The Origins of Leap Year Hello Folks, Aunt Eunice here. February 2020 is a leap year. According to Chiff.com – A leap year is any year with 366 days instead of the usual 365 days. Therefore, leap day in 2020 will fall on Saturday, February 29th. So…why the extra day? It was the ancient Egyptians […]
March Onward! Tapping Maple Trees, Fresh Eggs & Donuts Read More »
In my previous post we addressed a question raised by a visitor regarding 1800s toiletries, specifically toilet paper and toilets. This got us curious…what about toothpaste and toothbrushes? TOOTHBRUSHES AND TOOTHPASTE It seems that people have been trying to clean their teeth for as long as we’ve had civilization. Some of the earliest recipes to
Toothbrush & Toothpaste development by the 1800s Read More »
Some of my favorite questions as a living history interpreter are ones that deal with ordinary activities we tend to overlook in our daily lives because they are so common. These activities happen without us thinking about it. For example, when walking from the bright sun into the Cellar Kitchen at Quiet Valley a visitor
Slow Adoption of Toilets & Toilet Paper in the 1800s Read More »
From time to time, historic interpreters hear a question they haven’t been asked before. When I receive a question I’ve never considered, I always find myself saying, “That’s a great question,” as a way to stall while I consider the answer. This series is about some of those great questions. Yesterday while learning the presentation
What is the History of Consumer Sewing Machines? Read More »
Everyday, we overlook the ingenious simplicity of hundreds of inventions. Doors, latches, zippers, buttons, and hammers – just to name a few. At Quiet Valley, we explore this topic with school aged children through a presentation called Simple Machines. We walk the students through simple problems that can be solved with machines such as levers
The Wheelbarrow: History & Varied Uses on The Farm Read More »