Owney's Itinerary as of 5/20/03
This schedule is subject to change at any time.
41 Due in North Haven, CT 3/26/03, arrived 4/9/03
Click here for more information about Connecticut.
Dear Friends of Owney,
Owney arrived late on Wednesday, April 9th - a raw rainy day in Connecticut. However, after a long cold and snowy winter, he brought warmth and sunshine into the classroom. We were very excited to spend Thursday with him. We spent the morning celebrating by introducing ourselves and investigating all the great things he had brought with him. Owney visited several people at our school and was officially named an honorary Green Acres student by our principal. He sat in on our math and reading lesson and was happy to observe that we have been studying our multiplication and division facts. We gave him a Green Acres pin, a pencil, a quarter with a Connecticut symbol, and an official Green Acres bag. Since Owney arrived the day after the UConn Women's basketball team won the national college title, we also gave him a UConn basketball pencil. Everyone complimented Owney by telling him how much he resembled the team mascot - a Husky.
We took several pictures and sent Owney on his way to Rhode Island this afternoon. We will mail out the postcards this weekend. Thanks for sharing Owney with us!
Mrs. Manende's Third Grade Class
42 Due in Cranston, RI 3/31/03, arrived 4/28/03?
Click here for more information about Rhode Island.
Hello from the Smallest state in the Union,
I think Rhode Island has more names than any other state that I have visitied so far. Here are a few; 'The Ocean State', 'Little Rhodie', 'The
Land of Mobsters and Lobsters'. But all kidding aside its real name is The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,' longer than any other
name this little state has a great deal of pride and history.
I'm here with my friends at Eden Park Elementary School in Cranston, RI. Did you know that the American Revolution Started here? This little state
with the help of its founding father, Roger Williams declared independence from England almost a hundred years before the other states. King Charles II
called us a humorous experiment. We insisted on freedom of religon, speech and equality. This made it one of the first places on earth to allow all religons to worship without fear of persecution. (We also insited on the Native Americans being compinsated for their land and natural resources.)
Then this little state refused to sign the declaration of independence. After all, they had already gotten their freedom from the King. They finally agreed to join the other states when the Bill of Rights was written to ensure that their freedoms and beliefs continue in the manner in which they had begun.
Because RI has more water than land, its natural resources relate to water. They have some of the best seafood in the world. Clams, or Quohogs
are a popular item for children your age to go and dig up in the summer on the beaches and boil for dinner. In the summer families dig big holes in the sand, layer hot coals, seaweed, clams, lobster, fish , potatoes, corn on the cob and other things. They cover this aand let it steam all day. At night
they uncover a feast that melts in your mouth.
Cranberries and blueberrries are raised here. Did you know that they flood the cranberry field and all the cranberries float to the top of the water and are scooped up by big rakes?
Mountains to ski on in the winter, and beaches to lay on in the summer, what a wonderful little state. No wonder its capital is named Providence, which is loosely translated, "Gift from God"
On to Mass. Take care!
Love your traveling friend,
Owney
43 Due in Marshfield, MA 4/4/03, arrived 5/2/03
Click here for more information about Massachusetts.
Dear friends,
I made it to Daniel Webster School in Marshfield, Massachusetts Friday afternoon. They were very worried about me and they were so happy when I arrived. The school nurse, Mrs. Anne Kelly, and secretaries, Mrs. Karen Parmenter and Mrs. Peg Crowley opened my box right away to make sure that I was alright. The students set me up on a special cart with a very soft bed on it. Then they put out all of the things that I have collected from the other 42 states that I have already been to. On Monday morning they had an all school assembly to welcome me. The third grade students in Mrs. Hevey's class dressed up in dog ears, a collar, and a gold Owney tag and then read Owney, the Traveling Dog by Lynn Hall after they explained my history with the United States Postal Service. The whole school sang a song that was written just for me. It starts like this…"There was a postman had a dog and Owney was his name -O." Next I started on my journey to each of the classrooms in the whole school. The superintendent of schools, Mr. Thomas Kelley, was introduced to me by Mr. Ted Mitchell, the principal of Daniel Webster School. He was very impressed, of course! I went out to recess and played kickball with the third graders.
