Historical Society Open House, Portrait Painting Demo, Oct. 21

Newtown Historical Society will host an open house at its headquarters, The Matthew Curtiss House, on Sunday, October 21.

During the open house, award-winning artist Beverly Branch of Easton will be demonstrating how she takes a blank canvas and turns it into a work of art. Ms Branch, who paints mostly women and children, paints women “as timeless vessels of lyrical grace,” she said. Inspired by late 19th Century painters such as Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent, and Spanish artist Joaquin Sorella, Ms Branch depicts a simpler era — when children and young people were more likely to spend time outdoors and interface with nature.

Ms Branch has won awards and exhibited throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island as well as Chile and Italy.

The public is also invited to visit and tour the building at 44 Main Street any time between noon and 4 pm. The house museum, a fine example of Connecticut saltbox architecture, was constructed circa 1750 and purchased by Matthew Curtiss, Jr, in 1781. In 1970 the historical society purchased and restored the house to its original condition.

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

Admission is free; however, donations are welcomed and appreciated.

Newtown Historical Society is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization. During the year its offers open houses with living history demonstrations, a lecture series, and a summer history camp for kids among other special events. All funding comes from private donations, membership dues, bequests and fundraisers such as an antiques show, house and garden tour, and publication sales.

New members are always welcome and volunteers are needed to help organize and run events.

To join or for more information, call 203-426-5937, visit www.NewtownHistory.org, or find the group on Facebook.

Guest Speaker, Tuesday

Carol Froehlig, a commercial instrument-rated pilot who moved to Newtown from Long Island three years ago, will offer a program, “Who Really Was The First To Fly,” at Booth Library on Tuesday, October 16, at 7:30 pm.

Upon her arrival in Newtown, Carol began to explore aviation history in Connecticut and discovered some intriguing information surrounding a Bridgeport man who was alleged to have flown before the Wright Brothers.