The Lost Arts Of The Kitchen Hearth

By Jan Howard

Children were fascinated, but adults, especially women, were probably doubly appreciative of today’s modern appliances during the holiday open house December 3 at the 18th century Matthew Curtiss House on Main Street.

Guests watched with interest as Diane Everett of Newtown prepared an entire meal in the kitchen’s large fireplace, which also cast welcome warmth into the room, offsetting the chill outside.

A chicken roasted on the hearth and bread baked in a cast iron pot topped with hot coals as Mrs Everett pared and sliced apples for a pie that was later baked in another large pot in the fireplace. A cranberry pie was also to be prepared.

Throughout the process, Mrs Everett answered questions and explained how food was prepared in colonial times.

 The house, which was decorated by the Garden Club of Newtown, was festively adorned with traditional decorations of holiday celebrations of years gone by.  An evergreen tree decorated with dried flowers and strings of cranberry and popcorn and fresh greenery stood in the dining room. Greens, dried flowers, and berries were decorative accents in other rooms.

Guides in period costumes offered tours to visitors while some children and their parents hovered near the kitchen fire watching Mrs Everett’s work in progress and enjoying refreshments of warm apple cider and cookies.