Tolland County Courthouse facts for kids
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Tolland County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 53 Tolland Green, Tolland, Connecticut |
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| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Tolland Green Historic District (ID09000084) |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000084 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 17, 1977 |
| Designated CP | August 1, 1997 |
The Old Tolland County Courthouse is a very old and important building in Tolland, Connecticut. It was built in 1822. For many years, it was a courthouse, where legal cases were heard. Later, it became the town's public library. Today, it is a history museum run by the Tolland Historical Society. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Contents
What Does the Old Courthouse Look Like?
The Old Tolland County Courthouse is on the west side of the Tolland Green. This is near where Connecticut Routes 195 and 74 meet.
Building Style and Features
The building is made of wood and has two and a half stories. It was built in the Federal style, which was popular in the early 1800s. This style often looks grand and balanced.
- It has a pointed roof, called a gabled roof.
- The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboards.
- A special window, known as a Palladian window, is on the building. It has a large arched window in the middle with two smaller rectangular windows on the sides.
- On top of the roof, there is a two-story tower. The bottom part of the tower is square. The top part is shaped like an octagon and has openings for sound, like a bell tower. It is topped with a round dome, called a cupola.
Front of the Building
The front of the courthouse has three sections. It has tall, flat columns, called pilasters, at the corners. These columns go up to a decorative band and a triangular shape, called a pediment, at the top. The main door has pilasters on each side. Above the door, there is a half-round window and another small pediment.
Inside the Courthouse
The inside of the building has been carefully restored. The second floor now looks much like it did when it was a courtroom. This helps visitors imagine what it was like when judges and lawyers worked there.
A Building with Many Lives
The courthouse was built in 1822. At that time, Tolland was the main town, or "county seat," for Tolland County. This meant it was the center for government and legal activities.
From Courthouse to Library
The building served as a courthouse until about 1890. After that, most county court business moved to Rockville. In 1899, the courthouse found a new purpose. It became home to the town's public library.
In 1930, a man named Samuel Simpson bought the courthouse for just $1. He then immediately gave the building to the Tolland Public Library Association. The building continued to house probate courts for Tolland and nearby Ellington until 1960. Probate courts handle things like wills and estates.
From Library to Museum
The building remained the Tolland Public Library until 1985. The library then moved to a bigger, newly renovated building. In 2001, the Tolland Public Library Association gave the courthouse to the Tolland Historical Society.
The Historical Society worked hard to restore the building. They turned it into a museum where people can learn about Tolland's past. The first floor of the courthouse also has a library and offices for the French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut. This society helps people research their family history.
See also
