Get to school “very” early and hop on the school bus for a long ride! The destination is the Washburn -Norlands Living History Museum in Livermore Falls. This is what many of Millinocket’s fifth graders did on a day in early spring (in c1980’s-90’s) from Granite Street School. In those days, there were three or four classrooms of eager ten-year-olds awaiting the annual field trip and a chance to spend a few hours role-playing life as a youngster in 1870’s rural Maine.
Most were dressed in some sort of period costume. The girls with a long skirt, an apron and maybe a dust cap and the boys in jeans with suspenders or overalls and perhaps a straw hat. The teachers and chaperones also wore appropriate costumes. The bus ride was long…all the way to Bangor, Newport, Skowhegan and on to Livermore Falls. (One rest stop and snack along the way).
Upon arrival, one group went with the Norlands one-room school teacher to spend a couple of hours role-playing a day at a one room school. Boys on one side and girls on the other side of the room were instructed by a costumed teacher. Writing lessons on slates, reading from old school books and memorizing and reciting a poem in from of the whole room. (Some years later, one boy could still remember and recite his poem).
Another group went with Aunt Clara to the kitchen of the “big house” to spend time learning about a child’s life, 1870’s style. Old-time games were played and there was singing. This was in the kitchen of the former Washburn home. A hand pump at the slate sink, kerosene lamps for lighting, lots of cupboards full of dishes & pots and pans. At lunch time, the group ate their bag lunch (they brought from Millinocket) and then they swapped places with the group that had been at the school.
Meanwhile, the third group split with the girl’s experiencing the Farmer’s Kitchen while the boys spent time with the farmer. Again, a costumed guide led the girls through a hands-on experience which included preparing a simple hot lunch for themselves and the boys. The usual lunch was homemade cornbread, cold meat, simple dessert, water. They all sat at a long table together. After lunch the boys went back to work with the farmer while the girls did dishes, swept floor, made beds and emptied the chamber pots from the bedrooms (contained tea which was taken to the real privy in the barn.)
The boys of this group worked their time with the farmer who took them into the barn to meet the cows, calves, chickens, pigs and lambs. (Oh, yes, the girls had to gather the eggs from the henhouse…reach under a hen to find an egg!) The farmer also introduced the boys to the team of oxen, they put the yoke on the oxen and then went with the farmer to load a wagon or do some other farm chore.
At the end of the experience, all boarded the bus for the ride home. A stop in Skowhegan at Ken’s Restaurant (preordered sandwiches) and then the long ride home.
The original Washburn family consisted of seven sons and 3 daughters. The sons included one governor of Maine, two foreign ministers while two went west and were part of founding Gold Medal & Pillsbury flours.
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