How different was life for the 19th century woman compared to today? In the 1860s the ideal for a woman was to be the queen of her home. The housewife was born. Black Creek Village takes visitors back to the 19th century in Ontario.
Black Creek Historical Village uses a living museum approach that brings in the fun of learning.
We often think that women were in the role of housewife throughout history, the truth though is that taking care of just the home is a fairly modern ideal. We can thank the Victorian Era for this image. At the beginning of the industrial age women were becoming less needed in the village as workers. Farm wives were still peers of their husbands but the more urban lady goal was to marry well. To have to work meant a woman was of a lower class in Ontario during the 1860s. There were a few occupations that women could have without the scorn of the community but once they had hooked a husband their career path was derailed if they played their cards right.
KJ Mullins
hosts at Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
hosts at Black Creek Village
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As the Victorian era moved into play in Ontario the class structure became very evident. The proper woman was bound by the mores of society. She was not a free bird by any means, her station in life depended on the men that were above her, first her father and then her husband. While some women decided not to marry they were considered deviants not to mingle with. The reality though was only the upper class woman was able to achieve these dreams of living in the lap of luxury.
KJ Mullins
hosts at Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
hosts at Black Creek Village
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Those values have shaped many of today's current views, including some of the ideals that society still has on alcohol and the wedding ceremony.
Black Creek Historical Village takes visitors on a journey back to this time period using not only the actual buildings but tour hosts that really know their stuff. A living museum with farms, animals, plants and people to bring the 1860s alive all round out a fun way of exploring the past. When you leave a day at the village you have a better perspective of how much Ontario has really changed during the past 150 or so years.
KJ Mullins
gardens at Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
gardens at Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
gardens at Black Creek Village
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One interesting tidbit I discovered along the way at the village are that within a year or two it's hoped that the newly opened brewery will be a 1 kilometer ale.
Some of the animals at the village are now rare breeds. As animals are breed to be bigger for marketing the native domestic animals are dying off. One such animal is the Berkshire pig. The chickens that roamed during the 19th century are fading from the scene as are the sheep. The animals on the property are not eaten by the way while many of the vegetables are served at the Tavern House's restaurant.
KJ Mullins
gardens at Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
Black Creek Historical Village hosts
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KJ Mullins
Black Creek Historical Village hosts
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During the 1860s the upper class looked at what was going on in the UK as the model of society. The United States was not their model, many still remembering the armed conflicts with the 'Yanks.'
Surprisingly the women who may have had the most rights were widows. Only widowed women could actually own property. That is until her sons or next husbands took those rights away.
KJ Mullins
Black Creek Historical Village hosts
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KJ Mullins
Black Creek Historical Village hosts
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KJ Mullins
Black Creek Village
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When you visit the village take advantage of the numerous tours. The guides are quite knowledgeable and bring the village to life.
KJ Mullins
Host at Black Creek Village
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One of those guides is the friendly Kate. She guided me through the roles of women in the 1860s. A time when women were considered delicate creatures who had the purity of nature. Fences around the house came from this time, a way of keeping the evils of the city out of the home.
KJ Mullins
hosts at Black Creek Village
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Anne was another of the hosts who discussed the courtship and marriage traditions of the time. If you enjoyed getting wedding gifts you can thank the Victorian bride who welcomed frivolous gifts. The white wedding gown also came from this era, but white was not a sign of purity. All brides were pure. White was simply the colour choice of Queen Victoria's gown and the height of fashion.
KJ Mullins
Black Creek Brewery
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I have to also mention the impressive Blythe. Her knowledge of both the brewing process and the Temperance Movement truly educated me in a way that a year reading a book never could have.
Black Creek Historical Village offers something for everyone. The kids love the games. (Children are not allowed to be photographed at the village.) Nature lovers will have an amazing time taking in all the gardens along the way that are maintained with the plant life from the 19th century. The entire village takes at least two full hours to visit, more if you take part in the tours. Bring your walking shoes!
KJ Mullins
Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
hosts at Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
hosts at Black Creek Village
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KJ Mullins
flowers at Black Creek Village
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Admissions are reasonably
priced. The museum is open from May 1 until December 31, 2009 (Closed December 25th & 26th).
