Windsor Historical Society

As a precursor to our celebration of the Society’s 100th Anniversary in 2021, our current exhibition, Windsor in 1921: A Paradox of Progress, examines the cultural forces which contributed to the Society’s founding that year. One response to all these immigrants was Americanization, a political movement that protected the interests of native-born or established Americans above those of recent immigrants. By mid-1920, school superintendent (and soon founding member of the new Windsor Historical Society) Daniel Howard gave lectures at local schools about the movement. When the Windsor Historical Society celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, it is important that we not only celebrate our successes, but also ask ourselves how the Society can move beyond the limiting ideals of 1921, and embrace a more inclusive future.

Nor is it our intent at Windsor Historical Society to focus on the town’s Black history only during Black History Month. While we admit there is a long way to go, here are some highlights that you may wish to include in your own Black History Month observances: Windsor’s Black History webpage. Among the many fascinating features included are Marcia Hinckley’s study of Windsor’s Black history entitled “ We hope you will join us in this process, and we hope you will let Windsor Historical Society be a part of your Black History Month observance!

One of the many civil rights protests that occurred during the summer of 1963 took place just north of the Windsor-Hartford town line at what was then the popular Carville’s Restaurant and Motor Inn on Windsor Ave. newly formed North End Community Action Project (NECAP), which galvanized local civil rights leaders to take a more confrontational approach towards publicizing and solving greater Hartford’s racial issues. In July of 1963, NECAP planned a series of demonstrations that would begin in Windsor at Carville’s Restaurant and continue in Hartford at the Terry Square Diner and other businesses. Over the course of the summer of 1963, NECAP and other local civil rights organizations continued to hold public demonstrations, passionately participating in one of the most active periods of the national civil rights movement.

After considerable deliberation we’ve decided to close Windsor Historical Society’s museum and research library to the public (again) effective Dec. 9 through Jan. 3, to be reassessed at that time. I think we have done an excellent job keeping the corona virus out of our facilities and away from guests, volunteers, and staff over the past months, however, there seems to be just too much of it out there now to be able to keep this up with any level of certainty. Our website will continue to offer new and in-depth resources and material, including an entirely new page on Windsor’s Black History coming later this month! And, of course, while closed to walk-in business our Gift Shop is open for online shopping and will offer curbside pick-up this holiday season, so you can still share a piece of Windsor history with your loved ones for the holiday.