When in the Visitor’s Center at Allaire State Park, you may notice in the Row House exhibit’s downstairs kitchen what looks something like a set of circular pliers with a spring geared handle sitting on the table. What you see is a pair of sugar nippers, which were a common household tool until roughly the
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Origins of Santa Claus
Representations of the gift-giver from Church history and folklore, notably St Nicholas (known in Dutch as Sinterklaas), merged with the English character Father Christmas to create the character known to Americans and the rest of the English-speaking world as “Santa Claus” (a phonetic derivation of “Sinterklaas”). In the English and later British colonies of North
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The Joys of First Person Interpretation. By Timothy Brown
When people converse, magic happens: they learn about each other. When you are impersonating someone else, the other is learning about that other person. This is what historic interpreters do; teach people about another time by being someone else. It is like acting, but more – the first person interpreter actually does the things as
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Allaire History
News from the Collection – October
Last month we learned about the Tilt Top Table/Bench in the Foreman’s Cottage, The Tape Loom and the Stitching Pony and the sausage stuffer – check last month’s blog if you missed it! Some new developments in the Village are well worth a mention. The Foreman’s Cottage is receiving a face lift courtesy, in part,
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Allaire History
News from the Collection
The Historical Village at Allaire is the caretaker of an extensive collection of historical objects from the 19th century – our collection is literally all around you! Each of our historic buildings contains objects that were used by our ancestors in their daily lives – circa 1836. Although we try to stay true to the
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19th Century Life
America’s Pastime: Then to Now
Flowers are budding, birds are flying home, and baseball season is back! For nearly 200 years, Americans have anticipated spring and baseball side by side. Even though our national pastime has remained a consistent favorite from generation to generation, it has also undergone some pretty drastic changes through the years. In fact, baseball’s history goes
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19th Century Life
5 Everyday Tasks That Were Way Harder in the 1800s
The 19th century in the United States was one of the most innovative periods in history. Providing us with many things we use today—electricity, the car, and the telephone, for example—the 1800s produced advancements that went far beyond the realm of stovepipe hats and covered wagons. Despite this substantial progress, day-to-day life 200 years ago
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Allaire History
Five Ways to Spice Up Your Visit to Allaire Village
The moment you arrive at the Historic Village at Allaire, you’re stepping into a time machine. Our guests do not simply observe the memories of a world gone by. Rather, visitors bring history to life by actively participating in the great experiences Allaire has to offer. Follow these guidelines to make your trip worthwhile: Indulge