Mission:
Wood Memorial Library & Museum is where history, nature and the arts come alive… and community thrives!
About Us:
Wood Memorial Library & Museum is located on South Windsor’s Main Street, first an Indian trail, then a busy colonial thoroughfare, today a reminder of Connecticut’s heritage, lined with historic houses of every era.
South Windsor philanthropist, William R. Wood, proposed building a library for the town as a memorial to his parents, Dr. William Wood and Mary Ellsworth Wood. In 1926 he chose Hartford architect William Marchant, who designed the Colonial Revival building, reflecting elements of Wood’s own house. It served as South Windsor’s public library for forty years, from its dedication in 1928 until the need for a larger facility in a more central location required the town to cease operation of the library.
A grassroots effort to keep book lending available at The Wood as a branch of the public library was abandoned after two years, but not willing to accept defeat, the group incorporated as The Friends of Wood Memorial Library in 1971. Since then they have overseen the management of the library as a privately funded institution, which has flourished under the guidance of a small part-time staff and a corps of dedicated volunteers. Keeping in mind the original charter, the Friends provide, in addition to the library, an environment where history, nature and the arts come alive.
2024 Winter E-Newsletter Changes in 2024 Best Wishes! At the end of 2023, retirement, new jobs and professional advancement claimed three Friends' staff members. As we reluctantly say goodbye to three amazing co-workers, Leith Johnson, Liz…
Read More »Musings from Main- Bayard Rustin (1912–1987) Wood Memorial Library and Museum will be closed on Monday, January 15, 2024, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Explore our February 18, 2022 Musings from Main to learn about the two…
Read More »Happy New Year Friends! There are some special biennial events that are scheduled to occur in 2024. We will be partnering with the Down to Earth Garden Club again for their "Pathways and Blooms" South Windsor Garden Tour and Plant Sale on Sunday,…
Read More »Vintage Book Club: The Narrows Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 1 PM Join our Vintage Book Club at Wood Memorial Library & Museum as they discuss Ann Petry’s The Narrows. This book club is open to new members. Feel free to BYO food/drink. …
Read More »December 29, 2023 Thanks for the Memories A look back at 2023! A big Thank You to everyone who supported the Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum during 2023! We wish you all a Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you and making…
Read More »In 2021, Musings from Main introduced readers to the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), an annual bird census organized by the National Audubon Society. Every year since 1900, birdwatchers across the Americas have taken to the field in late December-early…
Read More »The Gleam of Czech Christmas Trees Part of the "Shiny and Brite" of this year's Gingerbread House Festival comes from the mid-century Czech Christmas trees displayed on both fireplace mantles. This loaned collection belongs to Executive Director…
Read More »December 1, 2023 Why is 1940s and 1950s Christmas Music so Popular? If you've already visited the annual Gingerbread House Festival this season, you may have noticed something a little different from previous years. Whether you haven't visited…
Read More »13th Annual Gingerbread House Festival: Shiny & Brite The Friends invite you to explore their 13th Annual Gingerbread House Festival: Shiny & Brite. Stroll past fairy tale houses and fantasy trains all covered with bright, colorful candy. …
Read More »November 10, 2023 Joyce B. Clapp Collection This Saturday is Veterans Day! There will be a ceremony honoring veterans that will take place November 11, 2023, at 11am at Veterans Memorial Park located at 575 Pleasant Valley Road in South Windsor.…
Read More »September 29, 2023 Diddlewomp, The Reluctant Dragon From Executive Director Carolyn Venne - Facebook can be an excellent breeding ground for local history lore! Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster, Vermont has Champ, the Lake Champlain Monster, and…
Read More »13th Annual Gingerbread House Festival:Shiny & Brite Vendors The application for local artisans and crafters to sell in our 2023 Gingerbread House Festival Gift Shop is now open! Artisans are identified who have items and price points that…
Read More »2023 Summer E-Newsletter The Rotenberg/Vibert House We have a very exciting announcement about the Rotenberg/Vibert House! In fall of 2022, the Friends’ Board of Directors voted to accept the donation of the Vibert property at 809 Main…
