Girls essays

We recently visited Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Fallingwater' and the National Civil War Museum.

We asked the girls to think about both experiences, and to:

(1) write about how they would change the design of Fallingwater if they were the architect; and 

(2) write about whether they would side with the Union or the Confederates in the Civil war and why

Here are their responses.

Sophia - Civil War

I think I would help the north because I hate slavery. I am so glad they won. I love the name United States of America. It was given that name because the USA won. Abraham Lincoln was a young boy. He was poor. He helped many people, so many people voted for him to be President. He became President in 1861. He began the civil war because he hated slavery like I do. He said a speech after his army won. John Wilkes Booth loved slavery. He promised himself that Abraham would never say another speech again. Two weeks later Abraham Lincoln was murdered.

Sophia - Fallingwater

Fallingwater is a lovely place to visit. Everything is beautiful. The only things I would change are the low roofs and the one small bedroom. You will see it if you go on a tour of the house. I would change the colour to white. It is a lovely house. You have got to see it if you ever go to Western Pennsylvania.

Victoria - Civil War

If I was alive at the time of President Abraham Lincoln I would support the Union side of the civil war. One of the main reasons is I disagree with slavery. All men and women, all blacks and whites should be equal as that is what God intended.

Victoria - Fallingwater

The architect of Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright, did a great job of designing the house. I love how he built the house over a waterfall, so close to nature, making some parts of the house feel like a tree house and others like a cave. The only thing I would add is a set of stairs from the top floor to the bottom of the house near the stream. The stairs would go down outside the back of the house and curve around to the front. For safety I would put a wall on the outside of the steps on the first top half of the stairs. The wall will be 1mtr tall and will be made of stone to match the house.

Sarver, PA

We have just finished a wonderful weekend in Sarver. After arriving around 11 am on Saturday, we met Dan and Dawn Heilman and their granddaughter Sidda. The girls and Sidda immediately hit it off and had a great time all weekend.

We headed to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in the afternoon www.fallingwater.org
This was a beautifully designed home, and it was really something to be able to walk through a Frank Lloyd Wright creation after studying his architecture in Art classes years ago. Whilst the house was a work of art, it would not be a comfortable house to live in full time - although I do now want a waterfall at my place!

coming into Pittsburgh

At Fallingwater

with tour guide

the house

Sunday began with a New Church service at the Sower's Chapel where Rev Les and Bev spent a few years in ministry. It was lovely to meet so many people who touched the lives of Les and Bev. Les & Bev, if you are reading this, everyone says "hi!", sends their love, and asked to be remembered to you. The general consensus at Sower's Chapel is that you are both very special people .... we knew this already!

After church, the kids got their wish to go fishing. Dan and Dawn have a pond on their property and we headed down to see if the fish were biting. The children had a blast and really enjoyed the experience. All but Oliver managed to catch something.

Dan and Dawn then took us into Pittsburgh for a riverboat cruise, and afterward a trip up an incline car to be treated to fantastic views of the city. It was a great way to spend the day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Pittsburgh is a pretty city. The buildings are a mixture of old and new, but the shapes of the buildings are offset beautifully by the greenery interspersed throughout the cityscape.

a view of the incline from the riverboat

view from the top of the incline

At dinner at Red Robbin

So this morning we say goodbye to the Heilmans, and to Sarver. It has been a memorable weekend. We are just so grateful for the hospitality extended to us. Dan and Dawn embraced our family, took the children in as though they were grandchildren, and were so generous and welcoming.

A three state kind of day

So today we left Ohio, crossed into West Virginia, and are now in Pennsylvania!

We began our day at the John and Annie Glenn home in New Concord. It was interesting to learn about John Glenn's life and career - particularly leading up to his space flights. Their home in New Concord was so sweet. We really had such a great time there.

Next stop was the barber shop next door for the three boys' hair cuts - that too was fun :)

1st American haircut! This barber was just delightful and really enjoyed our kids!

