The Nehemiah Royce House, one of two historic homes owned by the Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust, welcomed Wallingford Public Library’s children’s librarian Erin Lynch and 14 guests on Tuesday, August 22, for an outdoor story time. This is the second summer for the collaboration as part of the CT Summer at the Museum Kids are Free program.

The garden-themed story time included children’s favorites: “Lola Plants a Garden” by Anna McQuinn and “Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!” by Candace Fleming and a tour of our colonial home and gardens.

The original Royce House location was the site of the Washington Elm Tree. Master Gardener and WHPT Trustee Richard Straub gave each child a seedling from the 11th generation of this Elm tree to cultivate at home. The morning’s activities culminated in a corn husk doll project. Participants were served lemonade and sunflower cookies.

For the second consecutive summer, the Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust won a grant in the amount of $1,000 from Connecticut Humanities to support our participation in the CT Summer at the Museum Kids are Free initiative. WHPT is one of 18 organizations in New Haven County and the only museum in Wallingford participating in the program.