Plimoth Plantation

November 22, 2011

When I was a little girl growing up in the seventies, I can remember a book my Dad won from his company.  I can remember it well, because we did not have very many of books like this one.  It was large, with lots of beautiful pictures.  It was about the 50 states of America.  I remember sitting on the floor with my sister, before I could even truly read just staring at the pictures.  We especially favored the ones from Massachusetts.  We had learned about the early settlers, the pilgrims and the Native Americans.  On the Massachusetts page, were brilliant photos of the Mayflower, a Native American and a village.  The pictures were from Plimoth Plantation.  My sister and I visited and looked at that wonderful book often.  We connected with that book as we learned about the first Thanksgiving, the Mayflower and the history of our country.  To us, it was a far away place in a book that we could only dream of visiting.

When I moved to Massachusetts in my 30’s that simple childhood dream became a reality.  I was able to walk in the footsteps of the Pilgrim and their lives.  The book had come to life and I was a foreign character in their role playing world.  Today, I revisited again, only this time with my son, who is about the same age as I was when I would stare at that photo book with my sister for hours, laying on our stomachs near the hallway bookshelf.
Today, there were chickens.  The Pilgrims brought chickens over on the Mayflower and in this village, it seems as though you have stepped back in time almost 400 years.  The chickens free range within the village.  During our stay, we saw about 4 hens and two roosters.  The chickens were not skittish.  I probably could have easily picked one up.  However, sadly, there were some mean spirited children trying to harm the chickens.  My sharp words fell on deaf ears and I certainly was not going to give away the one secret the chickens did not want me to share with them; how to hold a chicken.  
17th Century Village, looking out onto the ocean
Elizabeth, a servant, working off her passage to America debt.  It took 7 years.
Every home had a garden in raised beds with vegetables, legumes and herbs
Myles Standdish’s second wife and servant cooking duck
Typical housewares of the time
Herbs

I had not thought about that book for over 30 years.  My sister and I soon outgrew it, as family trips across the country replaced the pictures in that book.  My parents divorced, and sadly I do not know what came of that beautiful book.  Today, I felt the magic that I felt when I was 7 years old staring into that book, only this time it was better.  I was here in person with my son.
This post is linked up to Homestead Revivals’ Homestead Barnhop.
Photo Credits:  Tilly’s Nest

Melissa

Author/Blogger/Freelancer-Sharing adventures with backyard chickens, beekeeping, gardening, crafting, cooking and more.

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6 thoughts on “Plimoth Plantation”

  1. I grew up just a few blocks uphill from Plymouth Harbor and could walk to the monument where the rock is and the dock where the Mayflower is kept. We shared sidewalks with the reenactors all during their season. It seemed normal to a 6 year old. Your little story brought back my memories of our annual visit out to the Plantation and playing in the parks downtown. Thank you.

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  2. How neat rugosarosefarm! I bet it was neat to see this whole "new" world walking along modern day streets when you were little. I would have absolutely loved it. Thank you for sharing this with me.

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  3. What a great place. I hope your son enjoyed it. I know I used to take my kids to places that I thought were so magical and they just didn't get it…lol but I always figured they had it in their memory. They are in college now and every once in a while, I will hear one of them talk about some of the places I took them and I just smile.

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  4. That is sweet SAKim. My son did enjoy it very much. Maybe that is because his friends were there too! I hope my children look back fondly on their childhood when they are in college too.

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  5. <– jealous! LOL

    We were hoping to do an overnight in Plymouth this fall, but it hasn't worked out and with the holiday craziness coming, well, perhaps next fall? We haven't been since I was 7 months pregnant with my youngest. I remember telling some public school kids to stop chasing the chickens! (And that was before we had them!)

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  6. I guess there is always next year Our Side of the Mountain! It is beautiful there in late Spring too. Glad you stopped those kids. I found it sad that they lacked respect for them.

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Sharing an inspired life from the New England seaside. Chickens, Bees, Gardens, Art and Yummy Goodness.