A newly developed history class at Iola High School has turned into quite the conversation piece … or pieces, to be precise.
A pair of display cases, situated in the IHS commons area, are filled with artifacts from a century or so ago.
The first, designed by Johnathon Lynn and Gavin Morris, is filled with farm and household items from the earliest days of the 20th century, including an early Edison phonograph, a bullwhip and an antique waffle maker.
The second, assembled by Ethan Boyer and Jacob Leavitt, has assorted artifacts from the Spanish-American War, including a soldier’s uniform, assorted ammunition and an antique Springfield rifle.
The displays were crafted as part of the students’ participation in their “Hands-on HIstory” class. Now in its second year, Hands on History gives the students more than a rudimentary introduction to topics of yesteryear.
Bill Peeper, their instructor, and Iola historian Donna Houser, a volunteer at the Allen County Historical Society, explained how the class works.
The four students assist at the ACHS museum on a regular basis, helping record and catalogue scores of donated artifacts.
Then, if a piece piques their interest, they’ll be directed to learn more about it — the early phonograph, for example.
If enough similar items can be obtained, it will become part of the display case.
“Trying to decide on a topic was hard because we really didn’t know what to do first,” Morris explained in a Gaslight article for the historical society.
“There was a lot to think about,” Lynn agreed. “There are so many things in the storage area that are interesting and unique, that it was hard to choose.”
Leavitt noted he had been interested in World War II, but decided against it because a display covering that war already had been assembled last year.
“The more we read, the more we got interested in the Spanish American War,” Leavitt said.
Houser took each of the students around Iola’s courthouse square as well, where they read over the informational signs detailing the history of each of the buildings.
“We like to show them what’s going on, what’s happening now and what happened then,” she said. “They got real excited about that. I’m pretty sure it was much more interesting than they thought it was going to be.”
“I think I’ve learned more about the city than most people around town know,” Lynn agreed with a laugh.
“Hands-on learning is definitely more fun,” Boyer said.
The point is not lost on Houser, who reminds the students that history is more than reading from books. Likewise, Iola students should learn local history in addition to learning about, say, the Revolutionary War or the Roman Empire.
Plus, the students are honing other skills. They must make presentations to IHS teachers as part of their classwork, and it’s up to them to write up description cards. And that’s not counting the hours they spend documenting the historical society artifacts. (The museum is lending the materials for the high school’s cases.
Houser also has the students write out thank you notes if they receive assistance from somebody around town.
“It’s a lost art,” she notes. “Just something to show their appreciation.”
THE DISPLAYS will stay in place for up to two months, giving the students another month or so to decide what comes next.
“Right now, we have no idea,” said Peeper, who serves as the historical society’s board president. “I’ve been there a year, and I still don’t know what all we have stored.”
Morris, whose grandfather — Iolan Earl Croley — served in the Vietnam War, hopes to someday put together an exhibit about that area.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to learn about,” he said.
THE EXHIBITS are well received, not only from local patrons, but for out-of-towners, Peeper said.
“The community response has been great,” he said. “We’re always looking for ways for the school to engage more with the community, and this gets more interaction with folks in the community. It’s worked out in several ways.
“The class can’t say enough about the efforts of Donna to help the class along, either,” Peeper continued. “She devotes time on a daily basis to these students, and takes a personal interest in each and every one of them.”
PHOTOS: From left, Jacob Leavitt, Ethan Boyer, Johnathon Lynn and Gavin Morris have assembled displays at Iola High School as part of a Hands-on History course. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
