The 4th Grade Class at Williams Elementary School in Jonesville enjoyed a Fall Tour of the Munro House, a historic Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan. Mike Venturini, the innkeeper, enjoys telling the stories that link the Munro House to the Sauk Trail, the Underground Railroad, and the history of Jonesville.
These fourth graders learned about life in the mid 1800’s, Jonesville’s strategic location, and the original owner, Brigadier General George Clinton Munro. The 45 minute talk included the story of the privy digger and the stuff he found, plus a walk through the remains of the 200 foot tunnel, and photos of the “secret room” that was used to hide hundreds of runaway slaves over a 15 year period preceding the American Civil War.
The kids came in individual classes of about 30 students with their teachers and chaperons. These tours can be arranged for groups of that size on any available day or for larger groups over the course of days, weeks, or months. Jonesville schools traditionally discuss the Underground Railroad in the fourth grade and find that this is an excellent local field trip that ties National history to a local home.
The students will probably agree that the best part of the tour is the chance to walk through one of the biggest houses in the area and the oldest house in Hillsdale County. The short walk from the school (about 5 blocks away) makes it a convenient excursion for elementary school children and a tradition for 4th graders in Jonesville.
Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
“Life is good in Jonesville”