Volunteer Superstar Series – Heather

By: Elizabeth King

National Volunteer Week 2015 is running from April 12th to April 18th. This is a time to recognize, celebrate and thank the thousands of Canadians who dedicate their time to volunteering. In honour of this celebration, Lang Pioneer Village Museum would like to recognize some of its Volunteer Superstars in a special daily blog post during this week, called the Volunteer Superstar Series.

Wednesday’s Volunteer Superstar is: Heather. 

For over 15 years now, Heather has been a volunteer at Lang Pioneer Village Museum. She is a powerhouse of information and contacts that have helped Lang immensely during her time with us.

She can always be relied upon to share, teach and entertain. Her smiling face and refreshing wit are inspirational and fun.

Heather is involved as a volunteer in a number of ways:

• As a Historical Interpreter, Heather can often be found interpreting at the Fife Cabin, with her husband John. She often volunteers to do the coldest, dampest, darkest interpretation of the year: the Fife Cabin Christmas interpretation. A real trooper!
• As a re-enactor, Heather has been integral in organizing the attendance of the 49th Regiment of Foot re-enactor group which has been involved in a number of events at the Village. She can fire the cannon, shoot a musket, and march with the best of them. The children who visit especially enjoy her drills – left, right, left right, and again!
• As a costumer and seamstress, Heather has assisted in the Museum’s Costuming Department, donating not only her time to create and mend, but also a number of supplies/patterns for the vast collection of reproduction period clothing that is used to dress the Museum’s staff and volunteers.  Her work is beautiful, and we are lucky to have her share her magical abilities with the needle.
• As a member of the Lang Pioneer Village Museum Advisory Committee, Heather has given countless hours of her time to assist in the development and implementation of programming and Museum-related business.

Heather is a vibrant and knowledgeable member of the LPVM volunteer team. We are so lucky to have her skills and expertise! Not to mention, her company!

« « « Thank you Heather for being one of our Volunteer Superstars! « « « 

 

A few images of Heather throughout the years in her various Volunteer roles

Elizabeth King is currently filling the roll of Interim Assistant Manager at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.  She has been working at the Village since May of 2009.  Elizabeth is passionate about history, costuming, reading, vegan culinary crusades and environmental pursuits. When she isn’t in the middle of a project at Lang, she is often found with her head in the clouds.

Volunteer Superstar Series – Lucas

By: Elizabeth King

National Volunteer Week 2015 is running from April 12th to April 18th. This is a time to recognize, celebrate and thank the thousands of Canadians who dedicate their time to volunteering. In honour of this celebration, Lang Pioneer Village Museum would like to recognize some of its Volunteer Superstars in a special daily blog post during this week, called the Volunteer Superstar Series.

Tuesday’s Volunteer Superstar is: Lucas.  

Lucas learning the Museum Shop with Maggie

Lucas Towns has been a dedicated volunteer at Lang Pioneer Village Museum since the summer of 2012 when he first enrolled in the Youth Interpreter Program. He participated in the program again in 2013, but moreover, he has volunteered additionally at nearly every special event since he started with us.

He is a quick learner, and has picked up various roles within the Village with ease. Lucas has shown tremendous commitment when helping in the Print Shop, during Special Events and with other duties as asked of him. He is currently learning the Admissions/ Museum Shop Attendant role under the direction of the Visitor Experience Coordinator. He is a mature, friendly and reliable first point of contact for our visitors on site.

Lucas has far exceeded not only his community volunteer hours for school, but our expectations as well!

He has become a valuable member of the Lang Pioneer Village Museum team and we look forward to another year of his smiling face helping out.

Thank you so much, Lucas, for all that you do!

Lucas teaching in the School House

Lucas and his Youth Interpreter group in 2013

Elizabeth King is currently filling the role of Interim Assistant Manager at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.  She has been working at the Village since May of 2009.  Elizabeth is passionate about history, costuming, reading, vegan culinary crusades and environmental pursuits. When she isn’t in the middle of a project at Lang, she is often found with her head in the clouds.

Volunteer Superstar Series- Norm

By: Elizabeth King

National Volunteer Week 2015 is running from April 12th to April 18th. This is a time to recognize, celebrate and thank the thousands of Canadians who dedicate their time to volunteering. In honour of this celebration, Lang Pioneer Village Museum would like to recognize some of its Volunteer Superstars in a special daily blog post during this week, called the Volunteer Superstar Series.

Monday’s Volunteer Superstar is: Norm.  

Norm has been a volunteer at LPVM for the past 8 years. He has been active as both a front line Historical Interpreter in our Agricultural Barn (demonstrating and educating the public on the rural agricultural history of Peterborough County) as well as behind the scenes with our Facilities and Premises department.

