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Gregory Zornes shows Edmond students a large rattlesnake skin Thursday during the Edmond Historical Society Homestead Fair. BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
EDMOND — More than 100 years ago, the area that would one day become Edmond was covered with buffalo grass.
Soon after the 1889 land run, settlers planted trees and built homes. Wanda Weiss Boren told students Thursday during the Edmond Historical Society's Homestead Fair that her grandfather was among those settlers, staking his claim near what is now the McDonald's on Memorial Road.
"Where that McDonald's is, was their orchard,” Boren said.
Iris Muno Jordan, historical society exhibit director, said about 800 Edmond area students attended the homestead fair this week. She said organizers are pleased with the turnout, especially since school schedules were changed because of the snow and ice storms earlier in the school year.
Students from Cross Timbers Elementary School were among students Thursday who heard volunteers such as Boren talk about Edmond's history and pioneer life.
Boren gave demonstrations about pioneer toys like marbles made from Oklahoma red clay, cornhusk dolls and a cup on a stick with a ball attached by a string.
"They used what they had,” she said.
James Hood, 9, a student in the third-grade class of Sarah Blevins, said he wasn't sure whose toys were better, his or those of the pioneer children, but he was sure that Edmond was much better the way it is now rather than prairie covered in buffalo grass.
James said he particularly liked the wood-carving station at the homestead fair and didn't know before to face the knife downward during carving. He said he'd like to learn more about carving wood.
Students also learned about Oklahoma animals, but students like Cross Timbers third-grader Josie Fortenberry already knew about native Oklahoma wildlife, such as the sand bass and collared lizard, also known as the mountain boomer.
Volunteer Carol Disney showed them items pioneers brought with them to Oklahoma and talked about making boys' pants from gunnysacks.
"It was super itchy,” Disney said, as students laughed.
Disney also told students about making yeast from a potato for bread and kneading bread.
"It's a good workout,” she told students. "They didn't have to go to the gym. They could just work out with their bread.”
Blevins said the homestead fair was a good way for students to learn more about Oklahoma history, particularly Edmond's history.
