Soup served at historic house

ROXBURY – The public was invited to an old-fashioned soup supper at the Riggs Colonial House, Friday, feasting on homemade soups and breads, courtesy of the Roxbury Township Historical Society.
The historical society has been hosting a Christmas celebration at the saltbox house for three decades, first offering visitors homemade desserts but switching to soups about 25 years ago, said Marge Cushing, president of the society.
The 274-year-old house, which is one of three structures that make up the Museums at Drakesville Historic Park in the Ledgewood section of the township, can sit 22 people at one time.
“We never know how many people will come through,” said Cushing of the three-hour event. “One year we served 170 people. It was standing room only.”
The event, used as a fundraiser for the historical society, draws a variety of visitors. For Corine Borrero and her son Owen, 5, their evening begins with a bowl or two of soup then a visit to King Canal Store and the King Victorian Home.

“I had a really good time the first time I came,” said Borrero who was back for the fourth year in a row, bringing her son for the past three years. “We like to see the old house here then go and see the store and the other house.”
The event was self-serve, with visitors filing into the original kitchen where Diane Unger, chief cook for the Saltbox Christmas, could be found tending the roaring fire at the large hearth, baking cornbread and filling soup bowls to order.
Gary Behrens, councilman and deputy mayor of Roxbury, said he comes for the soup and the homemade goods, adding that most of his fellow councilmen would be stopping by sometime during the event.
‘This is a don’t miss event,” he said scooping another spoonful of hearty beef vegetable soup.