Revisiting a Summer Job
I was recently back in the area of New York where I grew up - visiting family. One of my summer jobs during my college years was being a tour guide at a restored local mansion. I had never returned to the job site in all the years that have passed. I decided this trip I would revisit a place where I worked - it was a good job and not too taxing. I worked here during the day and waited tables at a local restaurant at night. I was always busy during the summer working.
I led 45 minute guided tours of Rose Hill Mansion, a restored home. It is very important in the early growth of agriculture in the state of New York. Some things had changed at the house, but really none of the furniture (think very heavy oak pieces) had moved since back in the day.
They still give 45 minute guided tours (in fact the only admittance to the house is with a guide). I was actually the only one on my tour. When I worked there they only had about 7 of the rooms open to the public, there are now 21 rooms. There has been quite a lot of historical research completed on the inhabitants since my day. When I led tours we stressed the agricultural importance of the area and house owners. Today that is a very short section of the tour.
The man who was in charge when I worked there has since passed on but they have named the entrance building and gift shop after him. No one who works there now even knew him personally (boy did I begin to feel old). He was an okay boss as long as you did things they way he thought they should be done - not big on new ideas.
Other changes were the guides now have little cards they carry to help remember details. Back in the day we had to memorize the entire lecture and every detail about the wallpaper and furnishings. There was also a dress code - dress or skirt only. The young lady who was leading my tour could not believe there was a dress code. She is unfamiliar with the 1980s I assume.
It was nice to go back and revisit a chapter of my youth. If you are ever in Geneva, NY stop in and take the tour. It is a well preserved historical home.