By Chris Mac Kenzie
For The Alpine Sun
     ALPINE — The town's third graders are getting extra help this year as they study Alpine's early history and write essays for the contest conducted by the Alpine Historical Society.
     The three elementary schools have each been presented with 40 copies of Neil Galloway's new book, Echoes of the Past, along with five copies of Bea La Force's much older History of a Mountain Settlement.
     The book gift is a story in itself. The first printing of the Galloway book proved to be defective, producing copies which historical society members deemed they would not be able to sell although they were perfectly readable and useful. So they were given to the schools for the students to use as reference material.
     "There's a extra plus to this too," explained AHS President Carol Morrison. "The Echoes book is taken directly the original, very early, Alpine Echoes newspaper, so the selections are reprinted exactly as they appeared in the newspaper, complete with errors in spelling, grammar and even statements that these days would be considered 'politically incorrect' and opinionated. The students will be encouraged to notice the differences."
Some of the students will even get extra ideas for their essays when the third graders from Boulder Oaks and Shadow Hills Schools tour the museum on field trips May 20.
     They have a choice of three subjects for their essays which are due May 25: “Life in Alpine 100 years ago,” or “My Favorite Alpine Person, from 1870-1930,” or “My Favorite Alpine Historical Place.” Prizes of $25, $15, $10, and $5, will be awarded in each category.
     The winners will read their essays on June 4 at the Alpine History Day celebration, to be held in the museum at 2116 Tavern Road from 11 a,m, to 2 p.m.
     Don Carr serves as chair of the essay contest.
     The celebration can be enjoyed by the whole family, as it will also include historical exhibits, a fun jump for children, and a homemade chili and salad lunch menu with ice cream sundaes. The lunch costs $7 for adults and $3 for children. The Captain Adam Beaty House will have a special exhibit on the life of Alpine's historian, the late Beatrice La Force and her Sky Mesa Ranch, while the Dr. Sophronia Nichols’ house will hold exhibits from Alpine's early school days, since the back half of that structure was an old school built in 1886.
     Adding to the fun will be the reunion of the Clodhoppers, brought together by Olive Bell and David (Les) Carey, who will play 1940's records. 
Norm King will display one or more of his old remodeled cars in the front yard and be on hand to tell interested people about their restoration.
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