Dressed in period clothing, young students opened a market that showcased their handmade crafts at the conclusion of the Early American Camp, hosted by the Friends of the Jake Menghini Museum.

“Students from fourth through sixth grade spent all week learning about what it was like during the 1700s and 1800s,” instructor and Friends member Carol Sundstrom said.

Each day, children did hands-on projects that focused on techniques used during that time. They made candles, lanterns, baskets, paper, fans and even remedy bags for sleeping.

“They discovered that people had to make everything by hand,” Sundstrom explained.

Shoppers Ginnie Adams and daughter Anna Grace Adams visit with silversmith shop owner Kehnan Curran at the Colonial Market at the Jake Menghini Museum grounds in Norway. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Sundstrom said each student was able to choose their own occupation for the Colonial Market.

They created a whole mock village with eight different shops that included the millinery, general store, silversmith, basket makers, blacksmith, apothecary and printer.

“They learned so much — it’s apparent in each shop. They were in character and talking about their items and skills,” Sundstrom said. “They are so proud of what they accomplished and it means so much to them.”

Kehnan Curran said he was drawn to being a silversmith because his father is a mechanic and he has worked with metal most of his life.

“I really enjoyed it — my favorite part was probably making the candles,” he said.

Sunday's Colonial Market on the Jake Menghini Museum grounds in Norway opened with a special military demonstration. From left are Kehnan Curran, Adrian Fairchild, Luther Barker, Donovan Taulbee and Jacob Bagley. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Millinery shop workers Elsie Adams and Alex Kreh both found the attire that girls and women wore interesting as well as unusual. “They had to wear so many layers,” Adams said.

“The corsets had whale bones that made it so they couldn’t bend over,” Kreh said. “It gave them posture.”

Both girls said they took part in the program because they like history.

Adams favorite part of the week was weaving baskets, while Kreh said she really enjoyed making fans for their shop.

Apothecary Corinne Bagley said her favorite activity was making the sleep remedy bags for the store. “It was something different, we haven’t heard about before,” she said.

At Sunday's Colonial Market on the Jake Menghini Museum grounds in Norway, Georgia deKoster offers visitor Martin Straka a selection of cookies in her bakery. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Before opening up shop, family and friends were greeted with a special military march by the boys and a special dance by the girls.

“They each did such a great job with their performance,” Sundstrom said, adding she had to fill in for an absent girl.

The parents, family and friends loved the skits and visiting each shop, she said.

“It’s a big surprise for them, as they haven’t seen them do anything like this before,” Sundstrom said.

The retired teacher began doing the early American lesson in her own classroom after attending a week-long intensive study of that time period in Williamsburg. “It was so much fun,” she said.

Donovan Taulbee displays handmade candles in the general store at the Colonial Market on the Jake Menghini Museum grounds in Norway. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

After retiring, Sundstrom offered the program to Norway Elementary fourth-grade classrooms, with the last one about 13 years ago when teacher Joanne Cowell retired.

Sundstrom was touched by all the heartfelt thank yous and hugs from the kids.

“They truly seem to be appreciative of the experience,” she said. “Today makes the work all worth it.”

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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.

Alex Kreh, left, and Elsie Adams had the millinery shop in Sunday's Colonial Market on the Jake Menghini Museum grounds in Norway. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)