Keeping A Landmark House In Good Repair

By Jan Howard

The Matthew Curtiss House on Main Street is receiving a freshening up through the work of a local contractor.

William Bolmer of Bolmer Restoration is making repairs and doing some painting and landscaping at the historic house owned and maintained by the Newtown Historical Society.

“I do this because of my appreciation of old homes, and the people who worked so hard to do all this work,” Mr Bolmer said of the house.

Mr Bolmer has been helping out at the Matthew Curtiss House and doing other work for the historical society for the past two years. “This is my second year of working for them. They totally appreciate what I’m doing here. This isn’t about money, it’s about getting a job done and making it right.” While Mr Bolmer does not totally donate his services, he does offer the historical society a reduced rate.

“You feel good inside,” he said about the improvements he is making. “My work will help the house stay looking good for many years.

“I’m helping to preserve the past,” Mr Bolmer said. “These guys who built this house worked their tails off. I’m here to make sure things stay the same. I’m just a guy who likes older homes and has awe for the people of the past. I’m intrigued by antiques and old houses.”

Mr Bolmer said the house is in need of further work, but nothing major. “It just needs freshening up. I’m not finished with this project,” he said. He works at the house around the time he spends on his job as a contractor.

He calls himself a “solutions man,” noting, “I’ve always liked the trades, and I’ve done every facet of them.”

Among future projects needed at the historic house is a new roof. “There are problems with the roof, and we’re looking for a state grant to preserve it.” He is hoping someone will come forward to donate toward the roof repair. “We’re looking for donations so we can keep the place for future years.”

Mr Bolmer is also trying to obtain the donation of an old-fashioned outhouse for the Matthew Curtiss property, and knows already where he would put it.

Inside the house, he has repaired and painted the front door and painted the entry hallway an authentic gold. He is also working in the modern kitchen to brighten it up and plans to revitalize the colonial kitchen, once a paint color is chosen by the historical society. “It would be consistent to the time,” he said.

“It feels good to do something for the historical society,” he said. “These people are good people.”

Outdoors he installed a stone walkway from the driveway to the back porch, reglazed the windows, and painted the barns. He mows the lawn and takes care of maintenance of the grounds, trimming hedges and putting mulch in the flowerbeds. He is helping Master Gardener Brid Craddock in her restoration of the period garden that was designed more than 30 years ago and never completed.

He is looking for volunteers to help out with some of the work. “One guy can’t do it all,” he said, noting he does what he can with his spare time and checks regularly to see what needs to be done.

Last fall, the outside of the house was stripped, and he put two coats of paint on it. “It looks really good,” he said.

In other work for the historical society, he has put three coats of stain on the Middle Gate one-room schoolhouse as well as repaired several broken windows there. He said there are still some small repairs he needs to finish.

Mr Bolmer grew up in Newtown and graduated from Newtown High School. He moved to Florida in the 1980s, and moved back in the 1990s. His company, Bolmer Restoration, was established in 1986.

Near the end of the American Revolution, Matthew Curtiss, Jr, bought the house on Main Street where he and his family lived until around 1800.

The actual date of the building of this home is not known; however, an architectural study of the house indicates it is consistent with houses built between 1725 and 1750.