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John Versace enjoys being a 21st-century figure, but his enthusiasm when portraying a colonial apprentice Monday afternoon revealed the 9-year-old would not have minded coming of age 300 years ago.
The youngster and 30 other children attended “Growing Up, American Style,” an interactive presentation courtesy of Old City’s National Constitution Center, at the Whitman Branch, 200 Snyder Ave. The look at children’s historical garb and social roles marked the first of six Traveling History and Civics Program lessons the library will host. The lineup includes Feb. 22’s “Breaking Barriers Show,” a celebration of extraordinary African Americans.
Learning of the opportunity to have the Constitution Center continue its outreach to city schools and libraries, Friends of the Whitman Library President Laura McColgan completed a fall application. The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback and the Thomas Skelton Harrison foundations awarded the scholarship that allowed her location to welcome presenter Al Haynes.
“‘Growing Up, American Style’ is well received because the children can literally feel history,” he said.
The Fairmount resident and the program’s moderator began by discussing differences between the colonial era and current times. Excited to banter with him, students from Andrew Jackson, 1213 S. 12th St.; George Sharswood, 2300 S. Second St.; John H. Taggart, 400 W. Porter St.; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 2329 S. Third St., facetiously responded with raised hands when he asked who had either chopped firewood or milked goats before school.
“I need a volunteer,” he said.
Haynes chose John, a resident of the 300 block of Cantrell Street, to represent an ambitious apprentice. Adorned in his gym uniform, the Sharswood fourth-grader soon became a duplicate for an 18th-century child on the verge of adulthood. Colonial societies considered a boy a man at either age 8 or 9 after his britching ceremony, Haynes said as he produced britches to initiate John’s transformation, which drew laughs when he put on the replica.
The spectacled helper added an ascot, a vest, an overcoat and a tri-colored hat. His glasses made him look like a modern Benjamin Franklin, whom he learned about that day at his Whitman school. In fact, his lesson led him to choose to be a printer like the statesman was as a youth when Haynes wondered which colonial occupation John would have wanted.
“I had not expected this much clothing,” the boy said before Haynes told him his predecessors would have worn similar outfits at all times of year, with no break even for sweltering summer days.
Along with addressing dress, the program aimed to explain hygiene to reflect the scarcity of resources and the differences among the classes with respect to sanitary practices.
“How often do you think John would have bathed?” Haynes asked.
“Every day, hopefully,” his 13-year-old sister Adriana Versace said to laughter.
Hearing that he would be fortunate to be able to cleanse himself two or three times a month, he received a smidge of pity with a chorus of “Eww.”
“You dirty thing,” his sibling said to more chuckles.
Haynes chose the seventh-grader for his examination of what an affluent girl would wear to school or a ball in the Victorian Era, adding a bulky undergarment to her frame.
He noted a woman might have worn up to 35 pounds of apparel to make a stark contrast between the past and present. Her first article did not slow Adriana, but she became a model of reduced movement, donning a petticoat, a hoop skirt, a blouse and a dress jacket.
Her societal standing could not have guaranteed Adriana more than five baths a month, Haynes said.
“You would be a little smelly, too,” he said to the girl, who blushed to giggles.
Opened in 2003, the Constitution Center in ’07 established “Growing Up, American Style” as an on-site complement to its “The Story of We the People” main exhibit. As the country has blossomed since the 1787 signing of the Constitution, the location seeks to uphold the rights of the land’s citizens by stressing civic management and responsibility. Those concepts appealed to immigrants in the early 20th century, so Haynes decided to discuss a foreign child’s existence from 100 years ago.
Jackson fifth-grader Moustafa Gomaa won the honor of being his final aide. Fitted with the lone pair of pants a similarly aged and classified boy would receive over a year, a jacket and a cap, the resident of the 500 block of Tasker Street would likely have found dangerous work in a factory, Haynes said.
“What do you think he might have done to make more money?” Haynes asked.
Pickpocketing, hawking fruits and vegetables and singing joined the correct answer — selling newspapers — as suggestions. Haynes discussed child labor laws and the eventual establishment of safety guidelines, including hours employed, for youths.
His lower rung status meant the 11-year-old Moustafa would have bathed twice a year, a fate that bred even more signs of disgust. Haynes concluded by saying society has evolved so much that the difficulties their predecessors faced will likely never resurface to impede the youngsters. He mentioned educational opportunities, which 1st District Councilman Mark Squilla reiterated.
“Education is incredibly important,” the resident of Front Street and Snyder Avenue said as the children prepared to write “Thank you” notes.
He noted society owes gratitude to civil servants, who take citizens’ best interests and protect and encourage them.
“We work for you,” he said to the young historians, whom he encouraged to register to vote when of age.
Though he is a few years away from signing up, John understands the contribution each member of society can make by voicing an opinion. The Versaces have enjoyed art programs at Whitman and appreciated a new opportunity to have it build their education. He gladly gave his opinion concerning the performance.
“I would have wanted the challenge of being a kid at that time,” he said. “The show was neat.”
As the third-year president of the Friends group, the first with which the Constitution Center has interacted, McColgan loved the enthusiasm.
“I was very pleased with the outcome,” the resident of the 400 block of Tree Street said. “I think the children really enjoyed themselves.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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