This month: A feature article about our star maintenance staff, and a letter from a visitor thanking head maintainer Peter Wilson for his efforts. Many thanks to Ballek's for sponsoring the plantings around the Castle beds. Pictures from the Castle Paint & Sip. Another cool video from volunteer Jimmy Bennett.
Castle opening
The Castle is open!

Our soft opening was a great success. We raised more than $200 in donations, and LOTS of visitors were thrilled with the unexpected ability to get into the Castle. Park staff did a great job and really appreciated the practice. Many thanks to the volunteers who came to help out!
Loads of people sprucing up the Castle!
Peter Wilson
Kudos for head maintainer Peter Wilson. We recently got a hand-written letter from the lovely woman in this picture. She was thrilled about some help she got during her visit to the Castle from Friends president Lynn Wilkinson and head maintainer Peter Wilson.

Peter rescued her phone, which had wandered somewhere it was NOT supposed to be!

Rescuing phones is just one of the many types of adventures one can find in a work day at the Castle. Read our feature article (with loads of photos) about all the work park staff are doing to keep the Castle and grounds in good order.
Nancy Ballek
Planting parties! Thanks to a generous donation from Ballek's Garden Center, the planting beds surrounding the Castle are lush with plantings!

One more planting party is planned at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at the Castle terrace. Bring a trowel, gloves, and watering can if you want to help out.

Join our volunteer list if you want to be invited to future opportunities.
Friends of Gillette Castle State Park on the SEC-TV show "Books and Beyond"

Friends member and local author Jimmy Bennett was on location at Gillette Castle during the 1920s picnic! He has a fun discussion with some of the 1920s models, and talked to the Nivers (a.k.a. William and Helen Gillette). It's a delightful conversation with all kinds of fascinating tidbits about William Gillette. After the interviews, you get to walk around various sights and learn about them, finishing off with a discussion with members of the Japan Society of Greater Hartford, who were at the Castle for a picnic that day.

We hope you enjoy it!
The Governor's Foot Guard Dixieland Jazz Band will be performing live 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Visitor Center!
Governors foot guard

Celebrate the world's Make Music Day with the Foot Guard at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 21.
Paint and Sip 2002

The recent Castle Paint & Sip was sold out and LOADS of fun. The weather was beautiful and creativity abounded!
Sherlock shout-out. Sherlock is thrilled to welcome our new and renewing 2022 members Joe & Jane Z., Cindy & Josh N., Karl R., Robert T., Mark H., and Peter D.!