Picture Windsor Locks - Then And Now

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — For today's look back into Windsor Locks history, we partner with the UConn Library and its extensive collection of aerial photographs of north-central Connecticut. This picture of downtown Main Street and the bridge connecting Windsor Locks and East Windsor over the Connecticut River was taken April 16, 1970.

Nearly every commercial building which lined Main Street for decades was still standing, as the town's urban renewal project was not yet underway. Dexter Plaza, with a parking lot full of cars, is visible in the lower left corner of the picture, while the old train station on the east side of Route 159, near the top of the photo, is the only other Main Street structure still existing from that time. Note that Church Street had not yet been reconfigured to align with the bridge.

It certainly looks a lot different today. Here is a more contemporary view of the area, courtesy of Google Maps.

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

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