Harvest Time!

Has it really been six months since our last blog post? Sorry about that, faithful readers! I recently sat down with Education Director Dana Peters to get a behind-the-scenes look at Harvest Hey Days and Cane Grinding Day. Both of these programs take place in October and are open to preregistered school groups only. The good news is, there are still openings for both programs.






LMP: Dana, can you give us an overview of Harvest Hey Days?
DP: Harvest Hey Days takes place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on October 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19. This program is full of harvest fun. Students can visit the pumpkin patch and select their very own pumpkin, participate in corn pulling and shelling, learn about peanut picking and growing, pick cotton and take a wagon ride. We also have a couple of new activities this year. Kernels of Fun is a huge 16'x8' box full of shelled corn where kids can play. We will also bring some of our heritage breeds of animals out so kids can meet them.


LMP: What do you think the kids enjoy the most about Harvest Hey Days?
DP: Definitely the pumpkin patch. Here in the Wiregrass, pumpkins are not as familiar to kids as corn, cotton and peanuts. The students have a chance to see how pumpkins are grown and then they really take their time selecting the pumpkin that is just perfect for them.





LMP: Why is it important for students to visit places like Landmark Park and participate in Harvest Hey Days?
DP: Agriculture is so important in our area, and if a student doesn't live on a farm or know someone who lives on a farm, he or she may have no idea where we get products like cotton, peanuts and corn. We tell the story of the harvest, both the way it happens today and how it happened in the 1890s.



LMP: Are there still spaces available?
DP: Yes! This program is intended for preschool ages to about 6th grade, but we can tailor it to your needs. Harvest Hey Days also meets several state standards in Science for Alabama, Florida and Georgia. That information can be found on our website at www.landmarkpark.com.  If you would like to register your class, you can give me a call at 334-794-3452 or email dpeters@landmarkpark.com

LMP: Now tell us about Cane Grinding Day. How is it different from Harvest Hey Days?
DP: Cane Grinding Day is more history-oriented, where Harvest Hey Days is more science-oriented. Cane Grinding Day takes place the day before Wiregrass Heritage Festival (Oct. 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.) opens to the public. It gives kids a chance to hear the presentations and see the demonstrations done in a way that is especially for them.

LMP: What type of activities take place at Cane Grinding Day?
DP: The two favorites are the cane grinding and blacksmithing. Some of the students who come to Landmark Park don't realize we grow sugar cane right here on the farm. Kids get a chance to see the process from start to finish, and even get to taste the syrup that is made from the sugar cane. Blacksmithing is a huge hit, and we have a quilting demonstration, household chores and more peanut harvesting activities.



LMP: Is Cane Grinding Day limited to a certain age group?
DP: No, like many of our programs, we can tailor the program to fit your needs. I would like to see more high school students take advantage of this program. Our demonstrators know more than they have time to tell.

LMP: Are there still spaces available for Cane Grinding Day?
DP: Yes! Cane Grinding Day meets several state standards in History for Alabama, Florida and Georgia. That information can be found on our website at www.landmarkpark.com.  If you would like to register your class, you can give me a call at 334-794-3452 or email dpeters@landmarkpark.com

LMP: Why should teachers choose Landmark Park for their field trips?
DP: Landmark park is the perfect destination because it's the best of both worlds. Students have a lot of fun while meeting state standards for education. Getting to see the demonstrations and participate in hands-on activities makes the students gain greater respect for what their ancestors went through, especially in this area. Our programs are both fun and educational!

Our Fam at Spring Farm Day 2012

Being a native of Dothan and taking a countless number of school field trips out to Landmark Park, I grew up knowing how much fun there was to be had when we took the short little trip up Highway 431. Now, as a wife and mom of 2 under 3, I have a different appreciation for this little jewel and in particular for the renowned ANNUAL SPRING FARM DAY hosted at the park every March. 

If you don't live where we live, chances are you clicked on this post thinking you may see pics of the fam on the farm...doing farming things...like milking cows or riding a tractor...or cleaning massive amounts of poop from our shoes...

