> Windsor's History

Windsor's History

Windsor's History
Windsor, Connecticut's first town, was launched in 1633 when settlers sailed from Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts to establish themselves at the confluence of the Farmington and Connecticut rivers. The Native Americans referred to this area as Matianuck. The Reverend John Warham and 60 members of his congregation, a church organized in England in 1630, arrived two years later, and renamed the settlement Dorchester. A final name change to Windsor was decreed in 1637 by the colony's General Court.

Windsor is the home of Oliver Ellsworth, a drafter of the Constitution and third Chief Justice for the United States as well as US Senator. In addition, Windsor has been the home of one Governor, two Lieutenant Governors, two Secretaries of the State, and one State Treasurer. Its original land has been used to spin off no less than 20 other Connecticut towns, in whole or part, from Litchfield and Torrington to the west, to Tolland in the east.

Historically, Windsor's economy has been dominated by two pursuits: tobacco farming and brickmaking (since 1775). In its heyday, there were more than 40 brickyards in Windsor. The last one disappeared in the 1960's. The first tobacco crop was planted in 1640 with seeds brought to Connecticut from the Virginia plantations. Several hundred acres are still being cultivated today.

Also for approximately 100 years (1830 - 1930) woolen mills and paper mills located on the Farmington River in the Poquonock and Rainbow sections of Windsor provided employment for up to 500 people.

Currently Windsor's industrial base encompasses a wide range of products and services, including insurance, software development, and manufacturing of nuclear reactors, engine components, and machinery.

Add Event

Events

Open Classroom at the WAC Studios
Dec 22 at Windsor Train Station Studios
Bring Your Gadgets to the Geeks
Dec 24 at Windsor Public Library 323 Broad Street Windsor, CT
First Town Chat
Fridays at 161 Broad Street, Windsor
Tickborne Illness Support Group
Dec 28 at LP Wilson Community Center, 599 Matianuck Ave. Windsor
Open Classroom at the WAC Studios
Dec 29 at Windsor Train Station Studios
Monthly Veteran's Coffee Hour
Dec 30 at L.P. Wilson
Bring Your Gadgets to the Geeks
Dec 31 at Windsor Public Library 323 Broad Street Windsor, CT
First Town Chat
Fridays at 161 Broad Street, Windsor
Open Classroom at the WAC Studios
Jan 5, 2025 at Windsor Train Station Studios
Bring Your Gadgets to the Geeks
Jan 7, 2025 at Windsor Public Library 323 Broad Street Windsor, CT
Transportation Comm. Mtg
Jan 7, 2025 at online
Ambassadors Committee Meeting
Jan 8, 2025 at online
Alzheimer's Support Group
Jan 9, 2025 at Virtual
First Town Chat
Fridays at 161 Broad Street, Windsor
Tickborne Illness Support Group
Jan 11, 2025 at LP Wilson Community Center, 599 Matianuck Ave. Windsor
Open Classroom at the WAC Studios
Jan 12, 2025 at Windsor Train Station Studios
Bring Your Gadgets to the Geeks
Jan 14, 2025 at Windsor Public Library 323 Broad Street Windsor, CT
Board of Directors Mtg
Jan 14, 2025 at online
First Town Chat
Fridays at 161 Broad Street, Windsor
Open Classroom at the WAC Studios
Jan 19, 2025 at Windsor Train Station Studios
Programs Committee Mtg
Jan 20, 2025 at online
Transportation Comm. Mtg
Jan 7, 2025 at online
Ambassadors Committee Meeting
Jan 8, 2025 at online
Board of Directors Mtg
Jan 14, 2025 at online
Programs Committee Mtg
Jan 20, 2025 at online
Open Classroom at the WAC Studios
Dec 22 at Windsor Train Station Studios
Bring Your Gadgets to the Geeks
Dec 24 at Windsor Public Library 323 Broad Street Windsor, CT
First Town Chat
Fridays at 161 Broad Street, Windsor
Tickborne Illness Support Group
Dec 28 at LP Wilson Community Center, 599 Matianuck Ave. Windsor
First Town Chat
Fridays at 161 Broad Street, Windsor
Open Classroom at the WAC Studios
Dec 22 at Windsor Train Station Studios
AllChamberTodayWeekWeekend