Cooking The Colonial Way

The kitchen fireplace in Newtown Historical Society’s 18th Century Matthew Curtiss House-Museum will be the site of much activity on Sunday, October 15, from 1 to 4 pm, as costumed docents prepare an authentic Colonial meal on the open hearth. The Matthew Curtiss House is at 44 Main Street in Newtown.

In Colonial times, most dwellings were constructed with a massive masonry fireplace, usually four to five feet high, for the purpose of wood-fire cooking as well as for warmth. A good wife provided her family with a great variety of delicacies cooked there including stews or “spoon meat,” roasted game, crusty breads, biscuits and even desserts.

On Sunday afternoon, visitors will be able to ask questions of the docents as they prepare a typical early American meal with each recipe created from scratch. The Curtiss House is well equipped with authentic early kitchen tools and their uses will be explained and demonstrated.

Costumed guides will also be escorting guests through the Matthew Curtiss House, sharing stories about daily life in early Newtown and information about the 18th Century house-museum. Visitors will be able to enjoy a special grouping of small and curious objects from the society’s collections, which are labeled and displayed in the exhibit room.

The event is open to the public and is free of charge. Call Newtown Historical Society at 426-5937 for more information.