06/17/2026
What a Day for a Time Travel Adventure!
The Sweat-Morin Homestead and Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum recently had the pleasure of hosting an incredible group of fourth and fifth grade students from Shapleigh Memorial Middle School for a special two-part field trip!
Accompanied by their teacher, Anne-Marie Hamlin, the young historians started the day stepping back into 1786 at Sanford’s beautifully restored Sweat-Morin Homestead. They explored the barn, home, outbuildings, and cemetery to see what colonial life was really like. From spinning yarn to open-hearth cooking, they took it all in. Students also checked out vintage tools, like wooden oxen yokes, and visited the cemetery of Reverend Moses Sweat’s family.
Next, it was off to the Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum for an immersive, hands-on reenactment of “The British and Pequawkets at Phillipstown.”
Divided into two groups — the British and the Native Americans — the students dove deep into Maine's history, exploring cultural cooperation, conflict, and trade. They put their new knowledge to the test by reenacting a historic trade situation using items like beaver pelts, blankets, corn, and quahog beads. They even practiced speaking the native language, with sounds of “Ha!" (yes) and "Nadah!" (no) echoing throughout the museum.
According to Ms. Hamlin, the kids had such a blast that they are already asking to come back next year so they can switch sides and replay the reenactment.
Thank you so much to Shapleigh Memorial Middle School for bringing such incredible energy, curiosity, and respect to our local history. We can't wait to welcome you back soon!
