Historical Ellice Schoolhouse Investigation
|
Public outreach and community based restoration of the first schoolhouse of Millis, MA
The Ellice Historic Schoolhouse Investigation is an ongoing program designed to engage the public in exploring the history of the Ellice Schoolhouse and contribute to the cultural awareness and vitality within the Millis, MA community. |
The main focus of the of the project integrates cultural history with its inherent underlying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles focusing on engaging the public in learning and participating in the ongoing story of Ellice Schoolhouse. The project is hosted by the Millis Historical Commission (MHC) and supported by Millis Public Library (MPL) and Millis School Committee. The event includes presentations to the public and in all of the schools that introduce the project, the vocabulary, concepts, and underlying STEM principles used in cultural heritage management.
The project includes programming combining access to historical records as well the opportunity for hands-on experience (while engaging the vocabulary and principles introduced during the talks at the library) with the historic structure, materials used for research, and methods and tools used in cultural heritage management.
Some of the activities that the public will engage in include: (1) Ellice History Detective – working with historic documents, photographs, and artifacts individuals or groups will be tasked with tracing the history of ownership and use of the Ellice School property; (2) School for a Day in 1845 – participants will step back 175 years to immerse themselves in the one-room schoolhouse through exploration of classroom artifacts, historic games, and lessons; (3) Imaging the Past – the public will have an opportunity to learn more about the different methods and tools used in cultural resource management that include basic structure and landscape mapping through traditional methods (tape measures and paper) and modern techniques to look underground (ground penetrating radar) and above (3D laser scanning) to create integrated digital models for management and preservation.
The project includes programming combining access to historical records as well the opportunity for hands-on experience (while engaging the vocabulary and principles introduced during the talks at the library) with the historic structure, materials used for research, and methods and tools used in cultural heritage management.
Some of the activities that the public will engage in include: (1) Ellice History Detective – working with historic documents, photographs, and artifacts individuals or groups will be tasked with tracing the history of ownership and use of the Ellice School property; (2) School for a Day in 1845 – participants will step back 175 years to immerse themselves in the one-room schoolhouse through exploration of classroom artifacts, historic games, and lessons; (3) Imaging the Past – the public will have an opportunity to learn more about the different methods and tools used in cultural resource management that include basic structure and landscape mapping through traditional methods (tape measures and paper) and modern techniques to look underground (ground penetrating radar) and above (3D laser scanning) to create integrated digital models for management and preservation.