Historical Society Prepping For 24th Annual Antiques Show, Open House

Newtown Historical Society will present its 24th Annual Antiques Show on Saturday, March 28. The event this year will run from 10 am to 4 pm at Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane.

The venue offers plenty of free parking and handicap accessibility.

The popular antiques show and sale will be filled with favorite dealers and will also welcome some exciting new dealers. The historical society’s antiques show has built a reputation as a show that brings quality, yet affordable antiques from highly regarded dealers. With a diverse collection of dealers and merchandise the show provides good buying opportunities for any collector.

Among the returning fine dealers this year are Maile Allen from Poughquag, N.Y., with antique maps and prints; Caroline Dirsa from Orange, with quilts, baskets and wooden farm items; and Steve & Ginny Balser of Old Horizon Antiques, Bethel, are noted for a serious focus on 17th, 18th and 19th Century American objects.

Baker Antiques of Newtown will be bringing 19the Century furniture including a circa 1840 English Regency beech wood footstool with gilt gesso, old clocks, lamps, silver and baskets.

Susanne Edgerly of Kent will have country furniture and accessories and European textiles, while Shelley Smith of Agawam, Mass., will bring dollhouse miniatures, Native American jewelry, holiday items and early clocks.

Victoriantiques of Southington always has wonderful Victorian furniture, oil lamps and old glass; Jim Megura of Brookfield will be back with his old bottles, dolls and much more.

Zuna Antiques of Mamaroneck, N.Y., will return with American, English and French 18th and 19th Century paintings, mirrors, sterling silver, Chinese lacquer and brass & cast doorstops, and Paula Hill from Harriman, N.Y., will bring illustrated children’s books, prints, postcards, paper dolls, die cuts, and more.

Among the show’s new dealers will be Loretta Fox of Branford, who will be bringing gorgeous Native American items, and Lesley Lorant of Hurley, N.Y., with 19th and 20th Century furniture and lighting.

Admission is $7, with proceeds to benefit the historical society’s free public programs as well as the preservation of the Matthew Curtiss House Museum and its collections and the society’s one-room schoolhouse on the grounds of Middle Gate School.

Open House Also Planned

Also on Saturday the historical society will host an open house at its headquarters – The Matthew Curtiss House at 44 Main Street.

The house museum is a fine example of Connecticut saltbox architecture. It was constructed in 1750 and purchased by Matthew Curtiss Jr. in 1781.

The public is invited to visit and tour the building at 44 Main Street any time between noon and 4 pm.  Admission is free.

Junior and senior docents will be available to answer questions about the house and its history and will provide guided tours by request.

Call 426-5937 for additional information about the antiques show, the open house or the historical society.