Oliver Ellsworth Homestead EMA

05/20/2026

Thank you, Town of Windsor, for recognizing the historic preservation activities and historic treasures in Windsor. We appreciate the call out of the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead.

05/15/2026

The Homestead opens its 2026 season on Saturday, May 16, celebrating America250 and exploring the theme 'The Power of Place.' Open from 11 am - 2 pm. Come visit the historic house museum and enjoy the history, art, artifacts and history of this Founding Father. Visitor admission: $15 adults, $10 seniors/vets, $5 children. We are a Blue Star Museum.

05/12/2026

It's Up and it's gorgeous! The Oliver Ellsworth sign has been restored, pole painted and new hardware installed. It is one of our America250 projects . . . just in time for our visitor season starting this Saturday. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the restoration, and to our husbands who master-minded the re-hanging process. Be on the lookout for some additional fun videos.

05/05/2026

Homestead opens May 16: Come celebrate America250! The Power of Place, Tell Inclusive Stories, Doing History, and For the Common Good are the four themes developed by the Connecticut250 as a springboard for interpretation. The Homestead will explore one new theme each month, so visit and learn how these themes enhance the story telling of the Ellsworth Family and the Homestead legacy.

04/29/2026

Happy Birthday, Oliver. Born on April 29, 1745, in Windsor CT, Oliver was educated to be a minister, but then switched to the Law. The rest, as they say, is history: drafter of the US Constitution, architect of the Judiciary Act, third chief justice of the US Supreme Court and envoy to France and Napoleon Bonaparte. We are honored to be the custodians of the legacy, the Homestead, and the family art and artifacts. Come visit us starting May 16.

04/29/2026

Oliver Ellsworth, who played a critical role in drafting both the U.S. Constitution and designing the federal court system and U.S. Supreme Court, was born today in 1745 in Windsor. A gradua…

03/17/2026

As one of the Homestead's America250 projects, David Malboeuf and Tim Ellsworth removed the old Oliver Ellsworth road side sign today. It has been shipped to the sign restorers in Erie, PA. We are excited about hanging the refurbished sign later in the Spring.

02/11/2026

This will be an excellent program! And a great way to start off your America250 activities. At the Windsor Historical Society, just down the street from the Ellsworth Homestead. And the WHS has a terrific America250 exhibit just launched, as well.

We invite you—wherever you may live—to join us on Saturday, March 28 for a “hybrid” meeting conducted both in person at the Windsor Historical Society and via Zoom. Kevin Johnson of the Connecticut State Library will present an emotional first-person account of Jordan Freeman, an enslaved resident of Old Lyme, Connecticut, who served as the servant of John Ledyard and the body servant of Col. William Ledyard during the Revolutionary War. The program is part of DFAW’s contribution to Windsor, Connecticut’s local commemoration of the 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial) of the Declaration of Independence. All are welcome to attend. For more information and to register, go to www.DFAW.org

02/08/2026

Happy Birthday to Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth! February 8 is the 270th anniversary of her birth. She married Oliver in 1772, and the rest, as they say, is history. Hope you enjoy the short video, one of our favorites.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/310830310054628

01/27/2026

Happy Winter! We are so appreciative of modern snowplowing. Hard to imagine moving snow like this - probably all winter - in the 1780's and 90's. Perhaps Oliver and Abigail's numerous children were the family snow shovelers.