Eno Descendant Helps Kick Off Simsbury Cell Phone Tour

Submitted release

A handful of supporters helped kick-off the “Simsbury Cell-Phone Tour: A Step into History” at Eno Hall on Saturday, June 9, as part of Connecticut Open House Day.

Headlining the event was First Selectman Mary Glassman, who was joined by Deputy First Selectman John Hampton and First Selectman Lisa Heavner. 

Simsbury Tourism Co-chair Liz Banco coordinated activities, which included a guided tour of the Simsbury Cemetery led by Jay Eno, a member of the Eno family, which has five family-mausoleums in the cemetery.

He strolled the grounds, showing a group of interested onlookers the site of Simsbury’s first meeting house, built in 1683.

Eno also pointed out notable graves, including:  Henry K. Pomroy, former President of the New York Stock Exchange; Captain Joseph Toy, Jr., who died in the Civil War and was transported to Simsbury in a barrel of brandy; eight young women buried side-by-side who died in an explosion at the Toy Bickford Fuse Company in 1859, which later became Ensign Bickford, and Sen. George Payne McLean who donated McLean Game Refuge and had his friend, President Calvin Coolidge, join him for many fishing trips in Simsbury.

Simsbury Free Library also offered tours and respected local-artist Sue Prentice painted en plein air on the front steps of the building.

The “Simsbury Cell-Phone Tour: A Step into History” can be accessed anytime by calling 860-323-9029, and is free unless roaming charges apply.  There are 11 locations with prompts and tour maps are available at each stop.

For more information visit www.simsbury-ct.gov/tourism.