Documentary History of American Water-works

Windsor

Windsor, Connecticut

Windsor was first settled in 1634.

The Windsor Aqueduct Company was formed in 1798 by James Hooker, Alexander Wolcott, Josiah Bissell and others. The organizers petitioned the Connecticut General Assembly on May 14, 1798 for incorporation, which was granted the same month. The charter was very narrow, giving the company "power of forming, and completing an Aqueduct to convey water from the land of Levi Hayden, about one hundred rods to the west ward of the now dwelling house of the said Levi, along the highway to the dwelling house of Elisha Strong, in such manner that each member of said company and others who may become members of said company, may be supplied with water."

The company advertised for "a man acquainted with the business" in April, 1799.

Suffield (Connecticut) Impartial Herald, April 9, 1799

Another source of water was soon required, and in May 1800 the company petitioned for a charter amendment, which empowered them "to form and complete an Aqueduct to convey water from the lands of Hezekiah Chaffee, Jr., or the springs adjacent at Sandy Hill, (so called,) and connect the same with the tube conveying water from the land of Levi Hayden, one hundred rods to the westward of the dwelling house of said Levi Hayden, along the highway to the dwelling house of Elisha Strong, and that the branch conveying water from Sandy Hill, as aforesaid, be considered and become a part of the original Aqueduct, and that in the same manner the said company have the power of repairing and regulating the branch of Aqueduct conveying water from the said Sandy Hill, as they have to repair and regulate the original Aqueduct conveying water as aforesaid from Levi Hayden's land."

No further information on this system has been found.

On July 20, 1871, the Windsor Water Company was incorporated by H. Sidney Hayden, H. B. Loomis, Isaac W. Hakes, Jr., E. S. Clapp, L. T. Frisbie, H. H. Filley, and E. S. Alford, of Windsor, Conn., and F. E. Mather, of the city of New York "for the purpose of furnishing a supply of pure water for that portion of Windsor known as Broad Street, around the station, and to all that portion of said town to which water can be conveniently introduced, with a supply of pure water for public and domestic use." This company installed a system and provided water, but at some point after Judge H. Sidney Hayden died in 1896 the town refused to pay rent for the use of fire hydrants owned by the company. The company then removed the hydrants, and in 1915 the town formed a Fire District that purchased the water system. The system was then transferred to the Metropolitan District in 1930.

Water in the Town of Windsor is currently provided by The Metropolitan District

References
1798 Petition of the Windsor Aqueduct Company, May 14, 1798.

1798 Resolve incorporating the Windsor Aqueduct Company, May 1798. Also includes the May, 1800 addition.

1800 Petition of the Windsor Aqueduct Company, May 10, 1800

1871 An act incorporating the Windsor Water Company, July 20, 1871.

1882 Windsor, from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.

1890 "Windsor," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.

1891 "Windsor," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.

1897 "Windsor," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.

1915 An act incorporating the Windsor Fire District, May 12, 1915.

1917 "Some Operating Problems of a Small Water Department," by Homer R. Turner, Superintendent and Engineer, the Windsor Fire District, Read September 12, 1917. Journal of the New England Water Works Association 31(4):633-641. (December, 1917)

1920 "Comparison of Gasoline and Electric Pumping," by H. R. Turner, Public Works, 48(14):322-324 (April 17, 1920)
At the water works plant of the Windsor, Conn., Fire District, an electrically operated pump is found to be 20 percent chearp to operate than a gasoline one, and reliable as well as convenient to operate.

1921 An act amending an act incorporating the Windsor Fire District, May 11, 1921.

2011 History of the Windsor Volunteer Fire Company
"Then came the death of Judge Hayden, and the refusal of the town to pay the rental of the town to pay the rental on the hydrants which had been installed in the central part of the town. The hydrants had been installed by the Windsor Water Company, which had been started by Judge Hayden. After the refusal of the town to pay the rental the hydrants were removed and the firemen relied for some time upon the wells and streams for their supply of water. The Windsor Sewer District was changed to the Windsor Fire District and the Fire District then bought the Windsor Water Company. The hydrants were again installed, many more being distributed in important places."