I mentioned the Paper Clip Museum in a previous post and thought I would explain the story behind this museum. I read on someone's blog about the documentary Paper Clip and got it from Netflicks. A middle school in Whitwell, Tn, as a lesson about diversity, decided to study the Holocaust. They researched and decided to collect one paper clip for each person that died during this time and started contacting people about sending them paper clips. They were on National TV talk shows and also had three survivors come and talk to them about what happened. They received hundreds of thousands of paper clips. The biggest question became what to do with all the paperclips. The survivors contacted someone in Germany and found an actual rail car than had been used to transport the Jewish people to the death camps. The rail car was shipped to Whitwell, and turned into a museum. The school children give the tours of the museum and the history behind it.
After seeing the documentary, my husband and I wanted to see the museum, and decided if we are ever in that area, we would check it out. The town is only 16 miles from Chattanooga, so we decided to go. Sixteen miles makes a big difference in the Appalachian Mountains and it was truely like we had gone hundreds of miles. We were pleased to see this small mountain town was having a Labor Day Parade and we watched right along with every one else. Very "small town America" and a great way to spend Labor Day. Then we went to the museum, which unfortunately was closed, so we could not go in the rail car, but were able to see inside. Surrounding the rail car are mosaics of butterflies. I forget what the significance of the butterflies were.
While in Chattanooga, I did check out the Lavender Lime Quilting quilt shop, which is in the Fall/Winter 2009 Quilt Sampler Magazine. Its a rather small shop, but very friendly owners and big on inspiration.
I have tons of pictures from the trip, but will not bore you with them all. All in all, it was a very relaxing time and great to just get away for a little while.
Happy Stitchin' - Teresa
Teresa, Funny thing about the Paper clip Museum. I mentioned it to my family at dinner that I had read about it on your blog. My daughter immediately knew what it was. She had learned about it in school and when she had gone to DC a few years ago, visited the Holocaust museum.
ReplyDeleteOh, too bad the museum was closed! Oh well, at least you had a good trip -- and it's so beautiful in the smokies -- how could you not?
ReplyDeletePavel Friedman was born on January 7, 1921 in Prague and deported to Terezin on April 26, 1942. He wrote a poem “The Butterfly” on a piece of thin copy paper which was donated to the State Jewish Museum.
ReplyDeleteThe Butterfly
The last, the very last,
So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.
Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing
against a white stone….
Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly ‘way up high.
It went away I’m sure because it wished to
kiss the world good-bye.
For seven weeks I’ve lived in here,
Penned up inside this ghetto.
But I have found what I love here.
The dandelions call to me
And the white chestnut branches in the court.
Only I never saw another butterfly.
That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don’t live in here,
in the ghetto.
4. 6. 1942 Pavel Friedmann
http://www.hmh.org/minisite/butterfly/book.html
ReplyDeleteYou can still donate a butterfly.
http://www.hmh.org/minisite/butterfly/index.html