Is the East Windsor Hill Post Office a Fraud?

One of South Windsor’s claims to fame is the East Windsor Hill Post Office. Glance at almost any city guide or historical society website and you’re bound to see it. South Windsor: home to the nation’s oldest continuously running post office. But is it really? Or is it a lie designed to give South Windsor more street cred? 

In 1757, David Bissell Jr. sold some land on East Windsor Hill to barber Jeremiah Ballard. Ballard built his shop on Main Street in East Windsor, known today as South Windsor. Bissell’s son, who inherited part of his father’s land, attached his own two-story shop to the right-hand side of Ballard’s building about 10 years later. Up until 1783, the two shops were used to store produce, sell horse saddles, and to create gold and silversmithing goods. In 1783, the shops on main street got their first visit from the horse and rider postal service. This is where things get interesting. Some people claim this 1783 visit would make the East Windsor Hill Post Office the oldest continuously running post office in the country. Others say, not so fast! The shops on Main Street weren’t officially declared a post office until a whole 54 years later in 1837. Meanwhile, the Hinsdale Post Office in New Hampshire had been operating as a governmental post office since 1816. 

But what actually constitutes the official establishment of a post office? Is it receiving a post rider, or is it the appointment of a postmaster? The Hartford Courant, the country’s oldest newspaper, does, in fact, equate receiving the first post rider as being the oldest post office. Alas, it seems that in this instance, history is somewhat subjective. East Windsor and Hinsdale both make solid arguments for nabbing the title of the oldest continuously running post office.

South Windsor’s First Church

Religion was a key factor in English settlement in New England. Connecticut, and South Windsor specifically is no different. Church was extremely important to most colonists and thus, important to our history. The First Congregational Church in South Windsor is the among the earliest churches founded in the US after the great migration of Puritans to the New World.

Established in the 1630’s, the town of Windsor extended across both sides of the CT River. The church was located on the west side and in the 17th century, farmers on the east side (now known as South Windsor) had to cross the river to attend worship. Traveling to and from the church was often difficult so in 1691, there was a petition in the Connecticut General Court for the east side of the river to have their own church and minister. The court approved and in 1694, the first meeting house was constructed on Main Street with the first minister, Timothy Edwards ordained in 1698. Edwards served as the pastor for over 60 years until his death in 1758. In total, the church has been served by 35 pastors. 

In it’s 325 years of history, the church has moved into 4 different buildings all on Main Street. The first meeting house had no floor or seats and was replaced in 1714, then again in 1761. The current church (First Congregational Church of South Windsor) was built in 1845 when South Windsor became a separate town. The building is extremely similar to the First Church of Windsor and like many in that century, was built with a Greek Revival design and has a columned portico in the front of the building. 
The church continues to run as a place of worship on 993 Main Street.

Triplet Bissell Houses

The Bissell Family is one of the oldest to settle in South Windsor. They held numerous powerful positions through court, government, and a variety of businesses. For numerous generations the family maintained their wealth and prominence. Thus, it’s no surprise that their name has lived on through the historical landmarks of SW. One of these locations is 3 houses all with identical designs built for Bissell Family members. 

It all started when a merchant and business partner of Aaron Bissell, Eli Haskell married the Bissell sisters – Sophia in 1810 then Susan in 1818. In 1812, Aaron built what is now known as the Eli Haskell house at 1909 Main Street for his son in law and daughter to live in. A year later, after demolishing the family homestead, Bissell essentially duplicated the Haskell house across the street at 1891 Main Street. 3 years later, Aaron’s brother Epaphras built his own house, modeled after the two houses, nearby at 1835 Main Street. The 3 houses are distinctly similar to any viewer. Each large two story federal style house is built of brick rather than the more common wood portraying the families prestige and stature. The brickwork is uniform, including the double soldier design for the window lintels. Each house also contains 4 chimneys on each corner of the roof, dentils at the cornice, as well as virtually identical entrances of fanlights and white molding around the doors. The main difference is that Epaphras’ house includes a colonnaded, pedimented portico at the south wing of the house while Aaron’s house had a massive rear wing very different from Haskell.

