LYNN — Three dozen U.S. History students at Lynn Classical High School have been learning outside the classroom to the benefit of descendants of veterans who fought in the Civil War.
Under the direction of teacher David Poland, the ninth-grade students researched the ancestry of approximately 1,000 veterans whose photos are displayed in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Hall and Museum, a historical landmark that honors those who fought to save the Union during the Civil War.
Primarily using free access provided by ancestry.com, the students’ goal was to identify soldiers who still have relatives living in this area. Thus far, they have come up with 12. “They made posters with the family tree of the veterans and the battles they fought in,” said Poland, who has been teaching in Lynn for 22 years; bringing students to the GAR for two decades.
Poland and a few of the students attended the National Council for the Social Studies convention in Boston, and a group of them went before the Lynn City Council in November. A few city councilors visited Classical Thursday to present the students with citations in recognition of their diligent efforts.
Tenth-graders in Lynn Public Schools experience project-based learning in history class as part of the Civics Project. Poland, a former tenth-grade teacher, adapted it for his ninth-graders due to his previous involvement with the GAR. The idea is for students to do research and put it into action in a way that makes a difference in the community. Connecting with the veterans’ families fits perfectly with that ideal.
Built in 1885 with funds raised by local Civil War veterans, the GAR building, located at 58 Andrew St., is undergoing significant upgrades. The first phase of the renovation project began with the installation of an elevator, accessible bathrooms, and updates to the first floor. The veterans’ families that the students identified will be invited to the grand reopening.
Poland said the students set up a website to promote the GAR as it sought ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, eventually receiving $2.27 million from the City for the upgrades to the facility.
