That is, at least, what visitors were led to believe Monday morning as the John Harris Mansion in downtown Harrisburg hosted a reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Messers. Franklin and Harris were there, although played respectively by Richard Fox of East Berlin, and David Biser of South Hanover Twp. Both are self-proclaimed "history geeks", who each bring a wealth of knowledge to the historical figures they played.
Each year, on July 4, they don their finest period attire, circa 1776, and read the document which would lead to the United States of America, thus breaking away from Great Britain and the rule of King George III.
"Gather 'round, all good citizens!" Fox, as Franklin, shouts at a crowd of nearly two dozen onlookers while ringing a bell. "We have a document to be read that will be of grave importance to this entire colony!"
The reading begins, with Biser, as the former storekeeper and frontiersman John Harris, announcing, "In Congress, July 4, 1776, a declaration of the representatives of the United States of America!"
The two alternate for the next 15 minutes. Franklin delivers the famous line, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal...and that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
"This has been a copy for formations and changes in governments throughout the world. The world is still looking at us," Fox says afterwards. "A poor nation of ignorant citizens could take on the most powerful government, most powerful army in the world."