The Cornish Room

The Cornish Room honors the immigrants who came from the country of Cornwall and it's neighboring county of Devon, Great Britain. Most of these men were skilled in the quarrying of slate, having worked in the slate region of Cornwall. Many immigrants had worked in the Delabole Slate Quarry in Delabole, Cornwall, UK. The Delabole Quarry has been quarrying slate since the 13th Century and remains in operation today. The men, upon thier arrival in the mid to late 1800's, settled in Bangor, East Bangor, and Pen Argyl, having been offered jobs in our local quarries by agents in Cornwall. Once they were able to save enough money, they sent for families still in England which, at times, took several years. Eventually, East Bangor and Pen Argyl became towns with populations predominately Cornish.

The Cornish room, set in the early 1920’s, ventures back in time when the quarrymen returned home after a hard day of work. A slater’s blicky (lunch bucket) usually contained a pasty, a saffron nubbie, and tea. In the kitchen we find the makings of the pasties to go in the blicky and the nubbies have already come out of the oven. Many women spent their day maintaining the home though some women worked in textile mills or family businesses. Her hobbies included crocheting and tatting, making doilies, tablecloths, and other items used around the house. Many Cornish were devout Methodists due to John Wesley’s strong influence in Cornwall, making the family bible one of the most used items in their household. Music, as part of the Cornish soul, was also important in their lives and religion.

Pennsylvania Cornish Web Site