September is history time for Cumberland County fourth-graders.
Instead of being seated at their desks listening in “rapt” attention to the latest lesson, they got some fresh air, albeit hot and humid, as they visited six historic sites along Crossville’s Main Street for lessons in Cumberland County history.
The downtown trek was part of the Crossville tour program, put on by Downtown Crossville Inc, to educate fourth graders from area schools on local history, landmarks and community government.
The annual tour is held Tuesdays and Thursdays in September and includes stops at Plateau Properties Inc., featuring the city’s oldest wooden building; Palace Theatre; Art Circle Public Library; Cumberland County Courthouse; Military Memorial Museum; and Military Memorial Park.
About 60 Crab Orchard Elementary fourth-graders took the tour Sept. 1.
At Military Memorial Park, they listened to volunteer Mike Ratterman talk about the history and significance of the various monuments. He pointed out the Civil War plaque and the names of local residents who served in that conflict.
A former commander of American Legion Post 163, veteran and retired police officer, Ratterman served as a volunteer for the Crossville tour for the third year.
“I like connecting with our kids,” Ratterman said. “They’re our future. I want to drive home the point they’re (memorials) not just a bunch of rocks. They represent something. It’s important they’re getting the information from the right person.”
Ordinarily, that right person is Michelle Pettus, who teaches fourth- and fifth-grade social studies at Crab Orchard Elementary. She gladly took her fourth-graders to the Crossville tour.
“I like the kids to learn about history,” Pettus said. “It’s important to know about the history of the place in which they live.”
Grayson Law was one of the students taking the tour.
“I think it’s fun going to different places and learning stuff,” he said. “I liked going to the train station and seeing the model train going around the track.”
Another student who enjoyed the jaunt along Main Street and the local history lesson was Lochlann Perry.
“I liked walking along and seeing all the places,” she said. “I enjoyed the train station and the model train going around the track.”
Visiting Plateau Properties, she sniffed some oil in a bottle that came from an oil well located on a property in Morgan County owned by the company.
“It had a very strong smell,” Perry said.
Watching the students get a sniff of “black gold” was Rachel Hinch, office manager for Plateau Properties. The following week, she awaited the arrival of fourth graders from Homestead Elementary.
“It’s getting children familiar with the businesses in downtown,” said Hinch, referring to the tour.
“They learn the history of our building, which is the oldest wooden building in town. A lot of the students enjoy the tour so much they’ll come back with their parents, grandparents and siblings.”