1889 Land Run still teaching lessons

EDMOND April 26, 2008 11:24 pm

— The wind blew off cowboy hats and ripped paper deeds out of students’ hands, but that didn’t keep Northern Hills Elementary third-grade students from claiming their land in an 1889 Land Run re-enactment.
Students fell down and wagons tipped over, but the students were determined to claim the best piece of land possible.
Kyle Morales, 9, said he enjoyed running around and staking a claim with the four classmates in his group.
“The thing I like most was we were all in a group and all decided what to do,” he said.
It was challenging to push the wagon, said Jasmyne Roush, 9. “My dad did not get the wheels finished for our wagon,” she said. “He had to go in the garage and finish.”
The students couldn’t put a lot of things in the wagon, said Hannah Hartzog. She said one of the things they learned was how people had to be careful about not putting too much stuff in the wagon or the horses wouldn’t be able to pull it. The students’ wagon carried their lunches, stakes and a hammer, Hannah said.
The students spent the morning making their own butter. “It tasted good,” Jasmyne said. “We had jelly and biscuits, too.”
Kalyn Brittain, 9, said she chose a dress that kept in theme with what people wore in the Land Run of 1889 — which for women included long dresses, boots and braided hair. She said learning about the Land Run is important.
“You get to know about Oklahoma’s history and how people got their homes,” Kalyn said.
The day ended with pioneer games and square dancing.
“I really liked the events. You get to learn what the Land Run is like. It’s like I’m a little girl in the Land Run,” said Megan Withers, 9.
Northern Hills was one of several elementaries that commemorated the Oklahoma event on Friday.

Photos

DREW HARMON | The Edmond Sun Northern Hills Elementary third-graders Jakyra Sanders, right, and Keegan Erbst work their claim after the school's land run Friday morning.

DREW HARMON | The Edmond Sun Third-graders Kaidyn Lopez, left, and Ari Papahronis haul their wagon to stake their claim at Northern Hills Elementary's land run Friday morning. Kaidyn's father, Mike Lopez, built the wagon for her siblings in earlier years during Northern Hills land runs.

DREW HARMON | The Edmond Sun Northern Hills Elementary third-graders line up for their land run Friday morning.

DREW HARMON | The Edmond Sun Nissi Tai holds a stake for one of her partners' parents to driive during Northern Hills Elementary's third-grade land run Friday.

DREW HARMON | The Edmond Sun Kody Williams eats lunch from the seat of his group's wagon Friday afternoon after Northern Hills Elementary's third-grade land run.

DREW HARMON | The Edmond Sun Houston Ingham drives a stake into the ground to claim land for his group during Northern Hills Elementary's third-grade land run Friday morning.