Woodside National Historic Site
528 Wellington St N N2H 5L5 Kitchener, ON, Canada

It’s getting colder outside and Victorian era pineapple preserves are just what we need to warm up. Get lost in this historic yet tropical recipe and let it whisk you away. Don’t worry, we won’t judge you if you drool! You can make this recipe at home too: https://www.pc.gc.ca//lhn-/on/woodside/activ/confiture-jam

Have you started your holiday shopping? In the 1890s at Woodside, each child in the King family was given $2.50 to buy gifts, and very extensive consideration was given to the selection of each present. I can recall, wrote Mackenzie King in 1949, buying little Christmas presents for members of the family. I remember the anxiety occasioned in these expenditures. I recall securing for my mother a card case covered with diamond-shaped mother of pearl at Fox’s Jewellery Store. I can see the interest Mr. Fox took in my making the purchase. I was the height of the counter. I thought I had secured something fine. http://ow.ly/hg8p50CD9Be

Who knew marmalade could be so mesmerizing? We miss making jam in the historic kitchen at #WoodsideNHS and we wanted to bring the sights and sounds home to you. Sit back and relax to this ASMR video taking you through the steps of making orange marmalade in the Victorian era, or even try it at home for yourself. https://www.pc.gc.ca//lhn-/on/woodside/activ/confiture-jam Stay tuned for more historic jam and preserve making coming soon too! #WeMissYouToo

The weather is getting chillier but it’s still important to get outside and active, and we have just the spot! Enjoy the great outdoors and let the grounds of #WoodsideNHS transport you to the 1890s sometimes it’s nice to imagine! http://ow.ly/wZQO50CdQ7F

We miss making shortbread for our visitors, but you can bring the taste of #WoodsideNHS home with this great recipe! Don’t forget, we also have a new historic jam making video coming out this week too!

We’re back with the next post in our #VictorianTeaParty series! We've talked about what a lady would wear to tea, what about a gentleman? Much like today, men’s clothing was less elaborate than women’s. Unless it was a very formal tea, a gentleman would sport a sack suit. The sack suit was a predecessor of the modern three-piece suit. These suits were often ready-made, and available in a variety of patterns. Men could use neckties and vests to add some colour. Shirt collars were often removable. This made them easier to wash and could be starched separately from a shirt. They could also be thrown out when they became worn out. Removable collars helped shirts to last for years.

It’s #CanadaHistoryWeek and this year’s theme is #EnvironmentalHistory! In the late 1800s, #WoodsideNHS would have been a lush growing area for trees, and plants and swamplands. In the mid 1900s, many trees were cut down, swamps were filled, and extensive herbicide was used. Woodside lost the historic landscape the King’s would have experienced. Our natural cultural resource practices have evolved and we have since restored the grounds, which are open to the public year round. Learn more: http://ow.ly/UYvq50CsfzR #HistoryWeek2020

We’re back with the next post in our #VictorianTeaParty series! Aside from eating and drinking, there was often some sort of activity or game at a tea party. The activities could vary. One publication from the era reports a tea party where the hostess had her guests draw caricatures of any three guests present. The best portraits were awarded small prizes, and the artist who produced the worst one was given an eraser. Dancing was common at tea parties. We know that the King’s drawing room could be arranged for dancing, so it’s likely that Mrs. King would have had dance cards ready at a tea!

Fall has come and gone and winter is well on its way, but we miss all the colours already! Did you visit the grounds of #WoodsideNHS this fall? We’d love to see your photos! Share them with us in the comments below.

This #RemembranceDay, let us remember those soldiers who fought, those nurses who served, and those who aided in protecting our freedom. More than 2 million Canadians served and over 100,000 made the ultimate sacrifice. We remember and honour them by wearing a poppy, a symbol from the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. #CanadaRemembers #LestWeForget

It is always #PretendToBeATimeTravelerDay here at #WoodsideNHS!

Let’s settle this once and for all: what is the best winter flavour? Apple cinnamon or peppermint? We think this historic apple jelly is making a very good argument for apple! Take a look and let the sights and sounds of this Victorian era recipe convince you Interested in getting a taste of this jelly? We’ve got the recipe here: https://www.pc.gc.ca//lhn-/on/woodside/activ/confiture-jam

We’re back with the next post in our #VictorianTeaParty series! Setting a beautiful table was essential when hosting a tea. Victorians put a lot of emphasis on hospitality and showing off your wealth even if you weren’t rich. When hosting a party, a Victorian would want to use their best china and serving dishes to impress their guests. It was not uncommon to see a table furnished with a mix of china from different sets; this was so a hostess could show off that she owned... multiple sets of china, not just one. Many periodicals from the period emphasize that table cloths, napkins and tea cloths (tea towels) should be tasteful, and accent the china. Periodicals also suggest placing a large piece of felt or flannel between the table and the cloth, to add some volume and get the best effect in draping. This trick is recommended when using cheaper table cloths, to make them look more expensive.

At #WoodsideNHS we are always glad to hear about visitors and partners getting to explore the beauty of the grounds. Check out this great message from Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre about their trip to Woodside for Halloween: We had another magical day at Woodside on Friday. We dressed up for Halloween and did a story hike where we hiked the grounds and searched for the pages to complete reading a story. We had a hunt for Halloween treasure and explored the forest.... In exploring the forest, the children worked together to find pine cones for squirrels to build their nest; experimented with branches to build a tee pee; created letters out of sticks; and discovered some mushrooms beginning to grow on a stick. The forest at Woodside provides many learning opportunities, enhances their sense of curiosity, and connections to the land, others and themselves. Truly magical. We to hear it!

Feel good about giving #MadeinCanada #gifts AND supporting conservation efforts with every purchase! Order by Dec. 9 for on-time holiday delivery and get #FREE shipping on orders over $75 in . #FeelGoodGifts #StockingStuffer http://ow.ly/Gdxd50CCY3m

We’re back with the next post in our #VictorianTeaParty series! Despite its name, the food is what a tea party is best known for. Dishes at afternoon tea were meant to be dainty and easy to eat with your fingers. It was common to see savory sandwiches and sweet treats like cakes and candies. Some cookbooks from the era suggest serving shrimp or anchovy sandwiches and stress the use of only the finest ingredients, to help you impress your guests. Picking what to serve would co...me down to what was available, and what a hostess, or a servant, could prepare. During the holidays, you would find a variety of holiday dishes served with the usual tea fare. Mrs. King likely would have furnished her table with a mix of Scottish and German goodies, reflecting the family’s Scottish heritage and the German community in Berlin (now Kitchener). Bread and butter or cucumber sandwiches were a staple of afternoon tea, but not because of their flavour. These sandwiches were a sign of high status! Both sandwiches have little nutritional value, so eating them was a sign you likely did not make a living using your hands you might have been a professional like a doctor or a lawyer, rather than a farmer or labourer.

It’s #NationalHomemadeBreadDay, and what could go better with homemade bread than some homemade jam? Let the soothing sounds of jam mesmerize you as we take you through making raspberry jam with a historic Victorian Era recipe. Sit back, relax, and boil and bubble your cares away Want try to this at home? Check out the recipe here: https://www.pc.gc.ca//lhn-/on/woodside/activ/confiture-jam