When I was teaching 5th grade, it always bothered me when the request to take out history books brought more groans than grins. By the time I was teaching 3rd grade, and the history of Massachusetts was part of that grade’s curriculum, I came up with a solution to end the groans. I didn’t teach the history of Massachusetts. Instead, I told its story as exactly that- a story, because that is what history is. On Wednesday, May 15 at the Rochester Historical Museum, history came to life.
The new exhibit which will premier during our 2-day Historic Fair with a Colonial Flair June 22 & 23 from 10-3 shows how Rochester residents entertained themselves for the last 337 yrs., so the May performance of the Woodchoppers’ Tribute Band was a perfect fit.
The original Woodchoppers was a musical group put together in the 50’s by Rev. Louis Hastings who needed an orchestra for his planned block party. The musicians who stepped up were Cal Daggett, Aurthur Lionberger, Jeannette Pajunen and Olive Winslow. They were such a success that they entertained throughout the area for about 45 years.
Our Tribute Band pictured here was made up from left to right Barbara Daggett, Ken Daggett, Sheila Perry and Tom Perry. Ken is the son of Cal Daggett, Sheila and Barbara are the daughters of Jeannette Pajunen, and Tom Perry (Sheila’s husband) was Jeannette’s favorite son-in-law.
Barbara played her mother’s accordion. Olive Winslow’s fiddle, loaned by her granddaughter, Sheila Daniels, was on display. We want to thank all of the musicians for a night of music that evoked memories for the audience, some because they remembered the original group and others because of the music itself.
We also heard stories. We know Jeannette played the accordion because of the “Lawrence Welk Show” and that she thought him “wunnerful, wunnerful”. Ken also told a Jeannette story. He joined the group in later years after his father’s death, and Jeannette would play the accordion faster and faster to see if he could keep up.
We want to thank all those who attended (we had a full house) for their enthusiasm and generous donations to our steeple fund. There’s already talk of an encore performance next year with other songs from the Woodchoppers’ play list.
A special thanks to Sheila who was the prime mover behind the concert happening and to Tom. They always step up to help our historical society and to fill the museum, nee church with music and singing.
We hope to have an equally strong turn out on June 22 & 23 at our fair. Attendees will have a chance to learn about and participate in Rochester colonial life. Anyone learning to march to drum commands like a 1700’s patriot will earn colonial money to spend at our store. Knot tying and writing with a quill pen as well as a scavenger hunt, chances to make your own paper dolls and to play games popular in the 16,17,18 and 19th centuries will be available. Music, bake sale and a treasure hunt using a compass will also take place.
We’re hoping to see lots of kids as well as adults. We will be announcing the winners of the Rochester Historical Commission sponsored essay contest presented to Rochester Memorial students at noon on the 22nd. This is all brought to you through the financial support of the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Massachusetts legislators who support funding by the Council. Without this kind of help it would be almost impossible for a small, member-supported organization nonprofit like ours to offer this look back at Rochester’s past in a fun and exciting way.