Letters can teach children history

The Wayne County Historical Society is offering subscriptions to letters written by fictional early Wayne County children to present-day children ages 6-14.

The topics of the sets available are: Canaltown Letters, Civil War Letters, and Early Wayne County Letters. The content of the three-page letters is based on history and details the every-day life of a child in a specific time, describing the child's home, family, education, chores, pastimes and community life.

Nellie is the oldest of five children who has just moved with her family from Connecticut to Wayne County (early 1800s). Alvin writes of his life in a growing Wayne County town after the completion of the building of the Erie Canal. Glennie's brother and father are away from home fighting in the Civil War. Her family helped slaves reach Canada and freedom via the Underground Railroad, of which her home was a part.

All mailings are available by subscription, are typed in script, and arrive addressed to the child (or classroom). The mailings can be sent weekly for 10 weeks or once monthly for 10 months. The cost for each ten-letter subscription is $15.

To order a subscription or for further information, contact the Society Office, 21 Butternut Street, Lyons or call 946.4943.

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