December 16. 2009
Dear Young Historians:
Today’s activity is decorating for a 1930’s Christmas. The motto “Repair, reuse, make do and don’t throw anything away” extended to the holidays.
A Christmas tree would be cut down in the woods. Children would help to decorate it with garlands made of paper. Paper doll and snowflake chains would also be made, and cut out snowflakes would be hung in the windows. Stringing popcorn was another popular activity.
If you could afford it, there were special Christmas movies to see. Two popular ones are still shown on TV. They can also be rented. These included: “Babes in Toyland” with Laurel and Hardy (1934) and “Scrooge” with Reginald Owen (1938)
We’ve included a story called “Christmas in the 1930s,” by Tomm Larson.[Available on-line at http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/xmas30s.shtml] Share this with your family and friends. Notice things that you do that “Grandpa” did in the 1930s.
Some on-line resources for snowflake patterns and other ideas for garlands:
Paper Snowflakes Some of the patterns are based on William Bentley’s photographs. Bentley was called “The Snowflake Man” because he was the first person to photograph ice crystals from snow on his farm in Jericho, Vermont.
Popcorn Garland This can be a treat for the birds after the holiday season ends.
Paper Chains
If you like to fold and cut, try making a Christmas Tree with a star using the technique Kirigami
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Young Historians Handout-Recipes
We will now be posting the handouts we are distributing as part of the Young Historian's Program.
The Young Historian's are students in grades 3-6 at the Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES). This school year we are focusing on life in the village and farm of Cavendish Vermont, which includes the villages of Cavendish and Proctorsville.
December 2, 2009
Dear Young Historians:
Below are the recipes we made today. Try some with your family this holiday season.
Keep in mind that chocolate was very expensive, as were cereals. Many of the nuts used would have come from trees in the area. Because of the expense, these candies were a very special treat for the boys and girls of the 1930’s. They would be made at Christmas time.
Don’t forget that this coming Saturday, December 5, is the craft workshop at the school. We will be selling the candies at the workshop. If you can come and help that would be great. You can help show people how to make paper beads and gift boxes from cards. The workshop begins at 10 am and goes until noon.
Ting- A- Ling: This recipe was modified from the one that appears in the book Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
- One pound of dark chocolate melted
- Two cups each of Rice Krispies and Cornflakes
- Two cups of nuts (in the book they had hickory nuts, walnuts, pecans or coconut).
Mix well, drop by the teaspoonful onto a cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator to harden
One Bowl Fudge:
- Two packages (8 oz) Semi Sweet Chocolate
- One can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
Melt together.
- Add 2 tsp vanilla and 1 cup chopped nuts. We didn’t use the nuts since some of you said you couldn’t eat them because of braces.
Spread into a foil lined 8 inch square pan. Put in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
The Young Historian's are students in grades 3-6 at the Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES). This school year we are focusing on life in the village and farm of Cavendish Vermont, which includes the villages of Cavendish and Proctorsville.
December 2, 2009
Dear Young Historians:
Below are the recipes we made today. Try some with your family this holiday season.
Keep in mind that chocolate was very expensive, as were cereals. Many of the nuts used would have come from trees in the area. Because of the expense, these candies were a very special treat for the boys and girls of the 1930’s. They would be made at Christmas time.
Don’t forget that this coming Saturday, December 5, is the craft workshop at the school. We will be selling the candies at the workshop. If you can come and help that would be great. You can help show people how to make paper beads and gift boxes from cards. The workshop begins at 10 am and goes until noon.
Ting- A- Ling: This recipe was modified from the one that appears in the book Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
- One pound of dark chocolate melted
- Two cups each of Rice Krispies and Cornflakes
- Two cups of nuts (in the book they had hickory nuts, walnuts, pecans or coconut).
Mix well, drop by the teaspoonful onto a cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator to harden
One Bowl Fudge:
- Two packages (8 oz) Semi Sweet Chocolate
- One can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
Melt together.
- Add 2 tsp vanilla and 1 cup chopped nuts. We didn’t use the nuts since some of you said you couldn’t eat them because of braces.
Spread into a foil lined 8 inch square pan. Put in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
John Brown in Cavendish VT
The November 29 Rutland Herald, contains an article about John Brown in Vermont, ) including Cavendish.
Below is the portion of the article that pertains to Cavendish.
What Coffin only discovered six weeks ago, however, was that Brown made a visit to Cavendish in 1857, probably in hopes of securing some of the $20,000 the Vermont Legislature had approved to support anti-slavery settlements in Kansas. Although Vermont's governor at that time, Ryland Fletcher, was a devout abolitionist, he turned down Brown's request for some of the money at the Cavendish meeting.
