B2o>Lancaatar Fanning, Saturday, March 6 1993 Pat Dotterweich (wearing top hat) and students examine the contents of the trunk. From left, Megan Cllshan, Jason Fitzgerald, Clint Walker, and Bonnie Fllpczak. What’s SHARON B. SCHUSTER Maryland Correspondent WESTMINSTER, Md. What’s in Mr. D’s trunk? That’s the question in the young minds of Patrick Dotterweich’s seventh grade students at Westminster West Middle School, in Carroll County. Maryland “I found an old trunk at an auc tion,” said Mr. Dotterweich, who has been leaching social studies at the middle school for nine years. “It was painted bright pink, and I bought it for 53.” Inspired by a hands-on history exhibit at the Smithsonian, Mr. Dotterweich refinished the old piece with a purpose in mind. “History is difficult for these kids to understand. If you can show them something, that makes it more real,” he explained. The trunk now occupies a prominent spot in room ?, where the walls and shelves serve as a showcase for glimpses into his tory. “My stuff is a collection of over a lot of years,” said Mr. Dot terweich. The bulletin board an nounces “Into the Future with America Past.” Old photographs, flags, money, and bottles share the shelves with baseball memorabilia, Mickey Mouse ears, and more. But, most intriguing, is the trunk. “It looks like a pirate chest,” said 12-year-old Megan Clishan. “I thought it was a treasure chest with Fool’s gold,” recalled seventh grader Clint Walker. “He keeps an old lock on it, too,” observed classmate, Jason Fitzgerald, also 12. In Mr. D’s Trunk? ‘That adds to the mystique,” said Mr. Dotterweich, with a chuckle. The contents of the trunk have not been completely revealed to the students. “It’s full of a whole bunch of neat stuff and old arti facts,” said Megan. “I’ve got to And out what’s in there,” added Jason. One piece at a time, Mr. D., as the kids affectionately call him, pulls out of the trunk, a relic of the past. It may be an authentic news paper from 1809, or a December 8, 1941 edition of the Baltimore News Post whose headline de clares “War Declared on Japan ese.” “You can talk about them ’til you’re blue in the face, but how interesting is that?” he asked. "We talk about the value of looking at different sources of his tory for information. Some may give an accurate account or a dis torted view,” he explained. “History is a tool,” he contin ued. “I like to emphasize that you can study all these famous people, but it really doesn’t make sense until you relate it to yourself.” The cedar-lined trunk, which measures about 2'/a by 3'/i feet, guards such treasures as a centen nial history of the U.S., signed baseballs, old Beatles records and a piece of the Berlin Wall. As the school year progresses, Mr. Dot terweich said he “pulls stuff out,” and adds other things. He may change the artifacts within the old trunk to support lessons on Native Americans, the colonial period, the Westward Movement, “and my favorite, the Civil War,” he said. “A good way to work on think ing skills is to put in things they don’t know,” suggested Mr. Dol terweich. One such relic is an an cient piece of Aztec hoe money. The thin piece of copper currency was used by the Aztec Indians, ac cording to the history buff. “Some were shorter and some were long er and they can be slacked. Four slaves could be bought with this before Christopher Columbus’ time. After Columbus, it would purchase one bushel of com,” he explained. Twelve-year-old Bonnie Flip czak gave an example of her teacher’s unique approach to his tory in the classroom. “He pulls out something outrageous from that time, but it really makes sense and is a part of our lives now.” “He was trying to make us think like an archaeologist, and realize how important and difficult that job is,” added Jason. It’s the kind of lesson that Mr. Dotterweich says “helps the stu dents put it (history) in perspec tive what it is that we value in our culture.” Seventh grade social studies with Mr. Dotterweich is a popular subject with the students. “I can’t wait to come here,” said Clint “It’s sad when we leave.” “He teaches us and entertains at the same time,” the group concur red. And they’re still dying to know what is in Mr. D’s trunk! See your nearest f\EW HOLLA(\D Dealer for Dependable Equipment and Dependable Service: PENNSYLVANIA Annville, PA BHM Farm Equipment, Inc. RDI, Rte. 934 717-867-2211 Carlisle, PA R&W Equipment Co. 35 East Willow Street 717-243-2686 Davldsburg, PA George N. Gross, Inc. R.D. 2, Dover, PA 717-292-1673 Elizabethtown, PA Messick Farm Equipment, Inc. Rt. 283 - Rheem’s Exit 717-367-1319 Gettysburg, PA Yingling Implements, Inc. 3291 Taneytown Rd. 717-359-4848 Halifax, PA Sweigard Bros. R.D. 3, Box 13 717-896-3414 Honey Brook, PA Dependable Motor Co. East Main Street 215-273-3131 215-273-3737 Honey Grove, PA Norman D. Clark & Son, Inc. Honey Grove, PA 717-734-3682 Loysville, PA 717-789-3117 MARYLAND Frederick, MD Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc. Rt. 26 East 301-662-4197 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 NEW JERSEY Bridgeton, NJ. Leslie G. Fogg, Inc. Canton & Stow Creek Landing Rd. 609-451-2727 609-935-5145 Woodstown, NJ Owen Supply Co. Broad Street & East Avenue 609-769-0308 Hughesvllle, PA Farnsworth Farm Supplies, Inc. 103 Cemetery Street 717-584-2106 New Holland, PA A.B.C. Groff, Inc. 110 South Railroad 717-354-4191 Oley, PA C.J. Wonsidler Bros. R.D. 2 215-987-6257 Pitman, PA Schreffler Equipment Pitman, PA 717-648-1120 Quakertown, PA C.J. Wonsidler Bros. R.D. 1 215-536-1935 Tamaqua, PA Charles S. Snyder, Inc. R.D. 3 717-386-5945 West Grove, PA S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc. R.D. 2, Box 66 215-869-2214 Washington, NJ Smith Tractor & Equip., Inc. 15 Hilfcrest Ave. 201-689-7900
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers