The National Math Trail
http://www.nationalmathtrail.org/
The National Math Trail is now in its second year, thanks
to renewed support from the US Department of Education's Star Schools program,
through the Satellite Education Resources Consortium (SERC), and ongoing
support from Texas Instruments.
The National Math Trail is an opportunity for K-12 teachers and students to
discover and share the math that exists in their own environments. Students
explore their communities and create one or more math problems that relate to
what they find. Teachers submit the problems to the National Math Trail site,
along with photos, drawings, sound recordings, videos--whatever can be adapted
to the Internet. All submissions will be posted to the site as they are
submitted. They will also be indexed according to grade level and math topic
and will remain on the site for access by educators, students and parents.
Upton, Kentucky
By
Upton Elementary Students
Upton Depot
Upton,
Kentucky is located in both Larue and Hardin counties. It has a rich and
colorful history. Edward Upton, son of a Revolutionary War soldier, Edward
Upton, came to Hardin County in 1812 and bought a large body of land, on part
of which the town of Upton is now located. The town was known for some time as
Leesville, after the first postmaster, Silas Lee, appointed on January 1, l841.
In
April, 1856, the name of the town was changed to Uptonville, in honor of the
son of Edward Upton, George Washington Upton, who was born on March 22, 1820 in
Hardin County, where Upton now stands. At the age of twenty, he farmed two
hundred acres of land in and around the present site of Upton. He encouraged settlement
by giving one acre of land to anyone who would build a home on the property. He
also donated land for the Baptist Church and the public school.
Upton Railroad
To
insure the town had rail service, he built a train station about 1857 and later
sold it to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Uptonville became a rail
shipping point for cattle, tobacco, and produce. In May, 1892, the name was
changed from Uptonville to Upton.
UPTON AND THE CIVIL WAR
General
John Hunt Morgan, after defeating the Union's Second Michigan Calvary at
Glasgow, celebrated Christmas on the evening of December 25, 1862 just five
miles south of the town of Upton. Early on the morning of the 26th,
continuing a drive toward Louisville along the L & N Railroad, the Federal
Garrison at Upton was taken completely by surprise and captured. Then, taking
possession of the telegraph offices, Morgan and a young quick-witted telegraph
operator, "Lightning," proceeded to send misleading information as to
Morgan's whereabouts and strength to the Union's General Boyle in Louisville.
It was reported that several miles of railroad were also destroyed.
Records
also report that during the War Between the States, several of Upton's homes
were seized and converted into hospitals. The Lee Upton building, on the left
in the picture with the arched porch, was one of the older structures in town. It's
rafters were made of chopped poles instead of sawed lumber. Inside there was
wooden wainscoting about three feet up the walls. Rocks as big as a doubled
fist were filled in behind it to convert the building into a fort.
Lee Upton Building
It
later served as the telephone office. The building on the right was the first
location of Rider's Grocery Store about 60 years ago. To the right of it were a
cream station and beauty shop.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT UPTON
1896-Citizens
had to build a fence to keep out the town stock.
1898-Two
freight trains crashed near Upton killing three men and injuring four, with a
property loss estimated at $100,000.00.
1900-Young
people in Upton spent the evening at an Apron Party. The boys had to hem the
girls' aprons. Best and booby prizes were awarded. There were many curious
stitches made.
1905-Water
pipes have been put in some stores and dwellings from Georgetown Reservoir,
furnished by the windmill pumping the water from an 80 foot well.
A
Tacky Party was held. Cellar and attic were robbed for the time. All presented
an unusual appearance.
A
Chocolate Tea was enjoyed by all present.
The
G.W. Upton storehouse, one of the oldest buildings in town, was torn down. It
was built in 1865 and will be replaced with a handsome building for dry goods.
1906-Five
stores, the bank, hotel, telephone and telegraph property were damaged or
destroyed by fire. Two hundred men, women and children constituted a bucket
brigade dashing water on the flames. Telephone and Western Union Service on the
East side of the railroad were destroyed. Wires melted in to and some poles
burned down.
Upton Hotel
A
Shadow Pie social was held.
1907-A
town lot cost $75.00.
Upton Baptist Church
Rev.
