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.

Roger Wolcott (Pt. 2)

On January 4th 1679, Roger Wolcott of Windsor CT would be born as the tenth child and youngest son of Simon and Martha Wolcott. Despite losing his father at the age of 8 and being deprived of a formal education, Wolcott was able to rise through the ranks becoming a Major General, Chief Justice of the Superior Court, Governor and published author. 

Part 2 focuses on his various pursuits not relating to public life:

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At the age of 15, Wolcott was apprenticed to a ‘clothier’ in Windsor and just 5 years later would leave to set up a successful business of his own. With these prospects, Wolcott married Sarah Drake in 1702, with whom he would go on to have 15 children including Oliver Wolcott, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Soon after the marriage, Wolcott built their family home on 1169 Main Street, South Windsor – east of the CT River. 

In October of 1735, for personal reasons, Wolcott petitioned the CT General Assembly for leave to establish a double ferry across the River. The first ferry would land on a peninsula between the Great River and Little River. After a brief cross by foot, the second ferry would cross to Plymouth Meadow. Although Wolcott paid for the road on the east of the CT River (called Governors River due to his later time in governorship), he sought for the second road to be paid for by the town. His request led to backlash resulting in much litigation, however Wolcott had been rising in ranks during the time and his influence allowed him to get his way. The following year, the Ferry would be bought by the town.

More notable however, is Wolcott’s many years aiding war efforts. His first experience was in 1711 when he was appointed Commissary, or supply master, for Connecticut forces in Queen Anne’s War. Joining the CT Militia in 1722, Wolcott would be appointed Captain of the Trainband of Windsor. By 1724, he was promoted to Captain of the Troops and in 1739 Colonial Commander for the CT First Regiment. At 66, he would serve his final position as Major General, second in command to Sir William Pepperell in an expedition against Louisbourg in King George’s War. 

Following his loss for reelection as Governor in 1754, Wolcott began focusing on literature. Although his first work titled Poetry Meditations being the Improvement of Some Vacant Hours was published in 1725, he took a considerable leave in his writing as his public service opportunities began to expand. It was only in 1759 that he wrote Roger Wolcott’s Memoir Relating to the History of Connecticut and later in 1761 when he publishing a pamphlet about the history liberties of congregational churches. 

On May 17, 1767, Wolcott died a respected man. He is buried in the Windsor Palisado Cemetery and commemorated by the Roger Wolcott School.

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.

Timothy Edwards: The Man Honored By Our Middle School

Our town’s middle school proudly displays his name: Timothy Edwards Middle School. His name is spelled out in bold white letters on the school because of his contribution to the church and the legacy he left behind with his children. 

On April 14th, 1669 in Hartford, Connecticut, Timothy Edwards was born to Richard Edwards and Elizabeth Tuttle. He married Esther Stoddard, the daughter of a Massachusetts reverend on November 6th, 1694 and graduated Harvard in 1691. An uncommon mark of respect, Edwards received his masters and bachelors of arts on the same day. He was a brilliant scholar, renowned preacher and amazing theologian. For these reason, on May 28th, 1698 he was ordained pastor of the New Church of Christ in East Windsor (current day South Windsor), making him the first minister of the first church in South Windsor. Edwards remained pastor of this church for more than 60 years until his death on January 27th, 1758. He was buried in a cemetery located on Main Street near the church. Besides serving as a pastor, in 1711, he was Chaplain of the colonial forces in the war against the French in Canada and for extra money often tutored boys for college.

Edwards had 11 children – ten girls and one boy, all of whom grew up in South Windsor. Their kids grew up in an atmosphere of affectionate parents, learning and Puritan piety. Edwards made sure all of his children were very educated and trained his son personally for college. He is most famous for being the father of Jonathan Edwards and great-grandfather of Aaron Burr. Although less famous than both, Timothy Edwards played an important role in our community during the early 1700’s. The legacy he left behind and values he held will forever be remembered.

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!

John Adams’ Visit to SW

“I spent this morning riding through Paradise” – John Adams on South Windsor

John Adams, two-term vice president and second President of the United States visited South Windsor in 1771. From Friday night of June 7, to Saturday morning of June 8, Adams stayed at the Bissell Tavern in South Windsor. Back then, much was different. John Adams was just a lawyer and politician. Main Street had just a general store, some old houses and a church or two. 

On June 1771, Adams wrote in his diary that he “rode along the great river to Windsor, and put up at Bissell’s”. The Bissell Tavern was located on the south edge of where Ferry Road came up to Main Street in East Windsor (modern day South Windsor). Adams praises Main Street on his June 8th entry where he writes, “my eyes never beheld so fine a country; from Bissell’s, in Windsor, to Hartford ferry, eight miles, is one continued street, houses all along, and a vast prospect of level country on each hand; the lands very rich and the husbandry pretty good.” While he seemed to have adored South Windsor, Adams was not as happy in the tavern. If anything, he sounded a little home sick when he explained, “I begin to grow weary of this idle, romantic jaunt….I want to see my Wife, my Children, my Farm, my Horse, Oxen, Cows, Walls, Fences, Workmen, Office, Books, and Clerks. I want to hear the News, and Politics of the Day. But here I am, at Bissills in Windsor, hearing my Landlord read a Chapter in the Kitchen and go to Prayers with his Family, in the genuine Tone of a Puritan.”

The Bissell Tavern was torn down in 1901 but it stays in our memory, as it was where John Adams once stayed and marveled at our beautiful small town.