Take a tour of the historic Hunterfly Road Houses. During this inquiry and object-based tour, students get a glimpse of daily life in 19th and early 20th century Weeksville. They learn about the types of employment available, family life, institutions that were founded and how Weeksville residents lived as a community. This tour includes all three Historic Hunterfly Road Houses, which represent three significant time periods: the 1870s, early 1900s, and the 1930s.

*Note: Groups of 20 may be spilt between tour educators.

Explore the beginnings of Weeksville through a video that shows Weeksville in 1970’s. Digging for Black Pride takes a look at the beginning of the preservation of the Weeksville houses and the steps to impart Black culture and Pride into the next generation.

Although store-bought linens and bedding were more economical in terms of time, during the 1900’s, a family still would have kept and used important items, like a crazy quilt as seen in the Johnson Home. Often, quilts like this were made by ancestors (or,in some cases, added to with each successive generation) and were an important part of the family’s heritage. They can be made from clothing scraps or pieces of fabric the quilter finds beautiful. They can also incorporate a number of geometric or naturalistic designs. Quilts demonstrate a high degree of creativity, artistry and craftsmanship as well as a connection to the past. Using a glue, scissors, and felt, students will participate in quilt making, by designing and constructing their own felt quilting square for their Weeksville Heritage Center class/ group quilt.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established as a part of the New Deal. Along with other Great Depression relief initiatives, the agency commissioned thousands of artists to create public art. Students will examine posters produced by the WPA in the 1930s that encouraged ideas such as Healthy Living and Ways to Help the Environment. Working in small groups, they will brainstorm, plan and learn mixed media techniques to create their own WPA-style posters. This workshop allows students to collaborate while learning practical and artistic skills and promoting themes that are important to them.

Block printing is one of the oldest and most important forms of communication. It revolutionized the way that information was shared. Students will learn the importance of printmaking in the historic Weeksville community. They will use their creativity to design an original work of art as follows: Newspaper Design: Students will explore the original copy of “The Freedman’s Torchlight” (1866 Printed Issue) and discuss its importance in the community. Within two smaller groups, the students will design their own newspaper. Each group will choose a theme for their newspaper, a name, and mascot. Using provided paint, ink pad, and character stamps, each group will design/ print their own Masthead. Each student will also contribute to their newspaper, by writing a short article/ paragraph fitting the theme of their newspaper.

150 years ago, these houses were located in a rural, agricultural setting—NOT the urban setting they are in today. If we were standing here in 1850, we wouldn’t see apartment buildings, buses, cars or bodegas. We’d see forests, swamps, stables, horses, chickens and a few houses with gardens. In this workshop each student will choose an animal that they learned lived in Weeksville in and create an animal mask using scissors, paper, tape, glue, and other recyclable materials.

At the time of Weeksville’s founding, well dressed ladies and gentlemen often wore a bonnet or a top hat. Hats were an important piece of their ensemble during the 19th Century and early 20th Century. Not only were hats necessary for blocking the sun when working in the garden, but they were also coveted fashion piece when attending social events. In this workshop, each student will choose an event/ activity, taking place between 1850- 1915 (as discussed during the guided tours), and create their hat using provided cardboard and a host of materials. At the end of the workshop, they will present their hat, giving the year, and event/ activity in which they would wear their hat.