2012–2013 O L D S T U R B R I D G E Winter VILLAGE Edition Visitor Yankee Magazine Features OSV New Exhibit: A Child’s World Lost: The American Chestnut The Explosive History of Matches New England’s “Ice King” Village Gristmill Back in Action a member magazine that keeps you coming back Old Sturbridge Village, a museum and learning resource of Are we there yet? New England life, invites each visitor to find meaning, pleasure, A message from President and CEO Jim Donahue relevance, and inspiration through the exploration of history. or families on long journeys together, “Are we there yet?” is VOLUME LII, NO. 3 to the WINTER EDITION BRAD KING WinTER 2012–2013 Welcome the question posed more often than of our VISITOR magazine. We hope that you will learn any other. And while parents may get tired of hearing it, they ON THE COVER: new things and come to visit the Village soon. There is can certainly understand the eagerness to arrive at a happy destination. I often think OSV Interpreter Katie Jernigan bundles of families coming to Old Sturbridge Village and hope that a visit here prompts the up for winter, 1830s style. always something fun to do at Old Sturbridge Village. same excited question! The question I am asked more frequently than any other is “When are you Jim Donahue going to ” Now, thanks to the generosity of OSV Trustee President and CEO reopen the Lodges? In This Issue: Ann Lindblad Robert W. (Bob) Reeder III and his wife, Lorraine, of Bedford, New York, I finally Vice President of Marketing 2 Are We There Yet? and Communications have an answer—the OSV Lodges will reopen in June 2013, and work is already Doreen St. John and A letter from Yellow Inc. underway toward that goal. President and CEO Design Kate Brandt The Reeder family has donated funds for the renovation and initial Jim Donahue Marketing and operation of the Village’s Oliver Wight property on Route 20, just 500 yards from Communications 4 On Common Coordinator the OSV entrance. Closed since 2005, the complex includes 60 lodging units and Ground: The Old Sturbridge the circa 1789 Oliver Wight House, which is listed on the National Register of Yankee magazine VillageVisitor is published features Old three times a year for the Historic Places. Friends of Old Sturbridge Sturbridge Village Village as a benefit of Old Sturbridge Village will use the reopened Oliver Wight House and additional membership by guest rooms as lodging for brides and grooms who marry at the Village and their 6 A Child’s World: Old Sturbridge Inc., Childhood in 1 Old Sturbridge Village wedding guests, and for museum Members, visitors, interns, and visiting scholars. Road, 19th-Century Sturbridge, MA 01566. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Oliver Wight House was the centerpiece of the New England YEARLY MEMBERSHIP: OSV Lodges and Motor Court, which became the Liberty Cap Motel in 1962. New exhibit at OSV $50 for Individual $80 for Individual Plus One After a 1985 remodeling, the Oliver Wight House returned to service as a premier 8 Lost Treasure: $90 for Family lodging accommodation. Many people have fond memories of combining a trip to The American chestnut tree $120 for Family Plus One the Village with a stay at the Lodges, and they say the close proximity made them Family membership benefits are 10 Lighting Up with Lucifers: extended to two adults living at feel more a part of the Village. The explosive history of matches the same address and their children or grandchildren under the age of When you think about it, all of us who care about the Village are a family— 12 Cold Cash: 18. Individual Plus One includes a complimentary guest admission with and we have certainly been on a long journey together! And during our recent The story of New England’s “Ice King” each visit. Family Plus One includes turnaround, many of us have often asked—“Are we there yet?” Now, due to the two adults, one guest, and their 14 OSV Gristmill Back in Action: children/grandchildren under 18. generosity and vision of Bob and Lorraine Reeder, I can say we are one giant step Donor support funds millwheel repair MEMBERS ENJOY: closer to our destination. 16 Employee Profile: • Free, unlimited daytime admission • 25% discount on guest admissions A conversation with Victoria Belisle • 10% discount at museum shops • 10% discount on food services 17 In Memory of Rebecca Robinson • 10% discount on purchase of (1974–2012) gift memberships • Discounts at partner living history museums 18 OSV President’s Award: • Free members-only programs Ron Bourgeault • Annual members recognition event • Advance notice of Village programs Garden Dedication: and events Gertrude Wells Brennan • Special member rates for many of the Village’s fee-based programs 19 Fifth Annual OSV Gala • Periodic e-mails, newsletters, and updates on Village happenings OSV ARCHIVES OSV Federalist Dinner • Member-only Dog Days Photos: (above and cover) Left to right: The OSV Lodges in the 1950s; the units after a 1965 renovation; the Oliver Wight House Webb Chappell 20 Member Discounts: To join, to subscribe, or to provide after a 1985 remodeling. Top: Renovations to the Oliver Wight House included a new roof and repairs to (opposite above) Holiday shopping and dining a change of address, write the John Ferrarone Membership Department, e-mail the exterior trim and molding before new paint is applied. 22 Upcoming Events [email protected], or call 800-SEE-1830. 2 OSV VISITOR WINTER 2012–2013 OSV VISITOR WINTER 2012–2013 3 On Common Ground: Photographer Sandy Rivlin works with Yankee Art Director Lori Pedrick and OSV staff and ANN LINDBLAD volunteers to pose the perfect shot. ANN LINDBLAD Yankee magazine features Old Sturbridge Village MAGAZINE portrayed by Old Sturbridge Village.” and recruited Discovery Adventure participants ew England’s favorite magazine came OSV interpreters and other staff members. Yankee Terrill added, “It’s an amazing feeling to reach Amanda Evans, Katie Wade, and Grant Porter, all to visit OSV earlier this year with quite Art Director Lori Pedrick designed the feature and back across the centuries to touch the spirit of the of Sturbridge, and siblings Emily, Benjamin, and N a memorable result—a 12-page photo directed the photography by Sandy Rivlin and Rick people who came before us. Despite all the physical William Hood of Hardwick, Massachusetts, who are feature on the Village and its interpreters published in Hornick. Managing Editor Eileen Terrill wrote the hardships and challenges they faced, they could still the children of Ed Hood, vice president of museum the November–December 2012 issue of Yankee. Titled article, and photo captions were written by Old find joy and love in their everyday lives in the same program at OSV. “On Common Ground,” the feature notes that “the Sturbridge Village Curator Tom Kelleher. ways we do today; we recognize ourselves in them. For Pedrick, the hardest part was choosing enduring spirit of the people who came before us Pedrick noted: “My intent was to create each That shared experience is what connects us to our which photos to include in the final article, since the lives on in the interpreters of Old Sturbridge Village.” vignette as if it were a painting. I wanted each image past; giving us that experience is what living history allotted space could accommodate only half of the Yankee shot more than 20 different scenes over to be as captivating as a painting—something you museums like OSV do so very well.” images taken. “We ended up with so many wonderful five days for the feature, which took more than ponder and evaluate. I wanted each reader to have an Because many of the photo scenarios included photos of the Village, I wish we could have used two months to plan and involved more than 35 experience that really transports them back to the era children, we reached out to the OSV community, them all.” 4 OSV VISITOR WINTER 2012–2013 OSV VISITOR WINTER 2012–2013 5 needed to care for babies and keep them safe in the home. Nineteenth-century highchairs, “potty chairs,” chamber pots, and child tenders (a precursor to the playpen) show that there was some special “gear” designed then A for babies and toddlers, but it was nothing hild’s orld like the variety of sophisticated equipment c available to families today. Childhood in 19th-Century New wEngland, 1800–1850 Running a rural 19th-century household Did you know? was a lot of work, and children were expected to do their share. Young girls and boys In the 19th century were expected to help around the house— infant boys and girls were dressed alike in New exhibit through Memorial Day 2013 cleaning, doing kitchen chores, and tending gowns, allowing the same the household garden. Tasks typically handled garment to be passed n an age before super-sized toy exhibit, including dainty dresses and a rare boy’s by children in early New England included down to siblings without stores, pampered children, and 1820 “Skeleton Suit”—a close-fitting, high- gathering eggs and firewood, hauling water, concern for gender. It also I helicopter parents, a new concept waisted outfit often seen in paintings of the era. and Europe, were now weeding the garden, gathering berries, made diaper or “nappy” of a child’s formative years began to According to Old Sturbridge beginning to be published picking apples, mucking out stalls, and changes easier. emerge in 19th-century New England. There Village historians, most rural New in the United States. Some emptying chamber pots.