Yoder's Amish Farm

Today we visited the Yoder Amish Farm. Through
this farm, we were able to take a step backwards in time.
We were able to see actual people living and working much as they did in the early to late 1800's. In comparison, do you think life was more pleasant for the Amish or the early settler in Northwest Ohio? What is the difference in the construction between the homes built in this area and the homes in the Amish area? What do you think of students only attending school only until the 8th grade? Would you like your teacher to teach you barefoot? How strongly does religion affect the Amish? How strongly do you think religion affected the people who settled this portion of Ohio? How did people preserve their food? Do you think those methods would work as well today? What a wonderful experience we had touching, feeling, smelling and tasting history!

The Wood County Courthouse

Wednesday we visited The Wood County Courthouse. The courthouse was constructed in two years 1894-1896.
The courthouse was built with the money from the gas boom in the Bowling Green area. The gas companies were the largest employers at the time. There was very little expense spared on the courthouse. In your opinion, was that a good thing or a bad thing? The fact that this was a land struggling to conquer the Great Black Swamp, do you think this magnificent building would strike fear into the hearts of a criminal? Do you know how many criminals were hanged at this courthouse?

The courthouse was renovated. Do you think the renovations were necessary? What did they do to the stain glass windows? What was done to the sandstone figurines on the north side of the courthouse?

Marblehead Lighthouse and Wolcott House

Wow! What a beautiful day we have had! From the lovely clarity of the view from the lighthouse to the viewing of the home of the first lightkeeper, we had the chance, once again, to walk were brave people have lived, worked and survived in Northwest Ohio. From our explorations, what do you think the lighthouse did for the area?

Would you have liked to have carried Whale oil up the old wooden stairs to the top of the lighthouse? Why did Jeremijah build his house? Does the house seem like a nice place to raise a family on the frontier of Ohio? Would you have raised your family here? Would you have ridden a horse over a mile everyday to work just to carry the oil to the top of the lighthouse and keep the fires burning?

SS Willis Boyer

Hi Gang! Today was the second day of our exploration of Lake Erie and its effects on Northwest Ohio. Today's visit took us to an old freighter that was commission in 1911. The freighter was used for many years and is now a wonderful museum. I would like you to consider today for your reflection on this activity, the differences between the freighter and the canal boat, which carried freight last week. Would you have prefered to have been one of the original 42 crew members shoveling coal on the SS Willis Boyer, or on the canal boat carrying freight between here and St Louis? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Consider the development of technology. How many years difference is there between the use of the canal boat on the Miami and Erie Canals and the commissioning of the SS Willis Boyer?

We just want to take this opportunity to welcome a new person to our class! WELCOME TO OUR CLASS KHALID! We hope you enjoy the class...

By way of reminder, remember that your 1/2 book review is due tomorrow. Those of you who have not written your second reflection, tomorrow is the last day you can turn it in. Remember to keep reading and working on your creative writing portfolios! Good luck with all your work! Dorinda

Put in Bay

Fort Meigs and Clara J's

Today we had a marvelous day with the guide Amber who interpreted the War of 1812. We explored what it was to be like as a soldier here in the wilderness of NW Ohio. Fort Meigs was our first stop of the

day. Amber was our tour interpreter. She did a superb job! Her generosity was incredible. She kindly left all who wanted to hold her musket and pose for pics.

After our wonderful two hour tour with Amber, we experienced lunch, in a lovely Georgian style home, which was very tasty. The experience was also to educate students about another economic level of person who lived in this part of NW Ohio. Because we often only consider the brave settler who conquered the wilderness, there is no realization that others from different socio-economic level also came to take advantage of the wildernss and its richness.

Transportation

Transportation

Today we experienced several types of transportation used in this area in the 1800's. What do you think their role was in opening the Great Black Swamp? Which type of transportation would you have preferred to ride? What role did the canal boat and the train play during this time period? What was your favorite part of today's class? Have a good day! ~Dorinda~