Clearly, Franklin could foresee the parties in store for him in Philadelphia this year, the 300th anniversary of his birth.

Hundreds gathered Tuesday at the National Constitution Center for a Franklin fete that included an 8-foot-tall faux birthday cake with 300 electric candles.

Watching the proceedings front and center was Franklin himself, played by Ralph Archbold.

"Ben, you don't look a day over 275," joked Richard Stengel, president and CEO of the Constitution Center.

The same morning, other parties were planned at the children's museum and city library; a parade from the headquarters of the American Philosophical Society -- founded by Franklin in 1743 -- saw dozens pay tribute to the patriot at his grave near Independence Hall. Future events in the yearlong celebration include concerts, exhibitions and lectures.

Franklin was born in Boston on Jan. 6, 1706. But in 1752, the old Julian calendar was replaced with the Gregorian calendar, meaning time skipped ahead 11 days. The old Jan. 6 became the new Jan. 17.

Franklin left Boston in September 1723 -- fleeing an abusive older brother and a provincial, Puritan-controlled town -- and headed to the City of Brotherly Love, which has long considered him a beloved adopted son. He died at 84 on April 17, 1790.

At the Constitution Center, dozens of onlookers watched as 300 people "lit" the electric candles on a three-tiered fake cake topped by a kite with Franklin's portrait. The well-wishers represented many of Franklin's wide-ranging interests -- from philosophy to firefighting, printing to public safety, meteorology to agriculture.

Gov. Ed Rendell lit the final candle before the crowd broke into a chorus of "Happy Birthday." Archbold then "blew out" the candles, confetti and balloons rained from the ceiling, and catering staff began serving cake and punch.

Charlie Gerow, a member of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission, said the birthday party is an important symbol for Americans because Franklin's ideas are "as powerful today as they were in the 18th century."

"This is not just fun," said Gerow. "It's connecting the past to the present to the future."

One candle-lighter, Bruce James, is following in the footsteps of Franklin -- the nation's first public printer. As the 24th head of the U.S. Government Printing Office, James oversees printing for all branches of the government.

Noting that Franklin's portrait hangs above the fireplace in his Washington office, James said he is "humbled by the experience of holding a job that Ben Franklin once had."

Another participant, University of Pennsylvania senior Philip Berkman, was part of a group of student candle-lighters representing the Founding Father's ties to Penn and Franklin & Marshall College.

Berkman, 21, said Franklin wouldn't have been surprised by the hoopla.

"I think Franklin expected this to happen on his 300th birthday," Berkman said.

------

On the Net:

http://www.benfranklin300.org/