Rural Life Museum of Trappe
Activities of the Rural Life Museum…
Flower Sale 2024
Scavenger Hunt 2024
Friends and Visitors Day 2024
Christmas Tour 2013
Rural Life Museum Welcomes YMCA Pioneers August 2013
Charles Adams and Isaac Brooks, Rural Life Museum Board Chair and Volunteer, were delighted at 10 am the morning of August 14, 2013 when the YMCA bus delivered ten YMCA Pioneers (ages 10 to 12) and their leader. The Flag raising was the first activity. Then the group was divided. Their leader took charge picture taking as the Pioneers alternately toured Defender House, the Slaughter Smoke House, and the Carriage House. The two groups came together, and they all made the “banks” at the scale house in the same manner cans were sealed in days of old when they held tomatoes. Before leaving all ten lined up behind the Carriage House and the Smoke House, about 8′ apart and did the typical Military “Police Call”. Isaac was behind them with the trash can and they picked up every little twig, leaf, paper, etc. Any Basic Army Commander would have been proud of them. It seemed only a short time before they were on the bus to go back to YMCA in Easton. A good time was had by all.
Rural Life Museum Visits WMES January 2013
Thursday, January 31st was an exciting day as Carol Lange and Charles Adams of the Rural Life Museum of Trappe visited the Third Grade Classes of White Marsh Elementary School. The students were very interested to see the different artifacts brought from the museum which included a display showing the two Governors of Maryland who had lived in Trappe. Governor Samuel Stevens lived at Compton and served as Governor from 1822 to 1826. Governor Daniel Martin lived at Wilderness Farm and served from 1827 to 1830. Other objects taken to the classrooms included a “mold” used to make the candles that provided light in the homes before anyone had electricity and a glass milk bottle used to deliver milk from the dairy to the homes in the town. For many years these glass bottles were washed and returned to the dairy to be used again and again. Today, we get milk in cartons that we throw away after the milk is used. Charles spoke about how the farmers grew and handpicked tomatoes which were delivered in baskets to the four tomato canneries in the area. Students asked questions about how things have changed on farms and in homes during the past forty years.
We especially enjoyed the thank you notes and drawings sent by the students telling of some of the things they learned. A few of the comments: Alton commented, “I learned that all grades used to be in one building.” Katherine penned, “I love how you told me about the button down shoes and the dolls. Oh I forgot to mention, that I loved how you told me about how there were 3 doctors and now there are none.” Elise wrote, “I learned that the steam boats have wheels to make it move.” Jenna said, “Shoes back then had buttons. People had to use buttoners to button their shoes.” From Lexi, “I learned that there was 18 businesses…I can’t wait to go to the Rural Life Museum.”
We had a great time and hope Lexi and all the WMES students come to see the things we could not bring to the school.
Christmas Tour of Homes and Churches 2012
Photography by Lauren Gomez –