Dear Folks, I've been intensely dedicated recently in updating my old files to the current version of word processing, spreadsheets, or whatever. This evening I came across something I had recorded back in 1997 that I don't believe I ever sent to anyone. It has to do with the local fourth-graders' field trip to learn some of the local history. This evening I added a "Forward" to what I had originally transcribed and it all follows. Note: From experience I know that when I cut and paste something I've saved in my word processing program, it tends to end up double spaced in the message. Hopefully, I've gotten the hang of it and that it will be readable. When the local fourth graders came to our Town of Porter Historical Society Museum on a field trip every May, it also included a school bus ride around the village of Youngstown during which time one of our society members pointed out the old houses and churches and told them about the history of the village. They were escorted on foot down to our waterfront and also given the opportunity to look around our old St. John's Episcopal Church. As was the custom, shortly after their field trip their teachers had them send personal letters of thanks to the society members (including me) in their own handwriting (or printing) including pictures that they drew of their favorite memory of the visit. Every year I awaited their letters and all of us society members involved were tickled pink with their comments and their pictures. In May of 1997 I just had to jot down what some of them had to say. Note: The record player they referred to was an old wind-up Victrola. I played one of my very old 78 rpm records of an old WWI tune, "I'll be With You When the Roses Bloom again." These are the comments the fourth-graders had to say regarding their field trip. I like knowing how the people back then heard music and what kind of music they listened to. It was scary and loud. I wish I knew more about the oldest house in Youngstown. Jordan. I especially enjoyed the recored [sic] player. It sounded like little mice singing and made me want to jump up and dance. Jessica I really enjoyed the old record player it made a weird sound. The best part I liked on the walk was Saint John's Episcopal Church. It was small but nice. Angelo I especially like the radio [Vee's note: actually, the Victrola]. It sounded like Alvin and the Chipmunks. I was going to go on the Microphage [microfiche viewer] but we ran out of time. I may come up on a Wednesday. Jess. I enjoyed listening to the Victrola . . . . It was interesting learning about the schoolroom. I hope I can come again. Bhaiyyot Singl. I liked seeing the toys they played with and what the different radios looked like. I thought that it was a good idea to have a gold star if someone died in World War II. Andrew. I enjoyed going in the church. . . . I really liked the old toy cars. Kurt. I especially like the telephone. I would have liked to learn about the schools in Youngstown. Melody Thank you for explaining the details to the old stuff. I was interested in the coins because I like the old designs that were on the old coins. I would of liked to have seen hockey stick to go with the ice skates. Mike. Thank you for showing me things from the past. Thanks for taking me for a walk around Youngstown. What I liked the most at the museum was the record player. I also like the music that it made. Kelli I enjoyed the most was when we listened to the record player and the Victrolia [sic]. They sounded like little kids singing really fast. Also when we learned about The Battle of LaBelle Famille. Christine What I enjoyed most was that I learned that a doctor's house had two front doors! Stephanie One of my favorite things was the way people planted seeds with the metal thing which was noisy [a corn planter]. Dan One thing that I learned was that the C on the buildings dates around when the building was built. Joe I enjoyed going into the museum and seeing the machine that let you read old newspapers. I can't believe that they put all the students grades in the newspaper. Melissa I liked the record player, the schoolroom and I liked the walk outside. Jacklyn I enjoyed reading the newspaper on the microphage [microfiche]. I would like to see an old ice box. I liked the ice skates. I would [like to]see the record player again. I would like to use one of the old telephones. I also liked the old church. Jason I liked looking on that TV newspaper thing [microfiche viewer]. The strangest thing was seeing student's report cards in the newspaper. I would be embarrassed if my grades were in the newspaper. I thought there were not many historical places in Youngstown still standing until I went on the field trip. Eric In the museum some of the things look weird compared to today's inventions. I liked the recorder and coins. Jon I really enjoyed the museum the most. I liked the newspaper thing the most. Sarah Vee again, It was always such a joy and delight to see the students so wide-eyed in wonder of all of the history we were passing on to them. Trust me, they weren't bored!! vee