Newtown Crafters Will Enliven March 5 Historical Society Open House

Two crafters from Newtown will be guests at the March 5 Newtown Historical Society Open House. The open house is being held in conjunction with the historical society’s spring antique show, being conducted the same day, from 10 am to 4 pm.

The guest crafters, however, will be at the Matthew Curtiss house from 1 to 4 pm.

The circa 1780 house is at 44 Main Street (Route 25).

Peg Forbell, a native of Newtown, is descended from the Honorable Samuel Sherman, who was born in England in 1618 and came to the colonies about 1634. Several generations later Job Sherman was the first of the clan to live in Newtown, and Mrs Forbell descends from him. Mrs Forbell attended Newtown schools and was valedictorian of the Class of 1954. In 1955, she married Edmund (Stretch) Forbell, and they have three children.

Mrs Forbell, who has won many awards for her work, will be working on a crocheted bedspread using fine cotton thread and also on a counted cross-stitch piece.

Lorraine Vander Wende is the second Newtown crafter. She is a native Nutmegger and has lived in Newtown since 1964. She is a widow and the proud mother of two sons.

Mrs Vander Wende is also proud of being one of the founding members of The Newtown Woman’s Club in 1968. She served as the club’s first president and was recycled in that job between 1998 and 2000. The project she takes the most pleasure in is the Woman’s Club’s Christmas ornaments. It was her idea and the club has been selling them since 1988.

Mrs Vander Wende has many interesting hobbies. As a youth she won many trophies for her shooting ability. She won the Junior Championship when she was 15 and held two world records at that time.

Today, she does bronze powder stenciling, country painting, reverse painting on glass, gold leaf work on tin, wood, or glass, free hand bronze, paper cutting and Limner painting.

For Newtown Historical open house she will be doing theorem painting.

Admission is free, and docents will be offering guided tour of the Matthew Curtiss House.

The antiques show will be taking place across the street, in the gymnasium of Edmond Town Hall (45 Main Street), so those interested in attending both events can park in one location and walk to both venues.