Sparta — Every Thursday, in the tucked-away Sparta Township Historical Commission Research Center, six Sparta High School students and one homeschooled student from the area come together as the Young Historians Club, a group dedicated to tracing, preserving and ensuring a continuing interest in the township’s history.
The Young Historians Club is a newly relaunched iteration of a history-focused student group that dissolved during the pandemic. It’s led by Larry Carter, who, in addition to being a Sparta alum, is also a retired Appleview Elementary teacher, a former STHC chair, and a current member of the nonprofit Sparta Historical Friends group, which works to support and promote the historical commission’s work. Carter is joined in leading the group by Roxie Claxton, a fellow class of 1971 grad and a current STHC commissioner.
During each meeting, Carter and Claxton lead the group through activities including taking field trips to sites of local historical significance, viewing documentary films about relevant historical figures, and aiding the historical commission in various ways.
‘People are just interested, as well they should be, in who’s gone before, and the shoulders that we’re on. And if we fail to learn from history we’re doomed to repeat it.’
— Larry Carter, club leader and Sparta alumnus
“The whole purpose is, catch the vision for local history,” Carter told SNN during a recent meeting. “Help get to know older people, have that vision for history and just spread the word.”
The Young Historians Club was reborn in September 2025, when representatives from the STHC stopped by the high school’s open house to gauge interest in bringing the club back. The interest was there, so the club made its return.
Senior Ayriel Simmons signed up because she thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about her family, which has deep roots in Sparta. She said her time in the group has reignited a passion for the past that, prior to this year, had been dormant for some time.
“It really got me back into liking history,” Ayriel said. “It connects me with a lot of people around here, and I made some new friends through it.”
Filling the Gaps
Since the relaunch, the club has learned a lot, exploring Sparta’s agricultural history and finding out about the work of renowned inventor George Bettes. Students have also worked to track down information about whether a name should be added to the list of troops from Sparta who died in battle during World War I.
That effort has been a highlight of the experience so far for junior Israel Burman.
“I was really interested in us trying to find the war dead,” Israel said. “I’ve been trying to look that up.”
He said he’s eager to fill any gaps that might exist in the historical commission’s account of the past.
“I’m really interested in kind of making history again, because I know we’ve tried our best, and I think we’re doing a really good job, but I know that we are not perfect, and there are still holes in the story,” Israel said.
He added that he and his fellow Young Historians feel it’s their duty to “step in” and carry on the work of their forebears like Carter, Claxton and Doug Pickney, the current STHC chair, who also attends Young Historians meetings when he can.
“I am very proud of these children, that they’re spending their time (learning) about history,” Pickney said. “And hopefully, down the road 20 (or) 30 years, they’ll get in these chairs where Roxie and I are, because we want this to go on.”
Some students, like Israel, are considering history as a career or academic pursuit. Ayriel, who received the Pierson-Clark Sparta Local History Grant from the Sparta Historical Friends group, plans to make history a backup option as she works toward becoming a veterinarian.
But even if the Young Historians don’t dive into becoming historians right away, the past isn’t going anywhere.
“(History) is all around us,” said Carter. “And I’m hopelessly devoted to the idea that there isn’t anything — any pursuit you can get involved in — where a dose of where you’ve been, or where the discipline has been, will not help you immensely.
“People are just interested, as well they should be, in who’s gone before, and the shoulders that we’re on. And if we fail to learn from history we’re doomed to repeat it. So there’s just a lot of great reasons to embrace it.”
Read more from Sparta:
• FFA about more than just ag for newly relaunched chapter
• ‘If I can teach them how to problem solve, then they can do anything’
