On 18 June 1968, Governor Dempsey announced that Eric Sloane would donate his early American tool collection to the state of Connecticut. Pictured, from left: Eric Hatch, chairman of the Connecticut State Historic Commission, William Tobin, First Selectman of Kent, Governor John Dempsey, Donald W. Davis, president of The Stanley Works, and Eric Sloane. The five gentlemen are holding one of Eric’s “placements”, consisting of four early braces and several early 19th century almanacs mounted to an antique barn board backing. From Wil Mauch’s “Symbols of American Spirit : 50 Years of the Eric Sloane Museum”.
We will be posting some history of the museum and how it came to be, leading up to the July 2, 2022 celebration to be held on the grounds of the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent.