A Winter Wish for the Guinn Children

“if they have Books I think I can advance them this Winter further than they have been yet”

Pull up a chair, friends, and take a look at this little treasure from the archives. It is a humble note written back in December of 1873 by a teacher named S. M. Woodwine to a local parent, Mr. Guinn. Even before you read the words, the paper itself tells a story of survival; it is lined with faint blue ink and marked by deep creases and a few stains that speak to its long journey through time. You can almost feel the texture of the aged page and see the steady hand of the teacher as they dipped their pen in dark ink to write this note in a neat, flowing cursive.

In the letter, Woodwine is looking out for the Guinn children—John, George, and Belle. It is a simple request for some new schoolbooks: a fifth reader for John, an arithmetic book for George, and a fourth reader for Belle. There is something deeply moving about a teacher reaching out in the middle of a nineteenth-century winter, explaining that with these specific tools, the children would be able to learn much faster. It wasn’t just about schoolwork; it was about the shared hope that these kids could go further than anyone expected during the long winter term.

When we look at this weathered piece of paper today, we are reminded of the timeless bond between teachers, students, and families. It shows us that while the books and the handwriting styles might change, the heart of education remains the same. This letter is a testament to a community’s investment in its future and a reminder that a little bit of encouragement and the right resources can change the course of a child’s life. It is a small but mighty piece of our shared history.

Original Transcription

De 14 1873
Mr Guinn
I think you had
better get your son John a fifth
reader and George a rithmetic if you
will get those Books they will
learn much faster and Belle
a new fourth reader if they have
Books I think I can advance
them this Winter further than
they have been yet
Yours
S M Woodwine Teacher