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JUST FOR KIDS
The Explorer Friend Program
Children of today are learning
about the lives of yesterday’s children through a unique new
program at Historic Rosedale. Three actual children from the
1840’s are introduced to today’s young visitors during the
site’s Plantation Children’s Tour. Today’s children, through
the use of hand made cloth dolls, find it easy to picture the
lives of Sarah Jane, Willie and Rena.
Willy is the 11-year-old son of
Dr. & Mrs. Caldwell. He hopes to become a doctor like his
father and is very interested in plants and animals. Willy often
goes with his father when he visits the sick.
Sarah Jane is the 8-year-old
daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Caldwell. She is an excellent student
who loves to read and play the piano. She works very hard at
her lessons with the tutor, Miss Frew, and enjoys drawing.
Rena the 10-year-old slave child
is the daughter of Ben the carriage driver and Jenny the cook of
the Caldwell Plantation. Rena helps her mother with the
preparation of food. They prepare food for 35 people, three
times each day in the kitchen in the basement of the plantation
house.
These children are based on known facts about
documented individuals of the Caldwell plantation. Rosedale is
fortunate to have Dr. D. T. Caldwell’s plantation records and
the Journal of Sarah Frew Davidson, which paint a realistic
picture of life on a NC plantation in the early 1800’s. Willy
did indeed become a doctor, just like his father. Drawings and
paintings done by the young Sarah Jane still exist, and Rena
lived as a child on the plantation with her parents whose jobs
are accurately portrayed
Through a recently developed
program entitled Explorer Friends, young visitors to Rosedale
can purchase a fold up portrait of one of the young resident of
the plantation from the 1840’s. These Explorer Friends
accompany visitors home to learn about life in the year 2005.
After visiting with the child for a while, he/she is asked to
help their friend write a letter about their adventure
discovering objects, ideas and customs that have changed since
1840. We hope your child will extend their learning experience
by viewing their life in the 21st century
through the eyes of their 19th century Explorer
Friend.
Explorer Friends packets are
available through our
online shop
or at the site.
Treasure Tree Leaf
Hunt
Visit
Historic Rosedale and join in our Treasure Tree
Leaf Hunt! Rosedale has six trees on
the property designated by the state or county as historic
treasures. Follow the directions in the Treasure Hunt
Booklet ($1.00) to find and identify these trees and
learn about why they are so special.
MHA Passport to History
With Mecklenburg Historical Association's Passport to
History you can visit and learn about historic sites
throughout our area. Booklets, designed especially for
elementary school age children, are available at
Rosedale (as well as other historic sites you'll visit)
for just $4.00. Visit the sites, complete a learning sheet on
each and you'll earn a special patch for your book bag.
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