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More than 250 participants joined VCHS members and volunteers in celebrating the history of 19th century Vernon County by rotating through nine stations located in the Bushwhacker Museum, the Old Jail, the community center and the small park across the street.
The students from Bronaugh, Hume, Nevada, Northeast Vernon County and Sheldon schools attended with their teachers. The nine stations were set up on classroom schedules and featured instructors from across the state.
Station one, Prairie Ecology was taught by Kevin Badgeley, Conservation Education Specialist from the Missouri Department of Conservation. He had examples of various prairie grasses and wildlife and explained how Native Americans and early settlers utilized the prairie environment for survival.
Station two, Bison Parts, had Pam Myers, Administrator of Truman Birthplace State Historic Site, Osage Indian Village State Historic Site and Battle of Carthage in charge. She discussed the lifestyles of the Osage Indians and how the bison played an important role in their daily existence.
Station three featured Nathan Boone portrayed by Dakota Russell, State Park Employee from the Nathan Boone Homestead State Historic Site. Using first-person interpretation, Russell told about the adventures of early trappers featuring the clothes they wore and the animals they trapped.
Station four was taught by Cottey College Intern, Living History Interpreter Ashley Pentecost. Her topic was 1800s clothing and students got to actually try on the many layers of clothing worn by children and adults of that time period.
She also discussed toys, games and lifestyles of children in the 1800s.
Station five was the One Room School House with Brian Miller, Interpretive Resource Specialist from the Prairie State Park as teacher. This was his first year to help with History Day and some of the points he covered included the 1800 student's lunch bucket, how it was made and what was usually in it. The students also utilized slates and chalk to write the answers to the math problems he gave them.
Station six featured Lana Henry from the George Washington Carver National Monument. She told about the contributions G. W. Carver made to Missouri and the world. This station is always very popular as the students get to wash clothes with a scrub board and clean a rug with a rug beater.
Station seven was the Old Jail and sheriff's home with VCHS members Peggy Pyle, Linda Douglas and Neoma Foreman giving a tour and retelling some of the most popular jail tales about the jail's former prisoners.
Station eight was Border War/Civil War Life in Vernon County presented by Frank and Linda Carlton, living history re-enactors. They demonstrated spinning wool and spoke about early settlers using herbs for medicines.
Station nine was Kiowa storyteller Ron McMillain, also known as "Hagaoda," living history interpreter, brought to us this year by the Rotary Club. He told tales of Native Americans and how their lives affected and were affected by early settlers.
Additional volunteers included Tom Ramsey, Gary Jones, Eldon Steward, Jan Runyan, Ed Morris, Dorothy Morris, Gary Marquardt, Leon Shumaker, Jean McQueen, Connie Oyer, Dodi Chew, Betty Ann Woody, Jean Edwards, Virginia Marquardt, Vicky Headley and Sherry Sadler.
Many hours of work and planning are needed each year to bring this event to local students. It couldn't happen without dedicated volunteers.
Terry Ramsey, Bushwhacker Museum Coordinator, was instrumental in formulating and organizing this annual learning event. Vernon County's History Day has been recognized by many other Missouri counties and several other states as a remarkable teaching tool and has been imitated by several other historical societies and schools.
The students, teachers and volunteers all had a great day and left with a new appreciation of and more information about, Vernon County's history.
