I worked for 13 years in a Victorian house museum.  At Christmas we decorated with the traditional Victorian finery.  This house has 12 foot ceilings, a central hall, and pocket doors between the parlors.  We had the central staircase swagged with pine roping and velvet bows, a kissing ball hung from the hall chandelier and pine roping swags hung from the tops of the doorways to the floor with large velvet bows at the top.  Well, we were giving the local schools free tours and had booked a group of headstart students who were all in the 3 - 4 years range.  The staff dressed in hoop dresses of the period (1850 - 1870 in southern Missouri).  We met the little ones on the porch and gave the usual about not touching things and asked that they hold hands with a partner and that they help each other not to touch things with their free hand.  So, in they came, two by two.  You should get down on your knees sometime and see what your places look like from a 4 year old's point of view.  As they entered, their eyes became big as saucers.  And then, I heard a little boy comment as he passed me in the central hall.  He was looking at all the pine roping, turned to his little partner and said in a hushed voice . . . "Look, they have grass growing on the walls."  It made all the time and work decorating worth the trouble.  I know he didn't know a Victorian decoration from a pre-Victorian, but, I knew that he would remember this trip to our site for the rest of his life and obviously, 10 years later, I still remember the little fellow and smile.

Money is great . . . but . . . the experiences you will have (like this one) are priceless.

Delecia B. Huitt
Southern Missouri Historic District
2901 Hwy 61
Festus, MO 63028
636-931-5200
fax 636-931-5204


cmonson <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: "Museum discussion list" <[log in to unmask]>

05/01/2003 10:27 PM
Please respond to "Museum discussion list"

       
        To:        [log in to unmask]
        cc:        (bcc: Delecia Huitt/DSP/MODNR)
        Subject:        One more student question: the silver lining


The discussion about low salaries has left me curious about the tangible and
intangible benefits which make museum work rewarding. I would imagine these
benefits include interesting work and interesting coworkers, but I'd like to
hear it from the horse's mouth.
Anyone care to share stories or opinions about the uplifting side of museum
work....the things that keep you going in the face of low salaries and a tight
job market?
Feel free to reply offlist to [log in to unmask]
Thanks!
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