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Workshops |
Historic Trades & Music Academies2013 Harpers Ferry Park Historic Trades and Music Academies. To Register, select "Living History Workshops" in the National Park Bookshop or contact the Harpers Ferry Historical Association at 304-535-6881. "Industrial History: As American as Apple Pie" Living History Workshop Instructor: Susan Journell is a public historian and Park Foodways Expert. For 20 years, Susan has offered living history foodway demonstration opportunities to park visitors to care about the park's nationally significant theme stories. Description: The public is invited to register for a special 2 hour historic trades pie baking workshop. Step into Mr. & Mrs. Roeder's 1860 Confectionery on pie baking day and learn to bake the "new way" in a wood burning stove. Return to the era before the Civil War when a shift began from locally raised organic foods to more expensive processed tin canned foods. Enjoy a slice of hot fruit pie that you have made and learn how the industrial revolution made your pie possible, how the ingredients made their way to your table, from field to factory, and which town citizens would have experienced financial hardship to afford this new fangled marvel. $20.00 per person which covers instruction and baking ingredients. This workshop is limited to six participants per class. "Knitting A La Mode: 19th Century Techniques for 21st Century Knitters" Workshop Instructor: Polly Steenhagen Description: In honor of Women's History Month, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park invites the public to register for a special weekend of historic trades. Join expert Polly Steenhagen to explore the world of 19th century needlework that spoke volumes about a woman's ability to become a suitable wife, mother and skilled needlework artist. The industrial revolution was slowly replacing women who made goods, such as knitted socks, with knitting machines. Step back with Polly to the quiet 19th century parlor life and the clicking of knitting needles combined with good conversation and excellent instruction. $40.00 per person. This workshop is limited to ten participants. Ages 12 and older please. "Industrial History: As American as Apple Pie" Location: Roeder's German Confectionery Exhibit, High Street, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Instructor: Susan Journell, Public Historian & Park Foodways Expert Description: Return to the era before the Civil War when a shift began from locally raised organic foods to more expensive processed tin canned foods. Enjoy a slice of hot fruit pie that you've made. Learn how the industrial revolution made your pie possible, how the ingredients made their way to your table, from field to factory, and which town citizens would have experienced financial hardship to afford this new fangled marvel. Long before the arrival of English Settlers, Native Americans had cultivated small crab apples. The English arrived on American soil with their favorite apple varieties and a tradition of pie making. By the 1850's, the Victorian consumer had a choice of over 1,000 apple varieties from around the world. Along came coal powered steam trains that provided a new fast way to move apples from one state to the next. Trains allowed the whole character and composition of American orchard apples to change from locally grown varieties to apples that could survive being jostled by train travel over hundreds of miles. At its 19th century height of popularity, American agriculture offered bakers like Mr. Roeder specialty apples for numerous end uses such as pies, hard cider, cakes and puddings. *Workshop fee covers instruction and baking ingredients. Children under 6 years of age may participate at no cost with a registered adult. This workshop is open to six participants per class. "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" Workshop Location: At the Masonry Bee Hive Oven in the Lower Town, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Instructor: Susan Journell, Public Historian & Park Foodways Expert Description: Bread, called the "staff of life" was made locally by bakers and Confectioners, like German immigrant Frederick Roeder. Learn time honored methods to make leaven breads, quick breads, and street corner food: large soft pretzel's in a masonry "bee hive oven". Use yeast making recipes of the earliest American published bakers. In 1809, Harpers Ferry boating merchant John Wager Jr. began a flour shipping business from Harpers Ferry mills into the federal city 60 miles away. Harpers Ferry, Jefferson county Virginia, was part of the early republic breadbasket that fed the bigger cities with local grain and flour. Local flour production & bread on the table proved the town on two rivers was no longer the frontier, but civilized. The citizens no longer needed to hunt, kill or gather to achieve each meal. At its height, 20,000 barrels of flour were staged along the Shenandoah River for shipping down river. At Roeder's Confectionery, Mr. & Mrs. Roeder could track their cooking and baking consumption out of the family flour barrel of hard and soft wheat, today's equivalent of "all purpose flour". From 19th century statistics, the average baker and cook could achieve this array or yield per month from their flour