The Ogden House Exploring Colonial Life – Docent Guide

370 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT 06824 | www.fairfieldhistory.org | 203-259-1598

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The Ogden House Exploring Colonial Life – Docent Guide

Table of Contents Background Information

Tips for Touring Page 3 - 4

Orientation and Introduction Page 5 - 6

Kitchen / Keeping Room Page 7

First Floor / South Parlor Page 14

First Floor / North Parlor Page 16

Second Floor / South Chamber Page 18

Second Floor / South Chamber

The Garret

Page 21

Second Floor / North Chamber Page 22

KEY:

Tips for Touring at the Ogden House

The Owl symbol represents Tips for Touring throughout this

document.

Appendix

The Book symbol represents further information on this topic

in the Appendix.

Questions / Statements in Italics

Items in italics throughout the Tour Script are suggested

questions and themes for your groups.

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The Ogden House Exploring Colonial Life Docent Guide

Tips for Touring at the Ogden House The Owl symbol represents further Tips for Touring throughout this document.

Docent Responsibilities

Speak LOUDLY and SLOWLY, make eye contact with students and wait for the entire class to

assemble before beginning.

Previous Knowledge

Student Groups

Most of the students probably studied the colonial period in their classes. Begin the tour by

asking what they have learned about this time period. Encourage students to share their previous

knowledge. What do they know about the colonial period?

Allow students time to ask questions. It’s OK if you don’t know an answer! Explain to

students that sometimes we just don’t know certain things about history. You can also tell the

student that they had a good question and you are just not sure about the answer! Encourage

students to do more research about their question.

The Fairfield Museum also offers pre-visit lesson plans and suggested activities for the teachers,

so the students should have a fair amount of previous knowledge.

Public Tours and Other Groups

You can still ask your group what they know about this time period. What do they remember

about the colonial period?

K-W-L

The KWL is used by teachers to evaluate student comprehension before conducting a lesson. It’s

a great tool to use with students because it asks three basic questions:

K = What do you know about this subject, object, topic …?

W = What do you want to know about this?

L = What have you learned about this?

Guiding Questions

Give students a moment to “silently look” and to think about what they notice about each room.

Ask if they see anything familiar or different. Compare and contrast things life in colonial times

with life today.

What is the same? What is different?

Encourage students to imagine life hundreds of years ago.

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Historical Objects

Make sure students and chaperones understand that this is a Historic House! Most of the objects

and furniture are original to the time period. Items should not be touched unless the guide says

it’s ok.

Object Handling Guidelines for Students:

Handle things carefully – listen for any special instructions.

Use two hands and pass with care.

Pass everything in the same direction.

While on tour, please do not open any additional chests, trunks, cupboards or drawers –

things can be damaged. Drawers have been left open to highlight their contents and to

allow the guide to discuss how the furniture was made.

Keeping order

Managing your group is one of the most important aspects of leading a successful tour. Make

sure that you introduce yourself to the chaperone / teacher. Call upon them if you need help with

any disruptive students! If the students are not paying attention, use these methods below:

If students are not quiet, use the universal quiet sign – raise your hand up in the air (sometimes

with two fingers pointing up), most students understand that this means quiet.

The “loud method:” Simply say, “If you hear my voice, clap once!” Continue, “If you hear my

voice, clap twice!” Continue, “If you hear my voice, clap three times!” Usually the group will be

quiet by the 3rd

time!

Student Responsibilities

Respect: Respect the Tour Leader and listen when he/she is talking.

Respect your fellow classmates and listen when they have something to say.

(You might learn something!)

Respect the house, the building and the objects.

Don’t touch anything unless a Tour Leader says it’s ok.

Responsibility: Stay together as a group.

Raise your hand if you have a question.

Make sure chaperones understand that students need to be respectful.

When reviewing guidelines, chaperones are also participants!

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Ogden House Tour

Orientation: Each class is broken into two groups when they arrive. The tour guides should decide who will

begin where.

Front entrance = front of the house

First Floor, to the right = South Chamber

First Floor, behind South Chamber = Kitchen /

Keeping Room

First Floor, to the left = North Chamber / Parlor

Second Floor, on your left = South Bed Chamber

Second Floor, on your right = North Bed Chamber

(bathroom for docents located in corner)

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Introduction

Welcome to the Ogden House – which is owned and maintained by the Fairfield Museum &

History Center.

What time period are we in? Colonial Era. This period spans a long time, from about 1607 to

after the American Revolution in 1783.

The house was built in 1750, but the objects and the interpretation of the house come from David

Ogden’s probate inventory when he died in 1775.

At the time the Ogden’s lived here, Fairfield was already over 100 years old. Fairfield was

established in 1639.

Who lived here? The Ogden family – David and Jane Ogden moved into this home in 1750,

when they were first married.

This area of Fairfield was not “the frontier.” The Ogden’s had neighbors, but most people had a

lot of land. Remember, 8 out of 10 people in Fairfield were farmers.

Previous Knowledge

What have you been learning in class about colonial times?

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In colonial times, most rooms were used for several purposes.

They moved furniture from room to room and window to fireplace

according to needs for warmth, light, work or leisure space!

I. Kitchen / Keeping Room This is one of the most important rooms in the house - the kitchen was the center of the

colonial home, where the fireplace or hearth was located – the “heart” of the home.

Sometimes the kitchen is called the “keeping room” - this was where the fire was “kept.”

Suggested themes: - Little money was exchanged, most families bartered and traded for what they needed,

keeping account books of these transactions. For example, a farmer would trade eggs for

something he could not make, such as an item from a blacksmith or things that were

imported.

- Living with the seasons. Spring and Fall were busy times – planting and harvesting. Food

was stored in a root cellar, meat was smoked or dried, etc. for the winter.

What if there was a long winter – what would they eat?

Objects in / around Hearth - Cooking

What do students notice about the

hearth?

How many fires would there be?

The hearth would have several fires

going at the same time, for various

purposes / temperatures.

Hearth Items:

Trammel - Piece of iron that hangs in the center with holes in it that raised pots up and

down. When cooking, the temperature was regulated by raising or lowering the pots

above the fire.

Skillets – Had long handles for putting into the fire

Funnels, etc. – self-explanatory

Large kettle – for stews or even dying clothes

Bucket / ladle – used to fetch water outside (no indoor plumbing!)

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The women would usually tend the fire and the risk of getting their long skirts on fire

were high – the bucket of water would help to put out fires, as well.

Two Hearths The two hearths, one in the kitchen and one in the South Parlor, are very

uncommon. The 2nd

hearth in the kitchen may have been added later when Jane

became a widow and received a portion of the house.

The Hearth

Reflector Oven:

This is a tin reflector oven with wrought iron spit

used in hearth cooking to evenly roast meat, which

would be turned on the spit. There is an opening

that faces the fire. The crank handle on the side

rotates the spit. The metal lid door allowed the user

to check the food. There is a spout on one side

used to pour off the fat.

Docents may use the smaller reproduction oven

to demonstrate how it’s used.

What kinds of things would the colonists make in

the reflector oven? This object is like a rotisserie

that many supermarkets have today.

Beehive Oven:

What kind of oven does this look like? Most

students will refer to brick oven pizza – it’s the

same idea!

Coals were put in the beehive oven to heat

it up.

It was usually used once a week, on

Saturdays.

They had a door (like in South Chamber) –

this one is missing

Baked items were made according to the

length of time and temperature required

o First they made bread, then pies,

muffins and finally cookies

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Toaster

Long handle so people wouldn’t get burned.

What tradesperson would make this?

Candlebox:

What do you think this was used for?

Candles were made from tallow, or fat, and often

smelled like burnt bacon when used. The

candlebox stored these candles away from pests.

Beeswax candles were expensive and not

commonly used. For guests, colonists would use

candles scented with bayberries. It would take 8 –

11 pounds of bayberries to produce 1 pound of

wax.

