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COMING EVENTS:   New Museum Hours! This summer, the museum will be open Saturday afternoons as well as Sundays, 1:30-4:30 both days. We have discontinued our Thursday hours.
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	MUSEUM EXHIBITS IN 2010
	Celebrating 300 Years: Mansfield’s First Congregational Church Organized in 1710, the First Church of Christ in Mansfield is the oldest Congregational church in Tolland County. The exhibit provides an overview of the church’s history and its important role in the community. For many years, the meetinghouse served not only as a house of worship but also as the political center for the town. The display describes the architectural history of the current church and the succession of earlier meetinghouses. The current church, designed by Edwin Fitch, was built in 1866 after the previous meetinghouse burned. As the centerpiece of the exhibit, Jack Nardi, of the University’s Dramatic Arts Department, has constructed a scale model of the second meetinghouse, based on John Warner’s 1836 sketch and descriptions in the church records. Roberta Smith, Kay Holt and Lee Hawkins prepared this exhibit. American Coverlets, 1800 - 1850 A colorful display of early to mid-nineteenth century coverlets occupies two rooms in the main building. The examples range from ones with simple geometric designs - some woven locally - to “fancy” patterned coverlets woven by professional weavers on jacquard looms. Several have the weaver’s name and date included in the corner blocks – an early form of advertising. The display also includes a hands-on station where visitors can learn about the various weaving techniques used in making these coverlets. Peggy Church, Ann Galonska and Lisa Ferriere worked on this exhibit. The Villages of Wormwood Hill, Mount Hope and Atwoodville. The Villages of Wormwood Hill, Mount Hope and Atwoodville. This exhibit, located in the Old Town Hall building, covers the settlement of these villages, their growth and development, and some of their notable residents. Because Wormwood Hill was an agricultural community it relied on Mount Hope and Atwoodville, both mill villages, for part of its existence. The exhibit includes a wide variety of photographs and artifacts related to this area of Mansfield. The display was prepared by Rudy Favretti who, with Isabelle Atwood, recently published a book on this subject. Ann Galonska, Museum Director