Banfield Elementary fourth-graders got the chance to live a little bit of history Friday morning during a trip to the Mower County Historical Society for Living History Day — the second straight year the class has done this.

The fourth-graders went from station to station throughout the morning experiencing everything the area history center had to offer including a working store and a tour of the site’s train cars.

“They love it when they can touch things,” teacher Marsha Wilson said as students investigated one of the train cars, led by volunteer Don Konken. “Here they learn a lesson. Actually have hands on so when they read about it they have that background.”

With some students and even teachers dressing the part, the whole day was treated as a trip to the past, something MCHS executive director John Haymond is more than happy to open the society up for.

“If you’re in the classroom it seems like just another day of school,” Haymond said as students pushed old-style, manual run lawnmowers. “Nothing replaces coming out here and getting to do things.”

The event is not entirely new to the school. At one point it was the third-graders who got to take a field trip to the historical society where they got to spend time going to the prairie school, but when the school’s curriculum changed so did the grade. So Wilson along with Kathy Owens organized it for the fourth-graders to make the trip.

“We saw what [MCHS] were doing and it fits so well with what we’re doing,” Wilson said. “It’s a chance to talk about the change over time in our area.”

The experience has become more than simply educational for the students.

“It’s an amazing experience,” Wilson said. “They see how much their life is easier compared to life in the 1800s. It’s such a wonderful, close experience.”

Opening history

for the youth

Much of what the historical society does draws more of an interest from the older population of Austin, but Haymond sees plenty of opportunity for the younger members of the community.

It’s just a matter of taking advantage of a local resource.

“The historical society has mostly an older demographic interested in what we’re doing,” Haymond explained. “I think it’s overlooked that kids will really enjoy it if it’s presented in the right way. Ideally, I would like to have every school come out here.”

Haymond went on to explain that what the historical society offers is really a two-pronged offering.

“This is really only half of it,” he said. “We have community outreach like this and we also have programs that go into the school.”

It’s through that effort that students truly get what it was like in the past.

“Until they are on the wagon [they just don’t know],” Haymond said. “They realize how lucky they are today.”

The other benefit stemming from this is that it’s a nice segue into the historical society’s Fall Harvest Celebration that took place Saturday. For those that missed the festival, it gives them a chance to still enjoy the experience.

“Consider it a rehearsal for the fall festival,” Haymond said. “The kids themselves get to be the focus if they weren’t able to come out Saturday.”