But if you DO live where we live, you know exactly what "Spring Farm Day" means. Its an annual event held at Landmark Park and its kind of a big deal. They do have cows, although I didn't see an option to milk any which was probably a blessing. There is no telling what type of questions a 2.5 year old might come up with after seeing that!

This was our 3rd year attending the SFD and it was definitely the most enjoyable. Mainly because Anna Lee was finally at an age where she could enjoy some of the things and activities that were offered as opposed to previous years. She actually walked into the petting cage of the baby calf...

And even more surprisingly, she petted said calf, after removing her glasses to make sure he was a friendly calf of course. 

Despite the name of the event being the SPRING Farm Day, it actually felt more like a SUMMER day. Its HOTTTT here and its only March. We coated ourselves down in sunblock before we set out on our farm adventure and I'm happy to say that we made it through with no sunburns. This is a spring farm day first. We usually all come back fried because its the first time our pasty bodies have seen sunlight for an extended period of time but we finally learned from our mistake and lathered up. 

We kept the little guy under is own personal shade and I'm guessing he loved it because he snoozed for hours. 

Josh walked laps around the park to keep Mac in motion (read: ASLEEP!) and he did a great job! Mac slept the entire time we were out there thanks to Josh "Forrest Gump" Steltenpohl - well, he was walking not running, but still...

After our Saturday ended, I realized that I never got a group pic of all the family we spent it with. My cousin, Tiffany, and her family came down for a quick visit along with my Uncle Robert and Aunt Linda. I'm so glad they were able to come and spend the day with us.

Anna Lee and Abigail both loved the ponies and would have ridden them until their backs broke if we would have let them.

This little guy woke up just in time for the fun to end. Don't worry little fella- we'll be back next year! 

We ran into so many friends at the SFD and can't wait to see them and a bunch a new friends again next year! 

Spring Farm Day

Visitors to Landmark Park will have a chance to experience life on a turn-of-the-century farm at Spring Farm Day on March 17 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  The day's activities will include demonstrations of old-fashioned skills and crafts like plowing with draft animals, shearing sheep, blacksmithing, music, a moonshine-making demonstration and more.  Volunteers dressed in 1890s costume will demonstrate domestic crafts such as quilting, sewing on a treadle sewing machine, cooking on a woodstove and open hearth, washing clothes, making soap and much more.

A crowd favorite is The Old Time Fiddlers' Convention.  The Old Time Fiddlers' Convention will feature fiddlers of all ages.  Fiddlers' will also gather in Brown's Crossing School for the Fiddlers' Corner, an acoustical jam session.

The sixth annual Alabama State Horse and Mule Plowing Contest will serve as Alabama's official plowing contest.  Plowers will be judged in a variety of areas, including depth and straightness of furrow.

Handmark arts and crafts will also be on sale at the event.  Local and regional artists will display candles, photographs and more, available for purchase.  All items must be handmade.  The Martin Drugstore and Shelly General Store will be open during the day, and concessions will be available.

Admission to Spring Farm Day is $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, $4 for kids and free for children 3 and under and park members.  Applications and rules for Arts and Crafts, Plowing Contest, and Fiddlers' Convention can be found on Landmark Park's website at www.landmarkpark.com

Landmark Park is located on U.S. Hwy 431, three miles north of Dothan's Ross Clark Circle. Admission to the 135 acre park is $4 for adults and $3 for children, with free admission to park members. For more information, call the park office at 334-794-3452 or visit www.landmarkpark.com

Volunteer Spotlight: Jimmy Jones

The Volunteer Spotlight for the Spring issue of the Lark shines on Jimmy Jones, a volunteer dedicated to Landmark Park.  Originally from Montgomery County, Jones received two degrees in Agriculture from Auburn University and currently works with the Henry County Extension Office through Auburn University.  Jones credits the Extension Office that he has worked at for the past twenty years with bringing him to Landmark Park in the first place.  He considers Landmark Park to be one of the Wiregrass Area’s best kept secrets and likes to use his work at the Extension Office to bring knowledge about Landmark Park, as well as knowledge about our heritage, to the forefront.

