We are sorry to report that our beloved Tolland Historical Society archivist, Barbara Cook, passed away on Tuesday, March 23.She was an active member in the Society for decades, including spending 15 years as director the Old Tolland County Court House Museum. Barbara also served as the appointed town historian from 2007 until 2015 and was honored as the parade marshal at the town’s 300th Anniversary Celebration in 2015.
It was her wish that donations be made in her memory to support the “Let’s History Ring!” fundraising drive to restore the cupola atop the Court House Museum, and on Sunday, the Historical Society’s governing board decided to grant her personal wish to restore a fan window above the Court House door.Donations can be made out to the Tolland Historical Society and mailed to the Society at P.O. Box 107, Tolland, CT 06084. Please indicate on the memo line of the check if you wish to support the cupola fund and/or the window fund.
Here is Barbara’s obituary: Barbara F. Cook (87) died March 23, 2021 at home in Tolland surrounded by family. Born in Tolland, the daughter of the late George E. and Mabel (Luhrsen) Cook, she lived in the area all her life. Barbara retired from Northeast Utilities after 41 years of service. After retirement, she joined the Tolland Historical Society and became an active volunteer, serving as director of the museum in the Old Tolland County Court House for fifteen years and most recently as the historical society archivist. She also was the appointed town historian from 2007 until 2015, and in that year was marshal of Tolland’s 300th Anniversary Parade. Barbara was predeceased by a brother, Lucius J. Cook, and leaves a brother, David G. (Catherine) Cook of Ware, MA, and a sister-in-law Marjorie Cook of (FL, MA and VT). She also leaves nieces Lisa (Jim) Lamothe and Cindy (Jim) Donovan, of Brimfield, MA, and nephews David (Amy) Cook and Simeon (Jennifer) Cook of VT and Justin (Bonnie) Cook of MA, and many beloved grand and great-grand nieces and grandnephews, as well as two cousins and her kind and caring neighbors and friends Michelle and Jim Graham and their children. As she requested, there are no calling hours and burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tolland Historical Society, Old Court House Cupola Fund, or a charity of choice.
Here are some photos of Barbara Cook at the 2015 Tolland 300th Anniversary parade in 2015, the dedication of the Tolland Founders Monument in 2015 and speaking to members of the public after a history talk at the Old Tolland County Jail Museum.
Parade and dedication photos by Perne Maynard
