Students from the Grant Elementary School Discovery Class premiered their new documentary, Birdtown: Lakewood’s Oldest Neighborhood, to an excited crowd at the Nicholson House. Created through a partnership with teacher Nadine Bluemel and Lakewood Historical Society Executive Director Mazie M. Adams, the Birdtown project was a wonderful way for the students to learn about the history of their community.

During the school year, the students researched using primary and secondary sources, conducted oral history interviews, gathered historic photographs and took two walking tours of the neighborhood. They especially enjoyed interviewing current and past residents of the neighborhood. The residents shared interesting details of their lives in Birdtown. Many remembered the church bells ringing for special days, the numerous mom and pop grocery stores and bakeries, the traveling street vendors, the streetcars and so much more. Councilwoman Mary Louise Madigan and Assistant Planner Meredith Karger provided wonderful insights into the history of the neighborhood as well.

The students learned that the Birdtown neighborhood was created in 1897 by National Carbon Company to provide housing for their workers. Many of the residents emigrated from Eastern European countries and their personal heritage greatly influenced the architecture, churches, stores and everyday life in Birdtown.

Using the information and photographs they gathered over the school year, the students produced a ten-minute movie that highlights the wonderful history of Birdtown. The movie premiere audience, which included Lakewood City Schools superintendent Dr. David Estrop, many of the interviewees and proud parents, were very impressed with the students’ work.

Because of Birdtown, children met fascinating people, learned about a great neighborhood and had a lot of fun!

You can see this movie, as well as the class’s previous documentary on Lakewood’s own Templar Automobile, at www.lakewoodhistory.org or www.lkwdpl.org/schools/elempath/discovery.