Open Hearth Cooking At Matthew Curtiss House Nov. 16

The Matthew Curtiss House Museum will be open for the annual fall open hearth cooking demonstration on Sunday, November 16, from noon until 4 pm. Costumed junior and senior docents will be available to answer questions and give guided tours of the house.

The cooking demonstration will feature the historical society’s master cook, Patty Graves.

Hearth cooking is one of the oldest forms of cooking and makes use of the large walk-in fireplace in the keeping room. Guests on Sunday will learn about the art of starting and maintaining a controlled fire, the tools and devices used in hearth cooking, and preparation methods and methods to test food doneness, all the while smelling the aromas of simmering soup, cornbread, and cobbler. Lucky guests may even get to taste a sample.

The Matthew Curtiss House, at 44 Main Street, is a fine example of Connecticut saltbox architecture and was originally constructed around 1750. It was purchased by Matthew Curtis Jr about 1781, with the historical society acquiring it from the last private owner in 1970.

The contents of the house include not only furnishings of the time the house was new, but also items of later date which help tell the story of Newtown. Rooms suggest the way family possessions could have been added to as one generation followed another.

The historical society is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization. During the year the group offers open houses with living history demonstrations, a lecture series, a summer history camp for kids, and many special events. All funding comes from private donations, membership dues, bequests and fundraisers. New members are always welcome and volunteers are needed to help organize and run events.

To join or for more information, visit NewtownHistory.org or call 426-5937.