The Butler County Historical Society will present on Saturday, June 10, the first of its summer multi-generational programs designed for children and their parents or grandparents. It will be held in the front yard of the society’s Benninghofen House museum at 327 North Second Street, Hamilton, and begin at 9:30 a.m. and end around 2 p.m.

The program is free and open to the public, thanks to a generous grant from the W. E. Smith Family Trust of Oxford.

“All in a Day’s Work – Down on the Farm” will focus on the common chores that would have been part of daily life while living on a Butler County farm during the 1800s. During this session we will be carding wool, discussing spinning wheels and explaining how weaving was done. We plan to have several live sheep in the front yard for children to enjoy. We will also explore how pioneers planted seeds for crops and participants can plant their own seeds to take home. Participants will learn about bees and where the modern bee hive was invented. All activities are designed as hands-on experiences with no set program. People can join the event anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. In the case of poor weather, activities will be moved inside to the Emma Ritchie Auditorium.

Kathy Creighton, executive director of the historical society, said she expects children and their family members will have a good time again this year. “The kids, parents and grandparents that attended our summer programs last year really enjoyed them and we are bringing back the sheep for the kids. We think this program will be an excellent hands-on experience for kids and great fun for all. We also want to invite people to our other two summer programs dealing with work in daily life in the home on July 8 and our August 12 session devoted to fun and games played in the 1800s.”

Participants can also see the historical society’s year-long exhibit which focuses on the story of World War I in Butler County. “Over There, Over Here: Butler County Stories of World War I” opened last April and can be visited during the day.

The Butler County Historical Society, located at 327 North Second Street, Hamilton, is a private non-profit formed in 1934 to preserve and promote the history of Butler County through the collection and conservation of artifacts and the sharing of knowledge through education and community engagement. It owns and operates the Benninghofen House museum, a high-Italian style home built in 1863 that is filled with the furnishings of a wealthy family during the Victorian Era. It is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Group tours of the Benninghofen House Museum can be arranged by calling 896-9930.