Bowles and J.A. Howard cleaned off the ground for the new Baptist church.
Herbert DeWitt made the first mark and Frank O"Brian drove the first nail.
The building is 40 x 40 and will cost $2,000.00.
The
Methodists have bought a lot near Rider's Store and will erect a new church in
the near future.
1908-
Prices for Goods:
100
lbs. Barb wire $3.00
.100 lbs. Diary feed $1.50
20
lbs. White syrup $1.00
1 bar of soap .01
1
lb. Coffee .15
3 lbs. Macaroni .25
Paying
for: Eggs .17
.Butter .18
Gensing $5.00
1918-
A new Ford touring car has been purchased. Automobiles are increasing rapidly
in our town the past month.
1920-
Harvy Vance and Miss Ruth Miller (Mrs.Wilcox' grandparents) were married
Wednesday in Jeffersonville.
1929-
Henry J. Street, one of the last surviving Confederate soldiers in Hardin Co.,
died at his home in Upton.
Lyda
Ray Vance won the spelling bee for elementary school pupils in Hardin County at
the courthouse. Cash prizes were given the winners.
1931-
The Upton School Honor Roll for Fourth Grade included: Damon Ray (Mr.
Campbell's grandfather), Raymond Avery, Mildred Sutherland, Patrick Sharp,
Basil Wells. Seniors included Virginia Hodges, Susie and Nancy Cruse, Pansy
Mabe, Paul McClure.
1932-
Hardin County teachers' salaries were reduced five dollars a month per teacher
by the Hardin County Board of Education.
1936-
500 persons attended a reunion of Sandy School pupils, near Sonora. Occasion
was prompted by the sale of Sandy schoolhouse as a part of the county school
consolidation program.
.
Sandy School
1946-
Sixty-one men in Hardin County lost their lives in WW II.
Twelve
members of the class of 1946 graduated at Upton School. Members included: Ruby
Kinkade, valedictorian (Laura's grandmother): Greta Faye Cave, salutatorian;
Ida Mae Campbell; Juanita Conner; Maxine Witten; Frances Wood; Lamonte
Hornback; Everett Rider; Ralph Thornberry; Walton Vance; Garland Wilcox;
Stanley Wood.
1951-
Miss Ruby Alice Kincade and Fred Kemper were married at the Upton Baptist
parsonage.
The
home of Bennie Brackett was completely destroyed by fire. The family was
awakened when a portion of the roof caved in. Mr. Brackett suffered slight
burns. (Mrs.Brackett's Father-in-law)
The
engagement of Miss Jennie Lee Avery and Pfc. Norman H. Patterson (Miss Patti's
brother-in-law) was announced. A Christmas wedding was planned.
1952-
Going Home for Christmas: Cpl. Eugene T. Wooden (Mitchs grandfather) was one
of the lucky participants in "Operation Reindeer". He spent Christmas
with his family in Upton, Ky.
Thieves
broke in Gilbert Morris' grocery (Samantha's great-grandfather) at Upton Friday
night.
*********************
Special thanks to the family of Almira
Miller and Ruth Vance, Mr. and Mrs. Rebecca and George Vance and Mrs. Teresa
Wilcox, for this special stroll down memory lane in Upton, Kentucky, by sharing
their Upton News Scrapbooks.
Click to view our historical PowerPoint.
Math Trail Questions
Descendants
of the first person named Upton, who came to this area in 1812, still live
here. For how long have the
members of the Upton Family lived on land near the town of Upton?
How
many years has it been since Confederate Civil War General John Hunt
Morgan celebrated Christmas near the town of Upton?
If
it costs $ 3.75 for the ingredients to make a dessert for a Shadow Pie
social, and the winning bid is $10.00, how much profit is made on the sale
of the pie?
In
1908 a dozen eggs cost 17 cents.
Today they cost 85 cents.
How many times more costly
are they today than in 1908?
If a town lot cost $75.00 in 1907 and
$2,000.00 today, how many times more valuable is a lot in Upton today than
it was in 1907? If the town lot
rose in value at the same rate of the price of eggs, what should the price
of the lot be?
The
Baptist Church, a 40 by 40 foot building, cost $2,000.00. How much did it cost a square foot to
build?