Calling all goblins: the Old Tolland County Jail and Museum on the Tolland Green will be open for trick or treating on Halloween from 5 p.m. to 8 p .m. or until the treats run out!

Congratulations and thank you to Beth and Sean Banning of Banner Water, LLC whose continued support and $5,000 donation literally put the Tolland Historical Society “over the top” in our campaign to match a $100,000 state grant with funds of our own to restore the bell tower on the Old Tolland County Court House Museum.

Please drive by and enjoy the beauty of local history restored. Watch for re-dedication events to come.

Give this a listen as we Let History Ring!

The roof on the Old Tolland County Court House was completed on Sept. 30.
The installation of lightning protection is scheduled for Oct. 6.
The photos today show the taped seams of the plywood sub roof, two rows of ice and water protection. Also show are details of the copper flashing and the drip edge that was installed.

Here’s the Guess the Artifact that we featured at Celebrate Tolland today. Any guesses what it is?

It’s an old-fashioned lunch box, with a cup, soup container, plate and extra storage.

The restoration of the bell tower atop the Old Tolland County Court House Museum is nearly complete, and this week, Paul Bastiaanse, president of Valley Restoration, the contractor on the project, Kathy Bach, president of the Tolland Historical Society and society volunteer Dr. Sharron Laplante tested out the bell.

It worked and will once again ring out across the historic Tolland Green.

The Tolland Historical Society is still raising funds to complete the project. If you would like to help, please use the “donate” button on this website, tollandhistorical.org, or mail a check to Tolland Historical Society, P.O. Box 107, Tolland, CT 06084. Indicate that the gift is for the bell tower project on the memo line

Here’s your weekly update on the restoration project on the bell tower of the Old Tolland County Court House and Museum:

The copper work is complete. All wood areas are primed, and the finish coat of paint is complete.
We are awaiting the installation and the louvers.
The Tolland Historical Society is getting close to being able to ring the bell again!

Tax-deductible donations are still needed to finish the project. Donations can be made at this website or by mail at Tolland Historical Society, P.O. Box 107, Tolland, CT 06084. Thank you in advance for any gift of any size.

Today’s update from the Tolland Historical Society on the restoration project at the Old Tolland County Court House Museum is quite visible.

The restored shiny gold weathervane is again atop the shiny copper cupola dome or the bell tower. All those restorations are now complete.Work on the beams is finishing up in the attic space.

Outside they are finishing the restoration and replacement of clapboards on the base of the bell tower.

Beautiful weather means painting has commenced on the cupola blinds.

The Tolland Historical Society is still seeking tax-deductible donations to complete this important project. They can be made by using the ‘donate’ button at tollandhistorical.org or by mail to Tolland Historical Society, P.O. Box 107, Tolland, CT 06084.

Here’s your Wednesday update on the restoration of the cupola at the Old Tolland County Court House Museum:

Copper work continues at the bell tower deck area as seen in this photo. Interior bolts and brackets are being installed on timbers in the attic.

The historically accurate replacement window for over the front door has arrived from shop. Friends of the late Tolland Historical Society archivist Barbara Cook raised funds for the window in her memory.

The society still needs your donations to help complete the restoration project on the 1822 building. Tax-deductible donations can be made at https://tollandhistorical.org or by mail to the Tolland Historical Society, P.O. Box 107, Tolland, CT 06084.

Here’s your Wednesday update on the bell tower restoration of the Old Tolland County Court House Museum:

This week work continues inside in the attic with large timber restoration as seen in 2 of the attached photos. As weather permits, work on clapboards at the base section of the bell tower also is being performed. There is some rot evident requiring replacement; otherwise, caulk and priming prep is taking place before final paint.The louvers, or blinds, will be scraped and returned to the bell tower after all repair work is completed and the bell is returned to the cradle there. An interesting historical note, the window shutters were and are green, and the louvers will be returned to that color.

The society needs your support for this important project. Tax-deductible donations can be made using the ‘donate’ button at https://tollandhistorical.org or by mail at Tolland Historical Society, P.O. Box 107, Tolland, CT 06084.Any gift of any size is appreciated!

Restoration vs “repair or replace”: the question continues comes up during this project in various forms as to why it’s taking so long.
It’s taking a long time because this is a “restoration” of a 199-year-old building, preserving as much of the original as possible. A portion of the funding for this project is coming from a State Historic Preservation Office grant, the office which approved the engineering plans and assists throughout.
The attached photos highlight recently completed restoration work on the eight bell tower columns that support the copper cupola dome. You can see where the damage caused by water was replaced by new wood inlays, a new capital (top of the column) and finished with epoxy.
This step is a work of art, and once it was complete, it took five-plus days for the epoxy to cure.
Yes, the wood is as smooth as it looks!
The Tolland Historical Society is continuing to raise money to cover an unexpected $24,000 cost to deal with the rotting timbers inside the bell tower.Donations can be made online at www.tollandhistorical.org or by mail to Tolland Historical Society, P.O. Box 107, Tolland, CT 06084. Thank you in advance for a gift of any size.