Is Fireplace Folk Lore Really Carved In Stone?

By Kendra Bobowick

Newtown Historical Society President Lincoln Sander walked through the Matthew Curtiss House basement giving away secrets he saw in the fieldstone foundation.

He stopped in front of the fireplace’s wooden mantel that was nicked with the rhythmic marks of hand tools, and pointed toward the hearth.

“With these basement fireplaces there are two theories,” he said.

Considering the deep fireplace in the circa 1750s salt box now serving as the society’s museum, he said, “One thought was it took so long to build [these houses] that for the first couple of years people lived in the basement.”

 But he shook his head: “I don’t believe that. I think it was a summer kitchen. It’s a lot cooler down here.” Turning his attention upstairs brought Mr Sander to the real reason he wound up in the museum’s basement November 15 — a new furnace.

He heard voices falling to him from the kitchen above and went up to meet Everest Heating and Air Conditioning owner Chris Mawdsley. The Newtown Historical Society received a new furnace through the heating and air conditioning company’s first “Oldest Furnace” contest. After reading a newspaper article seeking entries for the oldest furnace, which the company promised to replace for free, historical society member Bonnie Miller had called Mr Sander, who then called the number in the article.

“I called [Mr Mawdsley] and asked if the Matthew Curtiss House was eligible.” One month later Mr Sander received a call with good news. The society’s furnace was the contest winner.

“It was the oldest we came across for the contest,” Mr Mawdsley said.

Describing the old heating, Mr Sander said, “It is ancient and hanging by a thread.” The furnace had been installed in 1968, when the society purchased the house, and had been malfunctioning this past winter.

The contest and heating replacement proved to have perfect timing for the society.

“We had no heat last winter,” Mr Sander said. Although no one lives in the house, the museum is used for regular society meetings and tours for the public. With Mr Sander and Mr Mawdsley were society members Ms Miller and Trustee Louise Baker, who all looked through the kitchen window at the old heating equipment and ducts left on the back. As the small group gathered in front of the kitchen fireplace, service mechanic Ben Gernand was downstairs installing the new Trane furnace.

Everest had accepted contest entries through September 28, and selected a winner on October 1. Contact Everest Heating and Air Conditioning at 791-2429. Contact the Newtown Historical Society at 426-0376 to learn more about upcoming events or membership.