Looking at the picture accompanying this article, you’re probably wondering why I’m writing about Halloween in June. This is a picture from our collection and I want to pose a question for you. What could this picture have to do with our new exhibit which will be opening Saturday and Sunday (June 22 & 23) at the museum on County Rd.? The exhibit shows how Rochester residents have entertained themselves for the last 337 yrs. and we don’t cover trick or treating.
In setting up this exhibit, we have discovered that even with all the hard work that our ancestors had to do, they always found time for fun. Even in the late 1700’s and 1800’s, time was found for singing and dancing and some chores, like husking corn were turned into social events.
It also became apparent that the lack of radio, TV and social media didn’t keep people in town from having busy social calendars. My mother’s scrapbook was full of items related to dances, plays, camp, groups and family gatherings. The Brotherhood, Grange, Women’s Club and Men’s Club among others provided many occasions for people to come together.
We’ve had a lot of fun putting this exhibit together, even though we had to face the fact that some toys we played with as kids are now classified as antiques.
Come and visit us from 10-3 and if you want to wear your Davy Crockett cap or Mickey Mouse ears, feel free to do so. We’ll be there rain or shine.
We hope you’ll also enjoy our Bake sale and music from the Buzzard Bay Buccaneers. Bring a chair (and a child if you can find one) and settle into the shade as you follow us down memory lane and if you like, you can muster like a colonial soldier or tie knots like a privateer (reformed pirate).
If you know any children, there will plenty for them to do and oh, yes, you’ll find out how the picture connects to the exhibit.
By Connie Eshbach
