May 28, 1980 SUSQUEHANNA TIMES—Page 7 ‘Happy Maytown Day!’ say third grade students IF YOU HAVE ONE DISASTER, DON'T HAVE ANOTHER. “Happy Maytown Day!”’ This greeting was heard many times on Friday, May 23, in the Maytown Elemen- tary School gymnasium as the third grade students in Mrs. Hazel Weigard’s class shared with their peers, parents, building personnel, and school administration their findings about the first century of Maytown’s his- tory, 1760-1860. Throughout the unit on Maytown social studies was i | combined with music and J language arts to piece together the early begin- nings of this small town in A disaster like fire is bad enough—another due to inflatior: is even worse. But youcankeep uy with building costs with our homeowners insurance with inflation protection. Lancaster County. During this time the group had a variety of experiences in learning. One was listening to the music of this ear, including Revolutionary War songs and those composed by Stephen Collins Foster. The group also learned the dance steps to the minuet. Another of the learning experiences included hear- ing stories about the Eastern Woodland Indians, the Conestogas, Conoys, and the Susquehannocks, all part of the larger tribe of Iroquois Indians, who roamed this area before Maytown was settled. A small group dyed cloth using berry juice as these Indians did, ‘‘fixing’’ the dyes so they would not fade or run by using the juice of the wild crabapple. Maytown’s early history was also researched through reading books and by interviewing and recording information from towns- people. The students con- ducted the interviews in pairs, using an interview form put together by the entire class. The children asked about early fire- fighting equipment, the old pump in the square, the early schools and the reason for people living in May- town. Mrs. Hazel Crankshaw and Reverend John Hies- tand talked to the class about the 100 year period following Jacob Downer’s founding of Maytown in 1760. They also pointed out the changes that have taken place in their own lifespans. These resource people had the students think back to a time when someone from the family had to bring water from the square’s pump several times a day; when one would stop in to watch the blacksmith repair tools or shoe a horse; or when a child would take home a loaf of warm bread, so tempted by the fresh smell that it would arrive on the kitchen table minus a part of the crust. The students also took a waling tour through the town, visiting the oldest homes, the Square, one of the oldest churches and a 200-year-old restaurant with its log and plaster walls. Third Grade students at Maytown Elementary School display the material collected on local Indians Finally the students gath- ered together some old- fashioned Maytown recipes and made (with the help of parents) brown sugar drop cakes and vanilla and Ger- mantown pie. These recipes were supplied by Mrs. Alice Shenk, a resident of May- town. The students also had on supply cornmeal puffs and raisins and nuts as the Indian part of the menu. After all of the informa- tion was gathered together, the students made and sent out invitations to the other classes and parents. Each of the ten visiting classes enjoyed a 15 minute visit with the third grade class in the gym. They began by signing in and then viewing the Indian station, the Indian and Maytown exhibits and final- ly sampling the menu. During this time, the boys and girls of the host class were answering questions, directing traffic, serving food, doing the minuet, and acting as curators of their displays. Food tables were decorated in green and white, Donegal’s school colors, and Stephen Foster compositions added yet another dimension. The visiting students were also given an entry blank for a ‘“Maytown Day’’ contest. The form included ten questions about Maytown and the winner of the contest was announced the following Tuesday. One youngster summed it up at the end of the unit like Students dance the minuet for ‘‘Maytown Day’ Gymnastics show rescheduled The PACT meeting of the Riverview Elementary School, Marietta, has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 29, at 7:30 pm. Entertainment for the session will be a gym show under the direction of Warren Hayman. The public is invited to attend. this: “‘I’ve lived in Maytown all of my life (nine years), and 1 thought I knew all about the town; but when we got halfway through studying, I found out how little I knew!’’ What else can be said except ‘‘Happy Maytown Day!”’ JACK TYNDALL 80S Church Street Mount Joy, PA Phone 653-5970 NATIONWIDE INSURANCE = Natonwide 1s on your side ationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company Home Office: Columbus, Ohio HOLLINGER OIL SERVICE ARCO HEATING OIL HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING SALES & SERVICE FREE ESTIMATES— CALL 653-4484 807 WEST MAIN STREET, MOUNT JOY, PA ‘ AUCTIONS make the difference in marketing livestock! ' NEW HOLLAND difference in auctions! MONDAY —8AM--Fat Hogs 10 AM--Horse Sale 1:30 PM--Fat Steers, Bulls, Cows & Veal WEDNESDAY—12 Noon--Hay & Straw 12:30 PM--Dairy Sale - 1:00 PM--Feeder Pigs THURSDAY—11 AM--Fat Steers, Bulls & Cows 4:30 PM--Sheep & Veal New Holland Sales Stables, Inc. New Holland, Penna. Abram W. Diffenbach, Manager Phone [717] 354-4341
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers