by Clayton Historical society and Museum
The Clayton Historical Society & Museum is delighted to welcome a new volunteer this year, Patti Pratt. Pratt’s creativity and enthusiasm have already brought new life to the museum’s educational programs.
This fall, Patti launched a Junior Docent Program, giving local students the chance to explore history through hands-on learning.
The program kicked off with a Living History Day in early October, where Patti and her young team made butter and pies, played a recreated Native American game, and learned about its cultural role in tribal life.
Patti’s vision is to hold monthly Kids Days at the Museum on Wednesday afternoons, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., when local elementary students are dismissed early. Each session will feature a themed project or activity that connects children to Clayton’s heritage in engaging ways.
The first Kids Day featured Corn Husk Doll making, where participants discovered that traditional dolls often had no faces, a reminder that love does not depend on appearance.
The children also learned about the evolution of Jack-O’-Lanterns, tracing Halloween traditions back to the 1840s when immigrants from Ireland and England carved turnips into luminaries. Once in America, settlers found pumpkins easier to carve — a lesson brought to life when the museum demonstrated just how tough carving a turnip can be. The children then designed their own Jack-O’-Lanterns, and two winning designs were carved into the museum’s official pumpkins.
The day also included sweet treats reminiscent of the 1800s with donut holes delivered “the old-fashioned way,” by horseback. The children learned how people once traveled, met the horses, Alex and Cash, and enjoyed feeding them carrots. Riders Micki McCabe and Teri Reilly generously shared their time and stories, making the afternoon unforgettable.
Looking ahead, Patti plans to offer summer training sessions for new docents and hopes to organize quarterly Living History Days presented by the Junior Docents themselves.
Special thanks to Junior Docent Madison for her assistance, and to friends and neighbors Jennifer Carrigan, Tamara Steiner, and Marcia Mason for helping with the day’s activities.
And, of course, heartfelt thanks to Alex and Cash for being such gentle and gracious guests!
If you’re interested in becoming a docent at the Clayton Museum, call (925) 671-0240 or visit www.ClaytonHistory.org to learn more.
