Derek Abrahams

Lesson Plan #1

Using Local Primary Sources

Grade Level:  High School

Objectives:

• Learn how and why the city of Fergus Falls (or choose your own city) developed in the late 19^th century
• Learn how to use primary sources to do research
• Learn what is available to students to use for research at local museums
• Research their own topic using local primary sources

Overview: Students will use primary sources from the OTCHS to understand the importance of the Otter Tail River and development of mills in Fergus Falls.  They will then use that information to try to develop a plan on how Fergus Falls can better use the river or old Red River Mill today and into the future.  Finally, students will have the opportunity to choose their own topic to research using the materials available at the OTCHS.

Procedure:

1. Pass out map of Fergus Falls and Fergus Falls Mills Information handout (handout #1)
1. Have students place the old mills on a modern map of Fergus Falls so that they can see where the mills were located.  (Only the Red River Mill stands today)

2. Pass out pictures of some of the old mills in Fergus Falls (handout #2) and have the students answer the following questions.  Discuss possible answers with them. (Worksheet #1)

3. Pass out the front page from The Fergus Weekly Journal; November 21, 1895. Give students about 10 minutes to look over the front page and then pass out the following questions from Worksheet #2.

** You can print off each of the pages and put it on tagboard or something like that. Lineup the pages labled #1-3 from left to right across the top and the pages labled #1A-3A from left to right across the bottom.  This should form one complete page.

4. Have students choose their own topic from the development of Fergus Falls and do the following:  (even if you are not able to get to a museum to do research, you can still do this to show them how it works.
1. Choose a topic
2. Decide what primary sources may be helpful in their research (maps, newspapers, diaries, military records etc.)
3. Explain how you would use each of these

Extra Credit: 

Background information:

Pass out Handout #3.  This is an article from the Fergus Falls Daily Journal written in October of 1980.  It gives suggestions on how the river could be used today.

Pass out Handout #4 – This is a photograph of the Red River Mill still standing after the cyclone of 1919.  They used revolutionary techniques in building the mill after a fire which is why it is the only mill still standing today and quite structurally strong yet today.

Have the students answer the questions on Worksheet #3 after looking at those handouts.

Worksheet #1

Importance of the River

1.  What do you think the river was used for (not just the mills) in the late 19^th century?(answers could include but not limited to transportation, power source, drinking water, irrigation, bathing, etc.)

2. Looking at your answers, why is it important for cities at this time to develop around rivers?

3. Look at the pictures.  These mills are all located near the river and a dam.  How was water used by these mills?

4. Look at the picture of the Red River Mill.  It is located on the Otter Tail River.  Why do you think it is called the Red River Mill?

Worksheet #2

The Fergus Weekly Journal

1. What are the three main reasons Fergus Falls was an ideal location for the production of flour? (Ans.  Wheat easily transported by wagon, located on railroads for transportation and cheap water supply)

2. Why is Fergus able to supply flour for everyone 500 miles West?  In other words, why don’t they build mills or grow wheat between Fergus Falls and Portland?  (ans.  Not good land for wheat, cheaper for them to buy flour from Fergus Falls, no good water supply)

3.  What are the only advantages Minneapolis has over Fergus Falls in milling? (ans.  Reputation, markets and access to transportation)

4. What other type of mill is Fergus Falls interested in starting?  (ans. Oat meal)

5.  You will be assigned one of the following mills:  Page Mill, Park Roller Mill, Red River Mill, woolen Mill, Farm Wagons, Foundry and Machine shop.

6. Write as much information about their mill/factory as they can find in the paper.

7. Combine with other students with the same mill and add to your notes here.

8. Get into groups with others of different mills.  Make sure all mills are represented in your group.  Take turns presenting your mills to each other taking notes on each one.

Worksheet #3

Modern Uses

Answer the following questions.

1. What does the article in handout #3 say could be done with the Ottertail River today (or as of 1980) to develop Fergus Falls?

2. Do you believe Fergus Falls has taken advantage of these suggestions or done anything to promote the river as of 2010?

3. What would you suggest we do to promote Fergus Falls using the river?

4. The old Red River Mill still stands today.  It is currently for sale for $1 million.  If you had that kind of money, plus money to develop, what would you do with that building to develop it.  Understand you cannot tear it down and because of some stipulations by the original seller, you cannot use it as a mill.