© 2010 Chadds Ford Historical Society (CFHS) is a private, non-profit, community based, volunteer organization that has restored and maintains three pre-Revolutionary buildings which are open to the public as House Museums. Education programs for schoolchildren are conducted year-round by appointment. Events hosted by the Society include Chadds Ford Days, The Great Pumpkin Carve, and Candlelight Christmas.


2010 Junior Guides Schedule - for lasses and lads ages 11 - 17
March 27, 2010 - Organizational Meeting and Registration Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center, 10 - 11:30 a.m.	Learn about the fun and exciting activities that Junior Guides and Demonstrators will be involved with in 2010. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend to help process all the required paperwork.

It is recommend that all Junior Guides wear stockings and shoes, although you can choose to go barefoot if you prefer. We have a number of pictures of suitable footwear, and there are plenty of other sources of pictures of 18^th century shoes. Although you are welcome to spend $100+ on reproduction footwear or $25 on wooden shoes, a reasonable attempt at suitable shoes should cost about $30 at a local shoe or department store and $7 at a thrift store. Gentleman often wore a jacket, hat and leather garters. Lads under 7 years of age and lasses of all ages wore stays, a reinforced garment to support the back and provide the shape considered appropriate in the 18^th century.These are optional items, but please talk to me if you want additional information.
Sew Your Own Garb Classes - Saturdays, 9 until noon at the Barn Visitors Center
The classes listed below are for men’s and women’s clothing. Young men will also require breeches. Although all Junior Guides will require 18^th century style clothing for meetings and events, that clothing can be sewed by the Junior Guide, sewed for the Junior Guide, or be purchased. Some families choose to purchase some items and make others. Please contact the office for more information.

April 10 – Basic Stitches, Kerchief & Apron Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center, 9 - noon	Learn basic sewing techniques including hand stitching and piecing fabric to create your own eighteenth century style clothing. The apron (in 2 different styles) protected the clothing of men and women while they worked. The kerchief, either triangular or square, was worn around the necks of men and women.

April 17 – Bodice, Shortgown or Waistcoat Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center, 9 - noon	The bodice is the top of the lasses’ gown. A shortgown is the equivalent of today’s blouse and was worn over a woman’s shift and petticoats. A waistcoat resembles a vest and was worn over a man’s shirt. Lasses need either a gown OR a shortgown and petticoat.

April 24 – Petticoat or skirt for gown (lasses only) Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center, 9 - noon	Petticoats are what modern people would call a long skirt. Colonial women wore at least 2 petticoats and many layers would provide warmth in the winter, if the lady was fortunate enough to own many. Lasses usually wore a petticoat under their gowns. This session will provide instruction in producing either a petticoat or the skirt for the lasses’ gowns.

May 1 – Shift or Shirt Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center, 9 - noon	A shift acted as a lady’s undergarment and nightgown. A shirt was the male equivalent.

May 15 – Cap, Pocket, Garb finishing, and Make-up Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center, 9 - noon	These were important accessories for 18th century people. The pocket was worn under a petticoat to hold objects. Caps kept a lass’s hair clean and neat. Lasses can finish assembly of the gown by attaching the skirt to the bodice with suggestions on fastening methods for the gown. Anyone who missed a session or who wishes assistance with other items is welcome to attend.
2010 Junior Guide Summer Program
All sessions will be held from 1 to 4 pm on a Thursday or Saturday unless noted. All activities (except the organization meeting in March) will be held in Colonial-style clothing.

May 29 – Colonial Games and House Guiding Location: Barns-Brinton House, 1 - 4pm	Learn how to play a number of colonial indoor and outdoor games. Demonstrate them and teach them to our visitors. Learn about the Barns-Brinton House and give guided tours of rooms in the Barns-Brinton House. (This is Memorial Day weekend.)

June 12 – Fire Starting and Candle Dipping Location: John Chads House, 1 - 4pm	Learn how our ancestors started fires with flint and steel or a wooden bow. Work with beeswax to make hand-dipped candles. Please bring safety lenses and/or abrasion resistant gloves if you have ones that fit.

June 17 or 19 – Beehive Oven Baking Location: John Chads House, 1 - 5:15pm	Mix, knead, and bake your own yeast bread in the John Chads House beehive oven. Group will be split into 2 days to allow for better hands-on access in this session.

July 10 – Rug Braiding Location: Barns-Brinton House, 1 - 4pm	Come to the Barns-Brinton House where we will learn how to turn old wool clothes and scraps into new rugs using historic techniques.

July 17 – Make Wooden Colonial Toys Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center, 1 - 4pm	Use old-fashioned hand tools to produce your own ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ and a whirligig. You can personalize your two Colonial toys in your own personal style. Now you will know how those Jacob’s ladders work! Safety lenses are encouraged.

July 31 – Make a Tin Candleholder Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center, 1 - 4pm	Our guest instructor will guide us through bending and piercing sheet metal to produce a small candle holder. Students will not do any soldering, although a demonstration may be provided. Please bring safety lenses and/or abrasion resistant gloves if you have ones that fit.

August 21 – Carding and Spinning Wool Location: Barns-Brinton House, 1 - 4pm	Learn the steps for turning shorn sheep fleece into yarn. We will discuss all the processes and practice carding and drop spinning. We will learn about using spinning wheels, time permitting.

August 26 (Thurs.) – Colonial Dance & Deportment Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center, 1 - 4pm	Step back in time and experience lessons from our traveling dance master who provides instruction in deportment and social interaction skills as well as the important social skill of dancing. Lasses may try-on one of our pairs of stays to experience this normal 18^th century item of apparel.
Volunteer Opportunities at our Annual Events
September 11 - 12 - 45th Chadds Ford Days Location: CFHS Barn Visitors Center & John Chads House, 10am - 5pm	Don't just watch the demonstrators, be a demonstrator! Demonstrate a traditional craft you've learned this summer, help sell bread, talk about colonial clothing or tell our visitors the story of John and Elizabeth Chads at their house.

December 4 - Candlelight Christmas Location: Barns-Brinton House, 1 - 6pm	Help add a festive air to our historic house! Prepare and deliver colonial-style food and drink to different rooms of the Barns-Brinton House and assist with tours or other duties as needed.

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© 2010 Chadds Ford Historical Society (CFHS) is a private, non-profit, community based, volunteer organization that has restored and maintains three pre-Revolutionary buildings which are open to the public as House Museums. Education programs for schoolchildren are conducted year-round by appointment. Events hosted by the Society include Chadds Ford Days, The Great Pumpkin Carve, and Candlelight Christmas.