U-Turn History

If you visit the Hower Slote House, the mural on the Warrior Run High School, or the Historic Warrior Run Church, you will see new speakers that look somewhat like the old speakers at a drive in movie theatre.

But they also include a handle for you to turn.  These U-turn devices were placed by Warrior Run students, and if you turn the handle, they will tell you stories about the area where you stand.  Each number on the black dial is a different sound story.  Some are louder than others - a few are very difficult to hear if there is traffic, or a nearby soccer game.  The files can be updated, so that may change.

Warrior Run students tell the history, which is enhanced with sound effects such as hoof beats and babies cries.  

Newspaper Article from the Milton Standard Journal - 

TURBOTVILLE — For Luke Burrows, learning the personal stories of some of the soldiers who took part in the Battle of Fort Freeland was one of the most meaningful parts of participating in the creation of four U-Turn devices which have been placed throughout the Warrior Run School District.

“In history, we learn about the battles,” Burrows, a senior, said. “Not often will we learn about the personal stories.”

Burrows was one of 22 AP History class students who worked last school year on a U-Turn project.

Through the project, four U-Turn devices are being placed within the boundaries of the school district.

The students who worked on the project took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony by a U-Turn which was recently placed in front of the Warrior Run Middle School.

Other devices were placed at Historic Warrior Run Church, the Hower-Slote House, and one will soon be installed at the Watsontown Canal Boat Pavilion.

Rand Whipple, of Box of Light Studios of Bloomsburg, worked in the district on a 20-day artist in residence project last school year.

He worked with the students to create audio files which were uploaded to the box-like devices.

Whipple demonstrated the device during Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. By turning a crank on the U-Turn, audio of student voices recounting the history of the area is played.

“The school is doing a lot with technology,” Whipple said prior to Wednesday’s ceremony. “We wanted to do a U-Turn project that would involve the community.”

The AP History students researched local history and created the sound files which were uploaded into the U-Turn devices.

Each device features audio specific to the locations where the boxes are placed.

Whipple said the devices are designed in such a way that the sound files can be updated at any point in the future.

“It’s been a wonderful part of the project that it did reach into the classroom and into the community as well,” he said.

“It was great to learn about the history of our community,” Burrows said after the ceremony. “We take great pride in our community. The Warrior Run community, we are really close.”

Abby Staman, also now a senior, enjoyed her involvement with the U-Turn project. She was particularly interested in learning about the history of the canal system in the area.

“When it was used, it was a major highway in our area,” she said of the canal.

Like Burrows, Staman also enjoyed learning the personal histories of some of the individuals who played a part in the area’s early times.

“It made us change our perspective and get the exposure to what the people were doing (in the past),” Staman said.

Both Burrows and Staman hope those who visit the U-Turn devices learn by listening to the files recorded by the students.

“I hope they learn a little about their community,” Staman said.

Whipple noted that Rich Nornhold, a retired Warrior Run teacher and local historian, worked with the students on the project.

Superintendent Dr. Alan Hack spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We are excited for all of you and your involvement,” he said to the students gathered at the ceremony. “We appreciate all you’ve done. This leaves a lasting legacy for the Warrior Run School District.”

Both he and Theresa Bartholomew, the district’s director of Educational Programs, said the project was funded through parts of funding the district receives for projects through Muncy Bank and Trust Company, the First Community Foundation Partnership, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Perry County Council of the Arts.

Students who worked on the project and took part in Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony were: Gage Anzulavich, Emily Boudeman, Alex Boyer, Luke Burrows, Hayden Divers, Audra Fisher, Cassidy Hoffman, Kylan Kurtz, Owen McManus, Ben Shoemaker, Andrew Shultz, Mackenzie Williams, Bryce Woland, Shaelyn Bergerstock, Gina Beyer, Emma Burrows, Keefer Goodspeed, Jonathan Hunt, Ashley Long, Haley Miller, David Myers and Abby Staman.

Article courtesy of Staff writer Kevin Mertz who can be reached at 570-742-9671 or email kevin@standard-journal.com.