White Pine Village Fieldtrip

For this particular blog I have decided to write about an elementary fieldtrip to White Pine Village.  Mrs. Nousain’s fifth grade class went to this recreated Historic Village on Thursday, October fourth.  Located in Ludington, this recreated town of Michigan tells the story of Mason County’s past. 

There are over thirty different buildings, many of which were actually built in the late 1800s and early 1900s and were transported to White Pine Village.  Tours and field trips are available for people to come and see what it was like to live during this time period. 

This is a great history lesson and a great way to remember Michigan’s past.  Activities here include watching a sorghum press work, visiting a sawmill, experiencing a one-room schoolhouse lesson, cooking on a farm, and much more.  You can even get ice cream that is locally made or buy old-fashioned wooden toys.  Of course the fifth graders wouldn’t pass up a chance for ice cream!  White Pine Village opened in 1976, and has received multiple visitors, including Calvary Christian Schools!

One of the original buildings that was transported was the old courthouse.  It didn’t start as a courthouse though.  It was originally built by Mr. Caswell as a house for his family.  It was the nicest house in the entire town, and it was the first to be built of lumber.  All the rest were log cabin structures.  Out of the Caswell’s generosity, the downstairs of their house was donated to the town to be used as a court house where the jury would meet.  The family then lived in the upstairs.  Their root cellar became a jail that would hold the person that would be on trial until that day.  The Caswell house also served as a trading post for the town.

This fieldtrip was quite a success.  The students had fun learning hands-on, enjoyed eating their ice cream; all while enjoying a beautiful and sunny fall day.

- Megan Mitchell, Freshman