Historical Society Holds Election Day Family Open House

On Tuesday, November 6, Wilton Historical Society at
244 Danbury Road (Rt.7) opens its doors to the Wilton community for an all-day open house.

The day will feature an information session from 10 am – 12 noon about
National History Day, a national competition open to students in grades
6-12.  From 1 – 4 pm the Society will be offering a variety of
demonstrations and a scavenger hunt, wrapping up with an Election Cake
served to all. Enjoy an educational and fun-filled day at this free event.
 
Come and see the Heritage Museum, the new Betts Store, the Abbott Barn and
the Blacksmith Shop. The blacksmith will be working at his forge, spinner
and textile historian, Arlene Parkhurst, will demonstrate spinning and
carding techniques. Professional weaver and dyer Paula Moliver, will be
working at an early 19th century barn loom and discussing natural dyes.
Walter R.T. Smith will bring some unusual, mystery tools and play a guessing
game with the audience.
 
The scavenger hunt begins at 3pm and will send participants throughout
several rooms of the museum, looking for Election Day memorabilia.
Participants will look for some wonderful old campaign buttons, bookmarks
from the Bush-Gore election, Hilary Clinton playing cards, an inaugural
invitation and a framed lithograph of the 1872 Republican National
Convention, among other items. Prizes will be awarded.
 
Speaker Elizabeth Rose, Education Director of the Fairfield Museum and
History Center, will give a talk on the National History Day Competition.
This program encourages students to explore local, state, national, and
world history. Winning entries go on to compete at state and national
levels.
 
Refreshments will be served including an Election Day Cake, from an old
Connecticut recipe; it is believed that the first Election Day Cake was
served in Hartford, Connecticut in 1771.