Having been raised on a farm, Jones understands the importance of Agriculture.  Through his volunteer work at Landmark Park with events such as Spring Farm Day, Jones uses his knowledge of farming to educate future generations.  He considers plowing with a mule an art form, and one that will be lost if future generations are not taught about it.  Spring Farm Day is his favorite event to volunteer at not only because he can expose kids to farming methods of the past, but also because it allows him to meet former farmers who want to plow just one last time.

Through his volunteer work at Landmark Park, Jimmy Jones hopes to contribute to preserving the agriculture heritage of our area and our state.  He says “It is very enriching to know you are involved in something.  My thing is preservation; I want to help preserve a part of our history.  If someone does not preserve our history, we will lose it.  I want to make sure someone down the road gets to see it, and with recent budget cuts, someone has to step up and help take care of the park.”

Astronomy Night & World's Smallest Airport

Tomorrow, February 24th, Landmark Park will be holding our annual Astronomy Night!  Come out to the Park from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to view stars, constellations, and planets through telescopes and binoculars.  Admission is $3 for members, $4 for scouts and their leaders in uniform, $5 for nonmembers and free for children 5 and under.  This event meets several requirements for an Astronomy Badge!

On Sunday, February 26, visitors to Landmark Park will have the opportunity to view a newly released documentary titled “World's Smallest Airport: The True Story of the Thrasher Brothers Aerial Circus, 1945-1950”. The film begins at 2 p.m. in the Stokes Activity Barn. The film is free with paid admission to the park.

The film features the flying stunts of Grady Thrasher, Jr. and his brothers “Bud” and Tunis who took their aerial circus on the road and performed from New York to Texas to Miami. Over the five year period of 1945-1950, the Thrasher Brothers Aerial Circus performed their daredevil stunts in 384 different shows, closing their last show in 1950 in Charleston, SC.

“The World's Smallest Airport” is the brainchild of son Grady Thrasher III and the film utlizes vintage footage, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia discovered among family possessions. Viewers will be amazed to watch the Thrasher brothers demonstrate wing walking, “delayed” parachute jumping, steering a flying plane while sitting outside the cockpit on the wing, and a variety of other stunts. The most celebrated stunt was Grady landing a Piper Club onto the “Worlds Smallest Airport”--a wooden and steel platform mounted on the top of a 1946 Ford car--as Tunis drove it down the runway.

In 1957, Grady Thrasher, Jr. moved to Dothan and served as head of Test & Development Company, a subsidiary of Southern Airways.  The company had a contract with the army at Ft. Rucker to test and maintain new helicopters being purchased by the army.  His son Grady Thrasher, III graduated from Dothan High School and daughter Miki  attended Girard Elementary and Girard Jr. High.  In 1962, Thrasher moved his family to Huntsville where he worked for the Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal.

The Thrasher brothers feats were not forgotten, however. In 1976, when the new Smithsonian Air and Space Museum opened in Washington, D.C., the Thrasher Brothers Aerial Circus story and photographs were displayed in the museum's Exhibition Flying Hall. They remained on display there until 1981. All three of the original Thrasher brothers are now deceased. Grady Thrasher, Jr. died in 1994 at the age of 76.

Both of Thrasher's children, Grady Thrasher, III and Miki Thrasher McFatter, along with filmmaker Matt DeGenarraro, will attend the one-hour film presentation at Landmark Park and will answer questions afterward.

Below is a link to the trailer of the documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R_76LHkU6I

Landmark Park is located on U.S. Hwy 431, three miles north of Dothan's Ross Clark Circle. Admission to the 135 acre park is $4 for adults and $3 for children, with free admission to park members. For more information, call the park office at 334-794-3452 or visit www.landmarkpark.com

Interview with Evie and Luke Thornton

Landmark Park was an influential place in my childhood, so a few weekends ago I decided to find out what Landmark Park means to other kids.  I brought Evie (8) and Luke (6) Thornton to the park to have a picnic lunch and interviewed them about what they thought about Landmark Park. 