The children told me all about Marshfield. It is a very interesting place. It was started in 1640. Boy, is that a long time ago. Daniel Webster lived here and is buried here too. Also Edward Winslow that was on the Mayflower lived here too. The first baby born after the Pilgrims arrived, Peregrine White, also lived here.
The town is really pretty. It is right on the Atlantic Ocean. You can hear the ocean from Daniel Webster School. The seagulls fly around the playground looking for snacks that the children might have dropped. It is about 10 miles north of Plymouth and 30 miles south of Boston. Marshfield has its own harbor and people actually fish for lobsters here…YUM!
Well, they are getting me ready to go back in my box. I am on to New Hampshire. Something happened to the Old Man on the Mountain up there. Can't wait to find out what it is. Talk to you soon.
Love Owney from
Mrs. Hevey's Class in Marshfield, MA.
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44 Due in Derry, NH 4/9/03, arrived 5/8/03
Click here for more information about New Hampshire.
We had a very nice visit with Owney on Thursday, May 8 and we sent him on to Vermont that afternoon. Owney was most disappointed that he could not visit The Old Man of the Mountain while he was in New Hamsphire. The great stone face symbol of New Hampshire fell down the mountainside the weekend before he arrived. Instead Owney took a ride on the Cannon Mountain Tram and enjoyed the view from the top of the mountain. He even got to see a young moose standing beside the highway. While in school he attended a special math class called "Math Maniacs" where he tried to help several students solve some difficult math problems. He loved the New Hampshire maple syrup that was served on the pancakes at "Breakfast at Lunch." He was very tired when we sent him to Vermont. The children didn't want him to leave.
The post cards went to the Post Office with Owney. Some of them show The Old Man of the Mountain which no longer exists.
Bev, thanks so much for setting up this program. We look forward to participating again next year.
Kind regards,
Susan Fessler
South Range School
45 Due in So. Burlington, VT 4/21/03, arrived 5/12/03
Click here for more information about Vermont.
Hello friends of Owney!
I'm sorry that it has taken so long to send this message from Vermont. Last week, our school district had a huge celebration of technology to thank the community for their incredible support. We showcased and celebrated the incredible progress made possible by a six-year initiative which gave the schools over two million dollars to spend on new technology! I'm happy to report that Owney did have a part in the
celebration. The two second grade classes involved in the Owney project presented information to parents and guests about how Owney travels the country and how they receive e-mail messages from wherever he visits.
The students also showed the real Owney at the Postal Museum's web site in Washington, D.C., Bev Adams' site in California, as well as our own Vermont web site with Owney info. The students told of how they made
their own postcards to send around the country. Everyone was quite impressed!
I'm sorry that Owney was not actually here in Vermont to attend the Technology Celebration. I had already sent him off to Arizona. While Owney was in Vermont, however, he was able to take part in our Spring
Concert. Even though he had not practiced the songs, Owney did his best to sing along.
Every student in the two participating second grade classes was able to spend time with Owney before he was sent on his way. Even one of our school pets, a Russian tortoise named Max, got to visit with Owney!
Thanks for arranging for such a great project! We do look forward to participating again next year.
Donna
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46 Due in Cottonwood, AZ 4/25/03, arrived 5/19/03
Click here for more information about Arizona.
Owney arrived in Arizona in time for field day. This is a day of water sports that Owney bowed out of. He spent the afternoon in a kindergarten room with students that loved him. He was passed around
and inspected by all. They enjoyed the lei and pins attached to him. The teacher was kept busy answering questions. After school Owney went to the office to meet the secretaries and the principal. Pictures were
taken and I will try to get them sent to you as soon as I get the disc.
