Junior Historical Society Meeting and Work Day

JUNIOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING

Saturday, May 30th at 12:00 noon, the Junior Historical Society held a meeting on the lawn at the Iams house lawn. Our agenda was two fold, 1) to start planting our community garden and 2) have a presentation on Gourds. Mr. Boyd Hastings presented an overview of gourds and some of the group took a field trip to Mr. Hastings farm to look at his display of gourds. The Junior Historical Society plans to plant gourds on the Iams property. Once the gourds are ready for picking, we will paint them, carve them and make bird houses, and many other items. Also, when this project is finished, we're invited to the Gourd State Fair to show our work, win ribbons, possibly sell some items and most of all enjoy the experience of something new.

Thanks for all of your support to the Juniors and the adults who were present to aid the youth in their first experience with preservation, garden growing and being introduced to gourds. I am still in numbness about the wonderful turn out of the crowd. Just to hear the children laughing and running on the grounds sounded so enjoying and most of all they were happy. These children did not have games, skates, basketball or any other activity but they had a good time today. We walked to the garden site and planted collard greens, bell peppers, banana peppers (all three colors), onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and on Monday at 5:00 we will be planting gourds. A small group went on the Hastings farm for a short fieldtrip. We have a small spot at the end of row F and we have a few items to plant. We will get them in the ground immediately, maybe on tomorrow. There were 17 youth and 12 adults present. 12 youth were absent due to previous commitments. Some of the youth wanted to go to the garden on tomorrow to check on it. I told them that I was going to rest. I still have some recruiting to do. I want to build this group to complete some projects around the Iams property. There were some pictures taken; please send them to me for our review. More is to come soon. Joyce Cameron

Editor's Note: The day was indeed a great day for the Society. It was great having a young crowd enjoying themselves on the Society grounds again. Their laughter was very infectious and we are looking forward to their next meeting at the Iams Homestead.



For more information about the Junior Historical Society and/or the meeting on May 30, 2009, contact Joyce Sutton-Cameron at 937-657-6849

Historical Society Work Day

Saturday, May 20, 2009 the Trotwood-Madison held a work day from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. When we first purchased the Iams Homestead, we held many work days to get the house, studio, and barn ready for use. Everyone seemed to enjoy these days and a lot of work was accomplished.



For this work day, seven members were present. We had hoped for more, but, we did a lot of work with this work crew.



Regina Kleinhenz received some donated flowers from the Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) which were planted in various flower beds around the Iams House. The south patio area was cleared of weeds, vines and small trees and swept of debree. Vines around the tall teee near the west end of the house were cut so they should die before long. The tobacco field was relocated and tilled for the first time. It will need to be tilled at least two more times before we plant the tobacco. The grass and weeds on the west side of the barn were mowed and looks a lot better. The cistern was pumped out.



A lot was accomplished, but, there is a lot more to do. Another workday is scheduled for June 27, 2009 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Please come out and join us to keep the property prepared for public viewing.



For more information, contact Ralph Kuester at 937-837-5387 or rkuester@woh.rr.com