By Laura Walter

Woodsmoke drifted through the Green on a cold Saturday afternoon in Dover. Gathered around a small fire was the First State Club, a group of teenagers interested in Delaware history.

Today, dressed in colonial garb, these students demonstrated how to dye fabric using more natural methods from centuries past.

Club members explained how to scour the fabric so the fibers would catch the dye better, when boiled in water and vinegar. Turmeric spice makes yellow (a pricy color because the spice was imported, just like indigo for making blues). Black walnuts are more plentiful in Delaware, making a common brown. Meanwhile, small dark pokeberries make violet.

Other topics have included civil rights movements, colonial dancing, historic games, sewing, crochet, macramé and more.

History and government teacher Amanda Cinque brought the club to Milford High School around 2020. She’s been impressed with the life skills that club members have developed: research, public speaking and now, safely starting a fire outdoors!

“I joined because I had her freshman year and she pitched the club,” said senior Cyarra Ortiz, who wanted to become more active. “We build the confidence to speak, and I called a bunch of businesses” to solicit donations for club supplies, learning to perfect her approach each time.

Visitors were drawn by curiosity and cold—the small fire pit was in a sunny courtyard of space beside the historic John Bell House on the Green. “First State Heritage Park is kind to partner with us,” Cinque said.