Laura Site's -- Our Laura Ingalls Wilder Forum

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, [6] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 22:56:53 05/05/02 Sun
Author: Jennie
Subject: Laura Site's

Hi!! I just thought I would post about this now. Because before I was not really sure I was going to be able to go or not but I did, and it was really late when I got back. I went to both Burr Oak, IA yesterday, and Spring Valley, MN. We thought there was some parade in Spring Valley but they told us the wrong day it was today not yesterday. I really liked Burr Oak, but I thought there would have been more to the town but it was sort of 'dead' the only thing that was there was the Mercantile & it was closed I think it is for good after what Nancy said once. I liked it but the tour was sort of I knew most of it and it was some kids they messed up a lot and 3 girls kept following that actually worked there and they kept laughing and pointing and just acting strange the whole tour. It was better then I expected it to be. It actually has 3 stories in it feels smaller inside. Towards the end they thought I was 12 yrs old and graduating from jr. high since I said I got this for my graduation gift. They have a lot of really nice stuff in the gift shop I got a lot of books, and a really pretty china plate that has Laura on it with her ad jack on it. It�s a Garth Williams illustration I think. I really liked it. It was better then I thought.. It was just like 6 � hrs to get to just this one.

Next we went to Spring Valley, MN. On they way there we went through Harmony, and there we saw a lot of Amish people I thought that was really neat, and then we stopped to buy some stuff from them, so we got a weaved basket of theirs, an a pie, and their home made noodles. Their last name was Yoder (SP) they were really pretty nice. The only thing I wonder is how can they wear all the heavy clothes that they do plus they are all black? It was sort of hot yesterday and they were really bundled up. After going to this town we went to Spring Valley. There is much more then I expected. We got there the first thing that I did was go to the church, and I got some pictures of the outside. Then before we even went in. And some how they already knew who I was. They remember me asking questions about it before, and asked if I had already been to Burr Oak or not. As you go in there is sort of like a church basement type thing, and they have like a little bookstore with some really nice things in it. And you pay for a tour. Then we went to the upper part where they have all of the stained glass windows, there is really allot 21 I think. And all of them but one had been replaced. I was surprised as she started to tell us on the tour that the church is no longer used because this church has merged with another church and some people were trying to close this one down for good, and then sell the windows for money. But they didn�t have it happened. We went around in like a circle thing, and they showed us many things, but one of the strangest to me was where they had a coffin in the back and above it were these wreaths that were made from people hairs actually, they were really pretty actually. Then when we got around to all of the other stuff it was coming to the LIW it was a lot of pictures and little information on like a display and she told us about that. They had what I think was some of what I think were real pictures, and they had a picture of Almanzo�s family and his father to me seemed to look a lot like him. That was just some of what was in that room. Then we went to like a corner before we went down stairs and saw this little model house that was really neat that some one built. Then we went to another room that had nothing to do with LIW. But was interesting. There was this thing in it that was actually for perming your hair but it�s like this chair with a bunch of things hanging down that you put in your hair it looks painful. Then on like the backside they have a big collection of cameras its like older to the modernized kind. Then there was like a little back part to the room going into another room and it had a lot of stuff that looked just like a actually kitchen and it did. There was more in that room but I don�t really remember it all. Then we went out side to get the last part of the tour, which was really nice, right across the street from the church was this house, and it was really nice inside and was furnished like an older fashion home with antiques and stuff. Then after that was over with we went back to the inside of the bookstore and I got to get stuff. I got a lot of books, and one book that was autographed. As I was in the bookstore I heard the two ladies that were there one that gave the tour say it was really nice to have some people who really who enjoyed the tour and to be so enthused about it and especially someone so young. Then they gave us directions so we could find the Wilder�s barns and Royals grave� Well we never found either, cause we headed the way towards where they told us the barns were and never found them. And by the time we realized we had left the country of Spring Valley we were in Alberta Lee (SP). But I might get to go back and see this on Tuesday because my mom�s real family does not live to far from these two.

Also I got to go to 2 times the �West Branch, Herbert Hoover Library� the 1st time was really awesome!!! First we went and saw the graves of Mr. Hoover, and his wife and then the buildings all about him outside. And what I find sort of funny about the 1st time is, it was April 1st, and when we first got there it was just barely snowing. Well when we got there it was really not that bad but then it really started to snow. So we stayed for a little over 3 hrs. And we went on a tour of the inside museum which is AWESOME!!!!!!!! Then after that I went and asked how I could look at the collection of LIW information that they have there and this lady came and talked to me and showed me she gave me 3 books for free, which was really nice of her. And then she took me around and showed me a bunch of rooms that she told me no one is suppose to see. And then I was sort of shocked but where in the vaults they keep the big original documents she took us and let us go inside them, and even opened some and showed us. But I did not get to look at the LIW papers cause I was told you have to fill out paper work first, and I had not done that. Then at the end I went to the bookstore and got some LIW books and post cards. The pictures I took this time did not really turn out because it was sort of a blizzard out side. But what was sort of funny was, we thought it was going to bad very like that the rest of the way, but we barley got one mile out of there and it was fine� The next time I went was on my way to my college visit in Moline, IL and I just basically got to stop to get better pictures of the outside and I was lucky cause it was SO nice out that day. And what I came back it was pouring down rain. That is all of it for now. Sorry there is so long, but I said after I finally got to go I would post about it.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[>

Re: Laura Site's -- LisaE, 18:12:37 05/06/02 Mon

Wow Jennie!
It sounds like you did have a great time! It's great you were finally able to go. What a nice grad present.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: Laura Site's -- Ann, 21:59:06 05/06/02 Mon

What a wonderful trip, Jennie. Thanks for sharing!

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Thanks for sharing! -- delilah firth, 00:47:55 05/12/02 Sun

Wow, Jennie. It sounds like you had a great time. I envy you.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]