In the early days of Rochester, toys and games were scarce. Any toys that very young children had were handmade. Once a child turned five or there abouts, there were chores that they were expected to perform. However, kids being kids, whenever a group got together (maybe during the break between Sunday services) they would play tag and other running games.
It was thought that giving a girl a doll would help her to become a good mother. Early dolls were made of corn husks or cloth. Boys might practice with a bow and arrow or with a wooden facsimile of a musket, learning skills they could use as adults.
One activity that both boys and girls participated in was rolling a hoop, one of which is pictured here. The ancestor of the hula hoop, it was about the same size but made of wood. Steering it with a stick, the one who could keep it upright and rolling the longest was the winner.
Colonial games were most often played by adult males. Most were games still played today but in slightly different forms. Stool ball was a game where the “pitcher” threw a ball and tried to hit a stool, tree trunk or something similar. If he hit the stool, he would receive a point. However, there was a “batter” who had a flat piece of wood, and he would attempt to bat away the ball. If he succeeded, he would run to a designated spot and then back to the stool. If he made it back before the ball, he stayed at bat. This definitely sounds like the birth of cricket or baseball.
“Nine Men’s Morris is what we call bowling, but it was played outdoors with the pins lined up on the grass and stones were thrown to knock them down. This was definitely a game for adults and continued to be played even after the game was banned by Massachusetts’ governor.
Both men and boys played “quoits” as it believed the game improved eye-hand co-ordination. Today we call it “ring toss”.
At the Rochester COA Fair on June 19th, both the Rochester Historical Commission and Rochester Historical Society will have a grassy area where anyone who wants to play quoits or see if they can roll a hoop can do so. We will also have a variety of other colonial games at our tables. We want to give a peek into what children in the 1770s were doing about 250 years ago before our Country’s birthday. There will also be cupcakes and other prizes. In addition, there will be some Rochester Historical items for sale and trumpet music.
Look for us in the grassy area toward the back. We’ll have a pinwheel out front. Hope to see you there.
By Connie Eshbach
