Windsor Farms Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Windsor Farms Historic District
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A Gothic Revival house in the district
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Strong Rd., US 5, I-291, and the Connecticut River, South Windsor, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1,665 acres (674 ha) |
| Built | 1768 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000723 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1986 |
The Windsor Farms Historic District is a special area in South Windsor, Connecticut. It's known for its long history of farming and its old town center. This district stretches along Main Street and includes many different types of buildings. These buildings show how architecture has changed over 300 years. You can still see many farm fields here, especially those growing tobacco. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
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What Makes Windsor Farms Special?
South Windsor was once part of a town called Windsor. It became its own town in 1768. The area has always been a farming community. This is because of the rich farmland near the Connecticut River. The river separates South Windsor from its original town.
The History of Tobacco Farming
Tobacco quickly became a very important crop here. It grew well in the local soil. Growing tobacco helped the town become wealthy in the 1800s. Farmers in South Windsor learned new ways to dry and cure tobacco. They used special sheds that are still part of the landscape today.
A special type of tobacco, called shade-grown tobacco, was first grown here in 1901. This tobacco was highly valued for wrapping cigars. It remained a key crop for the town until the 1970s.
Exploring the Historic Area
The Windsor Farms area was the main settlement when South Windsor was a colony. It was built along Main Street. This street was placed on a raised area above the river's lowlands. Houses lined the street, with narrow farms stretching out to the river and also to the east.
The historic district covers all these important places. It is a very large area, more than 1,600 acres in size. Over time, some old houses were replaced by newer ones. This means you can see many different building styles. However, the buildings still have a similar spacing and size.
Important Buildings in the District
The district includes several notable buildings. The First Congregational Church was built in 1845 in the Greek Revival style. There is also a district schoolhouse from the same year. The Wood Memorial Library building, built in 1926, shows the Classical Revival style. The oldest house in the entire district was built way back in 1694.