Colonial Trades Many students learn about colonial trades when studying this period. Make sure

you relate the objects in the house to the tradesperson who would make them.

Blacksmith made things from iron, the pots, pans, etc.

Tinsmith / whitesmith made things from tin, like the reflector oven

The term “smith” comes from the English, “to smyte” to hit

Living with the Seasons Some activities would take place at the same time every year. For example,

soapmaking was done in the spring, when animals such as cows were

slaughtered and the fat was used to make soap.

Washing was done once a month.

It would take a long time to do things we take for granted. Things like dyeing

clothes and making cheese were a big production.

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The Table What do you think the Ogden’s ate? The Ogden’s were farmers and had over 70 acres of land!

They grew their own food, had animals and bought or traded for other items they could not

make.

Most wives kept a receipt book, a daily log where she recorded: transactions, credits / exchanges

and documentation of daily chores such as soapmaking, bread baking, etc.

Sugar cone and sugar nippers.

Sugar was imported and it represents that this family

could afford to purchase it.

What do you use to measure flour or sugar when you

bake?

Scale – how items were measured for baking, trading

Mortar and pestle – for grinding herbs, etc.

Do we use these today? Yes.

Colonial Air Freshener!

Colonists would use herbs and spices to freshen their

home, such as cloves or lavender.

Most spices were imported.

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The Shelves Miscellaneous household items.

Pewter plates – pewter contains almost 80% lead –

that’s why it melted easily. It was heavy and not

very practical, but many people used pewter

because it was less expensive. Now we know the

hazards of lead.

The round shaped object with the long neck is a

baby bottle. Can students guess what it is used for?

The block of pewter can be passed around to the

students.

Forks only had two prongs, usually used for meat

Irons – were put into the fire to heat up.

The basic design hasn’t changed much.

Ceramics – made by a potter – cups, plates, jugs

Powder Horn - made from cow horn and used to

keep powder for guns dry

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Other Kitchen Objects

Above on the Beam – Musket:

What do you think this was used for?

The Ogden’s probably did not need to use this

rifle for hunting. It could have been used for

protection from strangers, but by the late

1700s, the area was relatively safe. This rifle

could have been used for shooting at intruding

animals or for the militia - two of the Ogden

sons fought in the Revolutionary War.

Accession # 1975.78: This gun was used by Robert Sheffield of Stonington during the

Revolution. He and his sons “built, equipped and sailed a private armed ship in quest of the

enemy and had one or two pretty hard-fought battles.” (Mrs. George St. John Sheffield, from

Sheffield, St. John and Allied Families, 1929) Apparently it was used by someone in an

unsuccessful night attack on a British cutter off of Mill River harbor. Sheffield’s grandson,

Joseph, used the gun during the war of 1812 in the company Mill River Sea Fencibles.

Butter Churn:

The Ogden’s had a dairy, a small, separate

building that was kept cool and clean for

making butter and cheese.

Milk spoiled easily (there was no

refrigeration!) so it could not be kept for very

long.

Butter and cheese lasted longer and were

easier to store.

Storage Barrels

Barrels were used for variety of storage

purposes.

What tradesperson made barrels? The

cooper.

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Other Kitchen Objects

Barrel and wash fork for laundry / bathing.

Most people thought bathing was bad for you

and did not bathe often – everyone smelled!

The older members of the family would bathe

first, the babies would go last, thus the

expression, “Don’t throw the baby out with

the bathwater!” Can you imagine what the

water looked like by the end?

Boot Jack: As farmers, the Ogden’s would

often have to muck around in the fields or

stables. The boot jack helped them get their

boots off!

Cheese Press

The Ogden family probably had a dairy or

cold house for making cheese and butter.

The notches on the top left were for a handle

that was attached that pushed the press down.

The basket was lined with cheese cloth and a

spout at the bottom would catch the whey as it

separated from the curds.

Red door: Carved with initials, possibly the Wakeman boys.

Windows: Windows had small panes of glass because they were imported from England – the

smaller size did not break as much as larger pieces. The smaller pieces were also less expensive

because glass was taxed – even mirrors!

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II. First Floor South Parlor

Give students a moment to “silently look.”

What do they notice? What do they think this room was used for?

This room gets the most light, so it was used for a variety of purposes; eating,

working, etc. The dining table was set to one side and brought out at meal times.

When not in use, chairs were placed around the room’s perimeter.

The Family Workroom

The Great Wheel - used to spin wool

Carding wool – used to remove burrs, and to

clean out the wool.

The wheel spins the wool into yarn.

Many colonists would send their wool to a

weaver to be made into blankets and clothing –

looms were very large and people didn’t have

the room for them.

It takes 2 sheep to make one piece of clothing.

See the Appendix for more information on

carding wool.

Looking glass – mirror: Glass was expensive

and also taxed. The three mirrors in the Ogden

represent the family’s wealth.

Donated by Virginia Ogden Hayes, an Ogden

descendent.

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FLAX

FLAX Flax was a very important crop in

Fairfield.

The fibers of the plant are used to spin

thread which eventually becomes

linen.

Linen and clothing were very valuable

items in colonial times. Think of how

long it takes to make a piece of

clothing by hand from linen, starting

with planting the seeds.

Hatchel – tool with nails sticking out that

removed the dirt, etc. from the flax fibers

Linsey-woolsey – a combination of flax and

wool

Tow – the parts of the flax fibers that had bits

of stuff in it

Boys with blonde hair were called “towhead”

Girls with blonde hair were called “flaxen”

haired

Students can touch the samples of flax.

Touch and Learn

Feel flax fibers from the plant, feel the linen

sample

Flax See the information about flax and exports / imports from the Dannenberg

Collection archives in the Appendix.

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III. First Floor North Parlor

Give students a moment to “silently look.”

What do they notice? What do they think this room was used for?

This room shows items used to entertain, as well as items used by David Ogden

to keep track of the family’s accounts. At the end of the day, he would sit down

and record any goods or services that were exchanged that day. See the

Appendix for more information on account books and trades.

The Parlor

For entertainment, people would

sit near the fire and play cards,

dominoes and talk.

Candlesnuffer with tray – used to

trim the wicks of candles before

the development of braided wicks,

which burn more slowly.

Rum Box

For special occasions, the Ogden’s

would use China. These items

indicate the Ogden’s status – they

could afford to purchase them.

Until the mid-1700s, nearly all

glass items were imported from

England and was considered a

luxury.

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The Parlor - Desk

Desk

The sand shaker held ground

cuttlefish bone, which was

sprinkled over wet ink to dry it

faster.

The Money Box, from 1767, held

what little currency the family had.

Most assets were in the form of

property, crops and livestock.

NOTE: As of October, 2013, the

money box is in the Creating

Community exhibit at the Fairfield

Museum.

Reproduction Linen Curtains

Rare in CT homes, window curtains

were used primarily for privacy.

Most were simply hung from string

or wire. Curtains were not

commonly used until the 19th

century, because textiles were so

expensive.

Bed hangings often provided the

only privacy in the bedrooms.

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IV. Second Floor South Chamber

Give students a moment to “silently look.”

What do they notice? What do they think this room was used for?

Sleeping / Child Life

There are two beds in this room. In

colonial times, people would sleep

together for warmth.

Eight children would sleep together in

this room!

The bed has ropes that are used to

hold up the bedding. This is where the

phrase, “sleep tight, don’t let the bed

bugs bite” comes from.

Rope Tightener

The tool on the bedside chest is used

to tighten the ropes under the bedding.

(Sometimes this is in the North

Chamber)

The items on the chest near the beds

include a slate, New England Primer,

small wooden baby doll crib and a

wooden top. Children did not have a

lot of toys, and often made their own

by carving things out of wood or

making things.

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Slate & Primer – Education

The Ogden children went to school in

the meeting house in Greenfield Hill.

The younger children went to school in

the summer, and the older children

would go to school in the winter. There

were no sessions in spring and fall,

during planting and harvesting times.

