What's Open, What's Closed in Simsbury Around Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend

Martin Luther King Jr. is recognized with a national holiday on Monday, Jan. 19. Many workplaces are closed for the day; most stores are open.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. IN SIMSBURY

In 1944, King visited Simsbury, as the Simsbury Historical Society website says: “[A]t the age of 15 he came north with a group of Morehouse students to work for the Cullman Brothers in their Simsbury area shade tobacco fields. (He returned to Simsbury to work for Cullman Bros. again in 1947 between his junior and senior years at Morehouse.)“

The Morehouse students weren’t met with the segregation imposed in the South, according to the historical society: “Despite the hot, dusty and exhausting work, summer in Simsbury was often described by the students as ’the Promised Land.’ On Friday evenings they might venture into town [...] They could attend the movies at the Eno Memorial Hall or stop at Doyle’s Drug Store for their first opportunity to have a milk shake. (In the South they would not have been served at the white owned businesses.)

EVENT ON JAN. 19:

In Simsbury, The 5th Annual MLK in Simsbury Celebration, an event to mark the holiday takes place at 2 p.m., Monday at First Church of Christ, 689 Hopmeadow St. “Enjoy this special observation of MLK’s life and legacy, including his time spent in Simsbury. The program will include readings, prayer, reflections and music. Keynote Speaker: Martha Brackeen-Harris.”

FRIDAY, Jan. 16

CLOSING EARLY

• Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles offices will close early at 12:30 p.m., remain closed on Saturday and reopen Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. All AAA offices will be open to process renewals for driver licenses and non-driver ID cards during their normal business hours.

SATURDAY, Jan. 17

CLOSED

• Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles offices will remain closed on Saturday and reopen Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. All AAA offices will be open to process renewals for driver licenses and non-driver ID cards during their normal business hours.

OPEN for regular hours

• Post offices

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, MONDAY, Jan. 19

CLOSED

• Simsbury Public Schools
• Simsbury town government offices
• Simsbury Public Library
• Connecticut state government offices, including the Connecticut Lottery
• Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles offices are closed on Saturday; offices reopen Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. All AAA offices will be open to process renewals for driver licenses and non-driver ID cards during their normal business hours.
• Connecticut Lottery Corp.: “While the headquarters will not be open for business, the web site and automated phone system will be available to obtain information. Regularly scheduled lottery drawings will occur.” Crossroads Card & Gift in Norwalk, a “high-tier claim center” for the lottery, will be open regular hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• U.S. government offices
• Post offices
• The New York Stock Exchange (most of the rest of the financial industry follows the NYSE holiday schedule)
• BANKS in Connecticut have the option of remaining open on state-recognized holidays if they notifiy customers in advance. People’s Bank, like most banks, will be closed. (TDBank will be open.)

OPEN for regular hours

• Westminster School (but a special event is scheduled for the chapel from 10:30 to 10:55 a.m.)
• Ethel Walker School (But a special event related to the holiday is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon.)
• TD Bank (Banks in Connecticut have the option of remaining open on state-recognized holidays if they notifiy customers in advance.)

Photo (National Archives, via Wikimedia Commons): “Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C.”