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TR a gq # 8 : 4 Wednesday, July 1, 2009 The Kings Mountain Herald Page 1B Museum plays around with toys from the past By KYRA ALEXANDER Staff Writer Ever heard of Bilbo-catchers, Chinese check- ers, orquoits? These few games and many more are featured in the Kings Mountain Historical Museum’s newest exhibit, “Toys and Games That We Loved”. This collection of playthings provides more than a walk down memory lane, it highlights the creativity and imagination ence brought about by these toys. The bilbo-catcher, a toy of the “cup and ball family”, has been popular for generations start- ing as a favorite among European adults and children;'who brought them to the “New World.” “The task of swinging the ball into the cup developed hand-eye coordination and dexterity,” according to the display at the museum. Quoits, an early version of horseshoes, was also brought to the colonies by the English set- tlers. “The game of Quoits is at least 2000 years old, dating back to the ancient Greeks in the original Olympic games,” according to the mu- seum. Contrary to popular belief; Chinese checkers did not originate form China. The display at the . museum states that It was developed in Germany in the late 1800’s . “This was a fun exhibit to do and seems to be very successful,” said Mickey Crowell, di- rector and curator of the Kings Mountain His- torical Museum. i The exhibit starts off with some of the oldest toys ever played, as early as the 16th century, to the most recent in years, toys made in the 1960’s. According to Crowell, three to four years ago, the museum did an exhibit called “Early Games and Toys”. The difference between the two exhibits is that this one is more interactive. Tea sets have been a favorite Beir for many young girls, Kids of all -ages can come sit down and play a game of check- ers, Chinese checkers, color, play cards, or play with tinker toys, such as linking logs. To some seeing these games seems like a blast from the past, such as the card game “Go : Fish”, but to others they seem foreign. “Kids now are so structured and scheduled with activities outside the home, they can’t just go outside and play in the dirt and use their imaginations,” Crowell said. “Now: kids just ‘want to play on computers.” Technology has fueled a change in playtime over the = i vino Commerme— Howdy Doody’s Own Game, from the 1950's, is a popular attrac- years. Many of the tractors and toy cars that kids once had to pedal or propel forward with their feet are now motorized. “Boards” and even a deck of cards are no longer required for games that can now be played online or in video for- mat. But even though toys and games may have changed the rule of playtime remains the same: fun must be had. According to Crowell, the two most unique games in the exhibit are the Howdy Doody’s Own Game and Chinese checkers. “A man and woman came in here and the man knew how to play Chinese checkers but the tion at the museum’s current exhibit. woman didn’t. So they sat down and played four games,” Crowell said. Crowell explained that the museum wanted to tie this exhibit in with the summer reading program (themed “Be Creative”) at Mauney Me- morial Library. A “Be Creative” corner at the Kings Mountain Historical Museum allows chil- dren to color and play: The next exhibit the museum will have is a tribute to veterans, focusing on the women who have served our country. The museum, located at 100 E. Mountain Street, is open Tuesday through Soy 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Graciano observes the 65th commemoration of D-Day at Omaha Beach By Rich Lamance Joint Hometown News Service NORMANDY, France - Senior leaders often call the son of a Grover woman, and those who: serve with him, a part of the next “greatest gen- eration.” Army Pfc. Edwin J. Edwin Graciano Graciano, son of Rebecca Dycus of Runyans Road, Grover, recently traveled to now silenced battlefields with names like Omaha and Utah Beaches to observe the 65th Commemoration of. ‘D-Day. They were there to honor those who were a part of that “great- est generation” who served in one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles in world his- tory. Graciano, a military police- man, and more than 1,000 service members from posts and bases throughout Europe and the U.S., converged on the historic Normandy area to honor those who served, and in many cases made the ultimate sacrifice, on June 6, 1944. Week-long ceremonies took place throughout the region in such historic places as St. Mere Eglise, Omaha and Utah Beaches and small villages in the area that were vital to the success of the allies push into Europe against Nazi Germany. President Obama met with ing villages leaders from Great Britain, France and Canada at a special ceremony at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Celebrations at small towns throughout