It was over 90 years ago that a group of concerned Windsor citizens took it upon themselves to save the historic nature of the town’s Palisado Green by purchasing a small house on the south corner thereby blocking the construction of a proposed gasoline station. By doing so, these people not only preserved the green but they established the Windsor Historical Society which has served as the anchor for the entire Palisado Historic District. Since that time, the Windsor Historical Society has amassed an impressive collection of artifacts and documents and has educated young and old alike in the history of Connecticut’s first town. Now, ninety years into its own history, the Society needs to address the maintenance of the very structure that those early volunteers chose to save. Since that time, we have learned that the Strong-Howard house (once known as the Fyler House) is a unique structure and one that was rarely preserved. For this reason alone, this historic house that has occupied this property since the 18th century not only deserves to be maintained and preserved, but it also provides us with a unique opportunity to showcase this house and the lifestyle of the people that lived in it. The Windsor Historical Society has now launched a capital campaign that will address the preservation needs of this historic structure thereby preventing any further deterioration. It will also address a new interpretation of the house that will transform it into a living history exhibit where students and adults will be able to immerse themselves into the life style of Windsor at the beginning of the 19th century. They will be able to sit in the chairs, rummage through chests, lie in the bed and prepare food at the hearth. It will be both a structure and an activity that will showcase Windsor’s history. This project has already captured the imagination of many people. Businesses and foundations are pledging support and so are local citizens. Already the Society’s Board of Directors has collectively pledged $50,000. Support for this project thus far exceeds $200,000. Foundations will be providing significant funding (ca. $300,000), but to reach the project’s $650,000 goal, it is going to take the support of individual citizens who have chosen to make Windsor their home. For more information on how you can participate in this project, please contact the Historical Society’s Executive Director Christine Ermenc at (860) 688-3813 or cermenc@windsorhistoricalsociety.org . John Berky President, Board of Directors Windsor Historical Society
