Newtown Historical Society Hosts Successful Antiques Show

By Carol Sims

The Newtown Historical Society had its 17th annual antiques show on Sunday, March 2, at Edmond Town Hall. The 25 participating dealers brought a variety of smalls and furniture that captivated the throngs of locals and area residents who shopped the show, a benefit for the Newtown Historical Society. With the exception of three dealers from New York State, the dealers were all from Connecticut.

Cabin fever motivated crowds of shoppers to traipse through the rain into the bonhomie of the volunteers, dealers, and other shoppers who were genuinely thrilled to have something fun to do during our long drawn-out winter. Show manager Nancy Taylor was greeting people at the admissions table along with volunteer Palmer Chiapetta. On the table was Ezra Johnson’s tenth wedding anniversary gift. Presented to the Johnson’s in 1868, the huge tin coffeepot was quickly filling up with donations to support future acquisitions of Newtown antiques by the Newtown Historical Society. The society had purchased the coffeepot for $900 at a recent sale organized by Fairfield Auction, a Newtown auction company specializing in antiques. “We thought it should stay in Newtown,” said Taylor.

Across the street from the show, free tours were being offered by costumed guides at the circa 1750 Matthew Curtiss House. Visitors could get a look at the Eighteenth Century room settings that are preserved by the historical society.

The first floor gym of Edmond Town Hall was well suited to friendly atmosphere of the show. “It’s always hectic. In the morning you can’t even move. This show is known for having good prices. It is a good buying show,” said Jamie Heuschkel, a dealer from Pleasant Valley. He had already sold a box of photos, a quilt stand, a plant stand, several small items, a table cloth and a Nineteenth Century flail (used for beating the grain from the harvested wheat).

Newtown dealer Jim Murphy of J&J Murphy brought stoneware, copper, Nineteenth Century snuffboxes, andirons, and an 1837 Sara Tilson sampler along with some country furniture.

Nadine Rogg of Goshen brought redware bowls, a tramp art doll’s bureau with a mirror, among other interesting pieces. Caroline Dirsa of Orange brought a large copper wash bucket that was priced at just $150. Steve Balser of Danbury brought a nice selection of vintage household items, including old tools, irons, and kitchen items such as ice cream scoops and stoneware. He also brought several antique compasses. Penny Driggers, Another Age Antiques, Canton, is smitten with stoneware. She brought a cake crock by F.B. Norton, among many other fine examples.