The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Museum opens classes in new space
After four years of planning and renovating, the Lorain Historical Society, 329 W. 10th St. in Lorain, has begun programming in its new children’s room.
The room was opened in April and sports new features such as a partial replica of the MV Paul R. Tregurtha freighter and a working model of the Charles Berry Bridge, also known as the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge.
Both the bridge and freighter are integrated in the classes taught at the Historical Society.
“No detail was spared on any of this,” Historical Society children’s room aid Bonni Metelsky said of the model.
Metelsky said the ship was built at the American Ship Building Company in Lorain and still is sailing on the Great Lakes today.
The models sport working cranks and buttons that let students get an inside look at the process of a freighter passing under an opening of a bascule bridge.
The Historical Society began its new threepart series of classes about bridges, lighthouses and
freighters Sept. 8.
Classes are 90 minutes and will occur twice a month; one for preschool and kindergarten students, and the other for first through third graders until Nov. 17.
During the bridges class, students will learn about the history of bridges in Lorain, as well as different types of bridges and their purposes before engaging with the children room’s bascule bridge and freighter model.
Students can build their own model bridges to take home.
First- and third-graders will test the strength of their bridges as well.
The lighthouse class will cover the history of the Lorain Lighthouse and will teach students Morse Code.
The freighter class teaches the history of freighters traveling on the Great Lakes.
The class also will allow students to test model
“No detail was spared on any of this.”
— Historical Society children’s room aid Bonni Metelsky
freighters that they build to see whether they sink or float, as well as engagement with the freighter replica.
Classes are led by certified teachers from the area.
Metelsky said that the classes provide a good field trip opportunity for third graders, since the local history portion covers curriculum requirements.
“I think the thing that is so neat, is that with a museum traditionally for children, they can look with their eyes, listen with their ears, but they can’t touch,” she said. “And with here, they can touch it all.”
Metelsky said that the Historical Society anticipates slow but steady growth for the program.
She said one of her favorite aspects of the program is to see what the students’ parents learn from their children about Lorain’s history.
“I like to say that they are learning Lorain’s history through the eyes of their children, which is really a neat opportunity for them,” Metelsky said.