Although old, and having passed through the hands of numerous owners, all 3 houses have remained well maintained by throughout the years!

Saving the Asahel Olcott House

Located at 1091 Main Street, the Asahel Olcott house was built in 1782 although different documents dispute it’s builder. The first resident Asahel Olcott (1754 – 1831), a soldier in the Revolutionary War, is one of those named in the documents. The other is his father Benoni Olcott (1717 – 1799). 

Regardless of who built it, the house is rich with history and resembles the style of many other two story colonial houses on Main Street. Although its general features are not unusual, the house does include what is called a “beverly jog”. The name originated from Beverly, MA because this particular features is almost exclusively seen in Georgian style homes of northern Massachusetts. Its purpose is to add an interior staircase connecting to upper levels. Although designed similar to the outer portion of the house, the narrow structure clearly protrudes on one side – thus the term “jog”.

Upon his death, Asahel gave the house to his wife and throughout the years, it passed through the hands of numerous owners. Recently, in 2016, it was bought by Micheal Mondo. However, upon receiving the house, numerous contractors informed Mondo that the house couldn’t be restored due to issues such as a caving foundation and rotting support beams. While Mondo had then initially planned to tear down the house, numerous South Windsor citizens came together to save the historical masterpiece. A group called the Save the Olcott House gathered 199 signatures and with the help of CT Circuit Riders, petitioned the State Historic Preservation Office. Soon, the SW Demolition Delay Committee postponed the demolition for six months in an attempt to find an alternate solution. And indeed, a solution was found. Linda Sunderland, a specialist in Colonial era renovation bought the house, and with the help of the CT Trust for Historic Preservation was able to restore and sell it.

Navigating History: The Largest River in New England

The Connecticut River, the largest in New England, is one of the most renowned geographic features of South Windsor. Originating at the Fourth CT Lake near the NH-Quebec border, it then flows through NH, VT, MA, and CT before finally pouring into the Atlantic. Its watershed covers 7.2 million acres – twice the size of CT – connecting 148 tributaries and 38 major rivers. The waters are home to 10 threatened/endangered species and over 2.4 million residents.

The river first formed around 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age. It’s name originates from the word ‘quinetucket’, the Mohican native word meaning “beside the long, tidal river”. The Mohicans as well as other native tribes, used the river for travel, hunting and it’s fertile soil. Then, by 1614, the Dutch that settled in CT utilized it for trading routes and Dutch explorer Adriaen Block became the first European to ever chart the river. By 1633, Plymouth settlers sailed up the river and soon after Puritans formed Hartford and Springfield, two of the largest CT river cities. 

As industrialization began and factories became a dominant force, waste, dyes and toxins were dumped in the water. That, along with pesticides from farms destroyed the water to the point that it was once described as America’s “best landscaped sewer”. It was only after a disastrous flood in 1936, that a federal project of 20 dams/reservoirs began. Then through the Water Quality Act, enacted in 1965, the river was restored from Class D to Class B (fishable and swimmable). The CT River continued its improvements and in 1998, became 1 of only 14 rivers protected as an American Heritage River. By 2012, it was designated as America’s First National Blueway for the exemplary restoration efforts. Hopefully the river remains just as preserved and beautiful for generations to come!

The Mill With Over 250 Years of History

The Mill on the River restaurant is one of the most well known in South Windsor. The iconic dam and bridge immediately catches the eye of any viewer passing through. And not only is the mill beautiful, but it’s also rich with history starting even before the official formation of South Windsor. 

Before English colonization, the Hartford County area in Connecticut was populated by the Algonquin speaking, Podunk Native Americans. Those living in South Windsor camped, hunted, fished and grew crops by the (later appropriately named) Podunk River. Eventually, a joint effort by the Podunks and colonists would result in what is one of the oldest dams in Connecticut. The dam proved essential in powering the grist and saw mill which, respectively, lay to the north and south of the dam. The gristmill served mainly to ground rye which at the time was produced in large quantities, even boasting a street named in it’s honor (Rye Street). As for the Native Americans, the settler thanked them by providing protection from opposing tribes such as the Pequots or Mohigans.

