The Girl in the Glass Coffin

Name: The Girl in the Glass Coffin
Start: 2025-09-20T13:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-09-20T14:00:00-04:00
Location: 9 Grace St, Cortland, NY 13045-2084, United States

Schedule

Sat Sep 20 2025 at 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

9 Grace St, Cortland, NY 13045-2084, United States | Cortland, NY

Step back in time to Oswego, NY, during the fabulous Gilded Age and witness the fascinating true story of ten-year-old Virginia Tonkin, whose tragic death ignited a legend that has been passed down for generations. Virginia made history when her parents refused to inter her body and kept her inside their home in a glass-covered coffin for well over a year. The Tonkin family's controversial tale is one full of intrigue, tragedy, freak accidents, scandal, romance, betrayal, mystery, and even murder. The opulence of their home and the comfort of their luxurious lifestyles were overshadowed by the ominous events that plagued them during the time they lived in the house, known by local legend as "The Tonkin Mansion." A handsome millionaire playboy wreaks havoc, a real cold case is potentially solved, vicious rumors are put to rest, and the dark truth is finally brought to light in this captivating novel that will leave you thinking about it long after you set it down.
Author Lee Ellen Hickey will share her research into the Tonkin family and will have copies of her book, The Girl in the Glass Coffin: The Tonkin Affairs, for sale.
CCHS members receive free admission, and members-to-be pay just $5 at the door. This event will take place at 9 Grace Street.