Downtown Rockville Area Now Officially A State Cultural District, 1st In County

VERNON, CT — Parts of Vernon — mostly in the areas in and surrounding Downtown Rockville — are now officially recognized as a state cultural district. The area is the first such district in Tolland County.

Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and others, gathered at the New England Civil War Museum inside Town Hall last week to celebrate the approval of Vernon’s application to establish a state-recognized cultural district.

It is the 14th cultural district in the state in addition to the first in Tolland County.

The district extends from Pitney Park on the east to Saxony Park to the west, to Talcott Park to the north and to Henry Park to the south. It includes the New England Civil War Museum and Research Center, the New England Motorcycle Museum, several historic structures, the Fox Hill Tower and arts-focused businesses.

"With today's announcement, Vernon is now formally recognized for talent, culture, beauty, and history that strengthen the unique character of their community. I'm so excited to welcome the Rockville section of town to our growing list of cultural assets across the state — and the very first in Tolland County," Susan Bysiewicz said. "Congratulations to Vernon and to all who made this designation possible."

Cultural districts are walkable areas of cities and towns that feature a variety of cultural organizations, activities and assets. They draw people from other communities and create a place for people to congregate and interact, while also promoting artists, entrepreneurs and creative businesses, promoting tourism, improving the quality of life for residents, strengthening a community’s distinctive character, driving economic growth and expanding the tax base, and highlighting local culture and history.

“Vernon’s Cultural District is a hidden gem,” said Liz Shapiro, the Department of Economic and Community Development's director of arts, preservation and museums. "Tucked away between small rivers and rolling hills, walking the streets evokes a sense of history and place that seems both timeless and contemporary. From pottery studios to architecture, coffee shops and restaurants to motorcycle museums, Vernon is a very special place."

Champagne said Vernon's goals are to contribute to economic well-being by building a vibrant arts and cultural community that attracts artists, cultural organizations and businesses, enhancing property values, fostering local cultural development, and creating a framework that increases town wide coordination and collaboration.

"While there is work to do, we are starting from a position of strength," Champagne said. "Anyone who visits Rockville for the first time is immediately struck by the architecture and wants to know more about Rockville\'s history and what we have to offer. We have a lot already, but we know we can do better."

He elaborated by mentioning refurbishing the Amerbelle/Daniel’s mill complex and the Citizens Block, and to "further capitalize" on the arts opportunities at the Rockville Public Library and elsewhere in the district.

Champagne said he wanted to bring back an idea killed by the pandemic — converting the former senior center into the Park Place Performing Arts Center next to Town Hall.

"We have a lot to be proud of in Vernon," he. said. "We need to let the rest of the world know what Vernon has to offer.”

Vernon’s Cultural District Advisory Board has already supported music and theatrical performances in the district — at Henry Park and the Rockville Public Library. Other events include July in the Sky and the Civil War Museum's annual Living History Day.

Liz Bologna, a Vockville resident, professional singer, arts and music advocate and cultural district commission member praised the efforts.

"The town and the community have done an incredible job with the parks and the trails that we have here in Vernon and highlighting them and making them a destination for people,: she said. "To now have a cultural district and the opportunity to do that for the arts and culture is really, really exciting. This is the kind of support that artists want to see. To have it in my hometown is very exciting to me. The more we can support the artists we have attract more artists and art lovers to the town, we have a chance to do something very exciting."

Shaun Gately, Vernon’s director of development services, said the approval of the cultural district cements what has been happening for generations in Vernon.

"This has been our cultural district for 100 or so years or more,” he said. “This is an official recognition of what has always been."

Dan Hayden, the executive director of the New England Civil War Museum, said the museum was an ideal setting for Thursday’s celebration as it is a special place. It is not only a museum, but is the room in which Civil War veterans from Rockville and beyond gathered in the years after the war to talk, support each other and have social events.

The museum is the longest continually used Grand Army of the Republic hall in the United States.