This spring, Exchange Place celebrated the graduation of five members of its Junior Apprentice program: Chloe Campbell, Kalae Halverson, Magnolia Huish, Elizabeth Kitching, and Jamie Schaefer. These young ladies have enhanced the program with their own unique skills and personalities and have become strong mentors for the younger apprentices. The graduates have big plans after high school, and lucky for Exchange Place, several of them plan to continue to volunteer as adults.
CHLOE CAMPBELL
Chloe Campbell has been volunteering at Exchange Place since she was eight years old. She tagged along with her older brother, Cade, who was one of the first members of the Junior Apprentice program, until she was old enough to join the program herself. Chloe’s interests are varied, and she has mastered many heritage skills in her tenure as a JA. She is admittedly a perfectionist, and she works patiently and carefully on whatever task she is assigned, whether it is grating nutmeg, crafting a gourd scoop, or sewing an apron.
Chloe’s attention to detail is evident in the project she chose for her JA senior presentation: crafting a gingerbread version of the Exchange Place Main House. For several months, Chloe worked diligently to make each piece of the structure—from the shingles on the roof to the pottery on the dining table. Chloe entered her impressive creation in the National Gingerbread competition in Asheville, NC and placed in the top ten in her category. Though her gingerbread house is ephemeral, Chloe’s impact on the JA program will last for many years.
In Chloe’s words:
As a Junior Apprentice I have gained invaluable knowledge of what it took to live in a time without our modern luxuries. I have had the chance to experience the forgotten joys of making things by hand, and have also learned about the difficulties and dark parts of our past. As a JA I have also gained a deeper appreciation for what I have, and have gained a greater appreciation of true craftsmanship. Some of my favorite JA memories have been taking the time to craft something beautiful out of the resources I had been given, such as spending several hours working on one gourd, or trying my hardest not to snap a piece of bark in two while making a bark basket. My experience at Exchange Place has had a huge impact on who I am today, and as I prepare to attend ETSU as a Global Citizen Scholar majoring in either Political Science or Media and Communications, I know the lessons I have learned about history will serve me well.
Elizabeth Kitching
Elizabeth was all set to join the JA program when the COVID pandemic hit, so she had to wait for two years before entering. In her short time as a JA, Elizabeth has quickly acquired the skills needed for a living historian. Though she carries a gentle and graceful air, Elizabeth is not afraid of challenges and getting her hands dirty. She enjoys working in the blacksmith forge and cooking over an open-hearth as much as more “genteel” activities like sewing and playing parlor games. Always asking well-considered questions, Elizabeth is interested in the “why” as well as the “how”—a natural curiosity that will serve her well as she embarks on new life adventures.
In Elizabeth’s words:
As a Junior Apprentice for the Exchange Place, I have enjoyed many experiences, from the historical crafts and period clothing, to open-hearth cooking and even a little black-smithing (I still need lots of help in this area!). I have fond memories of playing the game of Graces with my friends, churning butter in the kitchen, and making ridiculous mistakes during an apron sewing workshop (my apron still turned out okay!). One of the most special things about the Exchange Place to me, though, is its quiet atmosphere. I remember the afternoons I would spend working in the garden. I could feel the sun on my back while the breeze tugged at my hair. The birds were singing from the nearby trees, and outside the garden, a little brook trickled from the springhouse. As life continues to get busier, I find it hard to slow down and enjoy nature. Exchange Place, though, has been a place to slow down, reconnect, and be refreshed. Even during the busy festivals, there is a quaint atmosphere that would be hard to reconstruct elsewhere. My time as a Junior Apprentice has left me with unique skills and cherished memories. I will be attending The Crown College in the fall, where I will be taking Bible and Business classes, but I hope to continue volunteering at EP even after graduating.
Kalae Halverson
Kalae has been volunteering at Exchange Place for many years. As an 8-year old, she came with her mother and younger brothers to volunteer for the school programs, and when the JA program was launched, she enthusiastically joined. Kalae is most often seen in the kitchen or garden where her bright smile and contagious laugh never fail to bring joy to those around her.
In Kalae’s words…
Being a JA for the past 10 years or so has been a very special part of my life. Being able to learn small details about the past as well as big picture has been amazing, and interacting with the public and sharing those things with them is always a lot of fun. I have learned so much through Heather, and the other wonderful people in the program, and I definitely want to continue helping with it after I graduate.
Magnolia Huish
Magnolia joined the JA program in 2019, along with her older brother Ammon. Like her father, who is a professor of ethnobotany at UVA Wise, Magnolia has a scholarly bent—always inquisitive and persistent in her learning. Her family owns a farm in Duffield, so she is also able to share her own insights about homesteading and “the old ways” that she experiences at home. Magnolia enjoys hearth cooking and gardening; she is also a talented musician and coordinates the Junior Apprentice Old-Time Band.
In Magnolia’s words…
I have always liked the past, and thinking about the way people did things back then, and being a JA has made me not only become more interested in that, but also to be able to appreciate their work better. I love open hearth cooking and using real wood fires and the tools and utensils that they would have had back then. One of my favorite memories is working together with my fellow JAs to figure out how long to cook the waffles and struggling to hold the waffle irons while my friends were getting the waffles out. My plans after graduation are to stick around and work for a year, then go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for a year and a half, and then probably go to college to become a genealogist.
Jamie Schaefer
Like Kalae, Jamie has been a volunteer at Exchange Place for many years, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to join the JA program because she was shy and nervous about talking to the public. After encouragement from friends and family, she agreed to join, and now she can explain the art of making hoe cakes, spinning a TN Dancing Gourd, or churning butter with ease. Her helpfulness and sweet disposition make her a natural helper and excellent mentor for the younger JAs.
In Jamie’s words…
The JA program has brought history to life for me in an engaging and informative way, while providing opportunities to learn and demonstrate historic skills such as open-hearth cooking, gourd crafting, and making bark baskets. I will forever cherish the memories and knowledge I have gained through the years spent in this program. Some of my favorite memories include whitewashing the Exchange Place kitchen and a field trip to the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, VA. I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to participate in the JA program, and plan to stay involved after I graduate.
The mission of Exchange Place Living History Farm is to preserve and interpret the heritage of mid-19th century farm life in Northeast Tennessee. A private, non-profit organization, Exchange Place is maintained and operated primarily by volunteers and is supported by donations, fundraisers, memberships, and grants.
Exchange Place
4812 Orebank Rd,
Kingsport, TN 37664
423-288-6071