Monday, April 27, 2009

Tripping to North Dakota

Time for a trip to North Dakota...We added a side event to our route to visit our daughter and her husband in Jamestown. Hubby wanted to visit a man in rural Barney who was building a couple of planes by a design/builder from Missouri named Bob Bosley. Hubby and Tex belong to a discussion forum that hooks people up to share current aircraft building projects. Those who belong gain knowledge from others who have built and may, or may not, make choices of what planes could be a part of the next project in the hangar. We ended up finding a very deep soft spot in Tex's drive as the frost is just coming out of the ground from the winter . The driver's side front wheel was lodged soundly in a hole...Tex was able to get us out with his bobcat. It could have happened here at home just as easily. Tex said in jest"Welcome to North Dakota." All of us broke out in a laugh. Sadie and I spent our time in the car which became a sauna due to the warmer temperatures that accompanied us northward. Although we weren't alone, we too ended up having a visitor. There was a BIG dog running around the farm, not knowing her temperment for sure we,Sadie and I stayed put. Eventually it was discovered that the BIG dog whose name was Piper(yes after a plane "Piper Cub")was a BIG teddybear. Definitely a sweet GreatDane-Mastiff mix. After Hubby spent some time with Tex getting aquainted and snapping some pictures we were back on the road again. There was a building I saw when we turned to go to Tex's place that caught my attention. Before we left the area I took a picture to keep it in the same condition forever in my memory. Today we don't see many one roomed schoolhouses still in this shape. In our west-northwest trek towards Jamestown we saw other one roomed buildings but not in the same condition as this one. You never know when there won't be anymore to mark the passing of our past generations and the community gatherings that happened there...

4 comments:

The Hunter's Wife said...

I love a good road trip. Sounds like you had some excitement. We too have one school house in our town. We call it the little red school house and there is a festival there each year.

CDGardens said...

The Hunter's Wife - We have very few one roomed schoolhouses still around here in Iowa. I have vague memories of the one that used to sit across the highway from our country church. My Dad went to school there until it was time to go to high school from what I have been told.

Your festival sounds like a great way to get the community together. ;)

SimplyOutdoors said...

It definitely sounds like you guys and gals had a great road trip.

We actually have quite a few school houses still around; in fact one of my friend's parents actually renovated one, and rent it out.

They are pretty neat, and definitely left their stamp on a certain place and time.

CDGardens said...

Simply Outdoors - That sounds like a very positive way to make use of a space that had already served in the education of the local kids.

I find that some states or maybe I should say individuals have more interest in maintaining the one roomed schoolhouses in their communities. They vary in size and design...really a neat part of the past.