LEONARD GRAY

PHOTO 1: Volunteers at Destrehan Plantation conduct a tea party as a living history demonstration. At left, Jennifer Hall, 10, of Destrehan, is joined by Meghan Holmes, 11, of Metairie. (Staff Photos by Leonard Gray) DESTREHAN – Destrehan Plantation sparks the imagination of many young minds, and often the children express a desire to work at the historic site. However, employees may be hired at age 16, leaving younger children to count the days. Enter Angela Matherne, who coordinates the plantation’s Heritage Education Program, and who organized the Junior Volunteer League. Now, a team of 10 students, ages 10-15, take part in living history demonstrations, showing off their talents from acting to mastering colonial skills. Merisha Townsend, 14, of Belle Chasse, is often to be found on weekends, seated behind the main house, operating a spinning wheel which she taught herself how to operate. She is often joined by Rhena Nance, 12, also of Bele Chasse, who churns homemade butter in a wooden churn in the plantation’s kitchen. Tour groups cluster around the girls, who present themselves calmly, professionally and with a mature work attitude, explain and educate to visitors. PHOTO 2: Sewing skills were highly esteemed and taught early to young girls in preparation for marriage. Meghan Holmes practices her needlepoint as plantation visitors watch. On the gallery, a tea party may often be found in progress, with Jennifer Hall, 10, of Destrehan, and Meghan Holmes, 11, of Metairie, in antebellum costumes, enjoying tea and homemade shortbread, or doing needlepoint. They remain in character, pretending they are not “on display,” while tour guides explain how young girls on plantations had to learn many skills such as cooking and sewing at a tender age, as they were often married by age 15. Matherne has worked as coordinator of the Heritage Education Program for three years, and is enjoying the new, young talent the volunteers bring. “It’s a way of getting children interested in the site, while contributing to the plantation,” Matherne said, and hopes when they are old enough, they can join the paid staff of the St. Charles Parish historic site located on River Road. Meanwhile, the work is fun and contributes to their own understanding of antebellum times. The volunteers do their own costuming and research for historically correct demonstrations for the plantation’s numerous visitors, she added. Areas of interest for the young people include music, feeding animals, tending the garden, toys and games and painting. Townsend also taught herself the harp, adding to her value as a leader among the volunteer league. The young volunteers will be found at the plantation on weekends and at special occasions, such as the upcoming Destrehan Fall Festival in and around the plantation.