These first pictures are of us in a home, just preparing soup in the kitchen. We later ate the vegetable soup. It was really good. So we chopped vegetables, washed dishes, and churned butter for our bread later.
Then it was time to experience what it would be like to go to school in a one room school house. Children had to stand to answer some questions. And they had lessons on the board for their grade level. If a child showed misconduct, they could be sat in front on a chair with a dunce cap on, be sent to the corner, have their nose put to the blackboard, have their hand slapped with a wooden ruler, or even have to stand on tip toes with back to board and hair pinned up so that they would learn their lessons. So glad some things change. lol Owen got to play at "recess" with the hoop and stick, where they try and keep it rolling down the road.
Then we went to the Hall, and made homemade candles. You can see that Owen was going around a table. On one end was a can full of wax, and the other end of the table was a can of cool water. They walked around with their string, dipping in wax and then water until the desired thickness. The other candle you see is for when youths started to date. When a boy came to call on someone's daughter, the father would twist the candle higher or lower, to allow for the right amount of time the young suitor could stay. If the dad didn't like the young man...then he would only twist it up so far, so going home would be earlier.
Some other things we saw. How a bed was constructed, for example. "Don't let the bed bugs bite," referred to the straw/twig mattress that had bugs in it, sometimes. But, also you had to make sure the rope under the mattress was pulled tight over the pegs, or you might end up on the floor in the night.
A washing machine???
Wood burning stoves. There were plenty of these on site, lit and hot, in all the buildings.
4 comments:
So, the boy genius got another amazing hands-on cultural learning experience. Today Nick ate candy and played in the sandbox. I introduced him to funnels. So, I think they are about the same. Seriously, Janet, your little boy is the luckiest boy ever. You are a great mom.
We really enjoyed the whole thing. But, I did notice that we both got sunburned on our necks and face. I hadn't thought to put sundscreen on. It's the first warm day of the year. Fortunately, we both were covered with long sleeved shirts and long pants.
I agree with Julie-you're a wonderful mom, Janet. I don't have the energy to even think of half the things you do, let alone to do them. Owen is a lucky boy.
We have a couple of "old time" villages like that around here too. One is here in town, called Ohio Village, and there is one where I grew up called Roscoe Village. They have a Christmas tree candle lighting ceremony every year that is beautiful, as well as an apple butter stirring every fall. It's so much fun, but I haven't been in years.
What an experience... I'd have loved to experience that too!
What a great day!
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