“Clayton Camp” to feature 1880s School, Tom Sawyer and Flag Etiquette

The Clayton House’s final “Clayton Camp” of the summer on Saturday, August 10 from 9 a.m. to noon will give kids ages 7 to 14 a chance to step back in time for some 1880s school-time fun. Outdoor games will be followed by a visit from members of the Gen. William O. Darby Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America who will share information about the American flag’s history. Attendees then will try to avoid the dunce cap as they spend some time in an 1880s classroom learning rules and working with slate boards. After a patriotic craft, the group will be joined by parents for a Victorian tea and a reading from “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by retired school principal Dr. Rick Foti, who directs the Community Services Clearinghouse. A museum tour will be offered following the tea. Cost is $15 and reservations can be made by calling 783-3000 or registering online at www.claytonhouse.org, “Events” tab.   
The Clayton House, a historic house museum revealing Fort Smith’s Victorian era on the frontier, is the restored home of William H. H. Clayton, U.S. Attorney of Judge Isaac C. Parker’s court. It is operated by the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation and is located at 514 North 6th Street in the heart of Fort Smith’s Belle Grove Historic District.