By Gail Scott Bey
One of the best and longest-lasting services the Historical Society of Plainfield provides to the community is the guided grade school tour of the Drake House Museum. The tours give children historical context about what they learn in school, and after seeing and touching historical items, history becomes real for them.
Board members and volunteers conduct tours of the Drake House for first through fifth grade classes of Plainfield and sometimes North Plainfield school students. It is an amazing journey for the students to learn that the Drake House was originally a 4 room farm house built in 1746 before the Revolutionary War. The children learn about the colonial period in America’s history by experiencing a colonial kitchen and bedroom. They learn about George Washington’s visit to the Drake home and see the actual room where he and his officers planned the Battle of Short Hills.
The children are also introduced to Civil War history through viewing artifacts and the paintings of Civil War hero and artist, Julian Scott. Students learn about the influences of the Victorian period as evidenced in the Library and Ball Room, both added on to the Drake House during the Victorian era.
Educational handouts are given to the children and teachers to enhance their educational visit, and we receive appreciation and thanks year after year from our schools. Often we receive children whose parents remember visiting the Drake House when the parent was in grade school. What a wonderful legacy, one the Historical Society of Plainfield hopes to continue to provide to our students, teachers and community for many more years to come.
One of the best and longest-lasting services the Historical Society of Plainfield provides to the community is the guided grade school tour of the Drake House Museum. The tours give children historical context about what they learn in school, and after seeing and touching historical items, history becomes real for them.
Board members and volunteers conduct tours of the Drake House for first through fifth grade classes of Plainfield and sometimes North Plainfield school students. It is an amazing journey for the students to learn that the Drake House was originally a 4 room farm house built in 1746 before the Revolutionary War. The children learn about the colonial period in America’s history by experiencing a colonial kitchen and bedroom. They learn about George Washington’s visit to the Drake home and see the actual room where he and his officers planned the Battle of Short Hills.
The children are also introduced to Civil War history through viewing artifacts and the paintings of Civil War hero and artist, Julian Scott. Students learn about the influences of the Victorian period as evidenced in the Library and Ball Room, both added on to the Drake House during the Victorian era.
Educational handouts are given to the children and teachers to enhance their educational visit, and we receive appreciation and thanks year after year from our schools. Often we receive children whose parents remember visiting the Drake House when the parent was in grade school. What a wonderful legacy, one the Historical Society of Plainfield hopes to continue to provide to our students, teachers and community for many more years to come.
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