A Summer Filled With Colonial Craftsmen

WEST REDDING — The Friends of Putnam Park are sponsoring the 2007 Putnam Park Summer Craftsmen Program at Putnam Park during each weekend in July and August.

For the annual program, Colonial era craftsmen or reenactors take turns demonstrating their subject at the Visitor Center near the main entrance to the park, near the intersection of routes 58 and 107.

Programs will continue this weekend, July 21-22, with “Campfire Cooking.” Cooking skills for making meals over an open fire will be demonstrated and discussed. There will also be a talk about the role of widows and orphans during the war.

Programs will continue as follows:

*July 28-29, potter and weaving: This husband and wife team will demonstrate hand thrown pot making spinning and weaving skills used by the colonial craftsmen, during an era when almost everything was made within the households in the early colonial days.

*August 4-5, program and guests to be announced.

*August 11-12 will be a repeat of the whitesmith presentation (see July 14-15 details).

*August 18-19, Army Surgeon: The army surgeon for the British 23rd Regiment of Foot will demonstrate the various medical instruments and the role played by the military surgeons.

*August 25-26, Apothecary: The Colonial pharmacist and healer, representing the Medical Department of the Northern Continental Army, park visitors will see and hear about remedies of the 18th Century, and also about how bartering and trade were made for payments.

Programs will run from 10 am until 4 pm each Saturday and Sunday. For additional information con-tact Nancy Cowles, 797-8604, or Jeanine Herman, 203-938-3171.