Ken Hamilton, the Woodlands Interpreter; Lecture (Oct. 11, 6-7PM) and Blacksmithing Class (Oct 12 &13, 9AM-4:30PM): Tools and Hardware of the Historic Fur Trade

       19^th Century Willowbrook Village will host living history speaker Ken Hamilton from 6-7 PM, Friday, October 11, at the museum, 70 Elm Street. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres   served. Suggested admission:$10 Proceeds to benefit the museum. All welcome. RSVP, if you like. Hamilton, an expert on the Algonquian-speaking cultures of the northeast, is a 17^th and 18^th century Native “Woodland” interpreter who will speak on Native American life and the material culture that would have existed among Native Americans of what is now southern Maine.

       The talk will include a slide show and authentic trade objects from the period as well as historically accurate artifacts of Hamilton’s own making including axes, tomahawks, pipes and brooches; he has provided the material culture for museum presentations like the Wapanoag Village at Plimoth Plantation and the William Johnson House in Upstate NY, among others. His work has also included consultation and costume for such productions as Michael Mann’s The Last of the Mohicans.

       Hamilton will be here at 19^th Century Willowbrook Village to also teach “Tools and Hardware of the Historic Fur Trade” on Sat. & Sun, October 12 & 13, 9AM-4:30PM (14 hours of instruction). The class is limited to eight. Students will complete two projects: a strike-o-light and a tomahawk (see right column of blog). This class with include a review of safety, fire making, shaping, cutting, hardening and tempering. Visit our Facebook and/or blog: 19thcenturywillowbrookvillage.blogspot.com for more details. This class for intermediate or advanced blacksmithing students will involve the use of spring steel, but students will have the opportunity to witness the more historically accurate composite construction of edge tools through forge welding two different grades of steel. The class tuition is $250, lecture on Oct. 11 included with RSVP, tools and materials provided. Class size limited so reserve your place.

        Hamilton is professional interpreter who has developed school and museum programs in Maine, New York and other states.. A resident of Corinth, Maine, Hamilton is an historical reproduction artist applying his skills in blacksmithing, stone carving, silversmithing, among others to create authentic colonial era material culture, especially those from French and British trade.

      “At one outdoor history program for middle school students I organized in Maine in recent years,” said Willowbrook director Dr. Robert Schmick “Hamilton, dressed in authentic period Wabanaki costume, and having set up his camp of trade objects, birch bark canoe and the like next to a pond with beaver gnawed tree stumps, cast a spell over the whole group and transported us all back to the Maine frontier of the 18^th century. It’s a treat to hear him speak and to see him.” RSVP: 207-793-2784 or director@willowbrookmuseum.org.