History Explorers Program in July was a Success!

In its second year, the Tolland Historical Society’s History Explorers program, held during a hot week in July, was a success as eight local girls learned about leisure activities of the 1800s at the Old Tolland County Jail and Museum.

Led by Museum Director Kathy Bach, with help from Talie Lyon and Emma and Julia Condos, the explorers had a great adventure.

Here’s a write-up from Kathy:
“In several craft activities, the explorers incorporated modern conveniences into the skills of days of old. Sewing a fine seam of 8 stitches per inch was fine in 1865, but we wanted to finish our lingerie bags to travel during the week, so the explorers learned the art of the 20th-century sewing machine. And an electric iron was much more handy than building a fire in the wood stove during the hottest week of the summer!
Their nature art from the flowers in the museum garden on photo paper exposed to the sun, scratch art, painted pencil cases and decorated personal journals all used ideas and patterns we gathered from quilts, china and cut glass found in the museum…and some from our imaginations. Making kaleidoscopes was a challenge, but what a fun result.
There was still time to learn a little history, etiquette, tour the museum, do an attic crawl, and of course, have our famous end-of-the-week tea party. I think the highlight was our trip to the Tolland Inn, where we saw a real pantry, and were the first students to meet the new town manager, Michael Rosen. Susan and Steve Beeching, the inn’s owners, are so much fun and showed us all around their beautiful bed and breakfast.
And did anyone mention Bob? The explorers even named the famed museum jail occupant (our dummy), who resides in cell #22.”

The Explorers who took part were Abbie Poulin, Mia Santini, Avery Marcroft, Kaylee Hansen Edgar, Grace Condos, Ava Sapere, Sophia Ash and Julia Pizzi.

Group photos in the jail and at the Tolland Inn by Kathy Bach. Other photos by Perne Maynard of the Tolland Historical Society.