First, I took them on the nature trail, something they had never been on before.  We stopped and read all of the signs on the nature trail. Once Luke found out that Indians used to live in the Wiregrass Area, he began pointing out things that he thought the Indians might have made.  There was a fallen tree that he said the Indians “might have chopped down” and a hollowed out tree where he said the Indians used “to hide important stuff.”  

Here is a little bit of the conversation we had while eating lunch:

Anna Holman: “Luke, what was your favorite thing about the nature trail”

Luke Thornton: “The beavers and the turtle, and one more thing… the orange snake.  I can spell orange, it’s easy to spell: O G O A N G… orange snake.  Hey, Anna Banana, you hear that bird?”

AH: “Yeah, I hear it.”

LT: “I bet it’s an eagle.  I also liked seeing the spiders and the birds.”

AH: “Anything else you liked about the nature trail?”

LT: “ I liked that stuff and that big tree and that tree where we went under and that’s all.  And I liked that turtle that was waving to me.  That’s all I like.  I didn’t like the green butterfly, I liked it, but I didn’t like it… kind of, but not really.”

AH: “Evie what did you like about the nature trail?”

Evie Thornton: “The pretty water…I think if there were bike trails like the nature trail, I would come out here all the time.  Well, as long as they weren’t longer than three miles.”

AH: “Luke would you like it if you could ride your bike on a trail like the one we just went on?”

LT: “I would… Luke Thornton would! Scratch (write) that down.”

I then took Evie and Luke to the farm to look at the animals and the Waddell House.  They loved the mules, Skunk and Possum, but the pigs were sleeping when we came to their pen, so Evie and Luke decided that the pigs should be re-named Lazy and Snore-y.  I quickly found out that growing up at the park exposed me to things unfamiliar to the average child.  For example, we came to the outhouse between the pig pen and the chicken coup, and they asked what it was.  Evie thought it was a shed and Luke thought it was a rooster house.  When I told them what it really was, they were shocked that people used to have to go outside their houses to go to the bathroom.

After the farm we then went to the church, school, general store, drug store and the planetarium. 

At the end of our visit, they decided that they liked the animals, Possum, Skunk and Elbert (the goat) in particular, the best.  Evie said, “I would want to live out here.  It’s very peaceful.”  That night I babysat for Evie and Luke and we went outside to look at the stars.  They were very proud that they were able to identify almost all of the constellations shown in the planetarium show earlier in the day.

If you would like for your kids to have a great day like Evie and Luke did, come visit us!  Landmark Park is located on Highway 431 North in Dothan, Alabama.  The Park is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sundays noon - 6 p.m.  For more information, visit Landmark Park's website at www.landmarkpark.com or call our office at 334-794-3452.

The Night Sky

The night sky has always been something that fascinated me. At a young age, I was able to find major constellations because my parents would point them out to my sister and me. Astronomy has always had a major impact in my life, whether it be looking into the sky to find constellations during a campout or looking for Santa's sleigh, my sister Caroline and I have always found ourselves stargazing.

Some of my favorite memories are ones where we would lay under the stars until we fell asleep. I can remember sleeping under the stars in my backyard, at the beach and at Landmark Park. As my sister and I got older, we continued to be intrigued by astronomy and constantly found ourselves looking towards the stars searching for those familiar constellations. Some of our sorority sisters, who happened to be at our house during a meteor shower, thought Caroline and I were crazy when we grabbed quilts and walked out to the middle of the road, laid down and enjoyed one of nature's greatest shows.

Caroline and I were raised to appreciate the wonder and beauty of nature, astronomy included, but like many other things in life, that beauty is something we take for granted every now and then. People tend to find beauty in things they don't see very often, so in the case of something like the stars, the true beauty is sometimes overlooked. The stars are something we almost always see when we go outside at night. Even on nights when we can't see them, we know they will return.

I never appreciated the beauty of the night sky until I visited Cinque Terre in Italy during my study abroad. Never in my life have a seen so many stars. My dad has always talked about how beautiful the stars are in the desert, and I always thought that was odd because they are the same stars that I see from my backyard. It was not until my trip to the Cinque Terre that I began to fully understand what he meant.

