Washington stayed and children played here
Historic Rockingham hosts demonstrations of Colonial games and toys
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Nyima Shawa, 4, of Princeton, takes aim with Charlie Anderson, of Spring Lake Heights, at the Rockingham Place's annual Children's Day at the Rockingham Historic Site in Kingston on May 12.

Unlike many popular children's toys today, the wooden hoop and stick does not process thousands of computations per second, but it and other simple toys were enjoyed by visitors to the Rockingham Historic Site in the Kingston section of South Brunswick on Saturday.

The site, centered around a house that George Washington once stayed in, hosted its annual Children's Day, where demonstrations of 18th-century games and toys drew families from around the area. Held since the early '90s, Children's Day tries to show local kids what they might have been doing had they been born a few hundred years earlier.

Replicas of popular toys from that era, such as a ball-in-a-cup, Jacob's ladder and the wooden hoop, were played with in the front yard of the centuries-old house by kids of all ages. Demonstrations of games that were played in the 18th century, such as Fox and Hens, were also showcased at the event, as well as the opportunity to put on period dress and write with a feather quill. A few feet away, three men in Colonial garb explained the use of different firearms from that era, looking as if ready to muster against the British at any moment.

Above: Tara Shawa, 7, of Princeton, tests how it feels to carry water Colonial style at the Rockingham Place's annual Children's Day at the Rockingham Historic Site in Kingston on May 12. At right: Sam Helberg, 8, of Belle Mead, works raw wool.

Children's Day itself was organized with the help of nearby Montgomery High School's Live Historians Club, and many of its members helped out at the event dressed in period costume. This and a Christmas candlelight festival are the two large events usually held at Rockingham, though several smaller programs are usually held in the months between. The association that takes care of the site also conducts tours of the house, something that many at the event availed themselves of as well.

PHOTOSBY CHRIS KELLY staff

According to Amanda Plumber, one of the people who works at the site, the house was once rented out by Washington between August and November 1783 as he waited for the Treaty of Paris, the document that officially ended the Revolutionary War, to be signed. It therefore served as his last military headquarters. After American independence was recognized, Washington wrote the Continental Army's farewell orders from an upstairs room in the house, thanking the soldiers for their service and saying that they could now go home, as he also planned to do. This was a shocking move to many, who expected Washington to declare himself king, as many military victors did in those days. Instead, he ordered his belongings to be sent back to his home in Mount Vernon and on Nov. 9, he left Rockingham.

The interior of the house has been re-created as accurately as possible, from the color of the paint on the walls to the shape of the silverware on the table. Standing silent vigil in an upstairs room is a model of Washington himself, his uniform painstakingly recreated using the methods and materials that would have been available during his time.

Both children and parents in attendance enjoyed the event, with many of the kids being able to relate what they were seeing with their lessons in school.

"At my school we actually studied Colonial times, and I've done this before. We're having a lot of fun with this," said Abby Bilenkin, 9, of Montgomery, as she tossed a ring to another person using two small sticks.

Parents liked the educational aspect as well.

"We live just up the road and it's great to have a piece of history this close. It's so well maintained and involved, and we love the gardens," said Richard Bernardi, of Rocky Hill.

Lisa Flick, the site director, said that this was her first Children's Day, but that she really liked the involvement of local children with local history, and she appreciated the efforts of the volunteers helping out.

"It's a great way for them to feel like a part of history," said Flick.