GFWC Windsor Woman's Club - January Speaker

At the GFWC Windsor Woman’s Club’s recent monthly meeting, members and guests were enthralled by the history and human tragedy that made up Karen Parsons’ presentation of the Loomis and Chaffee families and their combined vision to help the children of others, due to a heart-breaking family-wide tragedy. Colonel James Loomis and Abigail Sherwood Chaffee, both of Windsor, married in 1805. By the early 1870s, their five remaining children –– four sons and a daughter- had made their fortunes, traveled, married and had children, but tragically, all of the children in all five families died before reaching the age of 21. Through their grief, an idea was born; they methodically planned out the creation of a school and made sure there were funds for the running and maintenance of the school into perpetuity. At the schools inception, both sexes were taught together; in 1926 the students were split into separate facilities and in 1970 they were reunited at their current location. Karen advised that the school is excited to be celebrating its centennial in September of 2014.

The GFWC Windsor Woman’s Club is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The GFWC, started in New York in 1890, is an organization dedicated to community improvement through volunteering.

To learn more about our club, go to our webpage: gfwcwindsorwomansclub.orgprt, or go to our Facebook page (GFWC Windsor Womans Club of Connecticut). If you prefer the human touch, call 860-219-1185.