History of the Museum

1944 Main St.

at the corner of Main St. & Hubbard St.

Admission is Free

Museum Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday   10 am - 4 pm

                          Third Sunday of the month 1- 4 pm

The building that serves as our main museum was built between 1839 and 1840 as the Town House. It was built by Parley Bidwell, who probably designed it, as well. Mr. Bidwell had built the Methodist Church on High Street about 2 years earlier. We now know that building as the South Glastonbury Library.

The Museum is housed in the first Town Hall built in Glastonbury c. 1840, and served for 100 years. Before there was a separation of Church and State, the first Meeting House stood on this spot and served as both Church and Town House. It has been said that the Museum’s building was built of ballast bricks, possibly from North Africa. Because there was more than one brickyard in Glastonbury, this may be not be the case. The adjacent cemetery is from the church. The first school was also located on the Green. Livestock grazed on the Town Green and the Militia practiced here. There was a pig pound on the edge of the Green, keeping pigs out of the crops and preventing the damage they did.

The exhibits cover the town from its Native American roots through European settlement up to the early 20^th century.

Featured exhibits include:  Native Americans, Colonial Era, the famous Smith Sisters (abolitionists & suffragists), the Civil War, Hale Farm, Industries such as Shipbuilding, J. B. Williams Soap Co., and Harriman Motors who built airplanes in the early 20^th century, and much more. The Museum also has a Library, Genealogy dept., and Curatorial department.

 The exhibit called  “Pigs in Corn” that

Joe and Jean Greene have generously loaned the Society is still exhibiting at the Museum. If you haven’t seen this beautiful and historic collection don’t miss your opportunity to come to the Museum.  It is just part of their extensive collection of Early American Pattern Glass Goblets featuring animals, birds, people, historic events, typical colors and more.

 The Historical Society of Glastonbury has been fortunate to receive many gifts this year, as we have in years past.  Donating an object to HSG is a way, not only of preserving it, but of sharing it with many other people.  When we receive something, we consider it in light of displays already on view, and displays that are currently in the planning stage.  This past year, gifts included: 

1.  Set of 45 photographs, Grove Street, Glastonbury – Kathy Ciolkosz

Long handled garden hoe, early 1900’s – Howard Horton

2.  Top without sides of box from Glastenbury Knitting Co. – Katharine G. Hayes

3.  Blue cardboard sign:  Goorich’s Express – Susan Motycka

4.  Graded Spelling Book for City Schools, Eighth Year , 1910– Town of Glastonbury

Soap wrapper, Genuine Yankee Soap – Anna Manfredi

5.  Empty box, Conti Castile Shampoo Soaplets, 5 lb. size – Anna Manfredi

6.  Collection of GHS yearbooks, Brainard School of Aeronautics student pilot papers, Girl Scout materials c.1960, and clothing, mid-20^th century, textiles dating to early 19^th century – Mollie May Foote Rose

7.  Oil painting of Gideon Welles House by Russell Cheney and glass syrup pitcher c. 1865 – Alvah Russell, Jr.

8.  Metal polish-cleaner, Hall’s Sparine, c. 1850 - Purchase

9.  Scrapbook of Academy School projects c. 1930, cookbook by First Church as fund raiser c. 1960, Glastonbury Citizen clipping re: drum and bugle corps - Mollie May Foote Rose 

10.  Advertisement for Williams Shaving Soaps c. 1945, book, Old American Houses – Friends of Welles-Turner Memorial Library

11.  Basketball shirt #4 from the Kinne-Tryon men’s basketball team, ephemera from J.B. Williams Co., Glastonbury Bank & Trust, St. Augustine’s church, J.H. Hale, and M.I. Franklin 1850-1950 - Anna Manfredi

12.  WWI American Red Cross kerchief – Jolly Steffens

13.  Metal horse muzzle, c. 1900 – Donald Nedd

14.  Packaging items and a packing stamp from the J.B. Williams Co. – Melvin H., McGowan

15.  Original and reproduction samples of many styles of weaving to be used as instructional models, 1800-2000 – Mary Elva Erf

16.  Map, central part of Hartford County c. 1950 – George E. Christensen

Glass leeching cup, hand blown c.1800 – Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Sullivan

17.  Will-O’-the-Wisp electric lighted fishing lure – Purchase

18.  Framed photo, employees of J.B. Williams c. 1940 – Melvin McGowan

19.  Williams’ Brothers tea infuser c.1920 – Jane Domke

20.  Collection of items relating to the J.B. Williams Company - Anna Manfredi

21.  Demi-john representative of Connecticut glass c.1800 – Tom Scarduzio

22.  Coat hangers from the Gideon Welles House c. 1900 – Gerals Mosher

23.  Collection of photographs relating to South Glastonbury including Harry Ferry family and post office c. 1920 – June M. Fuller

24.  Scrapbook “Thank You” from Glastonbury WWII Veterans to Norma Sestero, silk needlework attributed to Glastonbury girl c. 1825 – Nat Sestero

25.  Sampler made by Mary M. Covell at Miss Cornwall’s school, 1835 – Purchase

26.  Diaries of a young woman, 1940 and 1942 – Katherine Sullivan 

27.  Certificate of Achievement, Glastonbury Public Schools 1941, GHS yearbooks 1942, 1944, 1949 – John G. Bona

28.  Book, Tom Brown at Rugby, items from Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War including meeting hall banner – Judith Welch

29.  T-shirts, Glastonbury Grange Fair and Nayaug c.1975 – Charlotte Lueckel

Cardboard egg carton c. 1930 – David Hogan

30.  Ballot box, membership card, and metals relating to Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War – Judith Welch

31.  Advertising posters, the J.B. Williams Co. – Anne O’Connor

32.  Box for 1 dozen Williams Shaving Cream - Anna Manfredi

33.  Door key to District #1 School, corner of Pratt and Main – David Cox

34.  Fold-out pamphlet advertising O.W. Goslee’s cultivator – Deep River Historical Society

35.  The Hartford Daily Times May 26, 1848, miniature newspapers 1880, picture postcard of District #4 1907, letters from J.H. Hutchins, Principal, Glastonbury Free Academy c.1855 – Marjorie Luzzi

36.  Collection of advertisements for the J.B.Williams Co., 1880-1950, factory safety signs - Anna Manfredi

37.  Collection of early New England tombstone rubbings – Margaret Berg

38.  Counting/Spelling game – John F. Raycroft

39.  Collection of c.1935 ephemera – David Hogan