OCTOBER 7, 2010 -- Take a trip to the heart of Litchfield County, Connecticut and experience the colors of fall while you enjoy the sights and sounds of Winchester Center Day on Saturday, October 16.
Winchester Center is a quaint New England community, complete with tree-lined roads and a town green surrounded by the Congregational Church, Grange Hall and historic homes. The numerous organizations of Winchester Center have each planned events as part of this special community day.
The Winchester Center Congregational Church, established in 1768, will host an open house from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a display of handcrafted quilts by the members of Sew Grateful. The quilts are part of the Quilts of Valor project, whose mission is to cover all service members and veterans touched by the war with quilts as a show of appreciation. Sew Grateful is a quilting group based in Winchester Center which was started in 2006 by resident MaryPat Leger.
Also on display at the Congregational Church will be prayer shawls made by community residents, as well as handmade mittens, scarves and hats which will be donated to the Winsted YMCA. Visitors are asked to bring non-perishable food items for the Church's food collection which will be donated to the Open Door Food Bank in Winsted.
Winchester Grange will be hosting a Tag Sale at the Grange Hall from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Formed January 2, 1888 with 31 charter members, the Grange is one of the largest Community Granges east of the Mississippi River in membership, and is extremely active in the Winchester Center community, holding numerous programs and events year-round.
The Winchester Center Historical Association will have it's museum open throughout the day, with many historical items on display, and will be serving freshly made apple cider and popcorn as well as hosting a pumpkin sale. While visiting the museum, be sure to note the old chimney which marks the home of the first settler, Caleb Beach, in 1750. The Historical Association is a volunteer organization with members working to promote awareness of the area's rich history.
Step back into time at the Little Red Schoolhouse, built in 1815. Now a part of the Winchester Center Historical Association, the Schoolhouse was a working one room school until 1908. As part of Winchester Center Day, the Schoolhouse, located on Platt Hill Road, will be open for tours, as well as host a book sale.
The Winchester Center Volunteer Fire Department will also be participating by having its firetrucks on display, and children's games will be offered on the Green.
The small village of Winchester Center lies about 4 miles southwest of Winsted, or approximately 6 miles northeast of Torrington, at the intersection of Route 263 and Newfield Road. |