Old Fashioned Day (Journée d'antan) was crowded at the
Eaton Corner Museum. The parking lot
was overflowing, even though it was designed to accommodate lots of visitors.
On a hot and sunny Sunday, more than 200 people responded to the invitation of
the members of the board of directors.
In French and
in English, the visitors from both linguistic communities were able to profit
from the knowledge and traditions handed down from the colonizers of our region.
For others, it was a chance to learn a bit about ancestral techniques and
tools.
In the
reception area, a garden of bygone times welcomed us with open arms, rich in
vegetables cultivated in the traditional manner. Several magnificent squashes
had been collected so they could be given away, proof that the pioneers knew
how to make the most of our soil. And sometimes it can be difficult to exploit.
Marc Nault is
an adept of timber frame carpentry. That's a construction technique using
squared or round beams, assembled by means of tenons, mortises and pins. He
took pleasure in demonstrating how our elders built their houses, barns and
outbuildings. He uses tools that are simple but effective, activated by muscle
power.
Artists and
artisans were set up in and around the house of Joshua Foss, who was born in
1795 and died in 1881. He built his house between the years of 1820 and 1830,
and lived in it with his family until his death in Eaton Corner, in what is
today Cookshire-Eaton. This building served as the post office and, it is
thought, was the site of the first surgery under anaesthesia in Canada.
The blacksmith's forge, the ancient vacuum cleaners, the one-cylinder
motors - they all give a glimpse of the gruelling work of days past. From a
block of ash, Raymond Robert stripped off thin strips of wood to make Abenaki
baskets. He was demonstrating the art of basketry, fashioning containers for a
whole variety of uses. Under the shade of the trees encircling the house, Denis
Palmer sketched in his notebook the movements and gestures that he will
complete as a watercolour painting. Another presentation on the site was how
our ancestors were able to heal their ills with the aid of medicinal plants.
Inside the Foss
House, women presented the arts of sewing, weaving, and various forms of
embroidery that were bequeathed to them by generations of women. They
demonstrated the art of spinning the wool that has an array of uses. Despite
the amount and the ruggedness of the work they had to do, they knew how to embellish
their homes with aesthetic notes. Embroidery, crocheting, lacework and quilling
added joyous touches in their humble abodes. They assured the comfort of their
families by crocheting rugs or sewing thick quilts. Also on display were the
techniques and models of sublime sculptures, mostly in delicate borders
decorating pieces of furniture.
In the church,
four musicians offered traditional airs. On display there is the permanent
exhibition of artefacts, abounding with frames, tools and historical documents.
The canvases in the windows, bearing reproductions of watercolours by Denis
Palmer, give a special cachet to the exhibition.
Quite a few people enjoyed the wagon rides. Chantal Bolduc, member of
the Museum's board of directors, drove the team of horses owned by the Bolduc
family. And to satisfy the appetites of visitors, the volunteers offered
delicious scones and jam, just like in bygone days.
Sharon Moore,
vice-president, and Marc Nault, president, were pleased with the participation
of visitors. Everyone, exhibitors and history lovers alike, appreciated this
day that was so rich in discoveries.
