“What Is It? Possessions of a Colonial Household” was the topic of a recent visit between Louise Miller and the students at the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) in Edgecomb.

Miller is the education coordinator for Lincoln County Historical Association, and she shared with the students several items that would be found in most Colonial households.

The students easily related to a bar of soap, although making soap was a bit of a mystery. A piece of fabric was easy to associate with their daily lives, but a thread star, used to hold sewing thread, and “S” hook, commonly used to hang pots from fire place cranes, were more of a challenge to connect with the 21st century.

Miller has an extensive background in museum education which includes running the education program at the Fort at No. 4 Museum in New Hampshire and demonstrating traditional home life skills at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. She was invited to CTL as part of their year-long focus on early American history. This is the first year that the Lincoln County Historical Association (LCHA) has offered interdisciplinary, educational resources to all the elementary schools in Lincoln County.

Miller’s position as education coordinator for LCHA was funded in-part by a grant awarded from the Elizabeth Ann Leach Charitable Trust. Plans are to expand the program’s offerings, developing additional interactive resources based on local history. A short video on the program’s goals and the resources is available at no charge. To request a copy contact LCHA by email at info@lincolncountyhistory.org or write, LCHA Education Program, P.O. Box 61, Wiscasset, ME 04578.

To learn more about the Lincoln County Historical Association, visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org. The Lincoln County Historical Association is a nonprofit organization that provides stewardship for the 1754 Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta, the 1761 Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden, and the 1811 Old Jail and Museum in Wiscasset.