Boardman pioneer life returns for curious minds The classroom unit also coincides with the township bicentennial celebration.

By DENISE DICK VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER HILDREN AT WEST BOULEVARD Elementary School in Boardman learned about the pioneer life and how their community formed through a program offered by the Arms Family Museum of Local History. "What year was Boardman founded?" third-grade teacher June Baker asked pupils. "1805," Eric Jones, 8, and Jon Michael Dana, 9, shouted in unison. "How many families were here when it first started?" Baker asked. "Three," the boys chimed again. Baker wore a pioneer dress and hat Thursday as she prepared a pioneer meal of johnnycakes, butter, roasted pumpkin seeds, hasty pudding and homemade lemonade. The johnnycakes, pumpkin seeds and lemonade got rave reviews. Johnnycakes are a mixture of cornmeal, water, sugar, milk and butter cooked on a griddle. The butter wasn't such a hit. After a sample, most of the pupils elected not to put it on their johnnycakes. "The butter is gross, but the johnnycakes are excellent," said 9-year-old Darlena Lucas. Mohammad Ali, 8, also gave the concoction high marks, adding that they tasted slightly different from pancakes. Lemonade making Pupils made the lemonade, squeezing sliced lemons and adding sugar. Victoria Valko and Katie Groubert, both 8, gave the lemonade a thumbs up, and Robert Parkhurst, 9, said the roasted pumpkin seeds were his favorite item on the pioneer buffet. Baker said the Arms Museum provided her costume for the cooking experiment as well as books about pioneer times and a basket filled with items used by early settlers. All of the school's third-graders will take a field trip to the Youngstown museum later this year, the teacher said. It also coincides with the township bicentennial, which is being observed throughout this year. "They're learning about the pioneers and about the community of Boardman," Baker said. "We created a time line of significant dates." Food helps understanding The food was the unit's culminating activity, she said. "It helps the kids understand about the beginning of a community and how it develops by adding more people and businesses," she said. Baker asked the pupils what used to be where the high school sits. "A potato farm," several of the children piped in. "And where Glenwood Middle School is, what used to be there?" the teacher queried. "An apple farm," they answered. "Most of them grew up here, so everything takes on a deeper meaning for them," Baker said.