Mayor McLin Welcomes Cross-Country Adventurers
Re-Creating 1910 Trip by Two Young Brothers
Mayor Rhine McLin was among the local residents and officials who on June 27, 2008 welcomed two special adventurers replicating a cross-country journey first completed by two remarkable young boys almost a century ago.
Mayor McLin welcomed Melody Aufill and Donna McChesney, two teachers from Yale, Oklahoma who are recreating a trip taken by two young brothers – ages 10 and 6. In 1910, the two Abernathy brothers – Bud and Temple – rode alone from Oklahoma to New York City by horseback. They stopped in various cities and towns along the way, including Dayton. Their round-trip from Oklahoma to New York City (their return trip involved the help of a car) set a cross-country record for their day.
The two teachers are attempting to recreate the brothers’ trip, though not on horseback. On May 31 they set out from Oklahoma to travel the same course as the young boys. Their 45-day, 2,500-mile quest was inspired by the interest expressed by their fifth-grade students while reading a book based about the brothers’ original adventure, called “Bud and Me: The True Adventures of the Abernathy Boys,” written by Temple Abernathy’s wife.
“We want to experience our own ‘adventure’,” Ms. Aufill and Ms. McChesney said. “Following Bud and Temple’s footsteps will allow us to see major historical and cultural landmarks across the U.S. we have only read or heard about. We want to compare and contrast cities, country and technology to what it was 99 years ago. We want to discover the impact these young boys made on the history of the communities and people they encountered, and we want to know the rest of the story.”
During their travels through Dayton, the women also met with Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl, visited the Wright-Dunbar museum, and enjoyed the downtown “CityLife” statues.
“I think their story is an inspiring one, and an educational one for the students they teach,” Mayor McLin said. “I am glad to have been part of welcoming Ms. Aufill and Ms. McChesney to Dayton, just as the young Abernathy boys were welcomed here in 1910. Even though they are not following the same journey on horseback, I am impressed by the desire these two teachers have to bring history back to life – not just for themselves but for their students. ”
“Can this 21st century adventure based on a 20th century one inspire our students to seek their own adventures now and in the future?” the teachers asked when they set out upon their trip. “We hope to find out.”
To find out more about the cross country adventure, visit http://abernathyadventures2008.blogspot.com/.