HULL HOUSE FOUNDATION

OUR STRATEGY TO EXECUTE THIS MISSION IS TO FIRST PROVIDE A HISTORICALLY ACCURATE SETTING (CAMPUS) THAT CAN PROVIDE CONTEXT TO THOSE WHO ATTEND OUR TOURS AND FORMAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE ANCHOR OF THIS SETTING IS THE HISTORIC HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT BY THE HULL FAMILY AROUND 1810 AND SERVED AS A FARMSTEAD WITH MANY OUT BUILDINGS ON THE SITE SUCH AS A BARN, A ROOT CELLAR, AND WATER WELL. THE ONLY STRUCTURE REMAINING ON WHAT WAS AN OVER 300 ACRES FARMSTEAD IS THE HISTORIC HOME, CONSTRUCTED OF LIMESTONE, WHICH IS NOW FULLY RENOVATED. AFTER YEARS OF RESEARCH, WE HAVE DETERMINED WHAT OTHER STRUCTURES WERE PRESENT AND WHERE THEY WERE ON THE SITE. WE HAVE RECONSTRUCTED THOSE BUILDINGS AND OTHER PHYSICAL FEATURES WITH DESIGN AND MATERIALS THAT CLOSELY MATCH THOSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN 1810-1830.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO OFFER SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE TARGETED TO BOTH STUDENTS AND ADULTS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR PRIMARY MISSION. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER SEVERAL WELL DEVELOPED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ARE CONSISTENTLY DEVELOPING NEW ONES. EXAMPLES OF OUR TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS: "HISTORY CAMP FOR KIDS" SINCE 2008, THE HULL FAMILY HOME & FARMSTEAD HAS ORGANIZED AND PRODUCED A SERIES OF DAY CAMPING EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS WE CALL "HISTORY CAMP FOR KIDS". WE INVITE STUDENTS ENTERING FOURTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE TO SPEND A FULL WEEK LEARNING ABOUT LIFE ON THE WESTERN NEW YORK FRONTIER IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY. FROM TEXTILES TO NATIVE AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS, TO CANDLE DIPPING , QUILL WRITING, ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS, TO FOOD PREPARATION, TO WOODWORKING AND THE WARS THE FAMILY WAS ENGAGED IN, AND MORE, CAMPERS ARE EXPOSED TO MANY ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT ENHANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS IMPORTANT PERIOD IN AMERICAN HISTORY. IN 2024, THE CAMP SESSIONS WERE ATTENDED BY 23 STUDENTS. "MEET OUR PAST" TOURS, WHEREBY VISITORS WALK TO VARIOUS STATIONS VIEWIN VIGNETTES, WHICH DRAMATIZED HISTORIC EVENTS. WE ALSO CONDUCTED TWENTY-FOUR CLASSES FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THREE DIFFERENT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH OVER 600 CHILDREN ATTENDING. THE TOURS INCLUDE DOCENT LED TOURS OF THE RESTORED HULL HOUSE AND THE FAMILY CEMETERY, AS WELL AS AN EXAMINATION OF THE HULL FAMILY TREE. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN PIONEER GAMES, VISITED THE KITCHEN GARDEN AND LEARNED ABOUT MEDICINAL PLANTS, AND ARE INTRODUCED TO TOOLS AND CHORES OF THE PERIOD. LIVING HISTORY LECTURE SERIES. DURING THE SEASON, WE SCHEDULED MONTHLY LECTURES BY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS, SUCH AS THE WAR OF 1812, MEDICINAL PLANTS, AND PERIOD CLOTHING. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2024, WE HOSTED LECTURES BY: TOM SCHOBERT, AUTHOR OF "HUSH THE CANNON'S ROAR" TERRY WOLF, A QUILTING EXPERT "HANDS-ON HERITAGE" DAYS. THIS PROGRAM SERIES IS OFFERED MONTHLY IN THE SUMMER AND FALL. FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THEMED PERIOD ACTIVITIES RELATING TO EVENTS SUCH AS MAY DAY, FOURTH OF JULY, HARVEST SEASON AND OTHERS.