Ohio toward West Virginia - this place is so lush

Finally, we visited the West Virginia Penitenitary(http://www.wvpentours.com/) - and by chance the Grave Creek Mound and its accompanying museum across the road (http://www.wvculture.org/museum/GraveCreekmod.html). The penitentiary was in use until about 8 years ago.  What a dire place it was. This place, more so than Alcatraz, gave me the creeps. Perhaps it was the history of public executions held here, perhaps it was the peeling paint and distinct odour. My imagination certainly led me to believe I could feel the tension and violence of the maximum security prison we were visiting. There were examples of the electric chair and the gallows where prisoners were executed.

Grave Creek Mound, built by the Adena people. You can just see the mound in the background. The view from the top was great - too bad if you were buried in the mound!

View from top of Grave Creek Mound across to the WV Penitentiary

Inside the maximum security prison

The chair

four inmates

We are now in a lovely little RV park about 35 miles over the border from WV into Pennsylvania. Tomorrow we meet and stay with the Heilmans - Doug and Dawn, friends of our dearest friends Les and Bev Sheppard. We have chosen to visit the town of Sarver because Les took up ministry there just a week after Victoria's birth - he stayed to baptise her before leaving for the States. We really wanted to see where Les and Bev spent time with the church, and in doing so, we are going to meet and make new friends with the Heilman family. Really looking forward to it! We also plan to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and attend a New Church service on Sunday. I am super excited to be in Pennsylvania!!!

USAF Dayton, OH

We spent a good six or seven hours at the USAF in Dayton yesterday. An awesome museum - a huge museum. First on the itinerary was to line up to pass security and get tickets onto the Airforce Base to go to the hangar that houses Air Force One and research and development air craft.

We began in the early aircraft section, moved through aircraft during the Wars, saw the VI and V2 rockets, swiftly guided the children through the section about the Jewish persecution - didn't want to expose them to too much there, and onto Space travel. It was a revelation to me that I enjoyed it all so very much. It made me think about being a Year 9 modern history student - studying the World Wars, understanding it all, but not really 'getting it'. If this (and other museums like it, say the Imperial War Museum in London - geez that was an awesome place) had been around and able to be visited during my studies, I would have excelled. these places really bring history, and in some respects the present, to life - more tangible. I am ever so grateful my children are getting this experience.

We were delayed in leaving around 4:30pm as a line of storms were passing through, and had been advised not to head out in the weather. Our plans for visiting Tecumseh (outdoor drama about the native American leader of the Shawnee) were canned due to some freaky lightning and rain. Oh well - never mind.
Some photos of USAF

1960's Air Force One - the plane where LBJ was sworn in after JFK was assassinated.

The "Goblin" - a small fighter plane designed to be carried on board the large strategic bombers.

Experimental 'flying saucer' shaped aircraft

The low nose cones and wings were dangerous to some taller people - although it was Benedict who clipped his head on a plane!

Air Force Base entrance

V2 rocket

Little Boy (left) Fat Man (right) - replicas, obviously - with the "Bockscar" in the background: the bomber that carried the Fat Man to Nagasaki.

Thermonuclear bomb - and my four 'doodlebugs' - they are all agents of destruction!

Apollo 15 re-entry capsule - the real deal!!!! The bottom was charred!!!!!

The craft that took the 1st chimpanzee into space

close up of chimp all swaddled and strapped in

Real moon rock (positioned under the medallion) - cannot wait to get to the Smithsonian where I believe we can actually touch a moon rock!

Gemini re-entry capsule, and some strange kid photobombing

Minuteman missile and other dual purpose rockets - nuclear destruction and space program. After visiting the Minuteman site it was incredible to see the rockets, and the kids immediately knew what they were and their purpose. I so love that they contextualise so easily!!

Strato Fortress - bombers containing nuclear warheads designed to stay in the atmosphere for days at a time - hence the fuel efficient propellers 

Itty Bitty Sputnik - basketball-sized!  The original "machine that goes 'ping'".