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Email Megan Email Shayla Browse & Buy: Announcements Apartments & Rentals Automotive Employment Farmer's Market Financial Legals Merchandise for Sale Real Estate for Sale Recreational Call A Pro Page 1 Call A Pro Page 2 MARKETPLACE The Clean Team SUBSCRIBER CENTER Contact the Ledger Dispatch Subscribe Today COMMUNITY LINKS California Highway Patrol Traffic Info Page City of Jackson Jackson Police Department City of Amador Amador County Chamber of Commerce Amador Superior Court City of Plymouth Amador County Caltrans Road Conditions HomeTown Radio City of Ione Amador County Sheriff City of Sutter Creek CLICK GALLERIES April Click Submissions Click - March 25, 2008 Click - March 18, 2008 Click - March 11, 2008 Click — February 19, 2008 Photos Courtesy of John Shepherd More Click Galleries E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format Amador County fifth-graders experience the pioneer spirit Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - By Lisa Lucke, Special to the Ledger Dispatch These girls pull their weight and then some - in the form of a real plow. No one ever said the pioneers had it easy - especially the 200 or so local fifth-grade students who spent May 14 at the first ever Pioneer Day at the Kennedy Mine in Jackson. Thanks to the Kennedy Mine Foundation members and the coordinated efforts of dozens of local and regional volunteers, students had the opportunity to learn first-hand what life was like in 1850s-era California - especially for pioneer children. Kennedy Mine school tour manager Dennis Price had a clear vision for what the foundation wanted to achieve for the event, which aligns with the California State Standards for fifth-grade. "We wanted to help students gain a greater awareness of local and early California history, including what life may have been like for pioneer children," Price said about the purpose of Pioneer Day. The day began at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre with a historic singalong by local band Old Sole, and the reading of a short pioneer story by local rancher and historian Carolyn Fregulia. From there, students made the short trek up to the Kennedy Mine head frame. With the historic setting of the mine serving as a backdrop, students tried their hands (and feet) at physically challenging, hands-on activities like roping, logging and plowing, as well as more refined tasks such as candle-, rope- and toy-making. Fifth-graders from several local elementary schools got a taste of the pioneer life as they moved from station to station at regular intervals, where they watched, listened, and most importantly, participated as pioneers for a spell. Demonstrations included a working, 1849-era blacksmith shop headed up by Pioneer resident and Kennedy Mine Foundation volunteer Bill Miller. Miller worked not only with traditional tools over a fire, but showed students how to do miscellaneous tasks like finishing a rope by burning the fuzz away to make it smooth. He explained to students that in the Old West, a blacksmith shop had a function similar to what a hardware store does today, by providing a variety of invaluable services to residents. "When a person came into town, they'd always make sure they knew where the local doctor, courthouse and blacksmith were located," Miller said. A popular activity for the fifth-grade girls, and even many of the boys, according to volunteers Mary Heidecker, Shirley Miller, Georgia Fox and Anne Sklensky, was doll making. Students learned that as pioneers traveled and continually lightened their load, children were allowed to have few, if any, personal items. Donner Party survivor Patty Reed became known for the small, wooden doll that she kept hidden, and which subsequently made it to California with her. Reed's story has become the subject of several books, pieced together from her journals and letters. Students made their own "Patti Reed Dolls" out of yarn and string. Several groups were on hand to provide history lessons on the Pony Express, the Civil War and the Mormon Battalion. Company C, Amador Mountaineers is a modern re-creation of the original Amador Mountaineers that formed in Jackson in 1861 as a volunteer militia unit, eventually mustering into federal service later that same year. Today's modern version is a not-for-profit, educational organization that is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of California history, specific to the Civil War years of 1861-65. Local members who were present included Jim McGuirk, Steve Branco, Andy Rodriguez and Gene Smith. Civil War-era artifacts including guns and typical soldiers' personal belongings were displayed for students to look at and touch. On hand to explain the significance of the Mormon's role in settling the West were two members of the Sierra Nevada Mormon Pioneers organization, part of the Living History Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Volunteers Peter Gilbert and Eddie Elkins, dressed in traditional Mormon Battalion uniforms, explained the Mormons' role in pivotal pioneer-era events in California such as the Bear Flag Revolt, the discovery of gold at Sutter's Fort and the development of commercial agriculture. Price said that this "all volunteer effort" would not have been possible without the dozens of local and regional people who were contacted as recently as January and February to help fill out the long roster of pioneer activities that the Kennedy Mine Foundation wanted students to experience. The foundation has had a hugely enthusiastic following of its fourth-grade Gold Rush Program, and hopes that Pioneer Day for Amador County fifth-graders will become just as popular. For more information on Pioneer Day, contact the Kennedy Mine Foundation at 223-9542, or go to www.kennedygoldmine.com. COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE No comments have been posted in the last 15 days! 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