When you're in a place where there is nothing to take away from the beauty of the stars, they truly sparkle. We were in the mountains, so there were no street lights, no lights from houses, no smog. The air was so clear we could see more stars than any of us had ever seen in the states. Looking up at the stars in a place like that made me feel so small. Time seemed to stop, and I began to realize not only how lucky I was to be seeing the stars in such a beautiful state, but how I tend to take their beauty for granted sometimes.

If you are out here stargazing during an event such as astronomy night, you don't have things such as light to take away fromt the stars like you would if you were in your backyard, that's the great thing about Landmark Park. I might be a little partial, but aside from the Cinque Terre, I think Landmark Park is the best place for stargazing around.

For more information about the night sky and stargazing, visit our planetarium or come out to one of our Astronomy nights! Planetarium shows are Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission is free for park members and $2 for nonmembers. Astronomy nights for 2012 are held in February and offer the viewing of several stars, constellations and planets through telescopes and binoculars, as well as regular planetarium shows in the digitarium. Our Astronomy nights are February 17th and 24th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with admission $3 for members, $4 for scouts and their leaders in uniform and $5 for nonmembers.

Meet Our New Intern

Bonjour!

My name is Anna and I am the new intern here at Landmark Park, so I thought I would introduce myself before I jump into the task of blogging. I am a Dothan native, but I have not lived in Dothan full time since high school, so I am excited to be back in my hometown. I have a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, but I also attended Troy University in Troy, Alabama and The Abbey Program in Pontlevoy, Centre, France prior to transferring to Southern Miss. I love history, reading, being outdoors, painting and traveling. I also have a special place in my heart for Landmark Park.

Landmark Park is part of many childhood memories and life lessons. I grew up at the park and consider it my second home.

At three months old, I visited Landmark Park for the first time:

My first birthday party was at Landmark Park:

Landmark Park inspired me to explore and appreciate nature:

Landmark Park has always been a prominent part of my life, helping to mold me into the person I am today, all while teaching me lessons. Lessons such as:

-Homemade ice-cream is the best kind of ice-cream there is, especially on a hot summer day

-despite their size and general slow nature, cows can run really, really fast

-tents are over-rated- the best way to sleep outside is under the stars

-camp isn't fun unless you get dirty

-running through a freshly cut cotton field can result in some painful injuries

-the best way to learn about nature is to be out in it

-and most importantly, how lucky Dothan residents are to have a place where they can experience an adventure and learn about our local history all in one place.

I consider Landmark Park to be my second home. At one point in time, I considered it my home away from home. After traveling a lot I realized that aside from my family and friends, I missed my bed and Landmark Park. I credit Landmark Park with helping me find my career path. Granted, I do have some pretty awesome parents who introduced me to Landmark Park in the first place, but my parents were not solely responsible for the programs the park offered, the things that drew me to the park, or the things that keep me wanting to come back. That credit belongs to those who have kept the park running after all these years -the staff members, the volunteers, the board members, and even the visitors. Landmark Park introduced me to Historical Preservation and Environmental Education, two things I would have never known were career options without the park. I am lucky in that my experience with Landmark Park stems from the fact that I have had not one, but two members of my family work at Landmark Park (aside from myself.) Both of my parents worked at Landmark Park, and my Dad still works out here today as Executive Director. I have not only been able to watch the park grow over the years, but grow from a behind the scenes perspective.

When Landmark Park acquired Shelly General Store, I went with my Dad to move the building. I was about 6 years old and for some reason I didn't fully understand what was happening. I remember following my Dad around, doing exactly what he did. We walked around the building looking under it, we kicked some things to make sure they wouldn't fall off and then the men with the truck drove off, taking the store with them. I remember screaming "Dad, those men are stealing your house!" and how bizarre it looked seeing a whole building driving down the road. I remember going to the original Martin Drug Store to help pack up boxes to move to the new building. I have watched the park grow and improve right before my very eyes, and it makes me feel proud, because this place is my second home.

Throughout my internship here at the park, I will be updating this blog to keep readers informed on not only what is going on at Landmark Park, but also what it is like to be an intern here. I hope to give some insight into the behind the scenes world that the average park guest doesn't see. I hope you enjoy!

Bisous

-A