Newtown Taps Into The Revolutionary War At Booth Library ‘Tavern’

By Jan Howard

Reenactors transformed the C.H. Booth Library on Main Street into a Revolutionary War era tavern on April 25 and 26. There was colonial music and dancing, games for adults and children, exhibits, and lectures and demonstrations about colonial life.

Library employees and some members of the public joined the reenactors in the spirit of the evening Friday by wearing colonial attire, and for more than three hours everyone was transported to the 18th Century. A film crew from PBS filmed Friday’s event for its American Experience series.

Tavern Night was sponsored in connection with the Newtown Reads program, in which residents joined together in reading April Morning by Howard Fast. Unfortunately, a planned Revolutionary War encampment with living history demonstrations and a battle reenactment by DeLancey’s Brigade, the 6th Connecticut Regiment, and Second Continental Light Dragoons set for April 26 were rained out, but many of the reenactors returned to the library with more exhibits, games, and military lore and maneuvers.

During a dinner catered by My Place restaurant prior to the Friday evening festivities, reenactors made toasts. “To the King,” one Loyalist soldier proposed; “To General Washington,” a Patriot responded; and, not surprisingly, from both sides of the conflict, “To Benedict Arnold.”

Tavern Night offered something of interest for everyone.

There was 18th Century dancing on the second floor with The Reel Thing providing the music. Frances Hendrickson led the dancing as Dance Mistress, and some residents took the opportunity to try to learn authentic dances from America’s past. The band was comprised of Bill Campbell, Julie Sorcek, and Bill Devlin.

There was gaming for adults, with reenactors demonstrating card and board games, throughout the library, and games for children. Mike Fitzgerald, portraying Captain Asariah Pritchard of the King’s Rangers, was one of the reenactors playing cards. Poker and a card game similar to today’s setback were among those enjoyed by colonial era adults.

There were also several colonial games for children, such as pickup sticks, whirl-a-gigs, and Lucky Seven Puzzle.

There were also several lectures and presentations on colonial life. Dr Timothy Hosmer, regimental surgeon for the 6th Connecticut, discussed various forms of medical treatment, such as purging, bloodletting, and leeches, as well as surgical procedures for a fractured skull and dental treatments. He, with the help of other reenactors, also performed a mock amputation of a soldier’s hand, which in a darkened room seemed very real, complete with screams and moans of the patient.

He explained that amputation would have been the only treatment for a wound caused by a lead ball. He showed various medical devices, including a bone saw and scalpels, which looked very much like those of today.

“There was nothing to fight infection,” he said. “We don’t know what it is.”

 Captain Salvatore Tarantino of the Second Continental Light Dragoons, discussed “The Dragoons that Stayed in Newtown.” A sword, Capt Tarantino said, was the dragoon’s “weapon of choice.”

Cheryl Compton, a camp follower of Delancey’s Brigade, talked about 18th Century cooking, open hearth and campfire; and Diane Stevens of the King’s Rangers exhibited 18th Century clothing.

 A spirited debate took place between Patriot Captain Richard Swartwout of the 6th Connecticut Regiment and Loyalist Major Michael Alcock of Delancey’s Brigade, touching on such Revolutionary era sore subjects as taxation of the colonists by England and burning and looting of both Patriot and Loyalist homes. Patriots called the combat a revolution while the British termed the colonist uprising a rebellion.

On Saturday, reenactors demonstrated some of the skills that would have been performed during the 18th Century. Sally Whitney of Groton was making cloth dolls for children’s play. The dolls would be stuffed with wood shavings, and she would also make outfits for the doll similar to the clothing of the era.

“They would have also made wooden dolls,” Ms Whitney said. “They were entertainment for the children,” who she noted would have had time to play despite having several chores. They would have also had rag dolls, made out of leftover material.

Carol Tarantino of Colchester demonstrated making a braided cord with the craft of lucet.

Lori Jacques, portraying drummer boy Miles Cook, called the 6th Connecticut to muster in front of the library, and then joined the men in the front hallway. As Capt Swartwout and Ms Jacques led the members of the Brigade through their paces with their muskets, Loyalist Michael Alcock hung a British flag from the balcony above them.

Louisa Ernest of Lebanon, who portrays Widow Nichols for the 6th Regiment, said she would get paid for doing the laundry of soldiers and officers and also draw rations.

Across the street at the Matthew Curtiss House, Ms Compton and other women were preparing food and demonstrating open hearth cooking while Paul Hendricks of Windsor played the psaltry, better known today as the hammered dulcimer. In another room, reenactors demonstrated various 18th Century skills, such as making a shooting bag.

Saturday’s festivities ended at the library with an American Girl play, Tea for Felicity, for children 6 and up. The play tells the story of the conflict between Loyalists and Patriots as seen through the eyes of a young girl. April Morning told of the experiences of a young teenage boy during and after the Battle of Lexington.

 The final April Morning program took place April 28 with a discussion group at the Newtown Senior Center.