Wrap your brain around this month's trivia questions. Check out our new membership benefits for 2020! Meet our new treasurer. All this and more inside!
Accomplishments and Happenings
  • The Gillettes have returned to the Castle! They will be regular visitors on Sundays (2:00 - 4:00 PM) and you might also spot them on Friday afternoons. See pics of their COVID-safe space here.
  • Our YouTube playlist covering the train trail walk is complete. Check out this video essay including a video with William Gillette himself!
  • State Park seasonal staff make ongoing repairs to keep the Castle in shape. Meet Bob Walsh, stonemason extraordinaire, as he repairs the stone wall near the concession stand.
  • We welcome Lynn Wilkinson as the new Secretary for the Friends.
Join Us!
The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park have worked tirelessly to create, maintain, and support our amazing destination. COVID-19 eliminated our ability to run our popular trail walks and events and forced creative thinking about ways to engage everyone in the special legacy of William Gillette. We have many events and projects in the queue for when we reopen. However, these efforts need the support and energy of our members now more than ever!

This is why we hope you'll consider becoming a Friends member today. If you’ve been a Friend in the past, please consider rejoining at this exciting time. If you are a current member, this is the perfect time to renew!

Friends memberships are annual (May 1 through April 30) and are fully tax deductible. We have updated our membership initiative, and if you join or renew today your membership will be good through April 2022 (that’s eight free months of membership!), AND all memberships that are new or renewed before May 1, 2021, will receive a special gift. 

Some benefits you will enjoy as a Friends member:
  • Members-only events.
  • First access to general events and reduced admission for paid general events.
  • 15% discount at the Friends Gift Shop. 
  • An opportunity to buy a limited-edition, members-only shirt.
  • Emailed members-only communications.
  • Attendance and voting privileges at Friends meetings.
  • Input about future projects and events.
  • Occasional volunteer opportunities in support of the park and Castle.
  • A warm heart, knowing you're preserving one of Connecticut’s historical treasures!



Become a part of the history of this special place. We look forward to working together!
Test Your Trivia!
The September edition
A compilation of little-known facts about William Gillette and Sherlock Holmes

Sept 6, 1879: "The Mystery of Sasassa Valley" is published by an anonymous author in "Chamber's Journal." Who was that mysterious wordsmith?

Sept 25, 1938: Orson Welles portrays Sherlock Holmes in a radio adaptation of a famous play. Name that play and the author.

Sept 26, 1903: Sherlock fans celebrate as the 28th Sherlock Holmes story is published: Name the story (there is a clue in the image below). Extra credit: In what magazine was it published?

Read the answers and more in this month's edition of Test Your Trivia!
My collection of M's is a fine one
Where's Sherlock?
Sherlock and Castle memorabilia at Toni Lynns house
Our erstwhile Facebook mascot has done some more traveling this month! He visited new Treasurer Toni-Lynn Miles at her home in Haddam, and made a lot of new friends.


Sherlock shout-out!

Sherlock enthusiastically welcomes this month's new/renewing members: Diana F, Laura B, Lynn W, Marjorie F, Marya R, Sharon C, Toni-Lynn M!
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