Ayla’s Voyage Blog

Three@Sea is not only a boat and travel means, but also…a time machine. This past week, my family and I had the pleasure to visit Upper Canada Village; a historical living museum located in Ontario Canada off of the St. Lawrence River. This town is devised of many historical sites and houses that were originally part of real villages and towns, but these towns were flooded when the St. Lawrence Seaway was formed in the 1950’s. A team of people moved the historical landmarks from their original homes, and built a beautiful 1860’s village as it was 140 years ago.

The first thing you notice when entering the village, is it really is

completely authentic. Ladies in hoop skirts, petticoats, and fine dresses stroll the cobblestone street, chatting merrily with friends, while handsome men on horseback gallop through town throwing their hats off to the many enthralled guests. We stopped first in the flour mill, where we saw the actual water-powered process of making wheat seeds into fine flour that is then used for baking bread at the bakery.

We then left the industrial outskirts and strolled into some of the beautiful houses that have been artfully restored as if they were being lived in by an 1800’s family. Girls sat sewing in the kitchen while women made tea and entertained guests. I particularly liked the physician’s house which was beautifully light and airy as well as finely furnished.

After we visited a fair number of town homes we walked to the main

street where the dress shop, tin shop, dry goods store, and bakery are located. The dress shop had beautiful examples of what a lady in the 1860’s would have worn including  long. heavy skirts, and a day top as well as a formal top. Next, we walked to the tin shop and watched the tinsmith making candle holders and stove pipes. I really enjoyed the bakery where the smell of freshly bakes bread hovers temptingly in the air.

After a wonderful lunch at the inn, we made our way to Cook’s Tavern for a show by the Travelin Tiltons. They first sang several songs about home and life…and then they put on a play. Yes, Romeo and Juliet was requested by the audience, and so they obliged. Now first of all, this is three men doing this show, and as you’ll notice, Juliet is a girl. Well, make do with what you’ve got. Mr. Tilton put on a fabulous (er…interesting) performance as Romeo’s Juliet…Romeo didn’t even run away (although he seriously considered it).

Next was school (hey…wait a minute! I’m on summer break!) Mom and I wandered to the school house for the “official teacher’s test.” During this short test to see if I could become a teacher, I wrote with a fountain pen and ink, was quizzed on math problems,and spelling, but eventually got dubbed as a teacher at the school of Upper Canada Village.

So, if you go to Upper Canada Village by boat, plane, train, or automobile, I recommend seeing the Travelin’ Tilton’s Romeo and Juliet, enjoying a meal at the inn, becoming a teacher at the school, and…oh yeah! The fresh bread is definitely worth waiting for…