We’ve had a lot of fun in February working with our Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) Young Historians teaching them about codes, ciphers and spying during the Revolutionary War. Read more about these activities and see the pictures at the Cavendish Corner. Note that for the invisible ink project, we used 1 Tablespoon of baking soda to 1 cup water for our invisible ink. After it dried, a mixture of turmeric and rubbing alcohol revealed the secret message.
50th ANNIVERSARY: In June 1976, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn moved to Cavendish and would spend the next 18 years writing “The Red Wheel” and raising his young sons with his wife and mother in law. Over the course of the year, we will be including excerpts from his book “Between Two Millstones” volumes 1 and 2 in the Cavendish Historical Society newsletter about life in Cavendish. We do have copies of volumes of both books if you’d like to borrow. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com
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.
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,” coffee and hot chocolate will be served. 1 pm at the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville. Recommended ages 12 and up.
March 17 (Tuesday): St. Patrick’s Day with the Young Historians at CTES. Focus will be on the role of the Irish immigrant during the Revolutionary War period.
April 11 (Saturday): By popular request, CHS will be offering a paper flower workshop featuring patriotic flowers-red, white and blue. 1 pm at the Cavendish Library. Our favorite paper artistes will be leading this workshop.
June 7 (Sunday): Museum opens for the season 2-4 pm
June 14 (Sunday): Flag Day talk at the Museum 2 pm. Betsy Ross Fact or Fiction
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 The CHS booth is at gazebo on the Proctorsville Green.
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.
HANNAH LOVELL & THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR: Without women, the Revolutionary War would not have been won. Often overlooked in history books, which tend to focus on battles and men, women were responsible for running the boycotts, serving the quarter master function in camps, nursing, manning cannons, spying and much more. Not only did women influence the outcome of the war, it set the stage for women to begin liberating themselves over the coming centuries legally, economically and from patriarchal control.
On Saturday March 14, at 1 pm at the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) will hold a talk on Hannah Lovell and the role of women in the Revolutionary War. Lovell, who carried messages during the war, is the only woman in the Cavendish cemeteries with acknowledgment as a “patriot” on her grave stone and a Revolutionary War flag holder. However, she was far from the only female patriot. This event will include showing excerpts from Ken Burns American Revolution series, as well a “Liberty Tea” party featuring the drinks of the era-special tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
This event is free, open to the public and recommended for those 12 and up. In the event of inclement weather, changes will be posted to www.facebook.com/cavendishvt by 10 am. For more information call 802-226-7807 or email margocaulfield@icloud.com
SUGGESTIONS FOR READING & WATCHING
• The Best Conversation About History You’ve Ever Heard with historian Dominic Sandbrook.
Donations for CHS can be sent to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. Checks should be payable to the Cavendish Historical Society.
