Decades Ago At The Matthew Curtiss House—

Summer History Campers Travel To The Early 1900s

By Kendra Bobowick

A dusty scent of worn wood filled the Matthew Curtiss House kitchen July 13 where broad knotted floorboards sat in shadow.

Just past 11 in the morning, laughter crept in from the yard where children in bonnets, long skirts, and vests worked damp reeds of wood through basket frames. Ellery McFarland held the beginnings of his basket close at eye level, choosing the reed’s best twists through wooden slats. Wyatt Hoover’s movements a few feet away were the same.

“I like history, and I wish it was all like in the old days,” said Wyatt. The two are among a handful of students at this year’s Summer History Camp at the Newtown Historical Society.

Former society president Gordon Williams — the camp’s co-chair — began the activity five years ago. “I wanted to get people involved in history. If you develop and interest at an early age, you can keep it going for life.”

Already, Ellery and Wyatt have made changes to their modern habits since the weeklong camp began this week. “I didn’t use the computer yesterday,” Wyatt said. Ellery had also passed by his computer and video games to build something with game pieces. The friends agreed: “We’re curious about history.”

Shaded beneath their white ruffled bonnets were Meghan O’Rourke, Brenna Petrelli, and Gabriella Reisert. Fingers flexed and prodding the reeds into the shape of a basket, Meghan said, “I have a bent one.” Her reed had creased, but she just wove past the kink. That morning the girls and other campers had churned their own butter, made bricks, and later would shape and paint their own marbles. Instructor Amanda O’Shaughnessy, an art teacher in Carmel, N.Y., worked with Gabrielle Calbo on her basket, while Kendra Saunders wrapped her reed through the slats and imagined, “I can keep a lot in here, my desk at home is dirty — too many pencils!”

Junior Docent Taylor Koonz agreed it was “neat” to make, rather than buy, butter. He also discovered, “I never had buttermilk. I had it for the first time after making butter.” Camp Director Maureen Lapak noted that to make the butter, the children learned they first needed milk. “Where were they going to get it from?” Watching the group weave baskets, toss hoops, and jump in potato sacks, she said, “They’re realizing the details involved in any simple thing.”

She added, “I find they love to go back.” The girls had seen movies recently that prompted them to wonder about the past. Brenna said, “I saw a girl on a horse in the olden days, and I saw cool historic places.”

Meghan had also seen a movie. “It reminded me of the old days and I liked seeing all the old things.” Brenna noted the “weird” rules campers had learned.

“No dirty clothes, no crushing bugs, and keep your feet together and even when sitting!” stated Gabrielle. Overhearing the list, camper and “mistress” Josie Hoover added, “Don’t laugh out loud or too much.”

Why? Maybe an adult was “mad at the kids,” she guessed.  On the back lawn were Wyatt Hoover and Ethan Hanna swirling and tossing hoops. Seated in the shade were Sophia Patelli and Brandon Weiner, winding and knotting string through their fingers to form a Cat’s Cradle, Witches Broomstick, Jacob’s Ladder, and Bananas.