Picture South Windsor - Then And Now

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Once again, we return to a wonderful picture book called Images of America: South Windsor, compiled in 2017 by Claire Lobdell for the Wood Memorial Library & Museum. The book, containing 128 pages of fascinating photos from the town's history, is available for purchase at the library's museum store here.

In the mid-1930s, Ellsworth Memorial High School was built at 1737 Main Street, on the site of the former Theological Institute of Connecticut. It was named for Erastus Ellsworth, a trustee and original treasurer of the institute. The high school served students from both South Windsor and East Windsor. In the above photo, taken in 1949, members of the school's glee club are pictured in front of the building.

Legendary UConn basketball coach Hugh Greer coached for 10 years at Ellsworth, capturing five state championships. The gym at the current high school on Nevers Road is named in honor of Greer and longtime coach and athletic director Charlie Sharos.

Following construction of the new high school building in the early 1960s, the Main Street building served as an elementary school for several years. It is currently home to the South Windsor Public School District headquarters.

Here is a more contemporary look at the property from June 2019, courtesy of Google Maps.

Do you have a photo of an old South Windsor business which no longer exists, to which you own the rights and which we could feature in this column? Email tim.jensen@patch.com.

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