$10,000 Needed To Repair Ben Franklin's Grave Stone

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Carrie Hagan from the Christ Church Preservation Trust addressed their efforts to raise funds to repair the tombstone at Ben Franklin's grave site with Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, saying they have the money to cover most of the cost, but need some help getting over the top.

Hagan explained that, while the many visitors to the site are appreciated, coins tossed onto the grave have played a role in damaging the stone.

"It's a $76,000 crack. We have done our best to raise $66,000, but we need ten more. The coins and the pennies thrown at the grave, of course we love for people to come, we have over 60,000 people a year come into our burial grounds and we love that interest, but the coins to tick the marble surface and that weakens it. That's one thing, along with weather over many, many years, that has deteriorated the surface and created the crack."

She stated that despite donations and money raised from visitors, the additional cost associated with Franklin's tombstone is something they've not been able to cover.

"All of that money goes towards preserving the burial ground because it does cost a lot of money. We have to staff it. We have an excellent tour guide service that takes people through and talks about the histories of these famous patriots who are buried there. It's a lot of upkeep, so if you're thinking about Benjamin Franklin, the Franklin family, that's one plot and that costs $76,000. We have a lot that we have to put in to these markers."

Hagan said that for all Ben Franklin contributed to the city and the country, we owe it him to maintain his burial site.

"Every little bit helps. Franklin did so much for us. He started the first lending library and the first little arts academy that is now the University of Pennsylvania, the first fire department, the first hospital. He did so much for us. He was a freedom fighter. He was a patriot at a time of national turmoil. I think that we need to honor our history. By just giving $5, you can literally preserve in the conservation of Franklin's bones."

Donations to repair the stone can be made at the GoFundMe page set up by the Christ Church Preservation Trust.
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