Norm has built and repaired a large number of items for the Museum, including; a stage for performers at events, reproduction weaving equipment for the S. W. Lowry Weaver Shop and new pieces for old farming equipment that we use for live demonstrations.

Norm has also been instrumental in the acquisition of donations for the supplies needed for repairs to the antique pieces that we have on site.

His most recent project has been the Reference Library shelving renovation. Over the past few weeks Norm has been building, and installing a wall of built in shelves and counter space in the Museum’s Reference Library. This much needed shelving will allow for the museum’s vast book resource collection to be stored and used much more efficiently.

Thank you very much for everything that you do for us Norm!

 

A few images of Norm throughout the years in his various roles

Elizabeth King is currently filling the role of Interim Assistant Manager at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.  She has been working at the Village since May of 2009.  Elizabeth is passionate about history, costuming, reading, vegan culinary crusades and environmental pursuits. When she isn’t in the middle of a project at Lang, she is often found with her head in the clouds.

Friday the 13th – Why So Superstitious?

By: Elizabeth King

Both February and March of this year, have had the 13th day fall on a Friday. In November, there will be a third Friday the 13th for 2015.  What I didn’t realize is how common this actually is! Did you know that any month starting on a Sunday, always has a Friday the 13th in it? I bet you hadn’t put two and two together (I’m admitting I didn’t – thank you Google enlightenment!), but when you boil it down, it makes perfect sense.

So what’s with people being all freaked out by Friday the 13th?

Fear of the number 13 has actually been around a lot longer than the specific fear of FRIDAY the 13th.

Most places (be they cities, buildings or businesses) don’t use the number thirteen as part of their infrastructure. No 13th street, 13th house number, 13th floor or Room 13/Gate 13. Most explanations for this seem to revolve around the idea that the number 12 is a complete number – and boy, do we see examples of this EVERYWHERE:

• 12 inches in a foot
• 12 signs of the zodiac
• 12 pitches in an octave
• 12 months in the year
• 12 Gods of Olympus
• 12 hours of the clock
• 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac
• 12 pairs of ribs in the human body
• 12 cookies in my favourite box… ;)

And the list goes on and on. As a result of this, any instance that goes beyond that perfect and complete 12, seems to make people uneasy. It moves them outside of their comfort zone - raising red flags all over the place – ding, ding, ding - scary!

Couple that fear of the number 13 with some pretty popular bad news literary references to Fridays (for example: the Bible, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Henry Sutherland Edwards' 1869 biography of Gioacchino Rossini, Nathaniel Lachenmeyer’s Thirteen) – and whammo – you have the unluckiest, most feared day(s) of the year – FRIDAY THE 13th!

On a serious note, for some this is not just a superstition to make light of – for some it is a true phobia. The phobia is known as friggatriskaidekaphobia. The word comes from Frigg, the name of the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named, and triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13.
Back in 1881 an enlightened and brave group of 13 (of course!) people started an organization to try and dispel the fear and myth surrounding this unlucky number 13. They called their club "The Thirteenth Club". At their meetings they did traditionally unlucky things - like walking under ladders, breaking mirrors, and spilling salt. As you can see, their efforts went in vain. People still think 13 is unlucky. If you believe one of my psych professors from University – it’s because we want to! For us average folks, we love anomalous experiences – our brain feeds off of the excitement of them.

So…here’s a goodie! Fun fact - 2049 will be the next Friday the 13th that ALSO falls on a full moon – how’s that for a double whammy of superstitious hookyness.


Elizabeth King is currently filling the role of Interim Assistant Manager at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.  She has been working at the Village since May of 2009.  Elizabeth is passionate about history, costuming, reading, vegan culinary crusades and environmental pursuits. When she isn’t in the middle of a project at Lang, she is often found with her head in the clouds.

How to be a Doctor

By Sharon

Ever since I was little, I have been interested in the medical field. The way that doctors have been able to care for both the young and old, as well as do everything in their power to help save the lives of others, is just beyond amazing. So when I was up in the archives at Lang and I came across “The People’s Common Sense Medical Advisor” there was no way I could walk past it without browsing through it first. This book was written by Dr. R. V. Pierce to his patients, whom I believe were looking for ways to treat their illnesses, gain new knowledge of biology and find solutions to their problems from the comfort of their own homes.

This book from 1895 goes through:
-The physiological anatomies of the organs, muscles, bones
-Treatments for allergies, fevers, reactions and diseases
-Marriage, paternal and lifestyle advice
-Testimonials from his patients
-Detailed diagrams and images
-Descriptions of the causes of the diseases

So what are you waiting for? Wouldn’t you like to learn more about the human body and play doctor for the day? Because that’s what this book is all about! You’ll gain the knowledge and understanding of a member in the medical field and all it takes is this one book. In fact, the book can be read online at: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18467/18467-h/advise.html.