Owney left this morning for Maine. Hopefully he will get to all the schools before the years end. We are missing 10 postcards and wonder if they are on the way or if they are lost? Will let you know what ones
when I am in school tomorrow, if I have time. I am a support teacher and am being used as a duty person to let the regular classroom teacher have time to finish grades and pack their classrooms. I don't know when I am to get time to do mine but, oh well, it too shall pass.
47 Due in Bath, ME 5/7/03, arrived 5/22/03
Click here for more information about Maine.
I was thrilled to receive a call from Mrs. Granger, our representative from Maine. Owney had arrived! We received the postcards on 5/28/03. Mrs. Granger sent the following quick note with these pictures. I look forward to hearing about his trip!
Hi Bev,
The class will write tomorrow. Here are some photos with this years class and other older students who Owney visited in Second Grade They still love him.
Some of year's Second Grade student are on the playground.
The Fifth graders are in the cafeteria. The Third graders are in the kitchen. There is also a photo of him when he arrived in his box.
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48 Due in Lacey, WA 5/11/02, arrived 5/28/03
Click here for more information about Washington.
Hi, Everyone!
Owney arrived in Washington State and he's had a really fun time hanging out with our family for the day. Even though we're not a classroom, I'm so glad we were able to participate in Owney's travels this year. My three children learned a lot about United States geography and enjoyed hearing about his travels with the rest of you.
Here are some of the highlights of Owney's time spent with Stuart, Debi, Kelsey, Ian and Shannon Hough in Olympia, Washington:
While Owney was here, a good friend came over and showed us how to repair a hole in our bathroom wall. Owney thought it was funny to look into our wall and see the actual boards holding our house together! I had to pull him back from the hole before he got his head stuck.
We also took Owney across the street to McKenny Elementary School to meet with the office staff and our good friend, Mrs. "B", who teaches first grade. Everyone at the school thought Owney was the cutest traveling dog they'd ever seen! (He's probably the "only" traveling dog they've ever seen, don't you think?) Mrs. "B" hopes to have Owney visit her entire first grade classroom next year.
After school let out, all the neighborhood kids came over to our house to meet Owney. One little boy had just moved here recently from Iowa and he was very excited to see the signatures of people from Iowa in Owney's list of people who've met him this year. Everyone thought it was cool that Owney met Miss America on his travels, too!
Owney told us he'd never been to the State Capitol in Olympia, so we drove downtown to the Capitol Campus. We took a photo of Kelsey, Ian and Shannon with Owney in front of the Capitol Building. Owney was fascinated to hear that our domed Capitol Building was actually modeled after the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. We couldn't take Owney inside the Capitol because it is currently undergoing restoration work following damage caused by a major earthquake several years ago.
Owney also enjoyed seeing the fountain at the Capitol -- it's a replica of Tivoli Fountain in Copenhagen, Denmark. If you'd like to see a photo of the Tivoli Fountain with the Capitol Building in the background and read more information, Click here.
We also drove past the Winged Victory Memorial as we were leaving the Capitol Campus. Owney was so impressed, he couldn't even speak! It's a beautiful bronze statue of Nike of Samothrace, the Greek goddess of "victory at war." This tribute to the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars also includes a sailor, a soldier, a marine, and a Red Cross nurse who follows the other three holding a medicine kit. To see the Winged Victory Memorial and read about its history, Click here.
Owney's a very good dog and he behaved himself really well with our three cats. He never even barked or chased them around the house!
Next stop for Owney, Alaska!
Sincerely,
The Hough Family
Stuart, Debi, Kelsey (age 16), Ian (age 12), and Shannon (age 8)
49 We haven't been able to find a participating classroom in AK. Owney will just visit a friend who is not a teacher just so he can visit all 50 states. Thanks, Debi!
Click here for more information about Alaska.
50 Due in Camarillo, CA 5/12/03
Click here for more information about California.
The White House, Washington D.C.
