TRANSCRIPT

For the moment, I am about 22 years volunteer in the Battlefield House. To come to the Battlefield House was also by accident. I was already a weaver and a spinner and was a member of the weaver's guild from Hamilton. We had an exhibition in Hamilton where I was in some demonstration. When I have a break, I look the other parts at what other people did. I saw a couple girls were demonstrating spinning but I had not a lot of interest in. When they ask me was I able to spin, I say 'yes' and they ask me to try it. I sat down and spun for a while. Then the girls (I don't know the name at the moment), they ask me if I was interested to do some spinning for the Battlefield House. They gave me the address and the name and I should go there and talk about it. When I came in the Battlefield House I met the curator Ann Boyer. She let me in and we talk about it and she like to have me as the spinner and I like to do it. So from that point on, I am the spinner at the Battlefield House. However, how good spinner I was, I didn't know much about the history. Since that moment I started looking for history as far as possible. For the moment, I can say any questions about spinning and history, I can answer in the right way. Also for wool and textiles. In the beginning, I was just the spinning and there was no weaving loom. I don't know exactly the date, but we got a weaving loom from a lady that passed away. That weaving loom is still in use here and I am glad to have it here. I use it to make coverlets, floor coverings, etc. When I have some children with me, who come for the tour, how to do it, it is always thinking 'how old are the children?', 'how far can I go that they understand what I'm talking about?' I try to tell them how at home why there is spinning done. And how old it is. And how it was done in the very past. Also with the weaving. Many times, special now I get a little bit older, I was looking for a person who would take over from me in case it is necessary. Many times I taught spinning lessons to most of the volunteers in the Battlefield House. Some of them do quite well. Some of them never will learn (with a laugh).