Traveling Teddy pauses at the replica of the Granary in New Harmony, Ind. Betsa Marsh photo
By Betsa Marsh
Traveling Teddy, who will be named by the incoming third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio, began his globe-trotting year with a jaunt to New Harmony, Ind. The Traveling Teddy program is a geography outreach program of the Society of American Travel Writers.
Teddy toured some of the 1820s buildings left by the Harmony Society, a group of German Utopians who stayed for 10 years on this land
Teddy prepares a frontier Harmonist meal. Betsa Marsh photo
near the Wabash River. They built sturdy brick and frame buildings, and became mostly self-sufficient. In 1824, they returned to their first home in America, Western Pennsylvania, and built their third and final community, Economy, near Pittsburgh.
Teddy toured the gardens and fountains, and
Teddy meets 7-year-old Garrett Cardwell. Betsa Marsh photo
met 7-year-old Garrett Cardwell from Tennessee at the famous Roofless Church, designed by architect Philip Johnson.
As a special treat, Teddy discovered a honey booth at the town market. Yum!
Teddy with beekeeper Dennis Herrmann. Betsa Marsh photo
He bought a plastic bearful of honey from beekeeper Dennis Herrmann.
Teddy stayed the weekend in the 1860 Orchard House, which was next door to the Harmonists’ cemetery–they didn’t believe in headstones or markers, so it’s an unbroken field of grass enclosed by brick walls.
At Orchard House, Teddy took his baths in a clawfoot bathtub–the claws looked a lot like his!
Teddy at his weekend home, Orchard House. Betsa Marsh photo
I love this! So he’s a good bear?
Teddy is one fine bear, thanks! He’s getting used to the travel gig, and being hugged!
How does one apply to be a traveling teddy?
Many are called, few are chosen.