5th grade goes back in time

by Nancy Replogle and Bev Wolke

The fifth graders spent a day at the Van Wert County Historical Museum with Joe Steffan as their guide. He reviewed the history of Van Wert and explained items related to the wars in the annex. After that, “Miss Agnes,” (also known as Connie Rhoades) conducted class in the Bear Schoolhouse. Students recited, did math and behaved like children of the 1900s. The girls wore pinafores and bonnets over their dresses while the boys wore straw hats and suspenders over plaid shirts. Following a visit to the log cabin and barn, they picnicked for lunch (no prepackaged foods!) and then went through the caboose and explored the antiques in the big house. The day finished with sack races and ice cream at the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor.