Day 29 - Caraquet, NB

What a great time we had on this day, Thursday, June 28.  We spent most of the day at an Acadian Historic Village.  From what I gather, these are people that came from France (mostly),  and settled in New Brunswick .  The houses and other buildings from the four corners of the province helped set the span of time to be represented from l780 to l880.  Over the years, the historical site expanded and a new section was added – the early 20th century and the progress it brought about especially in transportation and communication.  There are women that dress and work in period clothes using fireplaces and outside ovens to cook the meals, which are eaten by these people.  Men used tools from that time to chop wood and work the farm.  They make yarn and dye it to sell at the end of the season.  They also make linen from flax to make clothing, table clothes, etc.  You ladies will love this:  Most of the families had at least 9 children.  One family actually had l8 – nine from the first wife and nine from the second.  It was their duty to have many children!!!  In the more primitive houses, the entire family slept, ate and worked in one room.  The attic was for storage. 

In the top left corner, a gentleman is making a broom – takes him four hours.  Bottom left corner, a young lady is dyeing yarn using bark in boiling water.  She is also wearing wooden shoes.   I found a wooden swing in the midst of the trees.  Middle picture is a Molasses Pie being baked in a cast iron pot covered by hot coals and the bottom picture is of a latch hook rug using strips of old colorful rags on knapsack.  Truly amazing!

Of course, there are always animals in a village.  There were horse drawn carriages, black and white goats, sheep, chickens, donkey’s, cows, pigs, herons and I’m sure many other birds and perhaps wild animals. 

These are children that are spending time in a camp that is held in the village.  They all learn to do many of the things that their ancestors did.  As you can see, they are also wearing period clothing.  We saw them in a school room as well as spending time with the animals.  

Top photo is of a loom to make a linen cloth.  One of the women showed us how it works and only by demonstration, they will make at least 15 yards during the season.  Always need to have a blacksmith in every village.  The bartender was just adorable.  He told us some great and very funny stories.  I think of all the guys, he had the best job – stood there and talked to all the visitors.  There were a couple general stores – one actually where you could purchase items from the past.  There were also a couple wood working shops where they made wooden buckets and tool boxes as well as barrels that are used for storing fish.

In the 20th century section is a hotel that is actually being used.  Has l5 rooms for guests ranging in price from $60 to $90 a night depending upon the season.  In front is a Model A that the hotel uses to pick up their guests.  The barrel making was also very informative.  The wood strips are cut in one of the woodworking shops.  Once the strips are placed in a circle on a form, it is placed in the fireplace to heat and soften the wood to tighten and shape into the barrel.  I’m telling you, they do it all here.  They had a variety of farm equipment such as this old tractor.

There were many other buildings and tasks being performed by the interpreters but I think I got lengthy enough.  Everyone agreed that this was the best historical village they’ve ever been in even though we had to carry umbrellas and walk through the water.  Yes, it rained again today.  Wish we could send it to Colorado to wipe out those terrible fires. 

This was my Picture of the Day.  We drove into town to see what was happening there and ended up driving around the pier where all the fishing boats were.  I just love all the colored boats especially with the reflection in the water.

Hope you all had as good a day as we did.  We’ll try to send the rain your way!