Hidden Gems of Hartford and Tolland Counties

WILLINGTON, CT — The latest journey to a Hidden Gem in Tolland and Hartford counties takes us to the Willington Green and what was a societal epicenter in the early 1800s.

The Daniel Glazier Tavern is located at the west end of the green. It's a Circa 1815 Federal Period two-story, hip-roofed structure built by Daniel Glazier. According to the Willington Historical Society, it was located at the junction of Wolcott’s Road (today’s Route 74) and the Norwich-to-Springfield Highway (now Route 320) that crossed the lower portion of the green and continued over the hill behind the tavern heading toward Stafford. A section of the road is still evident on the property.

According to the historical society, the Glazier Tavern was, "a gathering place for local folks as well as travelers stopping for food, drink, lodging and to fodder their horses and who brought news from distant cities or towns, which served as a fresh and timely source of information for the populace of rural communities."

Since April 6, 2009, the Willington Historical Society has been able to call the tavern home after Edward Williams gifted the building and the 3-acre lot to the society.

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The Hidden Gems 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 columns in this series:

• Mount Southington Ski School
• Awards & More
• Marquis de Lafayette Monument
• The Little Red Store
• River Bend Bookshop
• Gerry's Donuts
• Traveler Restaurant
• First Decorated Christmas Tree
• The Stanley-Whitman House
• Vernon's Santa House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• Old Country Banquet Hall
• Brazilian Gula Grill
• Thomas' Smokey Pit Stop
• Congregational Church of Burlington labyrinth
• Noah Webster House
• The Bushnell's Green Room Wall
• Belding Wildlife Management Area
• The Aborn Castle
• Heublein Tower
• Birthplace of Jonathan Edwards
• Grave of Revolutionary War Soldier Heman Baker
• Jessica's Garden, Lobster and Ice Cream Shack
• Shade Swamp Sanctuary
• Ken's Corner Breakfast & Lunch
• Tolland Red and White
• The Packing House
• Cold Harbor Seafood
• Nye Holman State Forest/Heron Cove Park
• Hosmer Mountain Soda Shack
• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Matterhorn Mini Golf
• Wood Memorial Library & Museum
• Hastings Farm
• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• 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