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EXPERIENCE THE 19TH-CENTURY LIFE OF LEISURE AT THE WEBB-DEANE-STEVENS MUSEUM ON JUNE 9
Museum to Feature Historic Children’s Games and Activities During Connecticut Open House Day
WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (May 2007) – What did children play with long before the invention of computers and video games? During the third annual Connecticut Open House Day on June 9, children will have the opportunity to experience the very different games and pastimes of their ancestors at the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum in Wethersfield.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., young visitors may try their hand at 19th-century games and activities on the lawn behind the Stevens House for free. During the game of graces, opponents send whirling hoops toward each other to be caught on the tips of slender wands. This game was considered proper and beneficial exercise for young ladies in the early 1800s. Children may also try shuttle cock, which is similar to badminton but does not include a net. During this game, a conical feathered cock is struck back and forth with the objective of keeping it in the air as long as possible.
Children may also play with a ball and cup, hoops and Jacob’s Ladder, a link of blocks that flip over each other. This game was created to remind children of the bible story of Jacob’s dream in which angels climbed between heaven and earth on a ladder. This toy was the only acceptable toy for children to enjoy on Sundays.
“These games and activities provide kids the unique opportunity to step into the shoes of children whose lives were different from theirs in almost every way,” said Charles Lyle, executive director of the museum. “The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum frequently offers hands-on activities like these because they help children learn and – more importantly – get them excited to discover more about their heritage.”
Visitors on June 9 also receive free admission to the museum, including the new toy museum and children’s exhibits. The second floor of the Stevens House has been closed to the public for more than 10 years and was refurbished this spring. It now features the toy museum, an 1830s children’s bedroom and an interactive room where children can play with reproduction period toys and games.
The toy collection includes a dollhouse, rocking horse, various games, an authentic 18th-century wooden doll, a French fashion doll complete with trunk and wardrobe to display fashions from Paris, children’s books and various examples of miniature furniture.
In the interactive room, visitors can learn about children’s lives in the 19th century as they view photographs of early portraits and engravings of children pinned on bulletin boards mounted on the room’s walls. Kids may play with reproduction toys and games and try on children’s clothing.
Visitors may purchase some of these reproduction 19th-century toys in the Museum Shop. Annual Webb-Deane-Stevens memberships will also be for sale that day. Benefits of membership include free family admission to the museum for one year, receipt of the museum’s quarterly newsletter, a 10 percent discount on all museum store purchases and invitations to special events.
The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum is one of approximately 200 sites offering special incentives to visitors during Connecticut Open House Day, a one-day event sponsored by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism to raise awareness among Connecticut’s residents of all the state has to offer – from world-class art and history museums to outdoor adventures, family activities and opportunities for rest and relaxation – and encourage them to become ambassadors who share their findings with visiting family and friends.
The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, located at 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, is open daily – with the exception of Tuesday – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May through October. Three-house tours cost $8 for adults and $4 for students and children ages 5 to 18. For information about current exhibits, upcoming events or Museum School classes, call (860) 529-0612 or visit www.webb-deane-stevens.org.
About the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
Located in the heart of Connecticut’s largest historic district, the museum, which consists of three authentically restored 18th-century homes, brings Wethersfield’s rich history to life, from the American Revolution through the early 20th century. The museum includes the 1752 Joseph Webb House, which served as George Washington’s Revolutionary War headquarters in May 1781, when he met with French General le comte de Rochambeau; the 1766 Silas Deane House, built for America’s first diplomat to France; and the 1788 Isaac Stevens House, which includes a new toy museum and depicts life in the 18th and 19th centuries through original family objects.
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