barrel; " 34 loaves of bread, 17- 6 quart pans of doughnuts, 17 messes of biscuits, 94 pies, 7 loaf cakes, 1 ½ dozen tart crusts, 3 dozen gingersnaps, and one mess of pancakes." *Workshop fee covers instruction, techniques in bee hive oven fire management and baking ingredients. This workshop is open to eight participants for April 27th and eight participants for May 4th. "Living Antiques! Heirloom Garden Vegetables" Location: On the Park Green, Shenandoah Street, Lower Town of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Demonstrator: Carol Anderson, Heirloom Kitchen Garden Horticulturalist Description: This annual seedling and seed sales is sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Historical Association, partnering with the Jefferson County High School and the Park's Living History 1810 Paymaster Garden Program. Expert 19th century horticulturist Carol Anderson will be on site to demonstrate how to organically care for heirloom vegetables & plants. You will have an opportunity to purchase & take home 19th century varieties of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, cabbage seedlings and numerous heirloom seeds for May plantings. "Harpers Ferry by Moonlight: A 19th Century Historic Tavern Meal, Music & Stories" Workshop Location: White Hall Tavern & Williamson's Tavern in the Lower Town, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Instructors: Living History Staff, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Description: Experience two different 19th century Park Tavern Exhibits and their role in the town where stories of political unrest, social reforms, and labor disputes unfolded. Enjoy a historic menu & meal prepared over open fire and ovens, 19th century music and the beauty of the town by full moonlight. "The Art of the Forge: Blacksmithing in the 19th Century" Location: Blacksmith Shop Exhibit, Shenandoah Street, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Instructor: David Dufficy, Expert Instructor Description: In this workshop you will learn from a professional blacksmith the stock and trade of the early town's craftsmen who took great pride in leaving their mark in the town's industrial history story. You will also study the difference between the forging processes of everyday utilitarian items or craftsmen at the US Armory forging weapons for national defense. All supplies and materials needed are included in the registration cost. This workshop is open to six participants; observers are welcomed! Deadline to apply is June 1st. "1863 West Virginia Union Ladies Aid Society Grand Strawberry & Ice Cream Festival" Workshop Location: On the Park Green, Shenandoah Street, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Instructor: Carol Anderson, Confections & Foodways Expert Description: During the Ice Cream and Strawberry Festival at the Park Green you will learn the skill of ice cream making and molding. You will also learn the art of making ices and afterward cool down with your results! This workshop is open to fifteen participants per class. Children under 6 years of age may attend at no cost with a registered adult. Observers are welcomed! "Capture History: A Wet Plate Collodion Photography" Workshop Location: Lower Town, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Instructor: John Miliker Description: Learn the art and mystery of the wet plate collodion photography process. Participants will be guided step-by-step to make ambrotypes and tintypes. Make images of John Brown's Fort and the Living History volunteer U.S. Marines Historical Company! Experience history like never before! The workshop fee covers period instructions and manuals, the science of the darkroom, and advice on equipment. All equipment, including a camera, will be provided. This workshop is open to eight participants. Deadline to apply is September 15, 2013 "Tinware for the Masses: Bright, Shiny, Decorative and Useful" Location: Lower Town, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Instructor: Scott Devers, Living History Ranger Description: Today, most American homes boast a wide array of plastic house wares versus one hundred and fifty years ago when tin ware ruled supreme. Tin ware utilitarian items burst upon American markets offering affordable cookware, drinking vessels, and tinned canned foods. In this two day workshop you will learn to make your own traditional tin ware with period methods and tools. This workshop is open to eight participants. "While Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in Their Heads" Location: Roeder's German Confectionery Exhibit, High Street, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Instructor: Carol Anderson, Historic Foodways & 19th Century Confections Expert Description: You will learn the art and mystery of the Confectioner's Yuletide trade and treats while exploring the world of sugar work. This workshop is open to 4 participants per class. Children under 6 years of age may attend at no cost with a registered adult. |
Left: Participants on a 1995 teacher's institute enjoy lunch atop the cliffs of Maryland Heights overlooking the Potomac River. (Photo by David T. Gilbert) Above: Park rangers present a living history program about the Civil War on Schoolhouse Ridge. (NPS Photo) |
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