Nikki Carlson Havre Daily News photos@havredailynews.com
How many people today would like to have lunch with King George III, Harriet Tubman or Robert E. Lee? At Havre Central Gymnasium Thursday, historical figures came back to life to reveal their stories, accomplishments and greatness in making the America we enjoy. St. Jude Thaddeus School fifthgraders and eighth-graders chose historical figures, wrote reports on them, created handmade backgrounds depicting a relevant scene and dressed up in costume to portray their characters. While other St. Jude students walked around the gym to catch a glimpse into the past, the fifth- and eighth-graders froze into position. Fifth-grade teacher Joyce Hellman said the Wax Museum has been going on at the school for at least the past decade. Hellman added that her class chose American figures from the American Revolution to the Civil War, this year. The fifth-graders began working on their historical figures in class after Christmas. The eighthgraders worked on their presentations out of class before Christmas. Eighth-grade teacher Kim O'Leary said her class focused on people from the Constitution era to the Civil War. The students went all out for the Wax Museum. Some of them said they worked hard to earn a good grade. Others said they found the project to be a fun way to learn about history. Following are the responses from a dozen of the St. Jude fifthand eighth-grade participants as to why they chose their historic character for study and representation.
1) Thurman Holdsclaw, eighth-grader, as Olaudah Equiano "He seemed kind of interesting to find information about. He was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a kid. In his 20s, he bought his self out of slavery and became the first African-American to write and publish a book."
2) Kerrie Melle, fifth-grader, as Harriet Tubman "She's special because she rescued slaves. She went out in the dark winter while everyone was outside, and she rescued slaves."
3) Bryant O'Leary, eighth-grader, as King George III "I felt that a lot of people blamed King George for losing the American colonies when it was partially Parliament's fault. I decided to do someone that not a lot of people knew about."
4) Theron Williams, fifth-grader, as Clara Barton "I knew a lot about her, and I always wanted to be a teacher or doctor. She was very interesting. She started the American Red Cross in 1873, and her first patient was her brother. At 11, he fell from a rafter and she gave him medicine ... and she's helped people ever since."
5) Garrett Dolezal, eighth-grader, as John Paul Jones "He was the only person I could find. (The Wax Museum allows us) to learn more about the people that we do."
6) Abbie Broesder, fifth-grader, as Lucretia Coffin Mott "I just thought It sounded like a cool name. She was an abolitionist, a minister and a sufferist.’"
7) Holly Purkett, fifth-grader, as Sojourner Truth "She was an abolitionist and a slave that escaped from slavery."
8) Eric Tibbetts, eighth-grader, as John Smith "I chose him because we just studied him in our history book and he was the founder of Jamestown."
9) Jesse Lieberg, eighth-grader, as Leif Ericson "He was a viking, and he was a cool person. He discovered lands."
10) Patrick Leeds, fifth-grader, as Robert E. Lee "He was a good leader, and I'm really interested in the Civil War and the generals."
11) Trisha Kinsella, eighth-grader, as Molly Pitcher "She popped out in my mind. I thought what she did was really brave of her. She carried pitchers of water to soldiers. Once her husband fainted, and she took over her husband's canon and fired it."
12) Tanner Lowe, fifthgrader, as Francis Scott Key "I just thought it would be kind of easy and fun at the same to time to be him."
