The Museum of Old Domestic Life is one of High Point’s best-kept secrets, and it deserves to be discovered. A variety of ordinary things from Quaker families who resided in Guilford and Randolph Counties during the 1800s can be found in the collection.
The Museum of Old Domestic Life in High Point, North Carolina area, was established in 1858. (formerly Springfield Friends Meeting, which is connected by a row of columns). A Quaker meetinghouse, built in 1858 from bricks that were hand-made and baked on the premises, houses the museum. According to curator Josh Brown, the mortar used back then was made of lime and sand rather than Portland cement, as is the case with modern brick buildings today. The colonnade that connects the museum to the meetinghouse that is still in use today was also constructed around 1927. It is stated in the museum’s brochure that families used to arrive on horseback “and you can still see the original stone “upping blocks” where they would dismount at the door” when they arrived in the 1800s.
Numerous items from normal rural life are on display, including clothing, tools, furnishings, cookery, literature, saddles and other accessories.
Some of the objects may be familiar to you – for example, a butter churn and a carpenter’s plane are both well-known. Perhaps you’ll notice a full-size loom in one of the corners, or a collection of candle molds. But, do you have any idea what a hackle is? What do you do when you’re presented with a riddle or a quern? There are yokes, bellows, mills, kraut choppers, and a slew of other interesting stuff to ponder.
One of the things that distinguishes the museum is that it is a “hands on” environment, meaning that you may touch and handle the majority of the exhibits on show. In High Point, you can examine dozens of chairs that were created by the early furniture industry. There are also dozens of pictures and photographs, as well as account books and correspondence, to peruse.
Buildings on the grounds of the museum include an 1858 Quaker meetinghouse constructed of bricks that were hand-made and baked on the grounds of the museum. The original stone “upping blocks” where families dismounted at the door, which date back to the 1800s, can still be seen where horses used to arrive on the property.
The Springfield Friends Cemetery is located outside, and it is one of the oldest in the area, with the first known burial taking place in 1780! It is an excellent resource for folks who are researching their ancestors or tracing their family tree.
The Museum of Old Domestic Life is only open by appointment and does not accept walk-ins. It is recommended that you contact ahead of time.
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