Through the Gates of Time

--Ashley Costello--

Taking a walk back in time is always a pleaser, whether self-guided by or others. Although imposed on by the current century, the way of life in each time period is unique and beautiful in its own way.

Both programmed and self-guided tours have their pros and cons. While taking a programmed tour, you are usually only shown a certain part of the history. Also, while much information is being thrown at you it is imperative to follow the group instead of taking the desired time to observe and fascinate on the past. However, the detailed information that is given to you by the tour guide is shared in an organized manner and will provide you with more facts about the things around you. Independence is one of the key factors when it comes to a self-guided tour. Although you are getting much less information, you will get the needed answers for the questions you have. In addition, you may go on your tour in a style that is easy to understand and organized to yourself and may stray and observe for any length of time. Where you go to get your fill of history may decide which option is the better.

Whichever historical place you go to there will always be some form of invasion from the current century. An example might be Stan Hywet. Some of the landscape had been changed and other things added onto the property, dimming the brightness of its authenticity. Also, other than the fact that the building style was that of an Old English manor, it seemed to be too restored and new looking. Everything was in pristine condition, the walls and paneling all darkened and the floor’s shiny and polished. The extensive restoration took away from the building’s historic charm.

There is quite a difference in the standard of living enjoyed by the residents of Stan Hywet as opposed to Hale Farm and village. Hale Farm was a small, spread out town with a tight nit community. They lived in hard times where they depended on their crops, livestock and small jobs to eat and keep a roof over their heads. Unlike the people at Stan Hywet, the town’s folk in Hale Farm had no running water, no electricity and no servants. They had little time to work out, go bowling, or play a game of basketball, even if that did exists back in their time. The Seiberling family had a more lavished life compared to the town’s people of Hale Farm.

Jessica's Post

I personal liked learning from the historic interpreter rather than the tour guide. The interpreter really acted like they would back in the time period their profression was. Learning from the interpreter was more hands on because they did have different things we could do. The tour we had was okay but i really did not care much for our guide. He really did not seem like he wanted to be there. All of the interpreters I talked to really cared about what they were doing and how they came across to people.

In a programmed tour you're taught what someone wants to teach. The guide only tells you so much about certain things. With self-discovery you can explore whatever you choose. Self-discovery allows you to spend as much or as little time as you want on anything. At Stan Hywet Hall they had to use new water proofing to stop flooding inside. Hale farm was almost exactly what it would of been like bac in the day except for some restoring to some of the rooms in the houses. I personally would have rather lived in the time period of Stan Hywet Hall because of all the new technologies that were available. In that time period people were not as busy as we are today. There was not all the hustle and bustle as there is today. I also thin that people respected others more. Today proper respect is hard to come by. The only reason I really would not want to live in that time period is the fact that women were not totally equal yet.

Stan Hywet & Hale Farm

Our last trip took us to Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens as well as Hale Farm. Here are some pictures from that event. For more images, visit our smugmug page here!