I feel like I’m on my way to being a doctor already!

Sharon is a grade 10 student at Trinity College School and guest writer for the Museum.

The Unidentified Musket

By Trevor Merriam

A musket with no accession number and no accompanying details was found in the Lang collection. Having an interest in muskets, I decided to look into it further.

After much research, I determined that the gun in question was a model 1795 manufactured in the year 1807 and made in Springfield Massachusetts. This particular gun would have been used by the American army during the War of 1812. It was probably picked up from a battlefield during the war by a Canadian as a souvenir.  The gun was manufactured as a Flintlock .69 calibre with a 45” barrel. The musket is 60” overall in length and roughly 10 lbs in weight. Our gun was converted to a percussion probably sometime after 1840 by a "do-it-yourselfer". The priming pan has been cut away with a hammer and cold chisel, the flash hole was drilled and threaded to accommodate the drum and nipple. The new hammer was manufactured by a blacksmith or a home forge. The hammer screw has been replaced by a nail simply hammered flat to hold the hammer in place.  A rear sight has been installed and the bayonet lug filed down to make a front sight. The Musket, after being modified, was probably loaded with a solid ball for hunting big game such as deer and could be loaded with shot for smaller game such as fowl.

This musket is an important souvenir of the War of 1812 and went on to be a useful musket for a local farmer or hunter.

Below is a photo of the modified musket. This picture shows the hand-made new hammer held in with a nail. The manufacturer and date are also visible:

The following picture is of a modern replica of what our musket would have looked like originally:

Finally, here is a picture of our modified musket beside the modern replica for comparison purposes:

Trevor Merriam is the Premises Assistant at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.  He has been working at the Museum for 10 years and has a passion for history.

Why is "X" a Kiss?

By Elizabeth King

When I was a little girl, my grandmother used to send me mail by post, as she lived about 4 hours away from my family and long distance telephone calls were expensive (this is pre-long distance phone plan days my friends). Getting mail was a thrill for me - I absolutely loved it. I was a devoted letter writer to childhood friends, signed up for every program at school and the public library that created pen-pal connections, and wrote to everyone I could, including the Queen of England (who in my childhood mind would just relish receiving letters from someone who had the same name as her, because obviously that meant we should be friends). When I got something back it was like Christmas, my Birthday, the Tooth Fairy AND a surprise, all sealed up in a neat little package.

My grandmother’s letters were always something extra special. She had a knack for including the best stickers, the coolest bookmarks, or sometimes a fun little clipping from a newspaper. She always signed her letters, “Love, Nana XOXO.”

I remember that it was my mother who first told me what “XOXO” meant. “Kisses and hugs,” she said, but I never dug any deeper than that, which, let me tell you, is not typical of me. Even at 6 years old I wanted to not only know the “how” of something, but the why, when, where, who…repeat, ad nauseam, etc. I don’t know why I let this one go…but I did.

One year, when I was about 8 or 9 years old, along with a Valentine’s Day card, my granny included an article that she had snipped out of a Reader’s Digest magazine that explained why people used “X” to symbolize a kiss. To this day, I think about that article EVERY time I put an “X” on something. I think it’s because at the time I thought I had hit jackpot, and that I was now privy to the meaning behind this mystical, clandestine, code - no one else would know this! I felt special. Do you want to know a secret though? I think my inner child still does this cheeky little snicker about knowing the meaning of the “X” to this day because the thing is, not many people do know why “X” is a kiss. They put it on cards, letters, and gifts, without truly understanding the meaning. Well, in the spirit of childhood memories and the days of learning to share, I am going to let you in on the reason that “X” is a kiss.

Back in the early Middle Ages, most common people did not know how to read and write. As a result of this, when they were signing a document, they would use a simple “X” to express their signature. Not only was this because it was easy to write, but also because it was similar to the symbol of the Christian cross which was used similarly, and which represented faith, blessings and honesty. Furthermore, as a sign of sincerity, they would kiss the “X” on the document, in oath of its earnestness. As a result of this historical practice, the “X” has trickled down through the history of writing, to be used colloquially as an endearing symbol of love, devotion and “kisses”, even by those who are literate.

“Why do our sweet sentimental young misses / In love letters make little crosses for kisses?” author unknown, 1893

Happy Valentine’s Day folks!

Elizabeth King is currently filling the role of Interim Assistant Manager at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.  She has been working at the Village since May of 2009.  Elizabeth is passionate about history, costuming, reading, vegan culinary crusades and environmental pursuits. When she isn’t in the middle of a project at Lang, she is often found with her head in the clouds.