Colonial Docents, Reenactor Serve

A Slice Of History

By John Voket

During a quiet moment, when almost no 21st Century visitors were evident on the first floor of Main Street’s Matthew Curtiss House, the scene was surreal in its historical authenticity. Then the front door opened and the modern world once again ushered itself inside to enjoy a taste of what life was like in Newtown in the “good old days.”

Junior docents laughed and played climbing around a tree in the backyard, while Newtown Historical Society volunteer Mike Asselta explained the various tools and practices to a family from Bethel gathered around a cavernous fireplace in the antique building’s somewhat claustrophobic kitchen.

The low ceilings, which actually helped conserve heat during the cold months, caused Revolutionary War reenactor Brian McCoy of Newtown to take off the tall hat he was wearing, marking his attachment to the 10th Massachusetts Regiment Light Infantry Company.

Just like the docents who seem to know every detail of each antique thimble, spoon, and painting throughout the building, Mr McCoy was a font of information about the history of his military outfit, his company, and the role it played supporting General George Washington.

On demand, Mr McCoy gladly escorted visitors outside to show them the procedure of loading and firing his replica French three-band musket, which he explained came to the fledgling colonies secondhand until America’s first firearms factory was later established in Springfield, Mass.

As the occasional musket rapport drifted out across the historical society’s backyard and Church Hill neighborhood, modern day neighbors continued to work in their adjacent yards, seemingly oblivious to the fully functional time machine that was operating right next door.

The historical society invites the public back again for another open house in conjunction with its largest fundraiser March 28. The 24th Annual Newtown Historical Society Antiques Show is being held at the Reed Intermediate School that day from 10 am to 4 pm, while open house activities are planned from noon to 4 pm.

See an audio slideshow of the latest Newtown Historical Society open house activities at newtownbee.com.