Author to Discuss 'Lost Mill Sites' Booklet at Tolland Library on Wednesday

Longtime resident Richard Symonds is scheduled to speak about his new history booklet, “Lost Mill Sites in Tolland, Connecticut” at the Tolland Public Library on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.  

The program is free and open to the public. 

To register, call 860-871-3620.

The 36 page booklet documents the location of 18 water powered mill sites in Tolland and includes site, historical information, and many colored pictures. 

The research for the booklet was undertaken to identify the water powered mills sites in Tolland, their location, purpose, date of construction, and the type of water power utilized, Symonds said. 

Symonds said that 18 local mill sites and related businesses were found to have utilized water power and are described in some depth. Descriptions are based upon "readily available historical materials and what could be determined through site inspections," he said.  

The history is presented in three chapters: 

• Chapter I discusses how water power was harnessed and how each of the six different types of water wheels functioned. 

• Chapter II describes and locates each of the 18 documented water powered mill sites. It also describes some related mill activity where the water wheel as a source of power could not be documented. Each mill site complex may have had a number of mill buildings and operations. For each mill site, the description includes an historical account and is illustrated with pictures. 

• Chapter III is an overview of the somewhat unique Silk industry in Tolland where most of the processing was undertaken at two adjoining mills, Tourtelotte’s and Clark’s silk mills, located below the Old Tolland County Jail off Route 74.

Copies of the 36 page booklet can be obtained through the author, 92 Tory Rd., Tolland, CT 06084; by e-mail,  Rnsjr2@juno.com; or by phone, 860-875-5002.