The Snake Pit

The following information about Oglebay's Snake Pit was taken from an article that Mr. Porter (of Triadelphia High fame) wrote for the State Teachers' Journal in 1950:
In 1949, 1110 sixth grade students from Ohio County visited the nature center at Oglebay. "The aim of this first hand study was to teach these children what nature is and the advantages of a knowledge of nature; recognition of some of the common amphibians and reptiles of this area; to know at sight the poisonous reptiles and to be prepared to give first aid in case of snake bite; to learn something about the common game and fur-bearing animals, and the economic importance of mammals; to distinguish trees from shrubs and herbs, and to learn the trees of this region."
He went on to write, "The Nature Museum is housed in a semi-circular buiding surrounding a silo that has been converted into a medieval story-telling tower. Designed to acquaint people with the common animals of the area, the museum also serves as a convenient center for the dissemination of nature information."
"Fourteen cages, a turtle pit, a barnyard zoo, and a snake pit serve for the shelters for the animals being exhibited. A wooden railing protects the animals and keeps people a safe distance from the cages."
"Animals common to this part of the state and caged at the museum-zoo are chipmunks, barn owls, bobwhite quail, woodchuck, gray squirrels, red squirrels, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, skunks, gray foxes, two mink , and a fawn."
"Only nonpoisonous snakes are kept in the pit. Among these are the smooth green snake, milk snake, pilot black snake, queen water snake, common water snake, and garter snake."
"Also featured [in the museum] are aquaria, terraria, local insects, a few mammal skins, serveral deer heads, one moose and two elk heads. Common minerals and a vertical section of an oil well showing the geology of this section are also on exhibit."
"Yes, Oglebay museum and zoo are a valuable aid in providing first hand information for classes in nature study and biology."

Who knew? the seemingly heartless, infinitely cynical Mr. Porter had a love of nature?

Another article in the Journal in April 1951 gave survival secrets in what to do when the atomic bomb fell on your school. The comments in parentheses of course, are mine:

1. Try to get shielded (yea, right)
2. Drop Flat on Ground or Floor (this way you have less distance to fall when you die)
3. Bury Your Face in Your Arms (this is so you don't see your teacher becoming hysterical)
4. Don't Rush Outside Right After a Bombing (there won't be anything left to see anyway and you won't be around to see it)
5. Don't Take Chances with Food or Water (if you should survive you will die from eating or drinking!)
6. Don't Start Rumors (like we should do away with all bombs)

At Woodsdale I can remember being taught to hide under desks then later we were taught to line up along the lockers in the upstairs hallways. Glad those days are over, there is nothing like scaring children to the point of nightmares.