From 17th Century New England emerged a distinctive style of furniture manufacture. The community of crafters in Windsor, Wethersfield and other early setlements along the Connecticut River took advantage of virgin hardwood forests, plentiful waterpower and the shortage of furniture in the expanding colonies.
The Windsor Historical Society hosts an exhibit of furniture made there before 1715. Organized by Historic Deerfield and funded by the Connecticut Humanities Council , the exhibit highlights not only the furniture itself, but the social history of how the community of crafters became prosperous, arranged advantageous marriages among the the families of other crafters and dominated local politics of the time. (Read more ... )
"Unmistakably Windsor," (Hartford Courant, 3/13/04) illuminates the important role artisans played in the early community-building efforts of Connecticut's first English town. Joshua W. Lane, a furniture curator at Historic Deerfield, told the Courant that though Windsor's population was only 35% woodworkers, they held 61% of all town offices and 71% of the sons of first-generation woodworkers in Windsor married woodworkers' daughters. This enabled the workworkers to develop support networks, furthering their economic and political influence and power.
The Woodworkers of Windsor: A Community of Craftsmen, 1635-1715, continues through April 15 at the historical society, 96 Palisado Ave. (Route 159), Windsor, CT. Admission is $3. For information, call (860) 688-3813.
Photos of some of the furniture are at: "The Windsor Style: Connecticut's first town was the furniture fashion center of the 17th century" (Preview Connecticut, 1/24/04)
See also: "Exhibition Explores Puritan Furniture and Life" Windsor Journal (1/29/04)
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