Sisson Hollow

Welcome to Sisson Hollow.  Please watch your step!  We are heading back in time to the late 1700's.

Yes we experienced hands on history this week.  Each family in our history group researched and prepared a colonial shop or service.  We gathered our materials, produced our goods, practiced our skills and came together to set up a village, "Sisson Hollow".

The Sisson Hollow Merchants

 Each shop keeper gave a report on their shop, their products, and other interesting things they had learned in their research. 

Here's Haley's Milinery Shop.  Notice her manikins showing the latest fashions in her store window.  She sold mirrors, needle cases, soap, boxes, gorgets, handkerchiefs, rosette cockades, and peacock feathers.

Abby's Game Shop and Anna's Syrup

Abby had the game of Graces, checkers, tops, and mancala.  Anna had Maple Syrup.  Yummy.

 This is how the boys play Graces! (keep away, sword fighting, and threaten to stab your neighbor!)

Here's how it's supposed to be played.  Gracefully.

One of the goals for our merchants was to experience bartering.  They all had goods to trade and products and services they wanted from each other!

We invited a few time travelers otherwise known as grandparents, fathers, and mothers.  Now they came empty handed with nothing to barter.  So they received gold and copper coinage fresh from the sisson mint.  "smile"  It was interesting to watch as the money slowly made it's way into circulation. I think you get the picture. 

Here are some of the Grandparents enjoying lunch and keeping warm around the fire.  Sweet potato and apple bake, venison stew, salted fish, biscuits, apple cider, cake and apple mincemeat pie.  Yum.

Our wig-maker Katrina.  She would make you a wig, powder your face, give you beauty marks, and had bath accommodations.  She does not recommend bathing more than twice a year.  She could shave you, and of course offered lice powder.  "smile"

She made the wig on the left out of hair.  It took her 6-8 hours!

Beautiful hat with  rosette cockade and feather.

 Our dyer was extremely wealthy.  He was able to afford the wig made from hair!

 He also could afford the fancy beauty marks and moles.  Anna had her face powdered and a star beauty mark. 

Who is attacking who??

Grandma Sisson at the wigmakers shop.  Maybe she'll get a beauty mark or a mole.  "wink"

The two sister's bake shop.

Their shop was the first place everyone visited. 

These candied orange peals were the afternoon hit.  I couldn't believe how delicious they were.  They tasted just like the orange slice candy we have now!

Robby coming up in the world with a wig!

Wow he looks great!

Here is Jason the Weaver & Dyer

You could purchase yard goods and have them dyed to suit your tastes.  I got a half a yard of light blue.

This was dyed with indigo!

Here are two of the three colors that he was prepared to do on this day.  He experimented all week to be ready for our hands on day.  It helped that his craft included working with fire.  "grin"

The Wood Hands Grocer

Matthew's store was inside the fort.  That way if there was an attack his supplies would be available to all who took safety there. 

Grocers carried many things but Matthew had popcorn, dent corn, coffee beans, raspberry tea, dutch tea . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .sugar, jerky, wooden pouches, and chocolate.  

He too had a fire pit for heating his water. 

Our baker having her hair done at the wig-makers shop.  She looked like royalty when she was done!

Something is amiss at the grocers.  

There may be a robbery in progress.

Sisters

The Apothecary

This is the man to see if you are feeling the least bit sickly.  He carried everything; leeches, blood sucking worms, powders, elixirs, herbs, and excellent advice.  If you catch the flu put a dead chicken at your feet.  Roast and grind a toad, then eat for your general good health. 

His shop was EXTREMELY popular.

Matthew being fitted for a wig to show his rank in society.

Notice what he has in his teeth?

Here he is in his wig wearing his gorget.  The gorget indicates that he is an officer and on duty.

Fabulous Fun
History comes alive!