Normandy were capped by a parachute demonstration from airborne paratroopers ~~ representing many of the units involved with the D-Day operations. “My specific job was force protection and ceremonial sup- port,” said Graciano. For Graciano, it was hard to imagine that the tranquil farm- and pristine beaches were once the scene of carnage and destruction that took the lives of more than 4,000 Americans in just one day. had an amazing impact, and it helped us realize exactly what happened 65 years ago,” said Graciano. “Today, the 360 miles of coastline that makes-up Nor- mandy is mostly lush farm- land, bustling market towns and historic landmarks that commemorate important bat- tles that took place more than six decades ago. The residents of-the area have never forgot ten the sacrifices of the Ameri- cans who fought here and embrace today’s soldiers just as heartily as those who liber- ated them. “Normandy is very histori- cally based. There are farms and buildings that remain from World War II, as well as old homes. The food is very differ- ent from stateside food - not better, not worse, just different. The sun stays up a lot longer than even in Germany. It gets very cold at night and very hot during the day,” said Graciano. Graciano is normally sta- tioned in Heidelberg, Ger- many, with the 529th Military Police Company,’ where he works as a military policeman. He has served in the Army for ‘one year, and has not yet de- ployed. “Visiting Points du Hoc After parachuting into the same area as their airborne counterparts on D-Day in June of 1944, U.S. air- borne soldiers line up for a ceremony with officials from the town of St. Mere Eglise. (Photo by AF Mas- ter Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo) President Barack Obama shakes the hand of Ben Franklin as Prince Charles from Great Britain looks on during ceremonies commemorating the 65th Anniversary of D-Day. Franklin was one of the soldiers who stormed Omaha Beach uring if the early morning hours of June 6, 1944. oiprete by AF Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo) U.S. soldiers begin a 21-gun salute during ceremonies at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. The celebration honored service members who fought during what has been described as one of the cardo) . most decisive battles of World War il. (Photo by AF Master Sgt. Cecilio Ri- Shytle’s book to be featured at GC Museum. Dixon Community resident Tom Shytle has written a new book: “Carolina Roots from Whence I Came.” Shytle will be featured by . Gaston County Museum, 131 West Main St., Dallas, in a book talk/signing Sunday from 3-4 p.m. free and oper to the public. He will talk briefly about his mo- tivation in writing the book, growing up in the Park' Yarn Community near Kings Moun- tain and his military service in the USAFE. Tom Shytle was barely a year old and the Great Depression was at its peak when' his family moved from the cotton mill vil-. lage where he was bom to Bryson City in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The economy was worse than it had been on the mill village and after struggling to survive on a dollar a day his father made working for the WPA, his family held on for six years living in one of the most poverty stricken areas of the country. Tom was seven years old when they moved back to the same cotton mill village in Kings ‘Mountain and to much better economic conditions than when they left. His story is about his experi- ences growing up on the Park Yarn Cotton Mill village fol- lowed by 25 years in the USAFE. The years spent in the military are related in detail from the view- point of an Air Force non com from the Korean War and an as- signment to a covert unit whose cold war mission was to “de- velop an unconventional warfare capability that included inserting, supplying, and extracting indige- nous partisans and to design, pro- duce and air drop psychological warfare materials.” The organi- zation was also responsible for supporting U-2 overflights of Eastern Europe and Russia. “This is a unique program.” said Museum Programs Coordi-- nator Jeff Pruett. Gaston County Museum of Art & History at Dallas is housed in an 1852 brick Greek Revival style hotel that has been adapted for visitors and travelers of today: The museum contains North Car- olina’s largest public exhibit of horse-drawn vehicles’ consisting of sleighs, drays, wagons and buggies and is the home of the “Ties That Bind, Carolinas Tex~ tile Exhibit.” Pruett said Shytle’s signed book will be available for $15. The museum hours are: Tues- day-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat: urday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and open every first Sunday from 2-5 pnt;
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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July 1, 2009, edition 1
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