Courtesy of the Joseph L. Bocci Sr. Collection

Goal: Background: To provide students with a hands-on Before the advent of mechanized experience of how laundry was done in the washing (“washing machines”) in the 19th century. This activity will demonstrate early to mid 1900s, doing laundry was to participants, in an experiential way, the a formidable task. So arduous was it, time, space, labor, materials, and planning that washing the family’s laundry was required to complete a seemingly mundane called the “weekly affliction.” household task in the pre-mechanized era. In fact washing, as a weekly chore, did The laundry process is also a fun activity not appear until the 19th century. Prior Laundry in the which requires logistical coordination, to that, washing occurred every few thereby promoting group cooperation months. This was because of the difficulty 19th Century and communication. This activity will of the washing process and because of also give students an appreciation for the fragile nature of some early garment Gaeta Bell how advancing technology brings change materials (silks, brocades, velvets). through time. Presumably there was no merit in trying to keep clean the coarser garments of the Age Group: Grade 3 –Adult working world. Hints on how to decrease the washing When: burden included dressing in printed During a field trip to Ardenwood clothing rather than in white. An 1874 The Household (by reservation only). issue of the magazine , recommended stocking up on “under- Where: In the farmyard. garments”— separate ones for the day and night, so that these may be changed as often as once a week. . . .” Colored Materials: tablecloths were promoted over white linen. Shirt collars and cuffs were All materials needed will be provided detachable and thus cleaned more by park staff. often than the entire shirt. These preventive measures aside, there with a guarantee that the machine would wash boiler; add soap, cover, and let boil still remained the task of washing. A few not damage clothing, prices ranged from for ten or fi fteen minutes. Stir occasion- gadgets were needed to help with the $2.72 to $5.62. To eliminate the toil of hand ally with the wash stick. Meanwhile, laundry process. The wash boiler was a operation the Maytag Company added a another batch of dirty laundry may be cast iron or copper cauldron (hence also pulley mechanism to their machine, thus put into the soap-water washtubs. known as the “copper”) in which clothes allowing for attachment to outside power 8. Remove the laundry from the boiler and soapy water could be heated over sources. This 1909 washer was named and place in clothes basket to drain for a an open wood fi re or wood-burning “The Hired Girl Washer.” It was not until few minutes. stove. The wash stick was used to stir the 1920s that electric washers became and whack this hot, soapy concoction. somewhat more affordable and thus more 9. Move these clothes into the rinse tub, The “dolly-stick” or “peggy-stick,” as commonplace. and rinse with clean water until all traces it was variously known, was a wooden of soap are gone. stick with a handle at its uppermost 10. Put clothes through the wringer part and four to fi ve legs or prongs at its Action: to remove the excess water. Have base. It was simultaneously pounded up Because this activity requires special the clothes basket ready to receive and down and rotated in the washing preparation and because materials and the clothes as they come through the tub fi lled with soapy clothes, thereby space are limited, it is necessary to reserve wringer. aerating the wash solution and loosening this program in advance. To do this, simply 11. Hang clothes on the line to dry. the dirt. The wash board was a wooden call the park as soon as your fi eld trip date 12. When washing is completed, rinse board with a corrugated zinc surface and time have been arranged. The activity out all of the washtubs. against which clothes were rubbed clean. area must be supervised at all times by the The handwringer was a crank-operated teacher or adult in charge. 13. Engage students in an informal gadget which squeezed excess water out discussion comparing the washing There are many steps involved in this of the clothes by pressing them between process, past and present. rollers. It could be attached to a table or cooperative group process. Therefore, it is washtub with clamps. A larger version of best to divide the group into small work the wringer was used for further drying forces giving specifi c tasks to each group. Resources: and pressing. It was, appropriately Please note that, in the past, this entire Ewing, Elizabeth. Everyday Dress 1650- enough, called a “mangle.” A drying rack process was done by one or two people 1900. London: B.T. Batsford. Date was used when space or weather did not (usually women) and thus was much more unknown. permit outdoor drying. time and labor intensive than when shared among a large group of students. Green, Harvey. The Light of the Home. A washing machine of the 1850s was a New York: Pantheon Books, 1983. crank-operated device which buffeted The method for doing the laundry is as the clothes between a circular drum follows: Milnes, Herbert. Settlers’ Traditions. Erin and its outer octagonal case. The clothes 1. Sort the clothes into light, dark, delicate, Ontario: The Boston Mills Press, 1980. could then be plied through an attached and woolen categories. The light and World Book Encyclopedia Vol. 21. Chicago: wringer and mangler. The Sears Roebuck delicate articles are washed fi rst, while the World Book Inc. 1989. Company offered a variety of washing water and tubs are cleanest. Delicate items machines in its 1902 catalog. Complete are not scrubbed with the wash board. Woolen items are rinsed in cold water, not hot water (to avoid shrinkage). 2. Fetch water from the pump for two washtubs and one rinse tub. Fill the tubs one-quarter full. 3. Scoop hot water into the washtubs from the wash boiler. Mix this with the cold pump water until the water is very warm, but not scalding. The washtubs should now be about half full. Please note: To ensure safety, the teacher or adult in charge must personally tend to the wash boiler, the fi re, and the clothes going in and out of the wash boiler. 4. Add soap to the washtub water. 5. Put dirty clothes in the washtub. 6. While one group scrubs the clothes in a washtub using the board, another group Ardenwood Historic Farm could agitate the clothes in the other 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard washtub using the dolly stick. Fremont, CA 94555

Montgomery Ward & Company Catalog 7. After the clothes are thoroughly washed, (510) 544-2797 and Buyers Guide No. 57, 1895 remove them and place the clothes in the www.ebparks.org