Traveling-trunk programs provide historical insights

BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent

Atraveling-trunk program complete with historical artifacts and packed by members of the Monmouth County Historical Association (MCHA) education department may be coming to a school near you.

A representative of the Monmouth County Historical Association conducts a demonstration during Wool Days at the Holmes-Hendrickson House in Holmdel. The demonstration depicted is the "From Fiber to Fabric" traveling trunk program presented by the historical association to schools and community groups. A representative of the Monmouth County Historical Association conducts a demonstration during Wool Days at the Holmes-Hendrickson House in Holmdel. The demonstration depicted is the “From Fiber to Fabric” traveling trunk program presented by the historical association to schools and community groups. Lee Ellen Griffith is the MCHA director and said the trunk programs were initiated at the request of area teachers.

“In the mid-1980s school budgets were tight and didn’t provide for bus expenses for field trips,” she said. “Teachers asked if we could bring programs to the school. Then, by word of mouth, the programs spread. Now, about 6,000 students annually participate in these programs. It has expanded to civic and other organizations, too.”

Topics covered by the trunk programs include the “Battle of Monmouth,” “Lenape Life,” “School Days,” “The Blue or the Gray” (Civil War), “Choosing Sides” (American Independence), “Reading an Artifact” and “From Fiber to Fabric.”

“Our mission is the education and preservation of the history of Monmouth County,” said Griffith. “Trunk programs teach children and adults the involvement of the Monmouth County community in the history of America and about the life of Monmouth County that dates back to1665.”

She said the trunk program presenters who interpret the historical topics apprentice under L. Glenn May, senior education coordinator, and Karen Grieco, education coordinator.

“We really do pack all the artifacts into trunks, except for the Civil War items that are packed in carpetbags,” said May, who began as an MCHA guide in 1985. “The presenters are costumed and the programs are interactive.”

In “Choosing Sides” (American Independence), he said the children try on the red and blue uniforms of the opposing armies. In the “Tavern Life, Public Life” program they learn how to make change when only solid dollar coins were available.

“Children do role playing as a tavern owner and customer,” May said. “When the bill comes to 75 cents, how does the customer receive change when only solid dollar coins existed? The answer is that the coin was cut into eight pieces. That’s were the expression “pieces of eight” originated and “two bits” for 25 cents.

One of May’s favorite programs is the open-hearth cooking demonstration held at the Covenhoven House on West Main Street in Freehold Township.

“Many students and adults do not know that open hearth cooking was widely use as recently as 200 years ago,” he said. “Open hearth cooking is an ancient technology that dates back to the cave people.”

May, who has taught decorative arts and music at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, said the MCHA programs strive to make history interesting, always emphasizing the history of Monmouth County. The trunk programs meet many of New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Standards, especially in social studies and language arts literacy, he said.

May said the trunk programs travel to schools throughout Monmouth County as well as to Ocean and Mercer counties. Civic organizations, Scout troops, public meetings, country clubs and assisted-living facilities have hosted trunk programs.

“We will go anyplace where they want us,” he said.

A free open-hearth cooking demonstration at the Covenhoven House on West Main Street in Freehold Township will take place on April 18 from noon to 4 p.m. The public is invited to the event and to sample the culinary results.

Educational programs are also available at the MCHA museum in Freehold Borough or at the association’s historic homes. Fees range from about $100 to $150 per program for a maximum of 30 participants. For further information call 732-462-1466 or click on www.monouthhistory.org.