Blacksmithing Brothers: Colonial Flair at Colonial Fair

When the power goes out, Al Kostuk's house has the potential to be a popular place.

A self-described mountain man, Kostuk makes fire using flint, char cloth and tinder, and his wife Chris Kostuk is quite the accomplished open fire cook.

The Kostuk family are proud members of Pisgah Mountain Primitives, a group of family and friends who demonstrate early American living.

The team showcased its talents at the Sunday, Sept. 18, Colonial Fair and Muster Day at the Glebe House Museum and The Gertrude Jekyll Garden.

"We do blacksmithing, open fire cooking, make kettlecorn and do candle-making, rope-making and soap-making," said Kostuk.

Kostuk, the proprietor of Pisgah Mountain Primitives, generally takes care of two tasks during demonstrations: blacksmithing and making kettlecorn.

Family and friends are important to the group.

"My brother is learning blacksmithing," said Kostuk. "My wife and two friends are the cooks and my stepson and grandson are ropemakers."

Pisgah Mountain Primitives brings its colonial flair all over the state and even demonstrates at birthday parties. The Pisgah Mountain Primitives taught children how to make candles at a recent birthday party.

Their next stop is the Harwinton Fair, taking place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at 80 Locust Rd., Harwinton.

The annual Colonial Fair and Muster Day shows what it was like to live, play, eat and work during colonial times.

Allison Gabrielson, resident spinner, spun wool in a shady area on the Glebe House lawn. Gloria Howell of Southbury and Sue Fontana of Woodbury quilted blankets for Baby Loves.

Baby Loves quilters make and donate quilts to neonatal intensive care units at St. Mary's Hospital and Waterbury Hospital, said Howell.

"It really is rewarding," she said. "It's really a feel-good thing."

Skip Hobson diligently made baskets and Jim Vibert demonstrated colonial woodworking.

Children chased hoops on the Glebe House grass, tried to sink a ball into a cup and practiced churning butter.

Professional storyteller Joyce Marie Rayno shared tales of old, while the clip-clop of hooves was heard in the distance, as Sandi Eustace from Double D Pony took guests on rides down memory lane in her pony-driven cart.