During its Second Sunday open houses, the Society presents events and displays that reflect the daily life of the Victorian farm family in Wisconsin. Among the recent events have been the following:
Christmas Open House:
On December 10, 2000, the Dean House was trimmed with greenery and candles and featured a display of Victorian era ornaments from Jean Dent's extensive personal collection. Holiday pudding desserts, handmade by old-fashioned culinary experts, were served to visitors.
Wash Day:
On September 10, 2000, the Society offered visitors to the Dean House the chance to experience one of the not-so-good parts of the "good old days" in re-creating a pre-electricity wash day. Wash tubs of water, scrub boards, and a hand-cranked clothes wringer were all pressed into use on the back porch. Visitors had the opportunity to try their hands at washing clothes with a plunger and some of Helen Cattell's collection of scrub boards. Adding to the event were cooked starch and bluing, clothes line and pins, and an ironing board with stove-heated irons. Participants were given instructions for making laundry soap provided by an 1896 housekeeping book.
Victorian Tea:
On May 6, 2000, the back porch of the Dean House was transformed into an elegant tea room, and guests were served an afternoon tea in honor of the Victorian doll house donated to the Society. Ten tea tables were topped with treasured old linens brought in by members for the occasion and pansy centerpieces donated by Wanda Nelson. Fine china from personal collections completed the settings. Costumed waitresses poured Earl Grey tea from a variety of period teapots.
