February 21, 2025
South Windsor's First Court House |
|
|
This week's Musings from Main is inspired by one of the properties that was the focus of the inaugural South Windsor Historic District Commission Preservation Awards. It is an unobtrusive, small brick building located on Main Street on the Busky/Ceppetelli property.
|
|
|
Originally built in 1898 as a court house, this relatively small brick building was badly damaged by fallen tree branches during a storm in 2022. The current owners of the town's first court house, consulted with South Windsor's Historic District Commission and building contractors on the best way forward to repair the damage. It is because of their research and dedication to preserving local history that Mary Busky and John Ceppetelli were honored with one of the Commission's inaugural Preservation Awards, and the town still has its first courthouse.
|
But how did this historic little building come to be? |
|
|
Ralph Mason Grant
(1868-1953)
|
|
|
|
It all started in 1868, in the Wapping section of South Windsor, with the birth of Ralph Mason Grant on May 11th. |
He started his education in local South Windsor schools before ultimately graduating from Hartford Public High School in 1887. He then studied law at Wesleyan University graduating in 1892. |
After being admitted to the county bar, he married Lucy Lillian Shepard in 1895. It appears that his bride preferred to go by her middle name Lillian, and it was her father, who in 1998, build them the Queen Anne style house that still stands at 1803 Main Street. |
During this time Ralph served terms as both South Windsor's treasurer and town clerk before being elected judge of probate in 1898. |
|
|
An image of 1803 Main Street Circa. 1900. |
|
According to local historian and author Doris Burgdorf, at this time South Windsor had yet to build a town hall and town business was conducted from the homes of its respective agents. She goes on to notes that, as an active attorney Ralph, now Judge Grant, was in need of more than a dining room table from which to carry out his duties. |
He built himself a little brick office building that he used as a court house to carry out his duties as probate judge for the East Windsor district. The same little brick building that over 100 years later was so thoughtfully, accurately and beautifully restored by Mary Busky and John Ceppetelli, thus preserving South Windsor's first court house for future generations. |
|
|
Mary Busky and John Ceppetelli for your commitment to preserving local history! |
“This is a unique opportunity to highlight the incredible work being done by members of the community to preserve South Windsor’s historic landmarks and rich cultural history.” - South Windsor Historic District Commission Chair Beth Burgess on the inaugural South Windsor Historic District Commission Preservation Awards. |
|
|
Resources used for this Musing from Main are listed below. - Burgdorf, Doris, A Country Mile, pp. 46-48, published South Windsor Historical Society, South Windsor CT, 1995.
-
Taylor, William Harrison, Taylor's Legislative history and souvenir of Connecticut 190-, Vol. VI.1907-1908, p. 15, published Putnam, CT, 1908.
- South Windsor Historic District Commission Press Release and Presentation Ceremony remarks, February 20, 2025.
|
|
|
Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested. |
|
|
Our Contact Information
*{{Organization Name}}*
*{{Organization Address}}*
*{{Organization Phone}}*
*{{Organization Website}}*
*{{Unsubscribe}}* |
|
Do you enjoy our Musings from Main email series? If so, please consider showing your support by making a donation using the button below. |
|
| |
