Country Living

How to Wash Clothes in Early Schoolhouse Times
In our country school living history programs, we are always searching for artifacts and ideas that bring hands-on learning to life. We want our visitors not just to hear about the past, but to feel something of the demands placed upon children in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Our “field trip scholars” quickly discover how simple their schoolrooms were, with few materials and fewer comforts. Yet the lessons do not end at the schoolhouse door—they also learn of the many chores that awaited them at home, where boys and girls alike carried responsibilities that would surprise, and perhaps humble, most children today.

Our contemporary students, if asked how they wash their clothes might say, "My mother does the laundry." If any visitor says that they know how to wash clothes they might say, "I put my clothes in the washing machine."

Simple enough, of course!

Not so easy in the days of one-room schools. It was a time-consuming chore that required some level of endurance. Below you'll find a very telling graphic that actually lays out a recipe for how to get that wash done! It is titled RECEET FOR WASHIN CLOTHES and is presented in some charming colloquial language.

Invite your students to step back into that world. Have them decipher the spelling, interpret the directions, and even correct the text. In doing so, they’ll gain not only a chuckle, but also a deeper appreciation for the everyday labors of the past.