Hidden Gems of North-Central Connecticut

ROCKY HILL, CT — The latest installment of a periodic series on Patch sites in north-central Connecticut highlighting "hidden gems" throughout the region focuses on an historic building which dates back to the turn of the 19th century.

A Federal-style building constructed in 1803, the Academy Hall at 785 Old Main Street in Rocky Hill is among the last of a rare breed: a 200+ year old educational building with very few exterior alterations. From its inception through 1941, the building housed educational institutions almost continuously, and for many years, the upstairs served as a community meeting hall.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Academy Hall has housed the museum of the Rocky Hill Historical Society since 1965. It is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, and Saturdays from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Appointments for visits during other hours may be made by emailing infoRHhistory@gmail.com, or calling 860-563-6704.

Admission to the museum is free.

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This series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other recent columns in this series:

• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant