Elgin High students help make history

During the first week of May, the lovely grounds of Old Main were transformed into a time long ago in Early Elgin. Activities put in place by the Elgin History Museum included carrying water with a yoke and buckets, weaving colors through small fingers, climbing high onto stilts, printing on boards of slate, discovering a favorite Elgin landmark, assembling patterns for a quilt, wringing monkey socks in a tub, grinding corn kernels into flour, pressing apples into cider and more.

The community event on Sunday was extended over the following three days so that classrooms could take advantage of the rich experience. Children from our schools were the honored guests and they had a terrific time. Thirty-seven adult volunteers guided the programming with expertise and patience, but an the integral part of the event was the energy offered by 57 Elgin High School students to help it happen.

Because of the nature of the hands-on activities, other caring hands were needed to assist the young students; it could not have happened without the help of our high school volunteers! Students were reminded that doing things the old-fashioned way connects language to experience, encourages self-sufficiency, demands resourceful use of materials, and offers appreciation of Elgin’s rich history.

All serve as quite a lovely reflection of a community working at sustainability.

EHS history teacher John Devine has been instrumental in helping link the EHS students to our History Fair Project from the beginning — since 2004. Elgin Public Museum, Elgin Fire Barn and Elgin Academy have provided support each year. For a fourth year, First Congregational Church offered funding that helped make the experience available for many at-risk elementary students.

A bushel of thanks to all for their part in helping “make history” and for building a heightened sense of pride in this unique old town by the river.

Lucy Elliott

Elgin History Museum