November 2011
Burr! There is a
chill in the air, frost on the ground, and leaves
swirling. Napping in the garden will no longer
will be a daily occurrence. It's time to look for
a relaxing activity to occupy blustery winter
nights in the Mansion. Read
More...
September 2011
Several weeks ago
a headline in a newspaper left behind by a
researcher caught my attention. "National History
Test Results Aren't Too Hot" was not what I wanted
to see. The article said only 9 percent of fourth
graders could identify a photograph of Abraham
Lincoln and give two reasons why he's
important. Read
More...
June 2011
I never cease to
be amazed at what I learn on a daily basis at the
Stroud Mansion. In mid-June, I was struck by the
activity in the Meeting Room on the second floor
of the Mansion. From the hearth, I observed the
placement of strange wire structures throughout
the room — really not that interesting! However,
the following day the whole scene had changed.
Now, I knew I would be occupied for some time
learning about what I ascertained was a new
exhibit — in fact, it was two distinct
exhibits. Read
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May 2011
By just retiring
to a corner of the Stroud Mansion and tuning in to
conversations, I certainly can learn a lot. For
instance, everyone appears excited about the year
1836 in Monroe County history. Well, it didn’t
take long for me to discover that this was the
year that Monroe County was created. As I vaguely
recall there was more than a little controversy
about the decision for the location of the new
county seat. Read More...
January 2011
Brr! It’s cold! I
am so fortunate to be able to adapt to a new
environment. I am going to retreat to my nook in
the basement kitchen and curl up under that
strange looking thing called a radiator. Of course
it was certainly cozier to take an afternoon nap
in the corner of the fireplace, but times change.
In Colonial homes, the fireplace was a center of
activity from the modest one-room cabin to the
grand Stroud Mansion. I certainly miss the crackle
of burning wood and especially the scent of
freshly baked bread. Read
More...
