LIVERMORE — The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center will hold a Strawberry Festival and Living History Heritage Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at 290 Norlands Road.
The festival will feature a craft fair with artisans demonstrating handmade crafts and selling original artwork. Strawberry shortcake made with home-baked biscuits, local strawberries and real whipped cream will be for sale.
Admission to the craft fair is free; regular admission applies to all other activities.
History will come to life during the Living History Heritage Day. There are activities for all ages, and all buildings will be open for tours. Ongoing activities for the day include horse-drawn wagon rides, tours of the 1867 Washburn family mansion, blacksmithing demonstrations, lessons of the past and spelling bees in the one-room schoolhouse, artifact games and living history in the farmer’s cottage, special presentations and old-fashioned outdoor games such as hoops, graces and croquet. Children’s craft activities include making kites, bean bags and handkerchief dolls to take home.
Special presentations include:
The Busy Cradle: Story of the Washburns: 11:30 a.m. in the library. Participants will learn about the Washburn brothers, instrumental in changing the face of politics and business in the 19th century.
Make wooden shingles (shakes) with Edward Pratt: Morning. “Edward Pratt” will demonstrate how to make wooden shingles, also called shakes.
Meet the oxen with Edward Pratt: Afternoon. Participants may get up close to Lefty and Poncho, the Norlands’ working oxen team, and talk to “Farmer Pratt” about how he cares for and uses the oxen on the farm.
Guided Nature Walk to the Pools of Simeon: 1 p.m. School teacher “Corilla Rose” will guide walkers on a historic carriage trail to two reflecting pools. In 1903, William Drew, the youngest of the seven Washburn brothers, took advantage of a natural spring to build the pools under the cover of several massive pine trees. Participants should wear sturdy footwear and prepare for a slight incline on the return trip.
Meet Dr. Elizabeth S. Kingman Horr: 1:30 p.m. “Elizabeth Horr,” who lived from 1833 to 1920, was the wife of Dr. Oren Alonzo Horr, a pioneer in the use of antiseptic dressings. Working alongside her husband, Elizabeth served as a nurse for wounded soldiers. After the Civil War, they moved to Lewiston and opened a medical practice. She graduated from medical school in 1872. Dr. Horr’s character and story is presented by Norlands volunteer Tizz E.H.Crowley.
Visit Mercy Lovejoy: 2:30 p.m. in the meeting house. Participants may visit with “Mercy Lovejoy,” the Livermore town pauper. She will share a humorous tale of her life on the town farm, located just around the corner from the Norlands, and stories about the neighbors.
All programs are presented by costumed interpreters, who use first- and third-person interpretation techniques to portray real people who lived in the neighborhood in the 1800s.
The Jay/Livermore Falls Lions Club will serve hamburgers and hot dogs.
FMI: 207-897-4366, norlands@norlands.org, www.norlands.org.
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