Picture Windsor Locks - Then And Now

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — For today's look back into Windsor Locks history, we dig into the pages of the 1964 edition of the Windsor Locks High School yearbook, the Herald. On page 92 is an ad for R.J. McKenna & Sons, a real estate, travel and insurance agency.

The business was founded in 1956 by Robert McKenna, a World War II Army veteran, and his wife, the former Ruth Halladay. They were later joined by their sons, Richard and Brian.

Robert McKenna was very involved in the community, serving as president of the Windsor Locks Rotary Club, president of the Northern Connecticut Board of Realtors, commander of the Gensi-Viola American Legion Post No. 36, chairman of the Windsor Locks Police Commission and member of the Windsor Locks Planning and Zoning Commission. He died in 1978 at age 60.

Ruth McKenna owned and operated the Connecticut Village guest house at Hampton Beach, N.H. for 40 years. She was a member of the American Legion Gensi-Viola Auxiliary Post No. 36, president of the Woman's Travel and Transportation Club of Hartford and president of the Windsor Locks Woman's Club. She lived to age 96 before passing in 2019.

During the "downtown revitalization" of the 1970s, 15 Spring Street was torn down. Here is a modern-day look at the site, courtesy of Google Maps.

Do you have a photo of an old Windsor Locks 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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