By Sandra
On a visit to Colonial Williamsburg in September, we thoroughly enjoyed fall Homeschool Days. This was an excellent opportunity and value. If you have a chance to make this trip in September or February of the year, I highly recommend it for the whole family.
In addition to offering special programs for home educated students, Colonial Williamsburg provides access to its usual colonial shop attractions for all ticket holders. Our favorite shops included the Printer, the Wigmaker, Shoe Cobbler and the Courthouse.
The wigmaker discussed her various offerings, telling which wig hair length and color may be appropriate, depending on one’s social class. The wigmaker was quite engaging, drawing in questions and comments from the small group of bystanders in the shop. One of the wigs actually had duck feathers atop, which she explained was designed to repel raindrops that may threaten. Did you know that young women in poor social standing grew their hair long to sell it for a mere handkerchief? Then they would barter the handkerchief for another commodity of similar or slightly higher value.
I found the shoe cobbler incredibly informative and approachable as well. He discussed his own family dynamics, in the colonial landscape, and why his children would be apprentices in shops that provided services like candle making or barrel making. He also discussed why his shop specialized in men’s shoes only. The shop had a wonderful leather aroma.
The Courthouse, my husband’s favorite stop, provided background into the colonial legal system. We observed the jury chamber, which was equipped with hard benches without a heat or cooling system, no fireplace, and no light after sundown. We soon understood why jurors came to verdicts as quickly as possible, by sundown each day, if possible. We got to sit in the seats of the judges, where we got a little unruly in the elevated seats of power. We were then chastised by the court clerk who barked, “Order in the court!” Our eyes grew wider, and we couldn’t help releasing a chuckle or two because of our inappropriate courtroom behavior!
One of my boys’ favorite sights was a slave we came upon, while traveling the cobblestone path, outside a colonial tavern. He was talking loudly, although to no one in particular, in a style of English that was clear, though obviously without the privilege of education. He asked us if we had come from far away and if we would be staying. He explained that he was preparing a horse’s shoe and had been there for some time as a slave. He later burst out into a spiritual type of song, bellowing extemporaneous words of thanks to God for getting him through another day. He drew a crowd of bystanders, who were more interested in him than the food or ale offerings of the tavern. Talking with this man proved an appetizer for thought about the hard life of colonial times, especially for the slave.
If you’re interested in Homeschool Days at Colonial Williamsburg, you may gather information for your trip HERE. For specific details, you may also email schoolandyouthgroup@cwf.org or call 1-800-228-8878. Colonial Williamsburg has been ranked in the top ten best family vacations by Southern Living magazine.
Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 8:25AM 
If anyone who knows either Lara or me is reading this, they are probably having a good laugh already. Neither Lara nor I are known for our grace. We fall down, a lot; bump into things/people, a lot; and generally trip over our own two feet. So the idea of us trying to belly dance is simply laughable.