The opening of Aspinock and Mashamoquet added to the importance of Woodstock, the mother town, with established institutions. These “borderers ” attended service at her meeting house, improved her grist mill, traded at the Corbins’ shop, and participated in the festivities of training and election days. The mill privilege had now fallen into the hands […]
The present Wilsonville occupies the site of the ” Child’s Mills ” of former generations. Elijah Converse came into possession about 1796, and conveyed them to his son, Mr. Riel Converse, who ran grist and saw mills. In 1822 he sold mills and privilege, with nine acres of land, to Mr. Zirah Preston, for 52,700.
In the central part of the town and about three miles east of Willimantic, lies the peaceful village of Windham, known also as Windham Centre. This village exhibits but little of the activity and business life characteristic of the modern village, but here was once the proudest center of business and social and political influence
Putnam’s facilities for extinguishing fires were long wholly inadequate. Its fire companies were hampered by a scant supply of water. In 1875 a fire district was incorporated, including the village and its immediate vicinity; a fire department was organized and new engines procured. But in spite of these precautions, very destructive fires occurred. The great
South Windham is a pleasant little village about three and a half miles southeast from Willimantic. It is beautifully situated, amid romantic surroundings of hill and marsh, cultivated field and wooded plain, winding through all of which the swift, dark waters of the Shetucket gracefully ripple on their merry course to the sea. It has
At Williamsville on the Quinebaug, in the western border of the town, is a factory village, the initial factory of which was erected by Caleb Williams in 1827. That first mill was what is now the north wing of the mill, in size 144 by 44 feet and four stories high. After Williams the mill
In the early history of the town schools received less attention in Windham than might have been expected in a town of such prosperity and intelligence. ” A school to be kept in Thomas Snell’s house ” appears to-have been for some time the only provision made in that direction. The committee appointed to manage
Willimantic has shown great liberality in the management of its schools. For this purpose the borough is divided into two districts known as No. 1 and No. 2. The grand lists of both amount to nearly four million dollars. The value of all school property in the borough is about fifty thousand dollars. The new
The care of public schools was early made over to the three parishes. Each parish acted as a distinct school society, building school houses, hiring teachers and managing its own educational affairs. Under this system the common schools were well sustained, and turned out an unusual supply of competent and successful teachers. It has been
Schools received immediate care from the fathers of Putnam. Their first meeting as a school society was held at Quinebaug Hall, July 9th, 1855. Moses Chandler was chosen clerk and treasurer. The first school committee were its honored citizens, Chandler A. Spalding, Richmond M. Bullock and Lucian Carpenter. Reverend Charles Willett, Messrs. Harrison Johnson, G.