Day 2 - Pioneer Village (28th Oct 2012)l

The blacksmith serenading a sea shanty 

Outside the govenor's house 

Students busy spinning wool to make yarn 

Tour guide in character in her Puritan costume 

A dugout of the early settlers

After lunch we headed to the Pioneer Village. Upon reaching, strong gusts of wind welcomed us and we felt very cold as it was drizzling too. We saw the dugouts, the homes of the earliest settlers and it was warm inside when we went in. We were told that many people lived in the dugout and it would be very uncomfortable during summer because it would be very warm and stuffy. However, these dugouts were temporary shelters for the families until the settlers built proper cabins for their families. However, due to the fast approaching winter and space constraint, some even lived in barrels. We also learnt how to spin wool and make it into yarn. It was quite challenging as we had to keep twisting the wool and twirling it around a twig. We also learnt that the pioneers had to have a skill to earn a living. For example, the blacksmith had to maximise use of his tools and the metals he had managed to rake from the surrounding forest and fashioned it into other useful and practical objects. From him, I have learnt that we should treasure things and not be wasteful as everything can be recycled.

It Ying Xin, 3/8