The Archives

Volume XLIV No. 1 - APRIL 2016

The William Masinda Button Shop - Fix it or Let it Go?

By Paul Weigold

In the last issue of The Hourglass, you were left with the ques-tion of whether the old button shop could be saved or not. Was there enough left to salvage? The answer is yes - the roof being as sound as the day it was built. However, a lot of work would be needed on the sills, walls and floor, and a plan was hatched in late summer with a commitment by Mark and my-self to devote two days a week in order finish by winter. 

The decision to retain as much as possible of the structure led us to retain the back wall which was still sound and close to level, and to pick up the building by the roof with jacks and supports in order to replace rotted and missing timbers. Mark found a saw mill in Bloomfield that could supply us with the needed material and Dick Simmons offered a stockpile of sal-vaged pressure treated 6x6 timbers. 

When work began, one corner was down by 22” and another down by 11”. We started jacking a little at a time and after a number of weeks lots of daylight could be seen under the sills. Next came the digging out of all the rotted material that had collected under the building. Then it was time for the sill and other carpentry framing. A good friend (Thanks, Norman Barry!) showed up with the tools and skills needed which made that a lot easier. With the framing done, next were the windows. Mark found on Craig’s List that someone was giv-ing away old windows which sounded perfect. Next were new window frames - we found yet another lumberyard in New Hampshire that had just what we needed for siding and floor-ing as well as material to make up the six window frames. Once the windows were completed, we sided the entire build-ing with tongue and groove boards similar to the original. A contractor was found for the roof and winter had arrived! There is more to do but the structure is up and sound. 

Please join us for the talk and photo presentation on May 16th, to get an idea first hand of where we have been and what the future holds. 

What Does a History Detective Do?

By Joe Froehlich

Among the powers Connecticut law gives each town is the ability to appoint a historian. It has been four years since the Board of Selectman appointed me Town Historian; I have learned much, still have much to learn, and have enjoyed all of it. 

I've had the opportunity to meet and work with members of the First Selectman's and Town Clerk's Offices; Robin, Donna, and Maureen are always helpful and always cheerful. They have referred many people to me. Some of the requests I receive are from as nearby as Tolland and Ashford, others as far away as Colorado, Illinois and Florida. People have asked me to find details regarding their families including marriage, birth, and death certificates. I have relied on town hall records to help me respond to those requests. Sometimes the people want copies of the records; sometimes they only want me to tell them what I have found. 

I have also received requests for cemetery records. In those cases I have used the reference guide printed by the Willington Cemetery Association and Headstone Inscriptions, Town of Willington, CT 1934 revised in 2002 by former Town Historian Isabel B. Weigold. These publications are available for sale at the town clerk’s office. I've also used the website www.findagrave.com. Sometimes the person making the request already knows there's a grave in Willington. In those cases, I have gone to the gravesite to take a picture and send it either as a hard copy or electronically to the person. 

Other people have asked about land records as part of their search for information about their ancestors. 

It's fun to share information, but the most fun has been when people contact me, I gather information, and then they actually come to Willington to see land, houses or gravestones. A New Jersey resident contacted me to find out more about his family history. I was able to contact landowners of various properties and arrange for a visit to these properties. The New Jersey couple was able to take photos and collect family history to place in an album that they shared at a family reunion. On another occasion I met with a mother and daughter looking into their family history. They traveled from Virginia in search of information about their ancestry. This type of connection provides me with satisfaction and enjoyment. 

The Town Historian is a volunteer position. If people ask about paying for my time, I suggest making a donation to the Willington Historical Society. Many people who ask me to do research have also bought copies of our book, Images of America: Willington. That money also goes to the Willington Historical Society. Since becoming Town Historian I have also joined the Connecticut Historical Society. Through that membership I learned about and attended a Town Historian's Conference in October, 2015. It was a great way to meet other historians and learn about what they are doing in their towns. 

As I look to the future, I envision a project in which we record our town's seniors sharing their memories of Willington in earlier days. These oral histories could include memories about school, church, buildings, businesses, town events...anything related to life in Willington. It would be great to collaborate with the schools, scouts, and the Senior Center on this project. 

I welcome requests and invite people to contact me at willingtonhistorian@charter.net or to view the Willington Historical Society website at: www.willingtonhistoricalsocietyct.org