Another Place to Visit: American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts

Another on my List of Places I want to Visit:  American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Their website:  not that great, compared to, say, Victoria and Albert, but maybe it'll improve.  Most of their stuff doesn't have photos that you can access.  And I swear I've seen a lot of the photos they do have representing items on eBay.  (So watch out what you're bidding on.)

LOCATION
491 Dutton Street
Lowell, MA 01854-4221
Tel: (978) 441-0400
Fax: (978) 441-1412
Wednesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed on holidays.
School and scout programs available by reservation Monday through Sunday.
For reservations phone 978-441-0400 ext. 250 or email reservations@athm.org.

Admission:
Free for Museum members and children under 6.
$8 for adults 17 and older.
$6 for seniors (65 and older), children 6 – 16, and college students with ID.
$6 per adult for groups of 10 or more.
$8 per adult or college student for group guided tours – prior reservation required.
$6 per student for grade school group programs and guided tours (10 person minimum or $80 minimum fee) - prior reservation required.
Teachers always admitted free of charge with school groups or individually with teacher identification.
Receive $2 off one full price $8 adult admission with this coupon.

Fiber Law: Cappers Act of 1571

There is a knitted and felted wool cap at the Victoria & Albert Museum probably made between 1500 and 1550.  It was found in London, England, and may have been made there also.

If I'm understanding this correctly, every person, except the Nobility, was required to wear a hat on Sundays and Holidays.  You might not be able to afford to feed your family, but you must buy a cap from an official capper tradesman.  In the interest of keeping those makers in business.  Even though they were no longer "fashionable".  Was this an early version of "financial stimulus"?

"Historical significance: In England, the manufacture of caps was of sufficient importance to merit control by Act of Parliament from 1488 onwards. The 'Cappers Act' of 1571 stated that every person above the age of six years (excepting 'Maids, ladies, gentlewomen, noble personages, and every Lord, knight and gentleman of twenty marks land') residing in any of the cities, towns, villages or hamlets of England, shall wear on Sundays and holidays (except when travelling), 'a cap of wool, thicked and dressed in England, made within this realm, and only dressed and finished by some of the trade of cappers, upon pain to forfeit for every day of not wearing 3s. 4d.'. This act was intended to keep domestic production alive, as caps were outmoded by this date and there was a danger that a fall in demand for them would have a detrimental effect on the makers. (From Statutes at Large, vol vi, p 288, quoted in Textile History, vol 1, 1971; article by S M Levey: Illustrations of the History of Knitting Selected from the Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum)."

Colonial American Fiber Law information from Hands on History

OK, this particular site leaves out all but the English Viewpoint, but it has good information on that view.

According to Hands on History, Inc.org:
"....began with English settlement of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 and ended at the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1775. Establishing permanent settlements in North America was a way for the British to obtain raw materials from the colonies then in turn, provide the colonists with manufactured goods."

My take on their report:  from the point of view of the early settlers (from Great Britain) still considered themselves subjects of The Crown.  Many of the British still in England were focussed on the colonies as a resource of raw materials and as a market for British goods.  The American Colonies were an investment. 

"To ensure continuation of trade with the colonies England tried to discourage colonial cloth manufacture, high tariffs were levied on looms and spinning wheels. The British also passed acts forbidding the export and the sale of cloth woven in the colonies. "



Maybe our National Flower should be the Linum Usitatissimum.



Keep in mind that the British and their Parliament had a long history of govenrmental control; as an example:  requiring the wearing of caps by the 'Cappers Act' of 1571.  They hadn't counted on the "strong spirit of independence among the colonists. As the desire for independence grew so did the price of imported European cloth. It soon became not only practical, but a sign of patriotism as well, to spin and weave one's own cloth. The first sound of revolution was the rhythmic "thwack" of the beater against the web of colonial looms."

As the ties were severed with Great Britain, the Colonists began manufacturing their own spinning wheels, looms and other textile tools, growing flax and raising sheep to provide fiber for spinning yarn. 

Fiber Law and Things I Wish I Could Do

Well, this one kind of covers Places I would like to visit and Fiber Law.  But, this doesn't seem to be a static place to visit.  It's a program where they will come into your school to do demonstrations or a Colonial American Fair.  "A Living History Day" how cool is that?!

Hands on History Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation for the purpose of research, development and presentation of experiential, living history programs.  This photo is from their website.  How cute is this?  It seems that the kids dress up in colonial gear for the day.
Contact information email:  mailto:LearningHistory@handsonhistoryinc.org

mail:  Alice Seeger
Executive Director
Hands On History Inc.
P.O. Box 776
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
phone:  914-475-0204

Oh, and Where Have I seen this Rhinebeck name before? 

Maybe that's what I need to research.

