The Wilton Historical Society is looking forward to welcoming Cider Mill’s fourth grade students, who will be spending a day learning about life in colonial Wilton. During the week of May 13, three or four classes per day will be visiting the Society.
Andrea Wulffleff, program coordinator, said, “One of the best ways to get a child engaged and thinking is to provide them with an opportunity to literally put their hands on an object and learn by doing. Our program is a full day of experiencing the gamut of tasks and activities that defined colonial life. The kids have fun, and don’t realize how much they are learning!” About 350 children will participate.
The youngsters will have a busy day as they shuttle between four learning stations, which are the Textile Tent, the Abbot Barn area, the Raymond/Fitch House and the Elias Betts House. At each station they will be greeted by knowledgeable staff and volunteers, many in colonial dress, who will engage them in hands-on learning.
At the historic Abbott Barn, colonial tool and building expert Walter Smith will be on hand to explain and guide a series of carpentry tasks: sawing logs, spoke shaving (barn pegs), preparing holes for framing pegs, and finally, a team effort to raise a child-sized barn frame. New this year, the kids can learn how to punch tin, which could be used to make lanterns.
The Elias Betts House is where the fourth graders will learn about sewing and weaving and how a loom works. Volunteers will also be showing how to sew and embroider and the students will have a project to do – sewing pincushions.
Hearth cooking, with tasty samples of corn bread, will be demonstrated at the Raymond/Fitch House. It is a popular activity, as is the opportunity to barter for supplies in Captain Samuel Belden’s Store, supervised by volunteer Jim Burch. The children will be divided into four Wilton families – Hickox, Sturges, Hurlbutt and Raymond – as they learn how to trade for goods, as was done in colonial times.
The Textile Tent will be the place to learn about carding and spinning wool, breaking and combing flax, and how cloth was made. And, there will be time to visit the nearby Blacksmith Shop. While eating lunch, the children will be watching and listening to an 18th century soldier, who will talk about his life and times.