Newtown, CT
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Dear Rangers:
For those of you who were not able to join the King's Rangers at Newtown and/or who thought we were washed out, I am writing to tell you that we ended up with a very enjoyable day Saturday, thanks to some fancy footwork on the part of the organizers, and our hosts, Delancey's Brigade 1st Bttn., Mike Alcock, Commander. (Mike was the man who brought us to Sherman, CT, in September 2002 for a very fun weekend.) Friday night was dinner first, from 6-7pm, at the town Library. (The Cyrenius H. Booth Library at 25 Main Street in Newtown was the site of Rochambeau's encampment. It features a museum and genealogy collection.) The Bartleys and Mac were there early, while Major Mike, the Stevens family, Wade Stoner, Bob Stone (aka Stoney), and I got there closer to 7. The dinner was a buffet, plenty of good things to fill everyone, plus they were serving rum punch, Madeira, or basic apple cider. That rum punch was good! After dinner, we prowled around the Library, which was chock full of displays of historic artifacts. A very special place, much more than a library. Several presentations were going on throughout the Library, and in fact Diane gave a presentation on colonial clothing. Our host had also arranged for a small ensemble called The Reel Thing to play dance music. Both reenactors and townspeople (the kids) enjoyed dancing to the music. Stoney and Capt. Pritchard (Mike Fitzgerald) fell into a game of cards for awhile in a side-room. From there, we wandered into the Inn right next door, in our colonial attire of course. We left there about 11:45 and arrived at our tents at the small encampment just shy of midnight, at which time the rain came, as predicted. It rained all night, but was mostly drizzling by dawn. Saturday morning, we were not sure what was going to happen. Wade had lit a fire quite early, but then was told to put it out. Then, Mike Fitzgerald and Mike Alcock tried to light it again (and succeeded with the help of the extensive fire-starting stuff I always have with me). However, a quick-thinking Cheryll Compton of DeLancey's Brigade 1st Bttn. made arrangements that morning with the Newtown Historical society to allow us to use the Matthew-Curtis House, a lovely 1750 salt-box on Main Street. So we put out the fire again, packed up our stuff and went into town. We were allowed to occupy the first floor, which includes an open hearth famous for its size. So, in one room with a fire lit, we set up our chairs to do projects and while away the time while it rained outside. Bread and cheese was laid out in another room. The ladies (myself excepted) launched into serious preparations and cooking in the kitchen with the large open hearth. Some time that morning, Dave Granton and Fred Nellums joined us. Dave had brought a project with him, and Fred was content to talk with whomever was at hand. The point of our being there was to demonstrate colonial life to the townspeople and visitors. When we left the camp that morning, a sign had been posted at the Library saying colonial demonstrations were going on inside, but they didn't have one to put in front of the Curtiss House. And at the library, people were not always told we where we were. Consequently, we had only a handful of visitors throughout the day, and were pleased when they did come to visit. Around lunch time our hard-working cooks served us a freshly-made bean soup for lunch. Paul Hendricks (of Delancey's Brigade 1st Bttn.) brought out his dulcimer to entertain us, and his wife Becky took a few minutes' break from cooking to play her recorder with him. So we had some nice music to enjoy for awhile during the afternoon. I took a lot through their music to see if they knew anything with words that I might sing along, but they didn't. Wade, Mac, and I, along with Dave G., worked on a number of projects. I started out by sewing a silk ribbon onto my hat, but Wade had brought leather for me to work on a leather shooting bag for Chauncey. So I put the hat down, and started to cut out the bag from the patterns I had brought with me. Unfortunately, I cut out the wrong bag. So I had to get the other pattern and pray he had enough for the shooting bag, which, fortunately, he did. While I was working on my hat, Wade helped Mac get his new black hat blank sewn up on one side and attach a feather to it. Wade had brought turkey wings so Mac got the pick of all those feathers. While I was working on my leather bag, Wade showed Mac how to take his musket lock apart, and taught him the parts of the lock and how they all work. Somewhere in that afternoon Wade also managed to work on a project of his own, which was to make a new belt for Chauncey out some some very sturdy leather, as his brown leather belt was much too flimsy. Dave managed to sew both edges of a leather strap for his haversack. I thought he would never finish! At 4:00, the ladies brought out a ham, beef stew, onion pies, and much more for a big dinner. We also had angel food cake with strawberries in champagne and topped with whipped cream, to celebrate birthdays for myself and Paul Hendricks. Many thanks to Major Mike for arranging this party for me with the Rangers while keeping it a surprise for me!! I have to say, it was a real treat to pass a relaxing day like that. We had good company and the opportunity for conversation, which is rare with the schedules and the hustle and bustle of the busy reenactments. I rarely get to chat with people and get things done. So this was a very nice change of pace. The ladies cooked up a lot of good food, and I think a good time was had by all. Many thanks to Mike Alcock for inviting us to participate, and to all the people who pulled it together. I actually look forward to more weekends like that! I hope to see you all soon. YHOS, Sarah | |||||||||
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