The Tolland Historical Society is pleased to announce the opening of a new museum at 749 Tolland Stage Road, adding to the cultural vitality of the Tolland Green neighborhood. 

The Tolland Military Museum will include the extensive private collection of Richard J. Provencher of Ashford, a retired Connecticut National Guard member and former commander of the American Legion Post 14 and the Tolland VFW. The collection features several military campaigns, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.

The Town of Tolland has long supported military members and their families. Recently, the town council voted to lease the “barn” (the former resident state troopers’ office behind the Old Tolland County Jail and Museum) for purposes of a museum. This building was originally built as part of the Tolland County jail system, consisting of the jail, the barn and 100 acres of farmland where Tolland Middle School now sits. The most recognizable sight on the property today is the jail museum at 52 Tolland Green.

The Tolland Military Museum will open from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 27, the same day the Tolland Memorial Day Parade will be held, beginning at 1 p.m. along the Tolland Green.

The museum will be open seasonally May thru September and will have programs on Veterans Day in honor of veterans across the state. Admission is free, but donations are always appreciated. 

For more information, please contact Mary-Pat Soucy from the Tolland Military Museum, at Tollandmilitarymuseum@gmail.comor at 860-803-0034 or Kathy Bach, president of the historical society, at kwbach@gmail.comor at 860-416-7030.

Some of the artifacts that will be on display in the new Tolland Military Museum

More artifacts from the Richard J. Provencher collection

Collector Richard J. Provencher, at right, with U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney

To see an entertaining video from the 52nd Annual Tolland Antiques Show, produced by Historical Society board member Perne R. Maynard, follow this link:

http://community.prmemories.com/52nd-antiques-show.html

Perne R. Maynard, the Society’s Media Chairman, shared these terrific photos from our latest, successful antiques show, which was held March 4 in Tolland.

Dealer Greg Hamilton shows off one of his treasures.

The show came together through the hard of work Deputy Show Director Sharron Laplante, at left, and Show Director Mary-Pat Soucy

Another treasure at the show

See photos from Perne on the Antiques Show page

Some people have been calling asking how to get to the Tolland Middle School at 1 Falcon Way in Tolland for Sunday’s show.

Here you go:

From Boston, take I-84 West to exit 68. Turn right off the exit and follow to the next light on Tolland Green. Turn right onto Old Post Road. Go straight about one mile and turn right onto Old Cathole Road. The middle school is less than a mile down the road on the right.

From Hartford, take I-84 East to exit 68. Turn left off the exit and follow to the next light on Tolland Green. Turn right onto Old Post Road. Go straight about one mile and turn right onto Old Cathole Road. The middle school is less than a mile down the road on the right.

Admission is $9. Parking is free, and lunch can be purchased at modest prices. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it benefits the Tolland Historical Society.

     Antique lovers: make plans to com on out March 4 to the 52^nd annual Tolland Antiques show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tolland Middle School.
     The show will feature more than 50 dealers from throughout New England, Pennsylvania and New York. It is one of the premier events in the Northeast dealing in early Americana. The show will feature 18th- and 19th-century American furniture, accessories, textiles, rugs, prints, folk art, paintings, redware and early iron. Many items are of museum quality.
    Admission is $9. Parking is free, and lunch will be available for a modest price.
    The show is a benefit for the Tolland Historical Society, with proceeds supporting the Old Tolland County Courthouse, the Old Tolland County Jail and Museum and the Daniel Benton Homestead. Proceeds also support the many programs that the society sponsors in the community and its curriculum-related programs in the Tolland school system.
    For more information, contact Show Director Mary-Pat Soucy at mpsoucy@comcast.net or 860-803-0034.

See our show page for a list of dealers and advertising opportunities!

Scenes from past shows:

2017 Tolland Antiques Show

Thank you to Kara Sundlun from WFSB’s “Better Connecticut” show for featuring Tolland Historical Society President Kathy Bach and our middle and high school interns on her show.

Here’s a link to the video:

http://www.wfsb.com/clip/13866103/meet-students-who-run-a-county-jail-and-museum

Intern Jaden Delgobbo and Kara Sundlun, host of WFSB’s “Better Connecticut” show

Silhouette artist Marcella Comerford will provide beautiful, hand-cut silhouettes on Sunday, Nov. 12 for a one-of-kind gift just in time for the holidays.
The Tolland Historical Society is now accepting appointments for this fundraiser, with a portion of the proceeds going to support its museums and programs. 
By appointment only, the event will take place at the Tolland Court House Museum at 53 Tolland Green in Tolland.
To reserve a time slot, visit www.signupgenius.com and search for nkjtr@sbcglobal.net.
The event is suitable for children aged 6 months and up, and adult subjects are welcome as well. 
A single silhouette costs $35, with a duplicate costing $15. A 5×7 frame for one silhouette is $35, and an 8×10 frame for two to three silhouettes is $45.
Each silhouette is mounted on an acid-free museum board.

     The Tolland Historical Society will host a free talk Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. by author Charles Monagan about his recently re-released book “Connecticut Icons: Classic Symbols of the Nutmeg State.”
     The talk will take place at the Old Tolland County Jail and Museum at 52 Tolland Green.
     Monagan, who was the editor of “Connecticut” magazine from 1989 to 2013, says the book grew out of a last-page column he wrote for the magazine from 2001 to 2005. It includes short profiles of 50 places, natural features, buildings, food and other items that seemed to him to be especially “Connecticut” and that everyone thinks they know about but probably don’t.
     Monagan has been a writer and editor for more than 45 years. He’s the author of several books, including “The Neurotic’s Handbook,” “The Reluctant Naturalist” and “How to Get a Monkey into Harvard.” He wrote the book and lyrics for a musical, “Mad Bomber,” in 2011.
      In 2016, he spoke at the jail museum about “Carrie Welton,’’ his fictionalized account of a Waterbury native’s adventurous life.

Author Charles Monagan

The public is invited to come learn how to make ice cream the old-fashioned way on Sunday, Aug. 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Old Tolland County Jail and Museum at 52 Tolland Green in Tolland.

The event and admission are free, but donations are always appreciated.