January 26, 2024
East Windsor Hill Academy |
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I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Sally Edlund about some of the different schools that have come and gone around town over the past few centuries. Many of you know Sally, but for those who don't, she was Archives Committee Chairperson for the South Windsor Historical Society for decades, and she is one of my favorite go-to people for details about South Windsor History. This Musings from Main comes to you courtesy of Sally Edlund and Michael Salvatore both of the South Windsor Historical Society.
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East Windsor Hill Academy
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The East Windsor Hill Academy stood near what today would be 1800 Main Street, South Windsor. Michael Salvatore writing for the Journal Inquirer, credits the research of local historian Doris Burgdorf, with pinning down the location and approximate date of the creation of the school. East Windsor Hill Academy was one of many private academies built in Connecticut after the Revolutionary War. These schools were lauded as a step up from colonial "grammar" schools by offering a broader curriculum and better preparation for college.
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Image of East Windsor Hill Academy courtesy of Journal Inquirer, January 20, 2000 edition, pg. B10 |
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In my conversation with Sally Edlund she explained that the Academy was a two story building. The upper floor was for the children of prominent families that were preparing to go to college and the first floor was for local children. This information was corroborated by Salvatore when he quoted 1856 writings from noted engraver Abner Reed,
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Catalogue of East Windsor Hill Academy
1853-54 |
The Academy was also open to women who were seeking an education, as evidenced in this 1853-54 East Windsor Hill Academy Catalogue. The catalogue lists a total of 122 students of which 45 were female. |
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The catalogue also has several interesting nuggets of information including the home towns of each of the students. This tidbit shows that the Academy drew in students not only from Windsor, East Windsor and South Windsor but from many different towns across Connecticut and surrounding states as well. |
The catalogue also lists the tuition costs ranging from $4.67 to $7.50 depending on the term and course of study. They also list Incidental Expenses as 33 to 50 cents per term. |
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Want to take a deeper dive?
Visit our research and reference library during open hours, Mondays and Thursdays from 9am to 4:30pm, or check out our online archival database; just type "East Windsor Hill Academy" in the keyword search bar.
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Sources use for this Musings From Main:
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Salvatore, Michael J., Historians look at South Windsor's 'estimable' private academies, Lifestyles section, Journal Inquirer, January, 20, 2000.
- Catalogue for the East Windsor Hill Academy, 1853-1854 , Hartford, Press of Case, Tiffany and Company, 1854.
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