Growing up in Sullivan: School Field Trips
January 7, 2015
by Jerry Ginther
NP Columnist
Mostly what I remember, and liked, about school field trips is that they got us out of the classroom for part of the day, and they were always interesting. On one such trip we walked to Wyman Park from Powers School to observe a mother opossum with young in a hollow tree. The mother must not have known we were coming to visit because she remained at home. Had she known that there would be two or three classrooms of children peering into her privacy she would more than likely have departed to the safety of a taller tree.
Some of our excursions were walking trips, and some were bus trips. A special outing I recall also included a train ride. At that time the C&EI Railroad still operated its last passenger train through Sullivan. The name of that train was the Meadowlark, and the carrier discontinued its operation around 1961-62. Not only was this their last passenger train, but also, it was a very short train. It consisted of one motorized, (self propelled) car. That was of no consequence to us; it was large enough to accommodate our class as there were only a few other passengers on board.