Picture Ellington - Then And Now

ELLINGTON, CT — Today we return to a fascinating picture book entitled Images of America: Ellington. The book, compiled by Lynn Kloter Fahy for the Ellington Historical Society, was first published in 2005, and contains 128 pages of amazing photos and stories of the small town formerly known as "the Great Marsh." It may be purchased from the Nellie McKnight Museum store here.

On page 88, we find a circa 1905 picture, also used as the book's cover photo, of Edward Hall's Family School for Boys at 107 Main Street. The school had been founded in 1844, and as it grew, so did the building. Classes of about a dozen students stayed for three to five years.

Following Edward Hall's passing, his widow sold the school to blacksmith Theodore C.F. Berr in 1891. Pictured are Berr's wife Samantha, daughter Emma on the pony, and son Gustave.

The road which runs perpendicular to Main Street at this point was previously known as Mechanic Street; it is now called Berr Avenue.

The 4,936 square-foot structure at 107 Main, set on nearly an acre, is currently a 5-unit apartment building, according to Ellington property records. Here is a more contemporary look at the property, courtesy of the town assessor's office.

Do you have a photo of an old Ellington business which no longer exists, to which you own the copyright and which we could feature in this column? Email tim.jensen@patch.com.

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