Throughout the years, the building has undergone numerous changes. Shortly after being constructed, the dam was widened with a bridge assembled on top and the buildings rebuilt with timber from old tobacco sheds. After a flood in 1750 destroyed the building, it was rebuilt in 1775 and continued to undergo construction throughout the years for a variety of reasons such as during the demolition of the sawmill. It was only in 1965 that the building was renovated and turned into a private club by Armand Massari. His wife Ginger would become the ‘hostess’ of the Podunk Mill Restaurant. Around 20 years later, business partners Helmar Wolf and Arturo Gurrera would purchase the restaurant, renaming it, the one and only, Mill on the River. 

The Last Schoolhouse Standing

For many years, it was one of 12 one-room schoolhouses. Now, it’s the only old district schoolhouse in South Windsor not demolished or converted into a home. The original Pleasant Valley School was built in 1837 on the north side of Ellington Road. In 1862, the school was sold to Horace R. Stoughton for $35 after town officials set a site across the street (771 Ellington Road) for a new school in the fifth district: the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse.

This one-room schoolhouse taught students until 1952. Typical of 19th century schoolhouses, separate entry doors were built for boys and girls. In 1882, the average student population at the school was between 29 and 37 students, but in 1922 was reduced to only 18 students in 4 grades. The winter term lasted 11 weeks and teachers in 1869 could expect a salary around $66 for this term. Besides salaries, yearly expenses at the school included additions such as a new stove, wallboards, ceilings, outbuildings and a well.

After the school was closed, not much activity was been recorded. But about 20 years later, in 1978, the schoolhouse was leased and maintained by the South Windsor Historical Society as a museum for town history. They soon received approval to acquire the building from the town and began a 50,000 dollar restoration project funded by donations, society activities and a private grant for $20,000. Again, in 1998, the society refurbished the basement to display historic items. Currently, the upper level is maintained mostly as a 19th century school room. The lower levels on the other hand, display various town memorabilia relating to the school, agricultural and social history. 

The schoolhouse is a great place to visit and learn about the town’s history. It is open to all and parking and admissions are free!

The (Possibly) Haunted Watson House

The Watson house located on the northeast corner of Main Street at Sullivan Avenue has many titles. It’s the oldest 3 story mansion standing in the CT River Valley, the only CT house with original wallpaper from the 1700’s, and rumored junction point of the underground railroad.

The house was built in 1788 by architect-builder Thomas Hayden for John Watson. Watson resided there until his death in 1824 when it was inherited and later sold by his son to Theodore Bancroft, a wealthy farmer. Bancroft lived there until his death in 1903. Then, in 1997, it was converted into a bed and breakfast where rooms went for $95 a night. Although closed a few years later, it was reopened in 2006 by Brand and Micheal Feldmier but again, later abandoned. Finally, in March 2014, Gary Draghi and Bert Roy bought the house with plans to use it as a hair salon and later a B&B. 

Although it’s been exchanged through many hands and many uses, the exterior of this 3-story Federal style house hasn’t changed much. It boasts formal entrances for all four elevations, and palladian windows. This style resembles the mansions built in the late 18th century for merchants in prosperous coastal New England cities such as Salem and Providence. It was rarely seen in inland towns and stands out among the other more conservatively designed homes. Inside the house, a gorgeous center lobby on the first floor remains. The 21 rooms are decorated with ornate paneling, custom woodward and wainscoting. 

A gravestone at the south-side of the house contains an old mystery. Engraved is the name Mary Hayden. It may never be known what relation the girl had to the architect Thomas Hayden, how she died or even if she’s actually buried there, but one thing is clear: The Watson House is full of history, some known and some not.