Popular Historic House Tour Returns

Seven homes and a schoolhouse, together representing historic buildings from the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, will be open to the public Sat., April 28 during the 's popular Historic House Tour. 

Once again, the Society has collaborated with the Windsor Jesters to enable those on the tour to take a trip back in time as they interact with actors at each historic site.

The actors and actresses will be costumed an in part as they bring history to life at each stop along the tour.

The Historical Society has announced the following historic locations will be a part of the year's tour:

291 Rainbow Road (1790) — This gambrel-roofed house is the oldest home in Rainbow and is rumored to have been at various times a stop on the stagecoach route, a tavern and a workshop for milliners. A 200 year-old willow tree, the second largest in Connecticut, graces the backyard.

1409 Poquonock Avenue (1859) — This simple farmhouse served as a tavern, post office, school, dance hall and grange hall. Hundreds of Windsor residents have stories to share about attending school, grange meetings, performances and social functions in this building. It has been lovingly transformed into a private residence with a unique floor plan and loads of character.

1112 Palisado Avenue (1900) — This Hayden Station structure is a model of elegance with its partial turrets, wraparound porch, central dormer and squared off look. The house was once owned by the illustrious Hayden family.

374 Old River Street (1900) and 382 Old River Street (1998) — 382 Old River Street includes a massive great room that was once a tobacco barn, making it a quintessentially Windsor home. The rest of the house, built around this spectacular centerpiece, is equally stunning. 374 Old River Street is an unassuming cottage that packs more character and charm than most grand houses. Its modest size and simplicity are a testament to the hard lives of Windsor’s old-time tobacco farmers.

273 Palisado Avenue (1740) — A Windsor historical house tour would not be complete without a classic Georgian Colonial. This beautifully maintained and furnished home with its original paneled Dutch door, six
working fireplaces, twelve over twelve windows, wide plank floors and raised panel walls includes beautifully manicured grounds.

33 Mechanic Street (1891) — This grand Windsor Center structure which once housed the Spencer Arms Company, Eddy Electric Company and General Electric has been converted into unique and tasteful condos. The unit on the tour is the largest in the complex and features an open floor plan and bright sunshine that pours in through the ten-foot windows.

Elm Grove Chapel (1894) — This chapel building was constructed in 1894 on the site of the 1798 Poquonock Second Meeting House. It’s scalloped facade and decoratively shaped windows belie the simple interior. Inside the chapel is an original plot plan of the adjoining cemetery containing grave listings of many prominent Poquonock residents.

Advance tickets for this year's house tour cots $20. Tickets are currently available at Ashley's Distinctive Jewelry and Gifts, Bart's Drive-In/The Beanery Bistro, Bill Selig Jewelers, Jordan Florists, Snelgrove's Flowers and Confections, Windsor Federal Savings and Windsor Historical Society.

Homes can be visited in any order on the day of the tour.