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LIVERMORE — Looking for a fun activity to end school vacation week? The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore will hold its Cabin Fever Reliever from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. Activities are provided by interpreters in period clothing portraying people of the 1800s Norlands neighborhood or members of the original Livermore Washburn family. Visitors will gain an understanding of various types of work and play in the 19th century.

Ice harvesting demonstrations take place between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and again from 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m on Bartlett pond, just down the hill from the Norlands. The many steps to harvesting ice using 19th-century methods will be demonstrated.

The school’marm will be offering a spelling bee at 12:30 p.m. in the schoolhouse and tours will be available of the elegant Washburn mansion. Several family stories will be shared on the tour of this magnificent home.

The farmer’s cottage will be a busy place with old-fashioned chores and games. Children will have a chance to churn butter at noon and again at 2 p.m. Between churning butter, the farm wives will be baking cookies in the wood stove. Cookies and hot chocolate will be available while supplies last. In the dining room, help string some apples for drying, plant a seed for spring, or make a period craft.

Farmer “Ed Pratt” will be in the tool shed at 11:30 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. to demonstrate how to hand-craft cedar shingles.

Horse-drawn sleigh rides will be available. If the snow conditions are right, the 19th-century horse-drawn snow roller will be demonstrated. These massive wooden rollers were used to pack down roads to make sleigh traveling in the winter possible. Snow roller rides are for ages 6+ and children must be accompanied by an adult.

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A light lunch of baked beans and chicken salad sandwiches will be for sale, by donation, in the Washburn kitchen.

The public is welcome to bring snowshoes and walk the historic carriage trail to the Pools of Simeon, reflecting pools designed in 1903 by the youngest Washburn brother, William Drew.

General admission is $8 adults, $5 children age 12 and under, ages 5 and under are free. A $20 family rate is offered for two adults bringing two-three children. The Norlands is located at 290 Norlands Road in Livermore. Park by the church and walk toward the mansion. Purchase admission tickets in the gift shop, the small building on the right.

In case of bad weather, the event will be canceled by 9 a.m. the day of the event. Call the Norlands and listen to the outgoing message or check the Norlands’ Facebook Page for updates.

FMI: call 207-897-4366 or visit www.norlands.org.

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