Daily events are subject to change.
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Welcome to Old Sturbridge Village, a recreated 1830s rural New England town! Join us this weekend as we acknowledge and celebrate extraordinary and everyday women in the early 19th century. Learn how they ran their households, managing clothing construction, cooking, laundry, gardening, and more. See the farmers industriously preparing for the spring season, and of course, our farm animals always enjoy a visitor too. Enjoy your visit!
Women’s History Programming
9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Sewing & Quilting Frolic: Talk with community members who have come together to work on a collaborative quilting project (in the Visitor Center, Building #2).
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Strawbraiding – A Glimpse into the Collection: In the early 19th century, strawbraiding and palm weaving were important sources of revenue for young girls and women. From the tools used to create straw braids, to the fashionable bonnets they were made into, discover the history of strawbraiding and palm weaving through objects from the OSV collection (in the Bixby House, Building #38).
10:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. Living By the Bell: Recollections of the Lowell, MA Factory Girls by an 1830s Boardinghouse mistress (in the Salem Towne House Lower Kitchen, Building #16).
10:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. A Woman’s Sphere: Debate on Women’s Rights between 19th Century activist Angelina Grimke & 19th Century author Catharine Beecher (in the Friends Meetinghouse, Building #6).
11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Meet 19th Century Midwife Lucy Tucker & learn about childbirth in the 1830s (in the Salem Towne House Lower Kitchen, Building #16).
11:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Fashion Delights: Discover what’s in style in the 1830s (in the Asa Knight Store, Building #11).
11:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. Lydia Maria Child: More than just the American Frugal Housewife, the First Woman of the Republic (in the Freeman Farmhouse, Building #36).
11:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. A World to Win: Women Missionaries Learn about early women missionaries (in the Center Meetinghouse, Building #7).
12:00 & 2:00 p.m. Poetry past and present: Join Worcester poet, Ashley Wonder, for modern day poems of resistance, reform and healing. Ashley’s performance will be complemented by readings from the works of 19th century female poets and discussion of power of words to bring change (in the Bullard Tavern Great Room, Building #3).
1:30 p.m. Join the discussion: Should we form a Maternal Society? Talk about present day attitudes on child rearing in contrast to those of the 1830s (in the Richardson House, Building #13).
Music Performances
10:00 a.m. Music at the Tavern: Hear a sampler of 1830s music (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
11:00 a.m. A performance on the New England Bass Viol: Listen to and learn about the church bass or bass viol, an instrument which has not been played in nearly one and a half centuries (in the Center Meetinghouse, Building #7).
1:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Ballroom Etiquette: Learn about the forms of ceremony or decorum used in the entertainment of dancing during the 1830s (in the Salem Towne House, Building #16).
2:30 p.m. Historical Woodwinds: Learn about common woodwind instruments from the Village period. With a flute & clarinet, listen to a selection of historical songs performed on period instruments (at the Fitch House, Building #21).
Households
Freeman Farmhouse: Come watch a country farm family working together in the Freeman Farm yard and learn more about gender roles and work in rural New England (Building #36).
Fitch House: Spring cleaning was a necessary set of chores to keep an 1830’s household running efficiently. Visit the Fitch House as we undertake tasks including dusting and removing cobwebs, washing the woodwork, cleaning the kitchen, hearth, and fireplace, airing blankets, and washing curtains and seat cushion covers, to prepare the house for the warmer seasons ahead (Building #21).
Fitch House: Professional dressmakers could transform a basic bodice to something unique and fashionable for each customer in the 1830s. Visit the Fitch House to learn more about the process from a skilled seamstress (Building #21).
Richardson House: Discover New England women’s contributions to the cause of missions around the world. Learn about some of the things that might be sent to missionaries, see items that might be sent back from the mission field to friends at home, and have a conversation about why people felt strongly about the importance of sending and supporting missionaries (Building #13).
Fenno: Spinning and weaving at home was considered old fashioned in New England by the 1830s. Visit the Fenno House to learn about some women head of households kept up their skills in spinning, weaving and dyeing to provide additional income for their families (Building #23).
Community
Thompson Bank Country banks provided short-term business loans to merchants, prosperous farmers, and manufacturers (Building #20).
Hands-on Crafts in Kidstory (Building #2)
1:30-3:30 p.m. Green Candle Dipping | $4.00 per craft.
Purchase a $4.00 token for Crafts at the Visitor Center or the Miner Grant Store. Instruction by Costumed Interpreter;
make an item to take home. Please note tokens are nonrefundable.
Unused tokens can be redeemed on a future visit.
The Carryall (weather permitting)
We offer a horse-drawn carryall ride included with the price of admission. From 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. you can board behind the Bullard Tavern (#3) or in front of the Blacksmith Shop (#39) about every 20 minutes for a ride around the Mill Pond.
Dining & Shopping
Bullard Café (Building #3) (on the Ground Floor)
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. A variety of lunch options and beverages.
Miner Grant Store & Bake Shop (Building #19)
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Stop in to buy our famous chocolate chip cookies, Joe Frogger cookies, and treats. Shop for Village-made wares, heirloom seeds, historical children’s toys and gifts, too!
Ox & Yoke Mercantile (Building #1)
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Take home a traditional rural New England treasure or locally made gift. Village-made crafts and kits, home décor, books, and more await!
The Environmental Point of View
Woodland Walk (#47) A short hike along Pogus Brook to a wooded viewing platform.
Pasture Walk (#49) Takes you to the top of Powder House Hill, offering views of the pastured landscape.
River Walk (#50) Best views of the Wight Dam and a peaceful setting to enjoy the Quinebaug River.
Please note all walks are open but are not maintained.
Icy conditions may be present.
New England on Parade
Learn about the long history of parades in this region, and their many purposes. Visit both of the exhibitions’ locations in the Visitor Center (#2C), and Armed & Equipped Militia Exhibit (#26).
Old Sturbridge Village’s new exhibit
Needle and Thread: The Art and Skill of Clothing an Early 19th Century Family highlights the responsibilities held by rural New England housewives in constructing new garments, patching, mending, and darning worn items, and repurposing old items into new wardrobes. The exhibit features over a dozen garments and accessories, along with other textile and clothing objects from the Old Sturbridge Village Museum Collections (in the Dennison Building, #28).
Upcoming Events
Patriot’s Weekend – April 15 & 16, 2023
In celebration of Patriots’ Day, join us as we explore the stories of Patriots who helped lay the groundwork for the founding of our country during the American Revolution as well as military history from the 19th & 20th centuries. The stories of the American military will come to life as you chat with guest reenactors portraying troops during the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, and World War II. Explore their camps, see demonstrations of cannon and musket firing, learn about uniform construction, watch military drills, listen to martial music, and more!