Joseph Ball, 81, of Castile, sits outside the Pioneer Cabin on Walker road in Silver Lake. Ball says his family settled in the area during the Civil War and became dairy farmers. The cabin was built in 1876. The logs were donated by the Wyoming Pioneer Historical Association which was formed in 1872.
The Pioneer Picnic takes place each year on the first Sunday in August. This year the picnic celebrated its 146 Anniversary and is presented by the Wyoming Historical Pioneer Association. People from all over the area showed up Sunday afternoon to tour the displays in the Log Cabin, the Antiques Museum, the Church, moved from Perry in the late 90’s that was built in 1834, and the one room School House that was moved from LaGrange road in Covington in 1998.
People were also there taking in a bit of music and a chicken barbecue put on by the Perry Rotary Club.
Above- the one room school house from La Grange road in Covington
Judy Thewke, 75,(left) was a student at the one room school which contained grades 1st -6th grade. It closed in 1958. Thewke’s brother and sister were two of the last five students in the last class of 1958. Thewk’s grandfather, Harold Altoft was her teacher when she was a student there. He taught three generations of children in the school house.
When asked how it was to have your grandfather as a teacher, “Oh it was cool, I didn’t know any different,” says Thewke.
Thewke says the one advantage to that type of education system was that if you were in 2nd grade and had everything down pat in a subject you could sit and listen to the 3rd and 4th grade class lesson and not get bored. That also worked in the other direction also if you needed help in a subject.
(Thewke’s grandfather had a plaque dedicated to him that was hanging in the entry way to the school. Also Thewke pointed out a photo of herself when she attended school there)
The buildings are open every Saturday and Sunday from 1-4p.m. in July and August. Contact Eric Parker at 585-237-3001 to make a prior arrangement for a visit to the Pioneer grounds located on Walker road in Silver Lake
Some photos from the Log Cabin and Antique Museum
Music from Windsong
Warsaw Barbershoppers warm up