August 27, 2021
South Windsor Town Seal
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In three weeks, the town of South Windsor will celebrate its 175th anniversary, albeit in its 176th year of existence due to Covid. There are many activities planned for September 17th and 18th including fireworks, a parade, and a vintage baseball game. Learn more details at the 175th Committee's website including how you can help by volunteering. Want to be in the dunk tank? Visit the SW 175th Facebook page and volunteer!
We are collaborating with the South Windsor Historical Society, and the First Congregational Church of South Windsor to create an exhibit highlighting different parts of the history of South Windsor. If you are interested in helping out at the exhibit on September 18th, or with tent set-up on the 17th contact Jessica Vogelgesang for info.
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| South Windsor
Town Seal
In 1845, when South Windsor incorporated as a separate town from East Windsor, a town seal was adopted. More than 100 years later, a contest was launched for a new image to represent the town. The winning entry was designed by Doris P. Burgdorf and was adopted on June 2, 1969. Burgdorf won $48. We have looked and cannot find an image of the original seal from prior to 1969. If anyone has an image of the first seal for the town of South Windsor, and is willing to donate it or allow us to digitize it, we would love to include it in our archives! |
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Symbolism of the Town Seal
- Projectile Points: The “arrowheads” along the outside of the seal are a reminder of the first inhabitants of South Windsor.
- Shield: The shape of the shield at the center of the seal was borrowed from the town seal of East Windsor, to forever associate us with the town of which we a part of since 1768. The shield is also a simplified version of the Connecticut Coat of Arms.
- Rocket: The dark green shape behind the shield is of a rocket, symbolizing the innovative future of the town. During the time that Burgdorf created the town seal, UTC Power, headquartered in South Windsor, was supplying fuel cells to NASA for Apollo missions (and later for the Space Shuttle Program as well).
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Tobacco Leaves: Probably the most recognized symbol of South Windsor’s past, it is tobacco farming that played the most important role in our agricultural history.
- Latticework: This intricate design feature was popular with colonial era craftsmanship, such as in the furniture of Eliphalet Chapin, the clocks made by Eli Terry and by countless iron workers and engravers.
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Fish and Flowers: Highlighting South Windsor’s miles of Connecticut River coastline, Burgdorf included images of a specific fish and flowers:
“I chose to decorate the seal with blossoms of shadblow, our first wild spring blossoms, so named for the concurrence with the annual shad run on the Connecticut River. They are a gentle reminder of the wealth of nature we have not yet destroyed in our woodlands and meadows.”[1]
The Connecticut River played a pivotal role in the settling of the area and allowed for the community to grow and prosper by providing a means of shipping. In 2003, the American Shad was officially adopted as the Connecticut state fish.
[1] SW Town Seal Reflects the Past, The Journal Inquirer, Wednesday, September 9, 1970 |
Learn Local History
with the
South Windsor Bicentennial Quilt
In honor of the United States of America's bicentennial in 1976, a quilt was made by the Wapping Community Church Women’s group to highlight important sites around South Windsor. It features scenes and buildings from the town’s past. Today, the quilt hangs proudly in Wood Memorial Library & Museum and an accompanying booklet describes each of the 42 quilt panels and its maker.
If you would like to see the original quilt on display visit us on September 11th from 12-3 for our re-opening Open House where you can see the quilt hanging above the staircase in the foyer.
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The Bicentennial Quilt
is Digitized and
Recreated Online
In 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic and in honor of the 175th anniversary of South Windsor, we created an online exhibit featuring all of the quilt squares and their descriptions so that people could enjoy it from anywhere. |
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South Windsor
Bicentennial Quilt Square #21
South Windsor Town Seal by Mrs. Lois Watson
Ancient Windsor originally encompassed what is now known as the towns of Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, East Windsor, South Windsor and part of Ellington. In the year 1768, the land on the east side of the [Connecticut] River was split from Windsor and the town of East Windsor was incorporated. The early settlers found it difficult to travel the great distances to town meetings. In 1845, therefore, the town was again split, forming the towns of East Windsor and South Windsor.
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South Windsor
Bicentennial Quilt Square #23
Map of South Windsor By Mrs. Phyllis Mann On this map of South Windsor, each of the squares depicted in this bicentennial quilt are denoted by a red dot. The town of South Windsor encompasses 28.5 square miles and, in the year 1976, has a population of approximately 17,500. The town has nine churches, nine public schools and one parochial school. In this year, 1976, the town is governed by a town council-town manager form of government.
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Logos for the 175th Anniversary of South Windsor. Lower left created by Jamie Howe for the Friends and lower right by Bri Dill for the 175th town committee.
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| Date 1776 Image courtesy of Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum. Quilt square of the town seal created by Mrs. Lois Watson. |
Date 1776 Image courtesy of Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum. Quilt square of the map of South Windsor created by Mrs. Phyllis Mann. |
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