Colonial Revival era explored during Family Day at Litchfield History Museum

A display from ìThe Lure of the Litchfield Hillsî exhibit at the Lichfield History Museum on Saturday, May 3, 2014, in Litchfield. The exhibit explores the the town during its the Colonial Revival Movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Esteban L. Hernandez Register Citizen

LITCHFIELD >> The spinning wheel inside the museum made little noise. Threading wool, in the hands of Ginger Balch the instrument took the role of a therapeutic tool, as its soothing rotations summoned images of a long gone era.

“A lot of people find it very relaxing,” Balch said.

Balch, the owner of In Sheep’s Clothing in Torrington, even looked the part: She wore attire common for women in the colonial era.

With her clothing and her instrument, she sat as a small but living museum exhibit, as her activity was one of several available for children and adults during the Litchfield History Museum Family Day on Saturday afternoon.

Kate Meador, curator of education at the museum, worked with fellow staffers and two volunteers on Saturday to organize the event.

The annual event is part of a museum exhibit called “The Lure of the Litchfield Hills,” which explores the town during its the Colonial Revival Movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Meador said people during that era actually looked for fashion inspiration from their colonial roots, much like modern-day style is often influenced by fashion once popular in past decades, and even wore the same attire common during the colonial era.

There were several activities on hand for children, including a maypole and other colonial-era games, historic tableau dress up, hand-coloring photographs and wool spinning with Balch.

“Our activities reflect activities that people would have done during that day,” Meador said.

Tonya Flewelling, of Torrington, brought her three daughters, Ashlyn and Clarissa Tranquiillo and Nevaeh Delong, to the exhibit on Saturday. The three girls especially enjoyed the weaving activities.

Flewelling had never been in the museum before, but she said she thought the exhibits were awesome.

“I love history. I love museums,” Flewelling said. “This is neat.”

Flewelling said she likes taking her daughters to museums and other historically-themed events. She said she decided to attend after taking part of an Earth Day event nearby.

The “Lure” exhibit runs until November 29.

Reach Esteban L. Hernandez at (860) 489-3121, ext. 328.