Archive: Around Town

Several hundred students learned about the Civil War through drama and the arts during “Living History Day 1863,” which took place on Dec. 2, 2011 at the Ithaca High School.  The annual day of Civil War activities began four years ago with funding from an Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) grant in honor of John Caren, a former IHS Social Studies teacher and principal.  As a principal, Caren endorsed similar grade-wide programs; and as an educator, he encouraged this type of experiential and hands-on opportunities for all students.  

“This grant brings many rich and diverse community resources into IHS, including the Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell, The History Center of Tompkins County, and local individuals with Civil War expertise,” said Ann Caren, current IPEI board member and retired teacher. “In addition it draws on resources within the high school itself, both teachers and students. Some perform vocal and instrumental musical selections, and others tell stories and share local family stories from the Civil War era.  Because all of the lectures and performances take place at the high school, they are open to all interested students, not just a select few. John was committed to providing access to these kinds of resources to all, both in the humanities and in all academic areas.” 

The program fuses home-grown IHS talent with participants from the community.  This year’s event featured community member Dick Trim, who assumed the role of a cavalry officer from Ithaca; and Larry Lattin, who takes on the persona of an infantry recruit from Slaterville.  Two musicians who play period instruments joined them. 

From IHS, Gwen Freeman, Nan Bell, and Armin Heurich provided music and storytelling during the other class periods, and teacher John Hind spoke about the war in South Carolina, his native state. In addition, Band students directed by Nicki Zawel performed music of the period.


This year’s program expanded the academic component by including Paul Miller of the History Center who discussed the recent exhibition “Dear Amelia” that featured letters found in a Slaterville house.  Miller also touched on the role of U.S. “Colored Troops” from our area.  Carol Kammen talked about the four nurses from Tompkins County who served at the front, and Carol Hockett of the Johnson Museum spoke to classes about the “new” art of photography on the battlefield.

“Our aim is to have history come off the page and take center stage,” Social Studies teacher Maryterese Pasquale-Bowen stated in her grant application to IPEI. “We want to make it more meaningful for students as we connect local and national history, eye-witness accounts, music, and folklore. We really hope to ignite a passion for the period of American history.”

Tenth-graders participated in the event with their Social Studies classes and on their own during free periods.   

Pasquale-Bowen also stated that IHS has been accepted as a Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School this year. The Gilder Lehrman program promotes the study of American History. In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Institute is sponsoring special programs and a Civil War Essay Writing Contest.

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