Whiz Kid Kent Suslavich Lives and Loves History

For at least 15 days out of the year, 14-year-old Kent Suslavich is completely immersed in the 1830s.

Woodbury resident Suslavich is one of the junior interns at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. There, clad head to toe in period clothing, he helps the living museum depict what it was like in this 19th century rural Massachusetts town.

He may be in the blacksmith shop, working in the tin shop or tending to the farm, but wherever he is placed, Suslavich, a freshman at Nonnewaug High School and member of the prestigious agriscience program, definitely has his sleeves rolled up.

"This is really a hands-on learning experience for me," said Suslavich, who has been visiting historic Old Sturbridge Village since he was a toddler. "I am interested in history and had been there so much that I got interested in doing what the people are doing. This is a place where history gives back."

More an apprenticeship than internship, Suslavich said his experience at Old Sturbridge Village is unique.

As a junior intern, he arrives for his eight hour day in 19th century clothes -- a white long sleeve T-shirt, a vest or waist coat, a small tie called a cravat, dark work boots and a straw hat.

And he dives right in.

In the blacksmith shop, where he said he is most comfortable, Suslavich acts as apprentice to a master blacksmith. In the morning he helps bring in the coal and start the fire and prepare the shop for the many visitors who will stream into OSV throughout the day.

"Typically as a junior intern we make nails and hooks, the same as what an apprentice would do," Suslavich said. "They really throw you in there and try to teach you what to do."

Suslavich said he hopes to learn the skill enough to one day be a master blacksmith himself. As a frequent visitor to the village over the years, his interest in learning the traditional art of blacksmithing is one of the most compelling aspects of his junior internship.

For Suslavich, being able to pull the bellows and strike for the master blacksmiths is a favorite part of his day.

"It’s a tough skill to learn," said the Nonnewaug High School freshman. "It’s tiring and fast and a lot of work."

One of the things that makes his experience so interesting, Suslavich said, is that it changes from day to day.

"It varies and depends on the seasons," he said. "One day I might harvest rye, another day I may have to feed animals, one day I might be making biscuit cutters in the tin shop."

One day he said he had to create a 'scissor pole' out of wood to help secure a tree that was damaged, though not killed, by a tornado that hit Western Massachusetts in the spring.

Suslavich is one of 10 interns who spend at least 15 days or more at Old Sturbridge Village to help care for the farm animals, cook over the hearth, and demonstrate 19th century school lessons.

They teach visitors how to play popular games of the time period, including vintage baseball using an ax handle for a bat.

Some of the most popular daily activities that junior interns help with are fishing 1830s-style, launching toy hot air balloons and interacting with some of OSV’s 60 farm animals, including lambs and two newborn calves.

Program Coordinator Kim Adams said the internship is valuable for a number of reasons.

"For many of the junior interns, the OSV job is their first experience greeting the public, learning the importance of customer service and leading group activities," she said. "Not only do our interns learn how to interact with the public, they get an unforgettable experience that is also a great resume-builder."

The junior interns, who must be 14-years old in the September prior to their participation, submit a completed form, two letters of recommendation that reference relevant skills and go through an interview process in January.

Once chosen, they attend an orientation and training sessions, which are designed to prepare them to engage visitors and help lead activities in village exhibits. They are also required to do related readings and make a commitment to working a set schedule of at least 15 days.

Suslavich, who watched his older sister Abby as an OSV intern, said an internship like this takes a lot of getting used to.

The drive to get there, the time spent and the long day take a lot of effort, he said.

"You have to be committed to it," said Suslavich. "I find it fun and interesting. And I don’t even mind the clothing."

He adds that being there immersed in past history has given him not only an eye-opening personal experience, but has also helped him in his own schooling. He was able to use his own hands on experience to write an essay for a history class.

"This is a different experience than anything I have ever done," he said.

Suslavich’s commitment to OSV will also be a boon in his participation in the agriscience program at Nonnewaug High School.

"Kent’s internship at Old Sturbridge Village will also serve as his Supervised Agricultural Experience work experience component, which is a mandatory requirement of being enrolled in the Agriscience program," said Bill Davenport, Director of the Ellis Clark Regional Agriscience and Technology Program at Nonnewaug High School. "This experience will be very beneficial for Kent as he moves through his four years as an agriscience student and FFA member."

Suslavich's mother Megan said the program is well worth it.

"Kent just loves history and it makes it doubly special that he can use it towards his SAE for the Ag-Science program," she said.

In addition to his participation as a member of the Agriscience and FFA program at school, Suslavich is also an avid participant in the sport of curling and has played lacrosse with Pomperaug Lacrosse since he was 8-years old.