The New England Primer was used

from 1690 on as a basic textbook for

students. It contained lessons on the

alphabet and passages from the Bible

for children to read. There were no

blackboards, notebooks or pens.

Children used slates for writing.

Chamber Pot – under the bed:

Guides can take this out and ask the

students what it is.

Often a punishment for a bad child

would be taking out the chamber pot.

Update: the larger bed now has an

indigo quilt, c. 1795 – 1800

The quilt was passed down through

generations of the Batterson family of

Greenfield Hill. Mary Seeley Batterson

was a very young bride, about aged 17,

when she made the quilt.

Furniture / Storage:

Chester-Over –Drawers

Most chests were not used to store

clothing, they were used to store linens,

blankets and important documents.

Closet: Why is it so small?

People did not have a lot of clothes.

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V. The Garret

Food Storage Food was stored in this area, including barrels of grains, herbs, dried food, etc. Sometimes

laundry was hung to dry in this area.

Barrels were used to store flour,

cornmeal and other dried foods. Herbs

were hung from the rafters.

Like most attics, it has a collection of

old textiles, barrels and a broken chair.

Labor

If a family had slaves or hired help, sometimes they would sleep in this area. We have no record

of the Ogden’s owning a slave, however some people “borrowed” slaves owned by neighbors or

other family members.

The Ogden Family: Pre-Visit Program If the group had a Pre-Visit Powerpoint presentation: information about how the

Ogden House was constructed was included in the presentation. What do

students remember about the pre-visit?

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The Garrett: House Construction The garrett shows the construction of the house, including the plaster and lath, roofing, post and beam

and mortise & tenon joints.

Plaster & Lath

(pronounced laythe)

The lath is the wooden strips. Plaster was

applied over the wood. Early plaster consisted

of fine white clay, bound by straw, and made

smooth. In a seaside community, such as

Fairfield, shells were ground up into the

plaster.

Mortise and Tenon

The Ogden House was made without nails!

The beams were cut to fit into place, like

Lincoln Logs. After the pieces are fitted

together, a small round hole is drilled through

the connection and a wooden peg or treenail is

driven into the hole to “lock” the pieces

together.

This exposed treenail is rare – usually they

were cut to be flush with the beams.

You can find this example in the corner of the

South Chamber.

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VI. Second Floor North Chamber

Give students a moment to “silently look.”

What do they notice? What do they think this room was used for?

David and Jane’s Room This room shows how the parents of this family may have lived.

This block-printed fabric is an example

of the kind of material that was imported

from places like China. The fabric

would keep people warm at night.

At left: Hot coals were put in the

bedwarmer. It was placed under the

covers to heat up the bed.

When a child was born, it slept in a

cradle like this in the parents’ room.

The bed is made of feather and/or down

which was extremely valuable. It took one

year to get 1# of down. Sometimes the bed

was straw underneath.

The pitcher and bowl was for washing.

Can you imagine how cold the water

would get in the winter?

The pocket was

sewn by women

to wear around

or under their

skirts. Clothes

did not have

pockets back

then. This is a

reproduction.

Items on the table.

This linen towel is an example a

household item that was made from flax.

Why were initials put on their clothes?

Linens were labeled and numbered to

practice embroidery skills and to ensure

that linens were rotated.

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David and Jane’s Room

Trunk: Rev. Andrew Eliot’s trunk – probably used to store

important documents. A tag inside stated “made from a

beam used in the 2nd

edifice of Christ Episcopal Church”

High Chest

(1740-1780 Queen Anne style)

The chest was probably used to store

important documents and linen.

The chest may also have contained

dowry items for the Ogden daughters.

Colonial girls and women spent long

hours spinning, dyeing and sewing to

ready their dowries.

Sometimes this room was used for

entertaining, as well, probably by Jane

Ogden.

Sword: Now in “Creating Community”

exhibit.

Made in Europe about 1740 and used by

members of the Hyde family. Probably

used for formal occasions in the militia.

These curtains are an example of the

“Irish stitch” mentioned in the probate

inventory and also represent the Ogden’s

wealth and status.