Picture Tolland: When The Town Could Use A Belting

TOLLAND, CT — The latest installment of the Picture Tolland series takes us to the booming manufacturing industry in town during the 1800s.

According to the Tolland Historical Society, the Underwood Belting Factory sat in the center of town. The 4-story structure was located at the current Hicks Municipal Center parking lot off Old Post Road.

On the lot next door, down the hill, was a tenement house built for the factory workers.

Here's what the area looks like now:

Old Post Road in Tolland. (Chris Dehnel)

Artifacts and information on the belting industry are available in the Old Tolland County Jail and Museum.

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Picture Tolland is a periodic look at images of the town, past and present.