Cultivating community in the windy hills of western Massachusetts
Windsor Congregational Church and Parsonage, painted by Olive Volsky
Olive Volsky painted everything. She painted landscapes. She painted animals. She painted the house that she and my father George Volsky built in 1954, the year that I was born. She painted murals on the living room wall that you could see through the picture window from Route 9. She painted her friends into the Wild West mural that hung at the local bar.
Read moreWhat a great turnout we had for our sign unveiling! About 60 community-minded folks came out to help us celebrate this new presence anchoring the “center” of our town. Before the big moment, we all huddled under the tent, out of the rain, enjoying homemade goodies, learning more about Windsor’s volunteer-driven organizations, and chatting with neighbors and friends, all while
Read moreThe official history of Notchview accords pride of place to Col. Arthur Budd, a much-decorated veteran of World War I (he even has a street named after him in France) who is credited with acquiring and uniting the many parcels of Windsor land that eventually became the Budd estate, aka Notchview. Less well-known is the soft-focus figure of
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Windsor has a long history of multiple industries, such as farming, raising sheep and poultry, sugaring, and dairying. Cheese-making was one of the many activities Windsor had going on in the 19th century. The Windsor Cheese Factory (c. 1811-1910) was located at
Read more![The Steward Homestead, in 1975, being moved to its current location as Windsor’s “new” historical museum [Photo from Bernie Drew's “A History of Notchview,” published in 1986]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55412c47e4b0678f234f5b13/1556889251568-OPOTAG99VUU7T5TD9YFO/historyhouseRachel.jpg)
The Steward Homestead, in 1975, being moved to its current location as Windsor’s “new” historical museum [Photo from Bernie Drew's “A History of Notchview,” published in 1986]
Windsor’s small but mighty museum did not serve as such throughout its long history. In fact, it was not always at its current location on Route 9 in the center of town!
Originally known as the Steward House, the home was located on the southwest corner of the Savoy Hollow Road and Shaw Road junction, just west of the Notchview property. The property was assembled in the early
Read moreAnyone who knows anything about the Berkshire music scene knows who Benny Kohn is. Arguably the best jazz pianist in the Berkshires and beyond, I first met Benny in 2008 when I was given the opportunity to play with a group of local jazz legends. I was immediately taken with his playing. The man behind the piano is
Read moreAfter Helen Budd and her husband, Arthur Budd, built Helenscourt and came to live there full-time, the estate also became home to employees, some of them housed in former homesteads on the property (such as the one that
Read moreAs one of approximately 20 homesteads that eventually made up Notchview’s 3000 acres, the Norman Miner Place began as a farm and became the nucleus of Notchview’s property after
Read moreNotchview has several shelters on its property where skiers can take a break, enjoy the view, and spend time with other skiers! The Pierce Shelter (built in memory of
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The Butter Bates Homestead, Bates Road (circa 1910?)
Photo by C.W. Thompson, courtesy of Adams Historical Society
The 200-acre Butter Bates Homestead, which is located at Notchview on Bates Rd, past Bates Field on the northeast side, was owned by Herman L. Bates. Bates bought the land from his father, William, for an 1847 price of….
Read moreIn 2008, my family realized dreams of pine scented breezes, woodland creatures coming to visit, snowshoeing by light of a full moon and spectacular starlit skies. Indeed, it was love at first sight when we found our paradise in Windsor, just past the Peru town line. I was THRILLED to learn..
Read moreAfter retiring from the Army in 1932, Arthur Budd lived on the property at Notchview until his death in 1965. A career Army man, Budd was well known for his love of dogs (who appeared in many pictures with him), as well as hiking his property barefoot and in a straw hat and short pants, no matter the weather. —Rachel Niswander, Terra Corps Intern
Read moreWindsor Club, a social and sporting group, was located in a two-story brick building built around 1824. Activities included weekend hunting, fishing, get-togethers, and summer picnics. The picnics were held a
Read moreDid you know that there are thousands of different species of native bees in North America? It's true! Together they form our most important group of pollinators. And according to Bee City, USA, "90% of all wild plants and trees rely on pollinators for the survival of their species." Come help us kick-off our community-wide, yearlong effort to protect Windsor's pollinators by building your very own Bee Hotel! All ages are welcome. If you happen to have an empty half-gallon milk carton (wax or plastic), bring it along. We've got spares, and will provide everything else. You’ll go home with a Bee Hotel and we’ll suggest the best places to locate it in your garden. If you have any questions, please call or email Val Kohn: 684-1731 valckohn@verizon.net. —Patty Crane
Read moreThere are so many reasons you won't want to miss the WINDSOR GROWN celebration this Saturday, July 15, 10 am - 4 pm at Notchview. And one of them is THE MUSIC!! Scroll down for a sampling from each of our performers, in reverse order of their stage appearance: One Part Luck (10 - 11 am); Benny Kohn (11 - 12 noon; and 2 - 4 pm with Misty Blues); Moonshine Holler (12 noon - 2 pm), and Misty Blues Band (2 - 4 pm):
Read moreIn case you've been hiding under a rock and haven't heard the news: on Saturday, July 15, from 10am-4 pm, we're having a HUGE shindig to celebrate this community and place. Local food vendors! Local beer! Music all day! Kids' activities! Drumming! A raffle of locally crafted items! We'll have over a dozen of Windsor's own craftspeople and growers displaying and selling their goods, and Windsor's volunteer fire squad showing off an engine or two and handing out water. And wait till you see the fabulous new Friends of Windsor Woodland Trail, which is sure to delight kids and young-at-heart adults alike! You won't want to miss this event! Rain or shine.
Read moreWED, JUNE 21, 8 pm - 9 pm, WINDSOR TOWN PARK - What would a video celebrating Windsor be without lots of Windsor faces in it? And what better way to celebrate the summer solstice than with a campfire, marshmallow roast, and some homegrown music? Join us at Windsor Town Park and help videographer Kyle Dempsey get
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Euphemia Drysdale
Euphemia Drysdale came to Windsor in 1923 -- the first woman to serve as minister of the Windsor Congregational Church. At the time, many congregations were reluctant to embrace the relatively novel idea of a woman preacher.
Read moreAdorned with the colorful hand-prints of a dozen of Windsor's youngest citizens, our Library's Book Drop is now back in its rightful place outside the Town Offices. From the children who traced their own hands to the bigger folks who seized an opportunity to make a bright difference, this was truly a community project: sponsored by Friends of Windsor, supported by the Library, embraced by the kids' parents, and made possible by the generosity, ingenuity, and hard work of Tim Crane and Bob and Steven Meyers. Stop by and check out o
Read moreTuesday, December 13 at 7 pm, Windsor Congregational Church. Not everyone is "joy-filled" during the holiday season. This is a different kind of service for those who are stressed, lonely, or hurting. The main theme is "Moving Toward Pinpoints of Light." There will be area musicians performing hopeful, healing music, as well as an opportunity to sing. Also: the things about Christmas you thought you weren't allowed to think! All are invited. Clergy from Cummington, Plainfield, West Cummington and Windsor will officiate. Questions: Rev. Alex Hunter (cell/text: 413-344-6690; revalexhunter@gmail.com)
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