What a cold start to the new year. Hope you are staying warm and can attend some of the workshops we’ve planned for the winter months.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES: In the event of inclement weather, changes to workshops will be posted to the Cavendish Facebook page. All workshops are free and open to the public.
February 6 (Friday): Spying during the Revolutionary War. CTES 3rd/4th grades. 10:15
February 7 (Saturday): Write an 18th Century Valentine. The workshop will include: writing with a “quill pen,” examples of letters written for Valentine’s Day, letter locking and creating your own Valentine. 1-2:30 at the Cavendish Library. Recommended ages 12 and up.
February 13 (Friday): Workshops at CTES for 5th grade (18th century Valentines) and 6th grade (Spying and Valentines)
February 28 (Saturday): In keeping with Black History Month, this workshop will include screening portions of Ken Burns’ American Revolution series on the role of black patriots, loyalists, the Ethiopian Army, and two Cavendish patriots-Peter Tumbo and Prince Robinson-who had been enslaved and made their way to Cavendish after the war. 1-2:30 pm at the Cavendish Library. Recommended ages 12 and up.
March 14 (Saturday): Celebrating Women’s History month, this workshop will discuss the role of women in the American Revolution and will include screening segments of the American Revolution series. This workshop will include a “taste of history,” where “Liberty Tea” will be served. Recommended ages 12 and up.
June 7 (Sunday): Museum opens for the season 2-4 pm
June 20 (Saturday): Annual Cavendish Ghost Walk for Summer Solstice, meet at 8 pm at the Museum, wearing walking shoes, and bring a flashlight.
July 4 (Saturday): 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
July 25 (Saturday): Cavendish Town Wide Tag Sale
September 12 (Sunday): Phineas Gage Walk and Talk, meet at the Museum at 2 pm. The walk includes the site of the Gage accident. It’s approximately three quarters of a mile from the Museum.
October 11 (Sunday): Last day the Museum is open for the season.
18th CENTURY VALENTINE WORKSHOP: Letter writing in the Revolutionary War time period was not only a way to stay in touch with friends and family, write a valentine or conduct business, but it was critical to spying and winning the war. Using codes, ciphers and various “letter locking” techniques, messages were continually being sent by both patriots and loyalists.
The first Colonial Valentine, written in 1779, captures many aspects of both the war as well as a tradition that dates back to the 14th/15th centuries and earlier.
On February 7 (Saturday) at 1:30 pm at the Cavendish Library, 573 Main St., Proctorsville, CHS will be hosting a workshop where participants will learn about the role of letter writing in the 18th century and have a chance to: write a Valentine using a “quill pen,” and try various types of letter locking. This workshop is free and open to the public. It is recommended for those 12 and up.
In the event the workshop has to be changed due to weather, information will be posted to www.facebook.com/cavendishvt by 10 am on Feb. 7. For more information call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com
Suggestions for Reading and Watching:
• Russian Soul, American Life: Interview with Ignat Solzhenitsyn: Pianist and conductor, Ignat Solzhenitsyn reflects on growing up in exile as the son of Nobel laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, moving from Soviet persecution to a quiet childhood in rural Cavendish, Vermont.
• The Gulag Archipelago: How Solzhenitsyn Exposed Soviet Reality
Donations for CHS can be sent to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. Checks should be payable to the Cavendish Historical Society.