Read More »The Debate of Museum Repatriation, Part 1 From Executive Director Carolyn Venne - You may remember that last summer I wrote a Musing about my experiences at museums in Philadelphia. This summer, seeing as we only have a handful of summers left…
Read More »Stephen King Book Release Party: Holly Free Book Club on the Go Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 6pm Facilitated by local author Jessica Bottomley, The book release party is open to all. Feel free to BYO snacks/beverages. Pre-order Holly and…
Read More »School days, school days... South Windsor students returned to school this week so we thought this Musings from Main would take a look at some of the images of South Windsor Students and schools found in our online collections database. Learn more…
Read More »August 18, 2023 - Apollo 2 and 3 This week's Musing is a real head scratcher for me. We are working on an online version of our recent exhibit South Windsor’s Contributions to Space, and I came across primary source material for an Apollo…
Read More »Albertus E. Jones We are excited to announce our latest collaboration with the South Windsor Historical Society, a program about local South Windsor artist and teacher, Albertus E. Jones. This program will take place at Wood Memorial Library on…
Read More »August 2023 Calendar 5th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale Saturday, August 12, 2023 from 9am - 3pm Register your tag-sale today! Nowashe Pottery Family Fun Day Saturday, August 12, 2023 from 11am - 4pm Join us in Nowashe Village for a…
Read More »July 28, 2023 The Boys of '61 I was reading East Windsor, Through the Years by East Windsor Historian Michael C. DeVito, and came across a poem that I thought I would share. It was written in 1904 by Octavvius W. Bartlett of East Windsor, in…
Read More »July 21, 2023 A Lasting Legacy Last month, one of our Musings from Main focused on the contributions and achievements of long time educational coordinator for the Friends Jean Klein, who had recently passed away. Calling hours and a service…
Read More »July 7, 2023 The Connecticut River This week's Musings from Main explores the history of Connecticut River through the lens of its varied monikers. Learn more about the Connecticut River during our Nowashe Waterways Program July 8th from…
Read More »July 2023 Calendar Happy 4th of July to all our Friends! Nowashe Waterways Family Fun Day Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 11am - 4pm Join outdoors guide Jack Albano, for a tour of the CT River in South Windsor. Explore the CT River’s vital…
Read More »June 30, 2023 Jean Hopley Klein 1930-2023 We are saddened by the recent passing of long-time education coordinator and supporter of the Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum (WMLM), Jean Klein. This week's Musings from Main focuses on…
Read More »June 23, 2023 Caribou/Reindeer This week's Musings from Main is inspired by a donation from one of the Friends' Board Members, Jane Robinson. It seems that Jane came across a caribou pelt at a tag sale in South Windsor. Realizing it would be a…
Read More »June 16, 2023 American Black Bears Ursus americanus We have had a beautiful spring season this year! I was enjoying the weather and realized I had not written about nature lately. Inspired by all of the recent bear sightings around town, I…
Read More »June 9, 2023 Connecticut Open House Day This week's Musings from Main takes a quick look back at the many diverse ways the Friends' have celebrated CT Open House Day over the years. We hope to see you! CT Open House Day For 19 years the State of…
Read More »June 2023 Calendar Music from the Sol Solis Consort June 1, 2023 from 7-8pm This wildly talented group of musicians managed by Artistic Director Eric Chen, provides a unique take on orchestral music. You’ll likely recognize some of…
Read More »The south windsor connection You might be getting tired of hearing about the isabella stewart gardner museum but this musing from main could be worth $10 million dollars! The focus of this musing is south windsor's connection to the isabella…
Read More »Marvelous Men Exhibit Bob Raymond/Barney Daley/Henry Cote We want to wish Bob Raymond a Happy 90th Birthday and to help with the celebrations we have a new online exhibit Marvelous Men of Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum. For this…
Read More »"Uncovering the Hidden History of Your Town" This Musings from Main is based on the four-part workshop the staff just completed “Uncovering the Hidden History in Your Town.” It was offered by the Noah Webster House & West Hartford…
Read More »April 28, 2023 Salem Witch Trials Susanna Martin Earlier this spring we hosted a lecture discussing the witch hunts in Connecticut by Walt Woodward, CT State Historian emeritus. On Sunday, May 7, 2023, we will continue our theme of witch trial…
Read More »May 2023 Calendar Delvena Theatre Company returns in May! Watch history come alive with fascinating dramatizations of the true stories of the Salem Witch Hysteria. The setting is Salem, Massachusetts 1692, a year in which 168 men and women were…
