Flat Stanley Archives - On Davis Time

Remember Flat Stanley? You can read about his last adventure here, when Alex sent him to Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Most recently, our family was requested to host him right here in Chelsea, Michigan, so the Flat Stanley adventures continue!

A big thank you to sweet Dayton for sending Flat Stanley here – we had a great time with him, and hope he enjoyed his visit.

Flat Stanley returned to Dayton with the following letter:

Dear Dayton,

Thank you for sending me to Chelsea, Michigan!! I arrived on Wednesday, May 1, and it was 84 degrees and sunny. Surprising, since just a week or so before that it had been snowing. I sure am glad I had nicer weather for my visit.

I spent my time in Chelsea with the Davis family – Tressie and Rob, and their kids Riley (10), Alex (7) and Robby (5). Dominic is away at college so I didn’t get to see him (though I had a great visit with him earlier this year when Alex sent me to visit him at Wittenberg University in Ohio).

The Davis family kept me busy. The first thing we did was choose an outfit for me so I would fit in here in Chelsea. Do you like my University of Michigan t-shirt? There are a lot of UofM fans in Chelsea. There are fans of other Michigan schools too, but… those people don’t really count. (haha)

Chelsea is a really great city, with so much to do. A vibrant downtown boasts great food, art and entertainment. This is even more apparent during the warm months when Chelsea hosts Sounds and Sights every Thursday evening – sculpture walks, food, local brew, outdoor movies, and literally music on almost every street corner with diverse line up of musical artists performing at staged areas. It isn’t quite summer yet though, so spring sports and site seeing is what we did.

On Saturday Riley had a softball tournament that was an hour and a half away (first tournament for a long summer of softball!). I decided to stay with Alex and Robby and go to their hockey and soccer games since those were in Chelsea.

The first stop was Robby’s hockey game at the ArcticColiseum. Brrrr…it’s cold in there! But it sure was fun watching the super cute mini hockey players.

After the ice rink we had a little extra time before Alex and Robby’s soccer games, so we stopped at Pierce park, where the Chelsea ROCK is. The ROCK is a giant boulder that people in Chelsea paint to send messages of all kinds – from congrats, to happy birthday, or other fun things. The day we visited it matched my shirt – how cool is that?

I have sent you pictures of some of the cool sites in Chelsea. The clock tower is a favorite of many residents, isn’t it beautiful? It used to be a water tower for the Glazier Stove Company in the early 1900s.

Directly across the railroad tracks is the Chelsea Depot – a gorgeous historic train station built in 1880. Service at the station closed in 1981, but through the efforts of the Chelsea Depot Association, restoration efforts began in 1986. In 1987 Chelsea Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic places.

Just to the west of the clock tower is something very yummy. Did you know that Chelsea is the home of Jiffy Mix? Their cornbread muffin mix is my favorite.

There are lots of places that I wanted to visit, but didn’t get a chance to on this trip – like the Purple Rose Theater, The Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory and Timber Town.

Maybe next time I visit you can come with me?

Love,

Flat Stanley

ps – want to see a cool video made about Chelsea by Jeff Daniels? You can check it out HERE

Do you know Flat Stanley?

According to Wikipedia: Flat Stanley is a 1964 children’s book written by Jeff Brown (January 1, 1926 – December 3, 2003) and originally illustrated byTomi Ungerer. It is the first in a series of books featuring Stanley Lambchop.

In 1995 Dale Hubert, a third grade teacher in Canada, started the Flat Stanley Project. The idea involved school children creating a Flat Stanley and keeping a journal with stories and pictures of Flat Stanley’s adventures. They would then exchange their Flat Stanley and journals with students in another class that had signed up for the project.

Since the original idea was formed, the project has undergone many evolutions, including sending a blank Flat Stanley to a location to be decorated in the customary or traditional costume of the area.

What the project meant to my daughters second grade class is that they each colored a Flat Stanley and mailed him off to the friend or family member of their choice and requested photos and a story in return. My daughter Alex chose to send her Flat Stanley to her brother Dom in college (after briefly considering sending him to a friend of ours currently living in China)

This is what Alex received back with her Flat Stanley:

November 2012

Flat Stanley visits Wittenberg University

Dear Alex,

I have always wanted to know what college life was like, so I was very excited when you sent me to Wittenberg University to visit your big brother Dominic.

The first thing I noticed as I left the mailroom with Dominic was that there are lots of very big, very old buildings, and giant pretty trees. The signs say that Wittenberg University was founded in 1845, so that explains its beautiful historic look.

As I looked around, I spied the tallest building on campus, and wondered what it was. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was the dorm where Dominic’s room is! It’s called Tower Hall, and Dominic’s room is in the “penthouse” – the top floor of the building.

Dominic took me up to his room, and I loved looking out of the window. I’m sure I could see all of Springfield, Ohio from there – and maybe beyond!! The photo I sent does not do the view justice.

Attending class with Dominic was a lot like going to school back in Chelsea. Only a lot more people in class, and Dominic doesn’t get recess.

When we returned from class, I got to meet Dominic’s roommate Colton, and I played video games with him for a while. It turns out that dorms are very social places. Dominic and Colton kept their door open, and people walking by would stop in and visit, or just say hi as they walked by. At one point Dominic put me on the bulletin board on the door, so I could watch the students and wave to them as they passed by.

Did I say that the dorm was full of football players? Well it is. Dominic and Colton play football too, and they took me down to the football field to see where they play. I was surprised to see how much it looked like the Chelsea High School Football field and stands – well, except for all of the red. There was even a hill on the sides of the field where kids can roll down with their friends!

I was having so much fun with Dominic and his friends, that I totally lost track of time, I’m so sorry that it took me so long to return to Chelsea. I had so much fun, and I can’t wait to go back. Or maybe next time you will send me to China? J

Love,

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanely with Dom’s roommate Colton, and The Tower where Dom and Colton live

Flat Stanley looking out the window at Springfield, and hanging out on the door

Flat Stanley visits Wittenberg University!!

Flat Stanley Adventures Continue

Do You Know Flat Stanley?