Windsor Center and the Palisado Area
The Little Meadow and the Broad Street Green
After the original Plymouth Colony settlers had built their trading post on the Little Meadow south of the mouth of the Farmington River, they began to build houses. They also constructed a road which became the first road to Hartford. Houses at that time occupied the area from the Farmington River west to what is now Broad Street. Unfortunately, the east end of the Little Meadow is a low-lying area, and is prone to flooding. For this reason, an upland road to Hartford was constructed in 1638, which was on higher ground farther to the west. This road eventually became known as Broad Street, and was located near the east side of the present Broad Street Green. Houses were also being built on the higher ground to the west of the river to avoid the flooding. In 1639 a great flood occurred which destroyed many of the houses in the low lying areas of the Little Meadow, including the original trading post. Eventually, the north section of Broad Street was reconstructed and became the main road through the Center. The area to the west of Broad Street, which had long been a common area for townspeople, became known as the Windsor Green.
Residential Development in the Center
Windsor was originally an agricultural community, and the area now known as Windsor Center served as the place where the farmers built their homes. The outlying fields were used to grow crops and raise livestock. After the mid-1800's the area became more of a town center, due to its location on the upland road and its closeness to the city of Hartford. The later establishment of a streetcar railway and a main railroad line also contributed to its position as a town center.
Commercial Development in the Center
In the late 1800's there were two Town Halls - one in Windsor Center and one in Poquonock. By the early 20th century, the Windsor Center Town Hall had gained enough prominence to be considered the central location for the Town of Windsor. All official Town functions were carried out from this office. Commercial buildings and businesses began to appear here during this time, including a railway station, a commercial theatre and various industrial buildings. This growth tended to push residential housing away from the Center. Windsor Center today retains its commercial quality, and many businesses are located around the Broad Street Green.
The Palisado Area
From 1633, the settlements of the Dorchester colonists and Lords and Gentlemen were situated north of the Farmington River, on the higher ground west of the area known as the Great Meadow. They had built temporary dwellings by digging into the bluffs of the Great Meadow to form earth houses. When the Pequot War began in 1637, both groups were forced to regroup near the area now known as the Palisado Green, where First Church now stands. Together they built a palisado around their homes, which was a vertical wall of logs sunk side by side into the earth. The wall was more than three-quarters of a mile long, and eventually housed a meeting house, barbershop and blacksmith house in addition to residential homes.
The Growth and Decline of Trade
Early in the 1700's, when the threat from Indians was over, many residents in the palisado returned to their property on the bluff of the Great Meadow. The palisado was eventually dismantled, and in the 1750's the meetinghouse was relocated south of the Farmington River, to the area now known as the Broad Street Green. This weakened the Palisado Green area as a community meeting place, and it became more commercial in nature. Because of the easy landing access from the Farmington River, the Palisado Green became a major trading spot for goods brought in by ship. Several commercial trade businesses grew in the area, and it became the main trading center of the town. Many sea captains built their homes in this area, so they could be near their work. In 1794, the First Church congregation relocated to its present site, across the street from the Palisado Green. During the 1800's, businesses declined in the Palisado area, probably because of the dominance of the Windsor Center area. Today, the Palisado Green is a historic area, and is the beginning of the official Historic District which stretches up Palisado Avenue.
