MIDDLEBORO – Kids from the Middleboro Park Department’s summer program got a glimpse of what Middleboro looked like two centuries ago during a tour of the Middleboro Historical Museum on Thursday, July 30.

According to Doug Vantran, a member of the historical association’s board of directors, the kids also got an overview of Middleboro history.

The groups made stops among four historical buildings, including an old law office, a fire station, remodeled general store and an outhouse— all reminiscent of the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Kids watched videos that showed a person from the 1850s and slideshows displaying pictures of Middleboro’s past.

“They learned about Middleboro and some of its favorite inhabitants,” said Dan Thompson, president of the Middleboro Historical Association.

Among those inhabitants were famous couple General Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren, who were little people and performers for P.T. Barnum in the 1850s. They saw Warren’s dresses and other items from the couple’s Middleboro home as they walked around a model house from the era.

For 10-year old Ellie Howe, she said it was her favorite part of the tour.

Other kids enjoyed the tour too.

“It was interesting,” 11-year old Carmella Geloran said. 

Tess Busa, 10, said that learning about Middleboro’s history was “good and fun.”

And while the kids had fun, historical association president Dan Thompson also believes that they learned some valuable lessons about history.

“We draw from our past and hopefully learn from it,” he said.