Victorian games and crafts were recently enjoyed by grade school students at the Morgan-Manning House in Brockport. Called “Carriage House Kids,” the first-time program took place July 12 to 14, sponsored by the Western Monroe Historical Society (WMHS). Seven students, ages seven through ten, attended the program.
In the historic home and its carriage house, they made several games, stilts and did finger knitting and spool knitting. They also took a tour of the house, learned about the family that lived there, then worked on a coloring book about the house and its people. In the historic kitchen they learned about old-fashioned kitchen implements, and by simple methods they made butter in mason jars and made ice cream in zip lock bags.
The three days concluded in the parlor with Gretchen Murray Sepik, actress, storyteller and playwright, interacting with the children in presenting a dramatization of two of Beatrix Potter’s books.
The teachers for the project were Donna Ainsworth, a retired teacher from Brockport, and Julie Wilson, currently a teacher in the Brockport Schools. Volunteers helping included members of the WMHS: Joan Fenton, Alicia C. Fink (coordinator), Peggy Fox, Amy Harris, Chris Mazzarella, Merrill Melnick, Eileen Ryerse, Deanna Shifton and Mary Lynne Turner.
For grades eight through 12, the “Carriage House Carpenters” met on July 19, 20 and 21 in the carriage house. Two boys and two girls each created their own dovetailed woodworker’s tool chest made with hand tools. Gordy Fox instructed the project.
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