Tour Tolland's East (Skungamaug) Cemetery, Plus Meet 42 Civil War Veterans in Tolland's Cemeteries

Take a tour Tolland's East (Skungamaug) Cemetery with Ruth Shapleigh-Brown of Connecticut Gravestone Network.

The tour will be followed by a chance to "meet" the 14 veterans of the Union Army. Hear the stories of the lives and deaths of these ordinary Tolland farmers who fought and died to preserve the Union. 42 Civil War Veterans are buried in Tolland's three old cemeteries, and a remarkable 134 residents served. The population in 1860 was 1130.   

Call the Tolland Historical Society at 860 870-9599 for more information.

The cemetery is located on Route 74 east of Green 1 1/4 miles, left on Skungamaug Road.

In a Press Release from Barbara Cook of the Tolland Historical Society, she describes the program in more detail:

TOLLAND CEMETERY TOUR INTRODUCES CIVIL WAR VETERANS

There will be a tour of the East (Skungamaug) Cemetery in Tolland on Saturday, June 11, at 1:30 p.m.  Ruthie Shapleigh-Brown, of Connecticut Gravestone Network will discuss the stones and the local carver-artists who made them.  She has conducted tours of North and South Cemeteries in previous years.  The East Cemetery contains the graves of the only U. S. Senator elected while residing in Tolland, and the very unusual metal monument of a local maker of beaver hats.

Following the tour, “meet” the fourteen Civil War Veterans buried in the cemetery.  Enactors will portray the veterans, some of whom were killed or died during active duty, and others who returned to their farms and lived well into their 80s.  Some lived within sight of the cemetery and attended the district school across the road.  Others came from the other school districts in the northeastern part of town, and still others lived here after the war.  Hear the stories of their military service and their civilian lives.  With a population of 1130 in 1860, an astonishing 134 men fought for the Union in 20 different Connecticut Volunteer Regiments, plus those of other states and the regular Army and Navy.

Take Route 74 east from Tolland Green to Skungamaug Road 1 ½ miles on left.  Free, donations accepted, only heavy rain cancels.  Note that 1:30 is the correct time, as errors have appeared elsewhere.