Picture South Windsor - Then And Now

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — The latest installment of our periodic informal series highlighting businesses from South Windsor's past takes us back nearly six decades, when South Windsor High School was still known as Ellsworth High School. On a page from the 1961 yearbook, The Ellsworthian, is this ad from the Hill Grocery at 1865 Main Street, in the East Windsor Hill section of town.

Built in 1757, the historic structure housed numerous small businesses over the years. Most importantly, however, it received its first government post rider in 1783, became home to the East Windsor Hill post office in 1837, and continues to serve in that role today. It is among the oldest continuously operated post offices in the country.

The building is part of the East Windsor Hill Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Here is a contemporary shot of the post office, taken recently by yours truly.

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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