Thanks to Bronsons for a memorable student trip

Editor,

What sparks curiosity in children more than solving a mystery! Thanks to Jan and Marshall Bronson of Coupeville’s Compass Rose, a historical mystery was solved.

Earlier in the fall I met the Bronsons at the Island County Historical Society’s annual auction. We talked of our favorite place —Coupeville — the trove of history just waiting to be discovered by young minds.

Actually it all started with cocoa. In September, while studying glaciation at Fort Ebey State Park, my students and I decided a hot cup of cocoa was in order before we headed out to hike the kettles. Our cocoa experience didn’t end up to be what we had hoped for, but our kettles experience more than made up for it.

By October, sitting cozily at our table, I was introduced to the Bronsons. I happened to share with Jan our cocoa dilemma to which she responded, “Well, next time you come to Coupeville, the cocoa will be on us!” Teachers by nature are opportunists. If you know the Bronsons, you also know they have traveled the world and their home is filled with its treasures — singing bowls, tusks, thrones from Peru and a library to die for. So the adventure began.

With a phone call and a visit to the Compass Rose, we hatched our plan — The Case of the Neon Footprint. After stopping at Deception Pass to think about how someone would navigate its waters, we headed to Coupeville to meet the Bronsons. I told my students Mrs. Bronson had called me with a dilemma, but was so distraught, we needed to come talk to her in person to find out what happened.

In Hollywood fashion, the Bronsons convinced my students that someone had stolen their precious book of Coupeville from their library. Marshall even added the extra touch of a Sherlock Holmes hat, pipe and magnifying glass. Hot on the trail, with neon pink footprints pointing the way, we headed out to find the wretched thief.

Over the course of two days, my students mysteriously learned about the lives of Thomas Coupe and Isaac Ebey while trying to find the thief. Each time we came back to the Compass Rose to report in, Mrs. Bronson asked my students what they had discovered. You know students have learned something when the effort to tell someone about it is effortless.

By the second day, full of Whidbey historical knowledge, my students had to admit they had not found the thief. The Bronsons consoled them with cocoa and congratulated them for their efforts. While putting on her apron to serve the students steaming cocoa from a silver bowl, and pulling her napkin from her pocket to wipe up a spill, the book appeared. “You’re the thief” they called out bouncing on their haunches. “Oh, I’m not a thief,” Jan said. “I must have put the book in my apron pocket and forgot about it when I was cleaning my husband’s library.” With forgiving eyes, the students sat back, enjoyed their cocoa and continued to tell Mrs. Bronson all they had learned.

Thank you, Jan and Marshall Bronson, for making this an unforgettable experience. History truly was a mystery to be solved.

Cheryl Anderton, Teacher

4/5 Multi-age Highly Capable

Stanwood- Camano School District