In the Sweat-Morin Homestead parlor Photo: Lawrence Furbish
By Rick Perron
Last Friday, the Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum and Sweat-Morin Homestead hosted a group of fourth and fifth grade students from Shapleigh Memorial School for a special two-part field trip.
Accompanied by their teacher, Anne-Marie Hamlin, the young historians started the day stepping back into 1786 at Sanford’s restored Sweat-Morin Homestead. They explored the barn, home, outbuildings, and cemetery to see what colonial life was really like. From spinning yarn to open-hearth cooking, they took it all in. Students also checked out vintage tools, like wooden oxen yokes, and visited the cemetery of Rev. Moses Sweat’s family.
Next, it was off to the Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum for an immersive, hands-on reenactment of “The British and Pequawkets at Phillipstown.” Divided into two groups — the British and the Native Americans — the students dove deep into Maine’s history, exploring cultural cooperation, conflict, and trade. They put their new knowledge to the test by reenacting a historic trade situation using items like beaver pelts, blankets, corn, and quahog beads. They practiced speaking the Pequawket language, with sounds of “Ha!” (yes) and “Nadah!” (no) echoing throughout the museum.
Three students reenacting the British traders Photo: Anne-Marie Hamlin
“The kids had such a blast,” Hamlin said, “that they are already asking to come back next year so they can switch sides and replay the reenactment.”
This was the first educational outreach program offered to area elementary schools, held and managed at Sanford historic properties which was designed by Patricia Violette, executive director of the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society.
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