The Simsbury Historical Society is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibition, The Roland Wolf Collection: Historic Photos of Tariffville, produced in collaboration with the Tariffville Village Association (TVA). It is the first in a series of events to commemorate Tariffville’s 200 years of history, approaching in 2025.
Roland Wolf was a popular barber in Tariffville, a village within the northeastern corner of Simsbury, for more than 50 years. The walls of his Valley Barber Shop which was located at the corner of Center and Winthrop Streets were decorated with many old photos of Tariffville. The photos caught the attention of customers and spurred conversations about Tariffville’s manufacturing history and range of architectural styles. After Roland retired in 2021, he donated his collection of framed photos to the Simsbury Historical Society.
Photos in the collection depict Tariffville’s people, places, and events from the past. Images of the Tariffville train wreck of 1878, Bartlett’s Tower, the former Tariff Manufacturing Company, commonly known as the Mill, as well as village houses, business, and places of worship are represented.
The exhibition will be open to the public during the Simsbury Historical Society’s regular tour schedule on Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. through Saturday, December 21, 2024. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 3–4:30 p.m. at the Hendrick Cottage on the Simsbury Historical Society property. Roland Wolf and TVA members will be present to answer questions about the collection of photos and other Tariffville artifacts on display. RSVP by email at info@simsburyhistory.org.