Coffin tripped across a newspaper recounting of the visit in a microfilmed copy of the Rutland Herald from May 7, 1869.
The writer, who is not identified, described how Brown's physical appearance on that visit differed from the bearded photographs taken around the time of the Harpers Ferry raid.
"... Hair closely cut, beard neatly shaven, tight, stiff stock around his neck, no collar, or dickey, closely fitting swallow-tailed coat ..." the newspaper described. "As soon as it was known that 'John Brown' was stopping in our village, all manifested a desire to see and hear the man ... Notice was given that he would meet the people at the school house, and at the appointed hour an audience assembled.
"We introduced the modest and unassuming old man ... He went on and told the tale of his struggles with the despotism of slavery ... We little thought then how soon 'John Brown's body' would be mouldering in the ground, but his soul was even at that hour 'marching on.'"
"I thought, 'Wow,' Coffin said of the article's discovery. "It's an authentic account, there's no question because you couldn't make this stuff up. It's somebody in Cavendish who was working for the Herald."
Brown was raising money all over New England at that time. "I'm sure he had Harpers Ferry in mind then," Coffin said. "You can see what a celebrity he is here. People apparently flocked to see him, to meet him."
Below is the portion of the article that pertains to Cavendish.
What Coffin only discovered six weeks ago, however, was that Brown made a visit to Cavendish in 1857, probably in hopes of securing some of the $20,000 the Vermont Legislature had approved to support anti-slavery settlements in Kansas. Although Vermont's governor at that time, Ryland Fletcher, was a devout abolitionist, he turned down Brown's request for some of the money at the Cavendish meeting.
Coffin tripped across a newspaper recounting of the visit in a microfilmed copy of the Rutland Herald from May 7, 1869.
The writer, who is not identified, described how Brown's physical appearance on that visit differed from the bearded photographs taken around the time of the Harpers Ferry raid.
"... Hair closely cut, beard neatly shaven, tight, stiff stock around his neck, no collar, or dickey, closely fitting swallow-tailed coat ..." the newspaper described. "As soon as it was known that 'John Brown' was stopping in our village, all manifested a desire to see and hear the man ... Notice was given that he would meet the people at the school house, and at the appointed hour an audience assembled.
"We introduced the modest and unassuming old man ... He went on and told the tale of his struggles with the despotism of slavery ... We little thought then how soon 'John Brown's body' would be mouldering in the ground, but his soul was even at that hour 'marching on.'"
"I thought, 'Wow,' Coffin said of the article's discovery. "It's an authentic account, there's no question because you couldn't make this stuff up. It's somebody in Cavendish who was working for the Herald."
Brown was raising money all over New England at that time. "I'm sure he had Harpers Ferry in mind then," Coffin said. "You can see what a celebrity he is here. People apparently flocked to see him, to meet him."
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Hats From Scraps: Upcoming Cavendish Historical Society Events
The Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) chose the 1930’s as its theme for the year due to the current economic situation. At the upcoming Holiday Fair on September 28, 9-2 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School, you can see how members of CHS have “reused and recycled.”
Hats from Scraps are made from bits and pieces of left over fabric and fleece. There are even some holiday stockings made in the same manner.
In the 1930’s, socks were often knitted using either wool or cotton. When the socks had been passed downed and darned so often that they no longer could be worn, they would be cut up and reused. Some were used in mops-cotton socks for wet chores and wool for dry mopping. Another handy item was cutting the socks into loops and using them to weave potholders. Students from the Young Historians program, who are studying town and farm life in the 1930’s, have been making potholders, but not from old socks. Thanks to a donation from the Vermont Country Store, the students have looms and cotton loops.
In addition to handmade items, the Fair is a good time to give the gift of Cavendish, by purchasing copies of old photographs, including the 1927 Flood panoramic photograph, as well as books and note cards.
On December 5 (Saturday), the Young Historian’s program, a project of CHS and the Cavendish Elementary School, is sponsoring a “Re-Make it for the Holidays” workshop. All three crafts provide an opportunity to recycle paper. These include paper beads; gift boxes made from old greeting cards and Iris Folding. The latter is a way of using folded pieces of paper to make interesting pictures and cards. Developed by a Dutch photographer in the early 1900’s, the patterns give the appearance of a camera shutter closing.
The cost of the craft workshop is $5 and includes all materials. The workshop will be held from 10-noon in the multi purpose room at the Cavendish Elementary School.
For more information about these events, e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.
Hats from Scraps are made from bits and pieces of left over fabric and fleece. There are even some holiday stockings made in the same manner.
In the 1930’s, socks were often knitted using either wool or cotton. When the socks had been passed downed and darned so often that they no longer could be worn, they would be cut up and reused. Some were used in mops-cotton socks for wet chores and wool for dry mopping. Another handy item was cutting the socks into loops and using them to weave potholders. Students from the Young Historians program, who are studying town and farm life in the 1930’s, have been making potholders, but not from old socks. Thanks to a donation from the Vermont Country Store, the students have looms and cotton loops.
In addition to handmade items, the Fair is a good time to give the gift of Cavendish, by purchasing copies of old photographs, including the 1927 Flood panoramic photograph, as well as books and note cards.
On December 5 (Saturday), the Young Historian’s program, a project of CHS and the Cavendish Elementary School, is sponsoring a “Re-Make it for the Holidays” workshop. All three crafts provide an opportunity to recycle paper. These include paper beads; gift boxes made from old greeting cards and Iris Folding. The latter is a way of using folded pieces of paper to make interesting pictures and cards. Developed by a Dutch photographer in the early 1900’s, the patterns give the appearance of a camera shutter closing.
The cost of the craft workshop is $5 and includes all materials. The workshop will be held from 10-noon in the multi purpose room at the Cavendish Elementary School.
For more information about these events, e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Green Mountain Folklore Society
At the recent Annual Meeting of the Cavendish Historical Society, one of the members talked about The Green Mountain Folklore Society Founded in 1948 by University of Vermont English Professor Leon Dean, the non profit organization is working to collect, preserve and make available the folklore of Vermont.
Folklore can include customs, ceremonies, crafts, clothes, entertainment, proverbs, tall tales, writing, and songs. Each year, The Society holds a "Gabfeast," where people come and share stories and folkways. In addition, Green Mountain Whittlin's is published yearly and includes some of the stories from the Gabfeast, as well as ones submitted during the year.
Folklore can include customs, ceremonies, crafts, clothes, entertainment, proverbs, tall tales, writing, and songs. Each year, The Society holds a "Gabfeast," where people come and share stories and folkways. In addition, Green Mountain Whittlin's is published yearly and includes some of the stories from the Gabfeast, as well as ones submitted during the year.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Proctor Cemetery Tour 10/11/09
The Annual Cemetery Tour will be held tomorrow, Sunday, October 11. We will touring the Proctor Cemetery in Proctorsville. This will be the first time that many will see the cemetery. Note how the graves with the Irish names are off to one side. The Irish came to the area to work on the railroads.
The tour will be lead by Carmine Guica, who has completed the genealogy for many people in the cemetery. He not only has stories about the famous, but more often as not, the infamous.
The tour begins at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum at 2 pm. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a short hike up to the cemetery.
The tour will be lead by Carmine Guica, who has completed the genealogy for many people in the cemetery. He not only has stories about the famous, but more often as not, the infamous.
The tour begins at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum at 2 pm. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a short hike up to the cemetery.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Young Historians Program Oct 7 and 14
Today the Young Historians at the Cavendish Town Elementary School meet for the second time. We will be making paper beads and listening to music from the 1930's. Each student will be given materials so they can make enough beads for a bracelet or necklace. The stringing will take place at the YH meeting on Oct. 14.
Paper bead making was very popular in the 1930’s. It was a way to make something from scraps of paper, including newspaper. Just about any paper will do, with the exception of crepe and tissue paper. For a special present, beads from broken necklaces and bracelets would be added. While there are templates, special papers and a variety of videos on this topic, keeping it simple is the best. You can wrap the paper around straws, wire, skewers or anything else that leaves a hole. To make sure the bead comes off whatever type of rod you use, don’t start applying glue until you have already starting rolling the bead. Glue sticks work just fine. Once you have made some beads, they can be strung on any type of cord or wire. You can even make some fun animals using pipe cleaners. Below are on-line resources:
• How to Make Paper Beads
• How-To Make Recycled Paper Beads, Threadbanger Video
Paper bead making was very popular in the 1930’s. It was a way to make something from scraps of paper, including newspaper. Just about any paper will do, with the exception of crepe and tissue paper. For a special present, beads from broken necklaces and bracelets would be added. While there are templates, special papers and a variety of videos on this topic, keeping it simple is the best. You can wrap the paper around straws, wire, skewers or anything else that leaves a hole. To make sure the bead comes off whatever type of rod you use, don’t start applying glue until you have already starting rolling the bead. Glue sticks work just fine. Once you have made some beads, they can be strung on any type of cord or wire. You can even make some fun animals using pipe cleaners. Below are on-line resources:
• How to Make Paper Beads
• How-To Make Recycled Paper Beads, Threadbanger Video
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