By Mrs. Ruth Bartolan
Evidence has been found in the meadows that shows the presence of man living here 7,000-8,000 years ago. The rich, fertile alluvial soil of the Connecticut [River] was found to be ideal for easy tilling by the Indians as well as the early settlers. The meadows abound with wildlife. It was here that Dr. William Wood collected many of his bird specimens. In the meadows, old Indian burial grounds are to be found. These are a source of inspiration and investigation by archaeological students of the University of Connecticut. The meadows, much of which are a wildlife sanctuary, are now protected by the State of Connecticut Wetlands Act.
Please note that despite possible inaccuracies, we will include the description of each quilt square as published in the 1995 revised and corrected second edition booklet. This second edition was published in celebration of South Windsor’s “sesquicentennial” anniversary, 1845-1995, and was dedicated to the memory of Gail Woodard, who passed away in 1994. The revised edition was compiled by Charles E. Woodward in September, 1995, with the assitance of Doris Burgdorf who provided many historical corrections.