Inspiration for the future
‘Her’itage Days being held in Truro, Tatamagouche and Maitland
A “Her”itage Days program at local museums will feature inspiring local women from the past 150 years.
Events are being held in Truro, Tatamagouche and Maitland through partnerships between the Central Nova Women’s Resource Centre (CNWRC), Colchester Historeum, Margaret Fawcett Norrie Heritage Centre and Lawrence House Museum.
“We wanted to have something with inspiring women from the past, inspiring girls of the future,” said Suzette Cameron, events planner at the CNWRC. “The girls at the camps will be visiting when the events are held in their areas.”
The first event, on Aug. 12, will take place at the Margaret Fawcett Norrie Heritage Centre and will include an old-fashioned garden party-picnic, interactive presentations, talks on giantess Anna Swan, dress-up opportunities for children, a scavenger hunt, and a chance to take a pedal buggy along a trail.
“The wastewater treatment plant will be opening and offering tours,” said Shirley Brinkhurst, a volunteer at the centre. “We’ve come a long way since the days of the outdoor privy so we may as well see what happens now.”
Visitors will have a chance to make butter and learn about rug hooking and spinning, and can heck out early washing machines, irons and wood stoves.
“They can see the ways women’s lives changed since Confederation,” said Brinkhurst. “A lot of the things people used to do, as a matter of course, are now hobbies.”
Although everything is free, pedal buggies and boxed teas are limited so people should register before Aug. 6. For more details contact Brinkhurst at 902-3054689.
The event at the Colchester Historeum will be held Aug. 19 and include displays, historical games and crafts, interactive presentations, and afternoon tea with guest speakers Lenore Zann and Eleanor Norrie.
“We’ll have an exhibit showcasing women of Colchester from the last 150 years,” said Nicole Maxwell, interpretive assistant at the historeum. “There will be some older games, like hopscotch and sack races, for children during the morning and we’ll have booths set up by different
groups.”
Space for the tea is limited so people should register by Aug. 15. For more details call the historeum at 902-895-6284.
The historeum will also be setting up a display in the Truro Mall for the month of August.
“This is exciting because they’re new opportunities and new partnerships for us,” said Margaret Mulrooney, curator at the historeum. “It gives us an opportunity to reach new audiences.”
“Her”itage Day at Lawrence House Museum will be on Aug.
26. There will be historical games and crafts, displays and demonstrations, afternoon tea on the lawn with guest speakers, and a musical presentation by Rosalee Peppard, Canadian Women’s Musical Oral Historian.
Space for the tea is limited and people should register by Aug 21. For more information call the museum at 902-261-2628.
Funding for “Her”itage Days was provided by a Canada 150 grant.