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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Part II of Girlz Day Out

Part II of GIRLZ DAY OUT was a tour of the LeRoy (NY) Historical Society Museum.

Most towns have a historical museum. My own town does. I love to learn about the history of the early days and beginnings of towns, villages and cities across the U.S.

On our GIRLZ DAY OUT, after touring the Jell-o Museum, we visited the LeRoy Historical Museum which was on the same property as the Jell-o Museum, separated only by a garden.




Since my favorite thing in the whole world is discovering old, unused, discarded household items, rescuing them, repurposing them into something useful and beautiful and "current", I was in my glory in this house which was the museum. The high ceilings, the extravagant woodwork, the wavy glass of the windows, the broad porches, the nooks and crannies.......................ohhhhhhhhh (swooning)

There were two docents there who made sure we didn't miss a thing. The home had a center entrance with a huge reception area with seating, paintings of ancestors, hat and umbrella rack, library table. To the left was a room that housed the "land office", full of surveyer's tools, roll top desk, many glass enclosed bookshelves, maps of settlement divisions. And to the right of the entrance hall was a parlor, with music room behind that.

It was in the parlor that we discovered that this house once was part of a seminary for women. In one of the nooks between the parlor and the music room was a historical display from Ingham University. The first exclusively women's university established in the U.S. Founded in 1835 as the LeRoy Female Seminary, chartered by the N.Y. State Board of Regents in 1852 as Ingham Collegiate Institute. The thing that struck me as most sweetly sentimental was a tiny class ring. Not a big showy ring like today's class rings but a dainty gold filigreed, pearl centered ring. Many of the women who matriculated at Ingham went on to make their mark on history. One, Sarah Frances Whiting founded the physics department and established the astronomical observatory at Wellesley College.





There were two kitchens in the museum. One, a 1930's kitchen and the other, an 1830's kitchen. That hundred year span produced astronmical advances in kitchen technology. The housewives went from scrubbing laundry in a wash tub with her hands to an electric wringer washing machine. From making meals in the fireplace over a wood fire to preparing meals on a gas powered stove. From having no refrigeration to an electric refrigerator, from candlelight to electric light, from personal visits and letters to a telephone.............









100 years before - 1830




All in all, GIRLZ DAY OUT was a totally precious day filled with beautiful memories.

9 comments:

  1. A girls day out is the best! Especially when spent with fabulous friends doing what you love:) I to am passionate about historical places. I just love the old house . . . . and love love love the vintage kitchens!! Can you imagine how much time was spent in the kitchen back in those days?

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  2. It was work from dawn to dusk and thereafter! Everyone says they want to go back to the good old days but I love my electric washer, dryer, dishwasher, iron, modern toilet, etc. etc. etc. Oh, and shower!

    I love vintage kitchens and have a few items hanging in my modern kitchen at home. Thanks for sharing with us.

    Lisa

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  3. Sounds like a great group of lady friends! I enjoyed what you shared about the first exclusive women's university in the U.S., and surprised that it began as early as 1835!!

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  4. I love discovering new places to see right in my "neighborhood" through your posts! Our area of Upstate NY is so rich in history and beauty....you just have to seek it out!

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  5. I love historical places! Thanks for giving us a tour. Adding it now in my places to see.

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  6. That looks like you guys had a great time. I love visiting historical sites. Since I grew up in Alexandria; it was all around where I lived.

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  8. I need a girls day out! Looks like fun!

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