On Thursday, April 17th at 7:00 p.m., join us at Windsor Historical Society as South Windsor’s Linda Sunderland of Sunderland Period Homes presents a behind-the-scenes look at the story behind the development of Windsor’s Settlement Hill neighborhood, located across the street from the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead on Palisado Avenue (Route 159).   This special event is associated with Windsor Historical Society’s special “Four Centuries of Preservation” House Tour on Saturday, April 26.  5 Settlement Hill is one of the eight homes homes open for touring.  The April 17th event is free with the purchase of a house tour ticket, courtesy of Windsor’s Rabbett Insurance Agency and MiddleOak  Specialty® featuring Restorationist® - the only insurance designed exclusively for antique homes. 

 

Building restorers Edward and Linda Sunderland originally intended to purchase and move a historic house located on the property across the street from the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead.  When they discovered that plans called for the property to become a raised ranch development, they decided to make more of a commitment to save this historic landscape.    The Settlement Hill neighborhood, which features 18th century historic homes and home reproductions, was a path-breaking housing development.  The Sunderlands won Builder Magazine’s Builder of the Year award in 1987.  Linda Sunderland will also show how historic homes can be seamlessly equipped with modern conveniences like working kitchens, central heat and plumbing, and how historic homes and lifestyles conserved heat, energy and natural resources in the days before central heating, biodegradability or “green” homes were concepts. 

 

Enjoy a glass of wine and a selection of delectable fruits, cheeses and desserts as you listen to the story of how Windsor’s prize-winning Settlement Hill development came to be.  At the end of the program, Mike Rabbett will speak briefly about considerations most people don’t think of when insuring historic homes – determining the cost involved in restoring custom interior moldings and specialty wallpapers, for instance, and legal requirements of bringing historic buildings up to code in the event of loss.  Welcome packages and special surprises are included at this event and event tickets ($6 adults, $5 seniors and students and $4 WHS members) can also be purchased separately for those not attending the house tour.  Make your reservation for this program by calling 688-3813.

 

The April 26th house tour is the Society’s major fundraiser, supporting public programs for schoolchildren and adults, and the operation of our historic houses, research library, exhibition

galleries, and family learning center.   Only 700 tickets will be sold;   these are priced at $20 in advance of the tour, and $25 the day of the tour.  Homes on the tour (some of which have never before been open to the public) include:

 

37 Elm Street (1664)

778 Palisado Avenue Oliver Ellsworth Homestead (1781)

336 Palisado  Avenue (1784)

33 Mechanic Street #108 (1891)

302 Rainbow Road (1898)

1244 Windsor Avenue (1921)

5 Settlement Hill (1989)

Loomis Homestead (1640)  OPEN 12-4 ONLY

 

Tickets are now available at:

Ashley's Distinctive Jewelry and Gifts, 555 Day Hill Road, Windsor;

The Beanery Bistro, 25 Central Street, Windsor;

Bill Selig Jewelers, 161 Broad Street, Windsor;

The Water Closet Bath & Book,  46 Bloomfield Avenue, Windsor;

Windsor Historical Society; 96 Palisado Avenue, Windsor.

 

You may also send a check (made out to Windsor Historical Society) to 96 Palisado Avenue and we will be happy to mail your tickets to you for an additional $2 postage and handling fee.  Or order your tickets here online by clicking here (mailing charge applies.)    On the day of the tour, tickets will be sold at Windsor Historical Society only, where participants can pick up their program book and map and enjoy home-baked refreshments throughout the day. 

 

These events are part of an exciting year-long round of programs planned by Windsor Historical Society, the Town of Windsor, and the Windsor Chamber of Commerce to celebrate our town’s 375th birthday.   Many generous sponsors and supporters have helped to make Windsor Historical Society’s events possible including:  

Presenting Sponsors: Anonymous Donor; Connecticut Humanities Council; Hartford Foundation for Public Giving;

Adventurer Sponsors:  Dan J. and Alice Ford Ferraina; Travelers Connecticut Foundation; Windsor Federal Savings;      

Discoverer Sponsors: MiddleOak Specialty®; Alstom Power

Founder Sponsors:  Anonymous Donor; Dill, Joyce & Thresher Insurance; ING; Jim and Kathi Martin; Rabbett Insurance Agency, Savings Bank Life Insurance;

Settler Sponsors: Alford Associates, Inc.; Bill Selig Family Foundation; Carmon Funeral Homes; Elizabeth Feser;  Griffin Land and Nurseries, Inc.; HD2 Development; Pelton Excavation Company; Price Chopper; Rotary Club of Windsor; Stop and Shop Supermarkets; Webster Bank.