JACKSONVILLE, OR – Those crafty Victorians! Join Historic Jacksonville, Inc. on Saturday, August 15, at the 1870s Cornelius C. Beekman House Museum, for a look at Victorian Hobbies and Crafts. From 12n through 3 pm costumed docents will lead 1-hour tours highlighting popular 19th Century leisure time activities and the Beekmans own hobbies, crafts, and collections. Located at 470 E. California Street, the Beekman House Museum was home to Jacksonville’s wealthiest and most prominent pioneer family and remains completely furnished with family artifacts. Tours begin every 20 minutes, admission is $10, tour size is capped, and reservations are encouraged. Reservations and additional information can be found at https://www.historicjacksonville.org/victorian-theme-tours/.
“The Industrial Revolution meant increased leisure time for most upper- and middle-class Victorians,” explains Carolyn Kingsnorth, President of Historic Jacksonville, Inc. “But leisure did not mean idleness. Far from it! The ‘work ethic’ was the core value of the Industrial Revolution. To forestall the mischief that Satan found for idle hands, you were expected to use your leisure time to pursue something useful and productive—that was also recuperative and relaxing. In other words, you found a hobby.”
Organized sports became popular. Inter-collegiate football was born around 1869, and baseball became America’s national sport in 1871. Ice skating, roller skating, tennis, croquet, and cycling became means for healthful exercise. Dog breeding and showing became a major hobby, and most contemporary dog breeds—and their ailments—date from this period. Reading and reading circles were popular—after all, reading elevated your intellect. Art beautified your surroundings. Music was a favorite form of indoor recreation in Victorian times with many a young lady expected to perform at social gatherings and functions.
“Quilting was an excellent excuse for socialized sewing in the Victorian Era,” Kingsnorth points out, “and there will be multiple quilts on display. Julia Beekman was an excellent seamstress, and there are examples of her embroidery, tatting, and quilting throughout the house for visitors to see and hear about during the tours.”
But for most Victorians, hobbies basically fell into two categories—collecting and crafts. Not only were the Beekmans the most prominent and wealthiest family in pioneer Jacksonville, they were skilled, they were talented, and they traveled extensively, collecting souvenirs from their many travels. Quilts, needlework, art glass, crafts, collections, souvenirs, and much more—all will be part of the tours!
