Girls Making History teaches girls about American history through an interactive experience of what girlhood would have been like during a particular era. Comparisons of popular culture, then and now, are designed to help girls begin to think critically about culture and what it means to be a Christian woman in our own day. Dolls and period costume are welcome but not required

Growing up in Hamilton in the 1830s

Saturday, November 2Grades 3 - 6,

9:00 am - NoonFirst Congregational Church of Hamilton

630 Bay Road, Hamilton, MA

Girls Making History presents

Hamilton in the 1830sRegistration Form

Girl’s Full Name:

Age:

Parent’s Full Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Cell Phone:

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Food Allergies:

Cost is $25 which includes all materials. Please submit payment with registration form. Scholarships available.

Please make check payable to: Dallas Bradel

Send check and registration form to:Girls Making History

c/o Dallas BradelPO Box 2182

Hamilton, MA 01936

Dallas Bradel Girls Making History 978-810-1958dalbradel@aol.com

Save the Date: February 8Hamilton at the

turn of the 20th Century

Hamilton in the 1830s

The 1830s were a decade of enormous change in Massachusetts. People in rural towns like Hamilton had always relied on small farms and the work of family members to support themselves. But between 1820 and 1840, textiles produced in mills, at places like Lowell, began to replace the spinning and weaving girls had done at home. Some girls, even as young as age 11, left family farms to work in these mills. Other girls left home in their teens to serve as teachers in one-room schools.

Learning to read and write had always been important in New England, and many girls left behind diaries and letters that show us a bit about everyday life. We’ll be looking at excerpts from some of these as we travel back in time to the country town that was Hamilton.

“Primitive ways of doing things had not wholly ceased during my childhood; they were kept up in these old towns longer than elsewhere. We used tallow candles and oil lamps, and sat by open fireplaces. There was always a tinder-box in some safe corner or other, and fire was kindled by striking flint and steel upon the tinder. What magic it seemed to me, when I was first allowed to strike that wonderful spark, and light the kitchen fire!”

Lucy Larcom (1824 – 1893) A New England Girlhood

Beautiful handwriting was important during the early 19th century, and the most popular writing tool was the quill pen. A quill was usually made from a turkey or goose feather. Each girl will make her own quill and ink and try her hand at old-fashioned penmanship.

Girls who lived on farms had many chores and little time for play, and the few toys they had were often homemade from items found around the house. Girls in this workshop will learn to play some games typical of the early 19th century and will also make a very basic cloth doll to take home.

The center of a New England home was the large fireplace for cooking. Girls learned to cook so they could one day manage a household. Since farmers raised most of their own food, dishes made with pumpkin and squash from the garden were autumn favorites. Girls will bake a pumpkin pudding to enjoy with cider or a cup of tea - after a proper tea lesson of course!