Read More »April 21, 2023 Celebrate PoetryMonth! South Windsor Poets Did You know South Windsor has a new Poet Laureate? Two in fact! Steve Straight has been named South Windsor's New Poet Laureate and Ria Saxena has been named South Windsor's First…
Read More »April 7, 2023 Coach Hugh S. Greer Congratulations UCONN Huskies Men's Basketball Team! Before there was Dan Hurley there was Jim Calhoun, and before Jim Calhoun, there was Hugh Greer! Hugh S. Greer Ellsworth Memorial High School Coach Hugh…
Read More »Golf Registration Now Open! 26th Annual Golf Tournament Topstone Golf Course Thursday, June 15, 2023 10:00am Shotgun start Reminders for 2023: - All players must be paid in full in advance - Our player fee is $150 rate this year, and…
Read More »April 2023 Calendar Happy Spring to all our Friends! Learn more about What Isabella Wanted Children’s Storytime and Art Workshop Join Art Teacher, Natalie O’Brien of South Windsor’s Orchard Hill School, as she invites…
Read More »March 24, 2023 Katherine Harrison: Wethersfield Witch Leaves a Legal Legacy Don't miss the upcoming lecture by Walt Woodward, CT State Historian emeritus, on Thursday, March 30, 2023 from 7-8pm as he discusses New England’s Other Witch…
Read More »2023 Spring E-Newsletter Volunteer Video is Now Available! We have had several people ask if the volunteer video that was shown at the 50th Anniversary Gala could be made available for people to have a copy. Well, you asked and we listened! We…
Read More »March 10, 2023 Maple Sugaring This Musings from Main is researched and written by Friends' Education Director, Liz Glaviano. It is written in anticipation and celebration of our first Maple Sugaring Event to be held in Nowashe Village on March…
Read More »March 3, 2023 Researching Hidden History This Musings from Main is researched and written by Friends' archivist, Leith Johnson. In an effort to inclusively share the stories of historically underrepresented local residents, our staff is…
Read More »Learn more about this program with local Connecticut author Thomas Edward Grant, which will focus on the early history of South Windsor. Stephen King Book Club: Needful Things Thursday March 23, 2023 6:00 p.m. to 8:0 p.m. Facilitated by local…
Read More »Minta Judd This Musings from Main is a follow-up to last week's e-mail about the Hartford County Temporary Home. It again comes courtesy of Beverly Titus, a volunteer at the East Windsor Historical Society. As you already know from last week,…
Read More »Remembrance This Musings from Main comes courtesy of Beverly Titus, a volunteer at the East Windsor Historical Society. For the past few years, Beverly has been working on a research project focused on a piece of East Windsor's history that could…
Read More »February 10, 2023 Nowashe-on-the-Go! The impetus for this Musings from Main arrived in the mail this week. It may be off season for a visit to explore Nowashe Village but Nowashe-on-the-Go makes learning fun all year long! THANK YOU! Thank…
Read More »This Musings from Main celebrates the accomplishments of Dr. Primus Manumit. At the end of this Musing are links to the primary sources used. To make it easier for readers to explore the original source materials and quotes, the links open to the…
Read More »February 2023 Calendar Happy Valentine's Day to all our Friends! To make the Pine Bark workshop more inclusive we have decided to lower the pricing to $40. Register at https://nowashe.org/.../make-your-own-white-pine-bark.../ Explore The Long…
Read More »January 27, 2023 Winter Snow This Musings from Main is for everyone who loves winter and snow. I thought I'd remind us of what a thick blanket of snow looks like in South Windsor! All of the images used in this Musing (and many more) are…
Read More »Trees I have been thinking about trees lately, different types of trees actually, and realized I hadn't researched or written about them much. I decided to change that and make the topic of this week's Musings from Main, trees. Although I…
Read More »The Long Hill Quilt Book This week's Musings from Main announces a new online offering available for you to explore on our website, the Long Hill Quilt Book. We hope you enjoy it! The original booklet is available to peruse in person, by…
Read More »January 06, 2023 Hooded Merganser This week's Musings from Main welcomes back some of my migratory neighbors, the Hooded Merganser, just one of the of the many types of ducks that make the pond in my neighborhood their home! You can join in…
Read More »December 23, 2022 Christmas was Banned?!? Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas to All! The Puritans Christmas under the Commonwealth, A Puritan rebuking children for the idolatry of picking holly. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The…
