2019 is the centennial birth anniversary of Ella Tambussi Grasso, favorite daughter of Windsor Locks who brought distinction to our town. Ella was born to immigrant parents and attended St. Mary's school , Loomis Chaffe and continued on to college at Mt Holoyoke. Ella rose in political stature to become a Representative of the General Assembly, Secretary of State, Congresswoman and Governor, the first woman Governor to be elected in her own right. Events are planned throughout 2019 to honor and remember Ella T. Grasso. We invite you to attend, remember and celebrate our local heritage.
January 1, 2019: “Year of Ella” opens at Windsor Locks Town Hall at 1:00pm in the Ella Grasso Conference Room
Spring Festival: The Town of Windsor Locks holds Spring Festival at Windsor Locks Town Hall. Icon logo of Ella Grasso on display
April 14, 2019: Windsor Locks Lions Club Pancake Breakfast annual fundraiser at St Robert Bellermine Church hall, 52 South Elm Street Windsor Locks. Icon Logo of Ella Grasso on display
May 10, 2019: Gathering of State Officials in the Old Judiciary Room of the Connecticut State Capitol building with Proclamation and Commemoratives at 11am, on this, the actual 100th birthday of Governor Grasso.
HERITAGE WEEK IN THE TOWN OF WINDSOR LOCKS: MAY 26TH-JUNE 2ND
May 26, 2019: 7:00am- Memorial Mass in St. Mary Church, 42 Spring Street Windsor Locks, followed by Coffee Hour, the reading of Town Proclamation and ending with a tour of Town, leaving flowers at sites Ella frequented
May 27, 2019: 10am- Military Veterans Memorial Day Parade gather at Noden- Reed Park, 58 West Street Windsor Locks with Parade beginning at 10:30am. Parade route: from Noden-Reed to Memorial Hall, South Main Street. Grasso family are invited to participate in the parade: Icon logo of Ella will be carried in parade
May 28, 2019: 7pm - A gathering in the Ella Grasso Conference Room at Windsor Locks Town Hall with speaker; light refreshments offered by Windsor Locks Women’s Club. Ella icon logo on display
May 29, 2019: 7pm - A gathering in the Ella Grasso Conference Room at Windsor Locks Town Hall with speaker; light refreshments offered by Windsor Locks Women’s Club. Ella icon logo on display
May 30, 2019: Showing of Documentary “Ella” at Windsor Locks Senior Center Luncheon: repeat showing at 7pm at the Senior Center for general public, followed by speaker; light refreshments; Ella icon logo on display
May 31, 2019: Windsor Locks Middle students set up for Town of Windsor Locks Heritage Day Event (June1); a marathon reading, of Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz biography “Ella”, by Municipal Historian and interested others, beginning at 10:30am in the Haskell Homestead Room of Windsor Locks Library, 28 Main Street Windsor Locks. Ella icon on display
June 1, 2019: Town of Windsor Locks Heritage Day Fair at Windsor Locks Middle School with student exhibits and speakers consonant with “Ella Grasso Theme”; theme will be present throughout all Windsor Locks schools; Presentation of Proclamation. Ella icon on display
June 2, 2019: 2:00pm- a train ride from Windsor Locks to Hartford, reminiscent of Ella Grasso’s ride to the State Capitol building on Inauguration Day (or travel by own car), to meet representatives of the 169 cities and towns comprising Connecticut. Students and others to read Roll Call of Connecticut’s cities and towns in alphabetical order: Commemoratives – times to be announced.
July 5-6-7, 2019: Windsor Locks Fireman’s Annual, usually held the first weekend of July, Ella icon on display
October 6, 2019: The Town of Windsor Locks Citizens Advisory Committee’s Annual Octoberfest, held at historic Noden-Reed Park, 58 west Street Windsor Locks. Icon logo of Ella on display
December 7, 2019: Torchlight Parade – The Town of Windsor Locks Citizens Advisory Committee co-sponsors with the Windsor Locks Historical Society the opening of the Christmas Season at historic Noden-Reed brick barn. Committee sponsors parade from the park at 58 West Street to Windsor Locks Town Hall, 50 Church Street, where a Christmas Tree lighting takes place; refreshments served. Icon logo of Ella is carried in parade and placed on display. Event is usually the first Saturday of December: time to be announced.
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