History Trunks

The Henry County Historical Society is coordinating an educational lending program consisting of portable trunks filled with materials relating to a specific historical topic.

The first trunk created, which is available for loan for a $25 refundable deposit, focuses on the history of the crayon and is targeted for pre-kindergarten or kindergarten aged children.

Basically, this is a free program for educators to supplement their curriculum. The teachers don't need to do anything. It's all in there.

The crayon trunk provides educators a notebook with lesson plans and activities, all materials needed to complete activities in the classroom, a variety of books related to lesson plans and activities and a videotape of crayon production at a factory.

The trunk is available for checkout by any educator in Henry County and is available for two-week periods.

The trunk can be picked up at the Dr. Bloomfield House, 229 W. Clinton St., Napoleon, but educators must call 419-592-2715 to arrange for checkout.

The program is funded through the Lorena Drewes and Joyce Caldwell education funds and more trunks will be put into circulation in the future. Wiemken said planned topics range from American Indians of northwest Ohio to the history of the Mayflower and the pilgrims.

The Historical Society knows the importance of capturing a child's imagination and interest at an early age, and it is trying to demonstrate to children that everything has a history as well as showing that history can be fun and interesting.

Jann Wiemken, Susan Dickes and Ann Baatz, members of the historical society, are the organizers of the portable trunk program.