S Is For Stars, Shawnee Indian Mission And Smokey The Bear

S is for Stars.

Do you know what these are?  Cast iron stars.  They are actually huge washers used in brick and masonry construction.   They were bolted to the end of tie rods that kept brick walls  connected to the joists.   Sometimes called "masonry stars" or "wall washers", they help prevent walls from bowing and also helped reinforce walls during an earthquake.

S is also for Shawnee Indian Mission, a state historic site, and as you look through these pictures you will see stars like these on the walls.  The Shawnee  Mission was a school where they brought  native children and tried to teach them "civilized" white people skills such as sewing and weaving.  We look back at that period of history with some sadness, and realize that those children should have been allowed to stay with their own families and be raised in their own culture.

Wood shed on the Mission property.

Salad makings in the Mission garden.

Strawberries in the garden.

A strong fence.

Prairie schooner.

And totally unrelated to the rest of the this post... S is for Smokey the Bear.    He taught me to take care of the trees and animals in the forest.   I bet you all remember  "Only YOU can prevent a forest fire".

(This photo was taken by my dad and may not be borrowed or pinned.)

My big sister and I with Smokey.

Hope you enjoy reading all about the letter S on Jenny Matlocks' Alphabe-Thursday.

Also linking to Vintage Thingie Thursday with The Colorado Lady.