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rags for paper

rag. A piece of cloth torn off; a tattered fragment; a shred; a...

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Quiner graves

Abandoned cemetery off Playhouse Road.

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gaiters

Cloth ankle covering.

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Thomas Quiner

Ma’s brother and Laura’s uncle

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“Oft in the Stilly Night”

Song from Lalla Rookh.

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“Ben Bolt”

1842 Thomas Dunn English song.

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James McKee family

Early homesteader north of Manchester D.T. Laura Ingalls stayed with them during the spring of 1883.

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Arthur Sherwood

Brother of Carter Sherwood.

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Burr Oak during the Little House years

Town in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

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“A Motto for Every Man”

1868 Harry Clifton song.

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The New York Ledger

Weekly story paper, published 1855-1898.

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checkers

Game played on a board of 64 squares.

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The Long Winter – historical perspective

The Hard Winter of 1880-1881.

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James Glover family

Students in the Wilkin School.

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Silver Lake

Kingsbury County prairie pothole lake.

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Ida Belle Wright

Laura’s best friend in De Smet

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poor man’s fertilizer

Snow plowed into a field.

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anvil

Iron block to hammer upon.

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Will Knight

Walnut Grove revival singer.

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“The Blue Juniata”

1841 Marion Dix Sullivan song.

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Horace / Homer Heath

Railroad-working brothers.

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The Story of Art Smith

1915 Rose Wilder Lane serial about an aviator.

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Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

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flag

the banner

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catechism

Question & answer book of religious doctrine.

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Jerome Bisby

Resident of Burr Oak, Iowa, during the Ingallses’ stay...

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Alfred Ely

One of the younger boys in school.

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Big Green Animal Book

George Hartwig’s The Polar and Tropical Worlds: A Description of Man and Nature.

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“The Ninety and Nine”

Elizabeth Clephane poem.

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tableland

Elevated flat land; a plateau.

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Freddy Ingalls

Laura’s brother (1875-1876)

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osage orange

no good to eat or for anything else

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Eskimo / igloo

Tribes of arctic America and Greenland. / Snow hut.

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blueing bag

Whiter whites.

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Laura’s Sorosis Club speech

“My Work”

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legal cap

legal document paper

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“The Campbells are Coming”

Traditional Scottish jig.

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hair receiver / hair-receiver

Container to save strands of hair in.

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gopher

Four don’t go fur…

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consumption

A wasting disease, pulmonary tuberculosis.

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Pioneer Girl

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoir.

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John H. Carroll

Early De Smet banker.

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“The Big Sunflower”

Pa’s trouble song.

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Will Bennett

One of the younger De Smet schoolboys.

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“The Treadmill Song”

Oliver Wendell Holmes poem set to music.

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dove-in-the-window / bear’s tracks

Patchwork pattern variations.

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Old Military Tract

Franklin Co. NY map reference

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snowplow

Clears the tracks.

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Good Templars Lodge

International temperance fraternal organization.

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galumphing

To move in a clumsy, ponderous, or noisy manner.

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“The Sculptor Boy”

Carrie recited it.

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A Tribute to the Early Day Teachers

Neva Whaley Harding tribute.

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whalebone

Baleen used in corsets.

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nickel

The metal. Or five-cent piece.

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South Troy / Zumbro Falls today

Little town along the Zumbro River.

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what-not / whatnot

An étagère for books & ornaments.

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saleratus / soda

Leavening agents used in baking.

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copperplate

Variable-width handwriting script made with a flexible, pointed nib.

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Visscher Barnes

Probate Judge, VP of Temperance Society, and first director of De Smet school board.

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sewing machine

“Such beautiful stitching!”

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willow-ware

Blue-and-white tableware with Chinese story paintings.

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wigwam

What Almanzo’s shocked oats looked like.

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Lost, between sunrise and sunset…

Horace Mann quotation from his Writings, published in 1872.

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Laura Remington

Mrs. Phillip Aubrey Lawrence

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“Barbary Allen”

Old Scotch tune.

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Dr. Alfred Starr

His wife wanted Laura.

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poke bonnet / poke-bonnet

the lining matched Laura’s eyes

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ante-over / anti-over / anteover

Game in which a ball is thrown over a structure.

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Doxology

Old Hundred.

