ANNOUNCING THE CLASS OF 2026

The Meriden Hall of Fame is proud to announce our class of 2026 inductees:
Gary “Tex” Burt, in the category of Community Service
Justin Piccirillo, in the category of Literature
Michael Roberts, in the category of Sports
Ashbil Griswold, in the category of Historic Persons

Join us for the 2026 Induction Ceremony on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 2:00pm at the Meriden Public Library. The event is free and open to the public.

Inductees

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Featured Inductee

Ashbil Boardman Griswold (Historic Persons)

1784 – 1853

Ashbil Boardman Griswold was born on April 4, 1784, in Rocky Hill, to Constant and Rebecca Boardman Griswold. Around 1797, he began an apprenticeship in pewter making under master craftsman Thomas Danforth III in Rocky Hill, acquiring the skills that would shape Meriden's industrial destiny. Griswold moved to Meriden and established the town's first metalware manufacturing shop in 1808, working in pewter, block tin, and later Britannia — a lead-free alloy of tin, a...

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE STAMPS HONORING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Rosa Ponselle
Inducted: 1977 | Stamp released: 1997

Thomas Anthony "Tomie" dePaola
Inducted: 1985 | Stamp released: 2023

2023 U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring 1985 inductee Thomas Anthony “Tomie” dePaola and his Caldecott Medal–winning children’s book Strega Nona.