Last weekend, the Enfield Shaker Museum hosted its fourth annual Snowshoe Festival.  Horse-drawn sleigh rides, dog sledding and of course snowshoeing were all part of the day’s activities.  A scavenger hunt for children was held in the Museum and a representative from L.L. Bean offered snowshoe clinics to those who braved the frosty temps and high winds.  Clear, blue skies hovered in striking contrast over the wintry landscape.

Some images from the day:

Originally, sled dogs were chosen for their size, brute strength and stamina, but modern sled dogs – as the ones above – are generally mixed-breed (‘Alaskan’) huskies who have been bred over generations for their endurance, strength, speed, tough feet, good attitude and appetites, and most importantly their desire to pull in harness and abilities to run well within a team.

Standing opposite the Great Stone Dwelling is the Stone Mill – constructed in 1849 after its predecessor burned down on the same site. It once contained three stories of water powered machinery for a variety of trades.

Inside, homemade lunches, hot cocoa and coffee were available to those coming in from the cold:

A raffle was held for the chance to win home-made mittens, scarves, jams, soaps, baskets, gift cards and other items:

A post lunch, self-guided tour of the museum’s furniture, tools, clothing and other artifacts was in order.   It was interesting to contemplate the original use of some items prior to reading the provided information.

The Shakers produced a variety of goods including furniture, flannel, medicines and brooms, to name just a few.

Shaker made wash basin and chairs:

They were also skilled gardeners and the first, it is said, to sell seeds in small packets:

Caleb Dyer, the driving force behind the Enfield Shakers’ transition from a subsistence agrarian economy to a surplus manufacturing one:

The museum’s shop has a host of offerings, many crafted in the traditional Shaker style:

Framed postings featured prominently inside the museum lend salient insight into the Shakers’ creed and way of life:

And a personal favorite – “Rules for Visitors”:

 

All in all, it was a brilliant day with many avid snowshoers and winter fun enthusiasts turning out for the event.  For those who may have missed the winter Snowshoe Fest,  the Museum also holds a Spring Shaker Forum as well as other special events throughout the year.  A detailed calendar is available on their website:

http://www.shakermuseum.org/calendarofevents.htm

And of course, there is always next winter!