Living History Day
May 20, 2011
Living History Day was the culmination of a year-long project between Heuvelton Central School, Madrid-Waddington Central School and Ogdensburg City Schools. Seventh graders from Massena/Waddington and Ogdensburg were involved, as well as fourth, seventh and special education students from Heuvelton. Students studied the French and Indian War throughout the year and completed projects with a focus on the role Fort de la Presentation played in this conflict.
Although the Living History Day was forced indoors by inclement weather, 18th-century re-enactors and heritage interpreters demonstrated open-hearth cooking, life in the navy and army, colonial clothing, colonial lighting, timsmithing, Mohawk history and other traditional activities. Throughout the day, more than 280 students saw, touched and tasted some of what was everyday life for their ancestors. They experienced the life and color of America’s history that happened in their own backyard.
Support, financial and material, was donated by the Heuvelton Parent Teacher Association, the Heuvelton Teacher's Association, the Ogdensburg Education Association, and the Heuvelton and Ogdensburg Lions Clubs. St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES coordinated a School/Curriculum Improvement Program, allowing the three participating schools split the cost of the presenters and admission fees. The Ogdensburg Recreation Department helped tremendously by allowing the Fort Association to use Lockwood Arena.
The students really enjoyed their learning experience. Here is what some of them said in thank-you notes.
"Thank you very much for coming to show us different items from our history. I thought the whole Living History Day was really fun and informal. I also appreciate you taking time out of your day to come at help teach us stuff that people did back then. I thought everyone did a very good job teaching us. I had a very fun time learning."
"At first I thought it would be really boring, but after I got there it was very interesting. I love when they showed us the clothing they would have worn back then. I’m also very thankful that you got to get an Indian man to come and talk to us. I loved that part."
"Another one I liked was the hands on toys; they were fun to play with and taught us how games were back in the day, how they used bones and corn husks because they didn’t waste anything."
"I enjoyed the presentations you were able to set up. I am sure it took a lot of work. My favorite presentations that was at the living history day field top were the Naval History set up, the tin smith, and the rope making."
"Thank you for the time that it took you to put together the Living History Day for us. I really enjoyed most of the stations. I also learned a lot there. My favorite parts of Living History Day were the rope making, the toys station, and the shooting of the cannon."
"I appreciate all of the presenters and how much work you guys put in to make this work. Although the weather didn’t cooperate, you guys put in the extra effort and made it work. Thank you for all of your effort and the work you put in. I hope this all works out in the following years when the other kids get to go to this trip."
2011 Essays
2010 Essays