Picture East Windsor - Then And Now

EAST WINDSOR, CT — Today's installment of this periodic informal series, highlighting businesses from East Windsor's past and what those locations look like today, once again finds up deep into the 1980 edition of the East Windsor High School yearbook, The Archive.

Balch of East Windsor was one of the most respected names in the automotive sales business for decades. Located at 248 South Main Street, the dealership was owned and operated for many years by Joseph Balch and his wife, Monica. Joseph's brother John was a fixture on the sales floor, working there for nearly 60 years, and longtime office workers included Helen Cantwell and Beryl Wilson.

A number of makes and models were available at Balch, with Pontiac, Buick and Opel being the makes on the marquee in this photo from four decades ago. At one time, it was the second oldest Pontiac dealership in New England. The accompanying ad in the yearbook also lists Mazda, Datsun, Fiat and Lancia.

I vividly recall seeing the iconic Balch dachshund, pictured below, emblazoned on the side of a barn on the east side of Route 5, visible heading northbound just before reaching the dealership.

Joseph Balch passed away in 1988, John Balch in 2005 and Monica Balch in 2010.

James Balch still owns the property, which is leased to a business called D Touch Auto Detailing. Here is a contemporary look at the building, courtesy of Google Maps.

Do you have a photo of an old East Windsor 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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