Read More »Gingerbread Houses in the Land of Sweets This Musings From Main is a thank you to all of the wonderfully artistic people who helped support the Friends this year by creating a gingerbread house masterpiece for our display. We have had four…
Read More »Don't miss the final days of the the Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum 12th Annual Gingerbread House Festival: Land of Sweets, December 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th. 12th Annual Gingerbread House Festival: Land of Sweets! Located at 783…
Read More »December 9, 2022 Santa's Milk and Cookies! This Musings From Main is a Christmas collaboration, with the research and writing being done by Ye Olde Gingerbread Shoppe Manager, Cherish Lisee. We hope you enjoy it! The Legend of Santa's Milk…
Read More »December 2, 2022 Thank You Volunteers! The world celebrates International Volunteer Day on December 5, 2022. This provided us with the perfect opportunity to say THANK YOU to all of the wonderful people who have given of their time…
Read More »Looking to fill more adult volunteer shifts at the festival, please click the link below It is almost time for our 12th Annual Gingerbread House Festival: Land of Sweets!! November 25 thru December 18, 2022 Thursdays & Fridays 10am-7pm …
Read More »Thanksgiving Day Parade It is almost Thanksgiving! For many, the holiday brings with it thoughts of a turkey feast, followed by football. It also brings to mind the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Although the Macy's parade may be the most well…
Read More »November 11, 2022 More Musings from Main Go Online I was inspired by some new images of wildlife sent to me by South Windsor resident Joe Wojnilo, to upload another group of selected Musing to our website. This second group focuses on nature. We…
Read More »It is almost time for our 12th Annual Gingerbread House Festival: Land of Sweets!! November 25 thru December 18, 2022 Thursdays & Fridays 10am-7pm Saturdays & Sundays 10am -5pm Register Your Gingerbread House Details and registration…
Read More »Last week I wrote about Alse Young, the first woman in the to be executed for witchcraft in the American Colonies. The subject of this week's Musing was also accused of witchcraft, read on to discover how he fared. A Celebrated Member of the…
Read More »The Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum invite you to join Clara and the Nutcracker Prince in the Land of Sweets, as you experience one of the largest gingerbread house festivals in New England. The Friends’ 12th Annual Gingerbread…
Read More »According to author Cynthia Wolfe Boynton, witchcraft officially became a crime in Connecticut in 1642, when twelve Capitall Lawes based on literal interpretations of the Bible were created by the Connecticut Colony's Generall (sic) Court. (p. 21).…
Read More »October 07, 2022 The Big Sit!® This week's Musings from Main explores The Big Sit!, and just a couple of the many ducks that make the pond in my neighborhood their home! The images used in this Musing, are courtesy of Joe Wojnilo a…
Read More »The Horse Hill Singers are sponsored by Nowashe Village is proud to announce that the renowned Horse Hill Singers will be performing live on Indigenous Peoples Day, Monday, October. 10th. The Horse Hill Singers kick off celebrations at 12:30 p.m.…
Read More »September 30, 2022 Gravity Hill This weeks Musings from Main was inspired by a book I recently read, Gravity Hill. Written by Susanne Davis, the book is based in small rural town in Connecticut and it introduced me to the phenomenon of a gravity…
Read More »September 23, 2022 Colonial Era Funeral Customs This weeks Musings from Main was inspired by the fall season with its holiday of Halloween, and the South Windsor Historical Society's tour of the God’s Acre Cemetery program to be held…
Read More »What Leith Did this Summer This week's?Musings from Main?comes from Friends' Archivist, Leith Johnson! The Society of America Archivists Since 2002, I have given a presentation titled “Archives in the Movies” at the Society of…
Read More »What Liz Did this Summer This week's?Musings from Main?comes from Education Director Liz Glaviano! Bea goes to College This summer’s biggest event by far was sending our oldest, Bea, off to her first year of college at the University of New…
Read More »Nowashe Village receives TWO National Awards! The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has selected the Friends of Wood Memorial Library and Museum as a recipient of the History in Progress (HIP) Award and Award of Excellence…
Read More »September 2, 2022 What Carolyn Did this Summer This week's Musings from Main comes from Executive Director Carolyn Venne, about her family's trip to Philadelphia and some of the museums they toured while there. Venne Family Museum Adventures…
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