Seven sites are on first list, more may be added

Town Council adopts historic register
by COREY YOUNG, Staff Writer
The Town of Windsor has created an official register of historic
sites in the community, including the Cunningham House, the oldest
known structure in Windsor.
The Foxwood Drive home was built around 1850 and will join six
other local landmarks on the register. The seven sites will also
receive a special zoning classification on town maps as part of an
“historic overlay” district.
The other six sites are the Masonic Hall, Gutchell House and
Bell Ranch House on Windsor River Road, the Hembree House on
Foxwood Drive, a large Heritage Bay tree at Foothill Circle and
Cerrada Court and the Shiloh Cemetery on Windsor Road.
The historic zoning designation means any alterations or
renovations are subject to more stringent regulations to ensure
that the historical significance of the site is protected.
Participation in the historic district is voluntary for the
property owners. If the town wants to add more historic sites to
the register, a public hearing will be held.
A total of 13 historic sites were considered by the town. Only
seven of the 13 property owners wanted to participate in the
program, the planning department said.
The council said owners of the remaining six sites will be asked
to participate again so that more landmarks are protected. Those
six sites include the Windsor Presbyterian Church on Windsor River
Road, the Savemore Grocery building on Old Redwood Highway (which
now houses Grohe Florists) and the Odd Fellows Hall in downtown
Windsor.
“I think it’s important that they know the council values those
sites,” said Councilmember Lynn Morehouse.
Designating sites as historic will help prevent what happened to
the old Windsor Feed and Supply building at Bell and Johnson
streets, said Councilmember Debora Fudge. That building was
supposed to be incorporated into a new commercial development but
was instead demolished without the town’s knowledge or necessary
permits.
“They reason we talked about doing this sooner rather than later
is so that we wouldn’t lose any of them like we lost the feed
store,” said Fudge.