Historic Warwick Blog

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Summer History Camp at the Warwick Historical Society

August 6-10, 9AM-2PM at the Warwick Historical Society there is a wonderful program of living history hands-on learning activities being offered for kids ages 8-11.

There will scenarios that re-create life and culture of Native Americans in 18th Century Warwick. Pottery and weaving activities will be presented by local artists. A felting project will result in a multicolored felt "geode".

Kids can unearth fluorescent crystals native to Warwick and bend a horseshoe nail into a ring with a blacksmith. Step back in time to Civil War camp life as well as Revolutionary War life as it was in this community.

Experience 18th and 19th century tools, spin wool, and cook food al fresco. Bring your own lunch. Snacks and drinks provided. $175 per camper, siblings $150 each. Make your reservation now by registering and payment.

Call: 845-781-3729, or 845-986-3236. Email: rpschmick1@aol.com We are located at the A.W. Buckbee Center (the former library), 2 Colonial Ave., Warwick.

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At our Summer History Camp this year kids will dig up crystals that fluoresce under a special black light. The crystals were actually discovered in the area as early as the 1820s and collectors from all over the United States and Europe came to the specifically places like Amity in the Town of Warwick to find these rare specimens for their museums, universities and their private collections. One of the largest off site exhibitions of these crystals is found in the Ecoles des Mines in Paris; there are over 150 samples of minerals specifically from Amity, NY in that collection which were discovered in large in the 1830s. What is interesting to imagine is that geologist and mineralogists from the greatest institutions of higher learning were traveling by horseback and carriage to the wilds of Warwick in the 1820s and 1830s to find rocks for their cabinets of curiosities.

Wawayanda Furnace ( 19th century ) the furnace that many of us remember seeing on our trips to the New Jersey State Park actually was integral to iron ore production supplied by Warwick mines. On a recent sojourn into the woods we visited some local iron ore mines that would have supplied the mid-nineteenth century Wawayanda Furnace. Of course, these operations were supplanted by the end of the nineteenth century when places with better quality ore that were closer to cheaper forms of transportation, like water and rail shut them down.

Ken Hamilton, "Woodlands Interpreter", will present the early 18th century life of Algonquin-speaking people, like the Minsi people of the Lenape tribe, of what was later named by Benjamin Aske as "Warwick." Here we see a trade camp with historially accurate artifact reproductions produced by Mr. Hamilton by hand; he an accomplished leatherworker, blacksmith and silversmith. As an "historical artifact artist", Mr. Hamilton produces props used in many living history scenarios and museums throughout the country. He will share some of his knowledge with campers at the Summer History Camp 2012. See further details.