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Little Town on the Prairie – historical perspective

De Smet D.T. in the 1880s.

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equinoctial storm

Severe wind and heavy rain that occurs at or near the time of an equinox.

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bear grease

Bear fat hair dressing.

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“Don’t Leave the Farm, Boys”

Song from The Conqueror.

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pumpkin

The plant and fruit of Curcubita pepo

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ambition

Act of obtaining an object of desire.

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claim jumper / Mr. Hunter / Jack Hunt

One who ousts another from their land.

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“Yankee Doodle”

Early song brought to America from Britain.

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dug out / dugout

Dwelling built into the earth.

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twisting hay

Pioneer method by which dried grass is formed into compact...

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harvest moon

Full moon nearest autumnal equinox

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“The Tides” / The moon is at its full

1860 William Cullen Bryant poem.

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ice cream / ice-cream

Sweetened cream, congealed by freezing.

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By the Shores of Silver Lake – the fictional story

The railroad comes to Dakota.

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Volga, Dakota Territory

Town on the Dakota Central R.R. between Brookings and Arlington, platted in 1879.

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basque

Jacket-like part of a lady’s dress.

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Mary & Samuel Ray / Ellen & Amos Leonard

Sisters feuding over a lovely homeplace…and a man.

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biscuits

A kind of un-fermented bread, formed into flat cakes, and baked.

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lime / whitewash

Oxide of calcium mixed with water and used for whitening.

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birthday

As near as I can figure, E.J. was right.

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Grace Pearl Ingalls

Youngest sister of Laura Ingalls; she lived 1877-1941.

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awl

pokes holes

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Burke / Malone during the Little House years

Almanzo Wilder birthplace.

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winnow

Drive off chaff by wind.

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“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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Alfred N. Waters

Attorney and land agent in De Smet.

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Eliza Jane Wilder

Almanzo’s sister.

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“Old Dan Tucker”

Mr. Edwards sings it!

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Uncle Sam

Figure symbolizing the United States.

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Dolly Varden

NIckname of Edith Ingalls, Laura’s cousin.

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Adam / adam’s apple

The first man, the progenitor of the human race.

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batten / lath

Thin, narrow board for fastening or joining.

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velvet

Silk or blend fabric with short shag surface.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – the fictional story

Farming struggles in Minnesota.

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“Here’s to the Maiden”

1780 R.B. Sheridan drinking song.

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Silas Rood

Rude by name & nature?

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quinine

Medicine used to treat malaria, made from cinchona bark.

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le cadeau du cheval

2008 horse mural composed of smaller paintings of horses,...

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muff

A warm covering for receiving the hands.

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Charles Mead

Proprietor of the Exchange Hotel in De Smet, 1880-1882.

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Timothy Johnson family

De Smet Wagon Shop.

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cat’s cradle

Game played with string twisted on the fingers.

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Ingalls office / store in De Smet

NW and SE corners of Calumet and Second.

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“My Old Kentucky Home”

1853 Stephen Foster song.

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Horace Woodworth family

Family of first depot agent in De Smet.

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mowing machine

Farm implement for cutting hay or grain.

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Hill-Billy

1926 Rose Wilder Lane book.

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Orion E. Stearns

Caught by blizzard of ’88.

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“Golden Years are Passing By”

1879 Will Thompson song.

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bale

Specific bundle of goods packaged for transport.

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breast-pin / brooch

Ornament worn on clothing.

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Wilder feed store

Shhh. There’s wheat in the wall!

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roller skates / rink

Wheeled frame for the shoe.

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“Nellie was a Lady”

Pa would play some of the old songs, ‘to go to sleep...

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Almanzo Wilder

The Man of the Place

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prairie danglers

seventhwinter whimsey’s glass slide pendants!

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vanity cakes

Egg and flour batter fried in oil into golden brown puffs.

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“Gentle Words and Loving Smiles”

Hymn 139 in Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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tiger

Noah’s ark toy piece.

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Joseph Bouchie family

Fictional Brewster family in THGY.

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“A Life on the Ocean Wave”

1847 Epes Sargent poem put to music.

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twin lakes

Lake Henry & Lake Thompson

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geranium

Winter windowsill flowers.

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Roman candle

Flaming stars and balls firework.

