In the summer of 2010 I had the unique and exciting opportunity to travel to Williamsburg, Virginia and work for the trades department of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Specifically, I worked alongside the masons as a brickmaker. As a brickmaker, I learned how to make bricks, dry them, and prepare them for firing; I also became versed in the history and context of brickmaking in colonial America.
Aside from the practical process of making bricks, I also spent at least an hour a day on public interpretation. During this time my sole job was to educate the public about the process, answer qu
estions, and involve patrons of all ages in any way I could. It was truly exciting to see kids putting their fingers and feet in the clay and getting a tangible experience of history.
The physical labor was extremely hard and I had to do it all in accurate period clothing; which being female, meant petticoats, two hats, and stays (what we would refer to today as a corset). Despite the hard work, at the end of the day this was the most rewarding historical experience I have ever had. I firmly believe that the best way to learn about history is to live history. Not only did I get to educate and inspire younger generations about history, at the end of the summer there were physical results of my labor. I helped to make the bricks that are being used to rebuild the Anderson Blacksmith Shop on its original site. Those bricks should last two hundred years (at least) so they will be there for generations to come.
Colonial Williamsburg Brickmaking Site: https://www.history.org/Almanack/life/trades/tradebri.cfm
Facebook page (this is the most frequently updated)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colonial-Williamsburg-Brickyard/316009977294