Join Historic Jacksonville, Inc. and local craft guilds for an afternoon of Victorian Hobbies & Crafts from 12 noon to 4 pm on Saturday, June 13, at the historic 1873 Beekman House located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville.
“The Industrial Revolution meant increased leisure time for most upper and middle class Victorians,” explains Carolyn Kingsnorth, President of Historic Jacksonville. “But leisure did not mean idleness. Far from it! The ‘work ethic’ was the core value of the Industrial Revolution. To forestall the mischief that Satan found for idle hands, you were expected to use your leisure time to pursue something useful and productive—that was also recuperative and relaxing! In other words, you found a hobby.”
For most Victorians, hobbies basically fell into two categories—collecting and crafts. Both will be well represented during the event. Victorian costumed docents will talk about popular hobbies of the late 1800s and the Beekmans’ personal collections and crafts during 45 minute house tour presentations that begin about every 15 minutes. Lawn demonstrations and displays will feature members from the Jacksonville Museum Quilters, the Central Point Woodcarvers, the Rogue Valley Leather Guild, the Southern Oregon Stitchers, and the Siskiyou Lacemakers Guild.
“The Beekman House was home to probably the most prominent and wealthiest family in Jacksonville,” Kingsnorth says. “They were skilled, they were talented, and they traveled extensively, collecting souvenirs from their many travels. Julia Beekman was also an excellent seamstress, and there are wonderful examples of her embroidery, tatting, and quilting throughout the house that visitors will see and hear about during the tours.
“Quilting was an excellent excuse for socialized sewing in the Victorian Era,” she points out, “and you’ll also see some great examples in the Jacksonville Museum Quilters mini-quilt show.”
The Jacksonville Museum Quilters will be “airing” quilts from their collections on the house railings and balcony, in the House and Carriage House, on clotheslines, and along the picket fences during the event. There will also be on-going demonstrations of hand appliqué and hand quilting in the Carriage House.
At 2 pm, guild member Nell Mathern will be doing a “bed turning” in the back yard, showcasing quilts with interesting histories and sharing their stories. The Quilters will also be selling raffle tickets on their annual Opportunity Quilt, a beautiful hand appliquéd, hand quilted treasure featuring a Baltimore Sampler pattern.
“Other forms of ‘fancywork’ provided important opportunities for self-expression as well,” Kingsnorth observes. “In fact, most women’s crafts in the 19th Century were characterized by a strong aesthetic component. It was a way to bring beauty and creativity into their lives. You’ll be able to see some examples with Shirley Merrill and other members of Southern Oregon Stitchers demonstrating various kinds of embroidery, and Paula Harter of the Siskiyou Lacemakers showing how to make bobbin lace.”
She notes that many hobbies and crafts served practical as well as decorative purposes. “Jerry Greer and Sandy Flower, members of the Central Point Woodcarvers and owners of The Woodcarving Place in Jacksonville, will be carving wooden spoons. Jerry will also be carving a carousel horse, since carousels, or merry-go-rounds as we know them today, became popular fixtures at fairs in the late 1800s. They will also have a 19th Century “glider horse,” a popular children’s toy from the era, on display.
“And we’re luck to have members of the Rogue Valley Leather Guild demonstrating leather tooling and providing a few ‘hands on’ opportunities for visitors.”
Victorian Hobbies & Crafts is just one of the events planned for the Beekman House this summer. Historic Jacksonville will be hosting other Victorian themed events from 12 noon to 4 pm on July 11, August 8, and September 12 as part of Jacksonville History Saturday.
The C.C. Beekman House is located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville. Parking is available on site. Victorian Hobby tours are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students; lawn activities are free. For additional information, call 541-245-3650 or 541-488-8395, or e-mail info@historicjacksonville.org.