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“Old Grimes”

1822 Albert Gorton Greene poem.

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Bloody Benders

Serial killers in 1870s Kansas.

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surveyor

One who measures land and delineates the same on paper.

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spider

Legged cooking vessel.

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“Pull for the Shore”

Sunshine for Sunday Schools hymn.

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picket rope / pin / line

n. A stake sharpened or pointed, used in fortification and...

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mosquito bar / netting

Woven cloth bug barrier.

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New England States

ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, & CT.

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lone cottonwood / lone tree

The big one between the lakes.

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Peter Riley Ingalls family

Uncle Peter & Aunt Eliza.

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wheelwright

One who makes wheels and carriages.

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Quaker meeting

Parlor game in which players try to remain silent.

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“Life Let Us Cherish”

1796 Swiss song translated to English.

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candy hearts

Mary’s had a candy poem on it!

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Little Town on the Prairie – the fictional story

Homesteading and town life.

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“My Jenny Jerusha Jane”

1868 A.G. Chase song.

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Lewis Sasse

De Smet druggist

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the children’s blizzard

January 12, 1888, blizzard.

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fichu

Light pointed cape worn by ladies, usually made of lace.

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“I Wish I Was Single Again”

1871 J.C. Beckel song.

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apple pie / dried apple pie

Just like Ma used to make.

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“Bean Porridge Hot”

Bean porridge cold…

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“De Boatmen’s Dance”

Away Down the RIver on the O-hi-o.

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ice-house

Stores ice blocks in warm weather.

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chapel

Place of worship.

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cupola

Dome-like vault on a public building.

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crow

Large black bird of genus Corvus.

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“Haste to the Wedding”

Traditional Irish fiddle tune.

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spelling / speller

The order of letters in a word. / A book of exercises on the order of letters.

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Little House in the Big Woods – the fictional story

Once upon a time, 60 years ago…

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A Modern Musketeer

In which Rose becomes a great actress.

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spoon holder / spoon-holder / spoonholder

Any vessel used to hold and display spoons.

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“Uncle Ned”

One of the earliest Stephen Foster songs.

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bobolink

On Mary Power’s name card.

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stockade

Enclosure of posts or sticks.

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Frank Schaub

Early harness maker in De Smet.

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mercury / thermometer

Used to measure air temperature.

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Willard Seelye

De Smet teacher, 1881-1882.

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oranges

Citrus fruit.

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apron

Garment protector.

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“By Lo, Baby Bunting”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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Farmer Boy – historical perspective

1860s Burke / Malone NY.

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leap frog / leap-frog

Run and jump game.

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Home Missionary Society

Group organized to raise money to start churches and Sunday schools in the west where there were none.

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“The Polish Boy”

Poem by Ann S. Stephens

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“Three Blind Mice”

Popular nursery song, sung in rounds.

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“What Shall the Harvest Be?”

1850 Emily Oakley poem.

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“Paddle Your Own Canoe”

1850s Harry Clifton song.

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Pure Gold for the Sunday School

Hymnal owned by the Ingalls family.

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“Pop! Goes the Weasel”

Traditional American song.

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“Buffalo Gals”

1844 Virginia Minstrels song.

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“Billy Boy”

English folk song.

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black bird / blackbird

Name given to various American birds.

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nine-patch / Laura’s double nine-patch Irish chain quilt

Quilt block pattern.

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Charles Ingalls: The Civil War Years

Charles Ingalls: the Civil War Years

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reindeer

Why didn’t they fly over the creek?

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custard / ice-cream

Sweetened milk and eggs, cooked.

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Big Tracy Cut

“100 feet deep & tapering off for 1/4 mile”

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cream of tartar / baking powder

Byproduct of wine-making process, used in baking as leavening agent.

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These Happy Golden Years – historical perspective

De Smet, D.T., 1883-1885.

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bastion

A part of a main enclosure which projects toward the exterior.

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Alice Maria Wilder

Older sister and playmate of Almanzo Wilder. She lived 1853-1892.

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whip

A lash tied to a handle.

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tattoo

Sounds like beating drums!

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“yell like a Comanche”

Imitated Indian battle cry.

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Charleton Fuller / Gerald Fuller

Hardware store owner, partnered with his brother Gerald.

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Henry Burvee

One of the first settlers in Kingsbury Co.

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