June 3 Burden Iron Works and the Shaker Museum

So this morning was interesting to say the least. We started the day out like normal, reading our blogs and such. We then ventured on to Burden Iron Co. Museum. It was here that we met Michael. He was an interesting fellow. I couldn't really focus on the content of the museum because of some of the remarks that he said. These were sexist to say the least. These remarks included "...She had a Uterus and a Brain!", "You wouldn't understand, it's a guy thing", and "I have this thing called a Y chromosome". I'm not sure who he thought he was talking to, but that wasn't the smartest thing to say to a group of women from an all women college. Some of us had Leigh Strimbeck, so our views on feminism are quite strong, and this upset us. So I didn't really retain much of the information that he was telling us.

Antique outside of Burden iron

Sign on the Museum 

Bell

After we left the museum, we were not very happy. So we then went and took a small hike down the gorge. It was a nice site, it even had a swimming hole (Though I didn't go all the way down to the water). After leaving this park, we went to Prospect Park. I think this was our favorite part of the day. A group of us sat under the tree; we got the chance to vent to each other. I think it's pretty amazing how close we have all gotten in such a short amount of time. I think I'm closest to Krista and Michelle, though I'm not biased against the other girls. We played in the water sprinkler, went on the swings (fween fwas?), and talked and laughed. It was probably my favorite part of the day. When we finished with our lunch break, it was a very long break, we went to the Shaker Museum.

Main House of Shaker

1915 Barn

Broomstick Making Machine

I thought this museum was very interesting. I didn't even know that the Shakers existed before today, but they had a very interesting history. Our tour guide was a Russell Sage Alumnae, Samantha. She graduated five years ago, this means she was a Blue Angel, which is our class. I thought this was pretty awesome. My favorite part of the tour was the barn. This barn was built in 1915, and was the second barn on the property, the first one burnt down. I have a thing for Barns, I think they are fascinating. Inside the barn they built this broomstick exhibit. During the craft fairs, there is someone that teaches how to make broomsticks. It was pretty cool. Though our morning started out pretty rough, we had a pretty good day all together.