Industrialization and The Colonial Revival ![]() Alice E. Trainor was born in 1863 amid a changing world. Rapid industrialization raged throughout both Canada, Alice’s birthplace, and America. This industrialization, in part, would lead to the birth of The Colonial Revival movement, which started roughly in the 1880s and reached its zenith in the early 20th century. The movement pushed for a re-embrace of “authentic American history,” through careful documentation and preservation of historical architecture and artifacts. It stove to offset the perceived degradation of American society and revive the nation’s colonial history. Industrialization would lead to a drain on both people and resources in rural areas. Many rural youths were moving from the country to the city for work and opportunities, which most did not find. Add to this the rising rates of immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe at the turn of the century, many of whom made their homes in the same urban centers as country youth. Fears that the future generation was being corrupted by “city-living,” and that America was losing its moral fabric swelled in the hearts of many. The Colonial Revival wanted to ensure the longevity of an “authentic America,” the essence of which became tied to the New England Colonial village. In many rural areas, colonial architecture came back into vogue, and small towns strove to emulate their colonial past through architecture and city planning. Though much of the thought process behind the Colonial Revival was unsavory and often prejudiced, the movement did some good. It emphasized the preservation of history, and many artifacts, which otherwise may have been lost or destroyed were instead collected and carefully preserved in museums and private collections. For more information please visit about Alice Miner and her museum, please visit The Alice T. Miner Museum website at: The Alice T. Miner Museum – A colonial revival museum in Chazy, New York
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Mary Skulan-Toran2022 Joseph C Burke and Joan T. Burke Scholarship Recipient ArchivesCategories
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