I would like to visit: Pioneer Village: Salem in 1630

I'm going to list a few of the places in the world that I want to visit someday.  When you arrive home after a trip, have you ever had the realization that you were just a short distance from a place that you've read about and wanted to go to?  Or you didn't realize that you were so close until it was too late?  Well, maybe if I post the list of places here, I'll be able to remember and access the information when I need it.
Now, remember, these may not actually be what YOU would call "tourist attractions". 

Pioneer Village: Salem in 1630  is only open from June 22 to October 31 for 2012 and only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and only from 12 noon to 4 pm.  It's not expensive once you get there.  At this time, it's $5 or $6 for the Self-Guided Tour option.  A Scheduled Guided Tour is $8/student (with a school group/field trip).  Tickets to Pioneer Village:  Salem in 1630  

I am wondering if there's an option for a Guided Tour if you're not part of a school group.  Timing would be the important thing here.  It's soooo disappointing to be at the place on the day that it's closed.  Cannot tell you how many times that has happened.

Their website points out that it's America's first living history museum and was built in 1930 for the Tercentennial of Massachusetts.  That's kind of hard to believe, that there was no living history museum in America before 1930, but, I guess they can claim it if they want too.  They also have a list of several buildings and attractions.  I'm a little concerned that "The village sits on three acres of land..."  THREE ACRES?  Really?  Ummm, my mowed yard is about 2 acres.  3 Acres doesn't even get you much of the area where I expect kids to play when they come to my house.  Maybe it's just me, but I think the local Walmart has more than 3 acres of parking....  I know everything's smaller back east.  Maybe it's a typo?  I just looked it up: the EPA Superfund website for reuse of land states that an Adult Soccer Field with supporting areas may need up to three acres of land.  Same with baseball or football.  And we're not talking about pro sports or parking.  Just a little local Parks & Rec field.  Anyway, I would like to visit:

Pioneer Village:Salem in 1630

Pioneer Village   Salem, MA

Pioneer Village is America's oldest living history museum and recreates life as it was for the Puritans in 1630. Visit thatched houses, dugouts, period gardens, a wigwam and the governor's house. Costumed interpreters give guided tours which explain what life was like for these early colonists. Pioneer Village is located in Forest River Park near Salem State University.

Online tickets purchased through Brown Paper Tickets may be redeemed anytime during regular hours before October 31. Normal hours may be found on our website: pioneervillagesalem.com

Kid Friendly: Yes! Non-Smoking: Yes!Pioneer Village: Salem in 1630

Fiber Law

You may all know this, but I've just got to find out:  Where can I find all these Laws about Fiber? 
I just came across a description of the Carding Comb at the Museum of London website.  And it says they

 were also used 'illegally' on woven cloth to raise the nap or surface. This process, known as 'rowing' or 'barbing', was ...

And, I found on another site a vague reference about the US Maritime Regions (I assume New England) that it was Illegal for Men to Knit during Fishing Season???  Then there's always the references in American History about specific pieces of fiber working equmpment being illegal to export or import at certain times.
Where can I find more of these "Laws".  Was it Elizabeth Zimmerman or Stephanie Pearl McPhee that said "There are no Knitting Police."?  Because it seems to me that there clearly used to be Fiber Police.
 
I've always been fascinated by the crafts demonstrators at the theme parks and Ren-Fest.  I wonder how many of the activities they are demonstrating would have actually been illegal in the time/place they are Re-enacting?  That leads to a fun "Sheriff" situation play:  "Sorry lady, we're gonna' have to take you in to the hoos-gow for usin' that teasel on those woven-goods."  Headlines reading "Shoot Out Over Socks".

This really bears more research......

I LOve my Mixer

I've got to brag a little on my DH and kids.  I know it's far after Christmas, but, It's never to late to say thank you, again.
Their Christmas gift to me was a KitchenAid Mixer.  If I can find a good photo of one, I'll post.  It's the beautiful RED Artisan Tilt-Head Stand type.  And we've been using it a lot.  A couple of weeks ago DD#2 had a Bake Sale to bake for.  In one morning, we made two batches of cupcakes, two double batches of Pan Cookies and another double batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Talk about the little mixer that can....
Anyway, the Sale day turned out to be a lot warmer than seasonal.  Just so you know, 90 degree heat on the Sunny West Side of the BigBoxMart is not the place to be trying to display iced cupcakes that have been packed in little zippy bags.  On the other hand, nothing slows down the sale of Chocolate Chip Cookies.  We even had a few customers opening them and eating them on the way to the car.  Got comments like "Wow!  They're warm and melty!  Are these right out of the oven?"  Uhhhh, yeah, they are, kinda...
And just so you know, I've tried to attach an add that shows this, but I keep getting an "Invalid Link" so if it shows up about a dozen times, just go with it.  OK?