Union second-graders get a history lesson

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Neighbors | Submitted.Sue Holloway represented the Poland Historical Society during a presentation to a group of Union Elementary second-graders.

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Union second-graders listened to a presentation by Sue Holloway of the Poland Historical Society about Quailwood and White Saddle.

Sue Holloway of the Poland Historical Society led a recent presentation about Quailwood and White Saddle to Union Elementary second-graders.

Messenger Miller, his wife, Ethel Hull Miller, and their daughter, Janie, built a log cabin on a huge plot of land called “Quailwood” on Clingan Road in 1929. In addition to many other animals, the family purchased a pony with natural white markings that looked like a saddle and named her “White Saddle.”

White Saddle was born in 1903 and came to America from the Shetland Islands. She won many awards at the Canfield Fair and the Ohio State Fair. White Saddle died in 1940 and is buried on the property where she was raised.

Special guest at the presentation was Sara Hill Strock, a Poland resident with family ties to Poland’s first settlers. She told the students about riding White Saddle in the 1930s with her classmates when they were students at Poland Union.

Ethel Hull Miller wrote books about White Saddle. Her book may be viewed at the Little Red Schoolhouse, along with other popular children’s books she had written.

Holloway also spoke to the students about “Orphan Trains,” which transported orphaned and homeless children to various cities throughout the country to find them good homes. A minister in New York City began the program by getting the children off the streets, cleaned them, clothed them and gave them a Bible before placing them on the trains. Infants and toddlers were placed on “Baby Trains” with caretakers. The program was funded by donations and the trains ran from 1854 until 1930.

Union second-grade teachers, Linda Watts, Lynne Stoll and Phyllis Jeswald will continue their community history lesson when the three second-grade classes visit the Little Red Schoolhouse in Poland Township at the end of April.