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Ellington, Connecticut: A Self-Governing Windmill and a Country Synagogue

Ellington, Connecticut

Pictures from Ellington

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Ellington Green gazebo Nellie McKnight Museum Sandy Beach, Crystal Lake

Ellington was incorporated in May 1786, set off from East Windsor, and grew as an agricultural community in Tolland County's northern Connecticut River Valley before becoming one of the state's faster-growing bedroom communities. Its original Native American name, Weexskashuck, meant "Great Marsh"; Samuel Pinney was its first settler, and the area became a parish of Windsor in 1733. In 1854, Ellington machinist Daniel Halladay patented a self-governing windmill at the request of local businessman John Burnham — a prototype ran six months unattended, lifting water more than 100 feet from a 28-foot well. Halladay's windmill company, founded in Ellington, moved to South Coventry and then to Batavia, Illinois, where it became the US Wind Engine and Pump Company. Crystal Lake, in the town's eastern section, was a popular summer resort from the late 1890s through the Great Depression. Congregation Knesseth Israel, founded in 1906 by Yiddish-speaking Jewish farmers, built its wooden synagogue in 1913.

  1. A circa-1812 house museum on the town's agricultural heritage.

  2. Ellington's guarded town beach on Crystal Lake.

  3. 7,170 acres of hiking and multi-use trails spanning Ellington, Somers and Stafford.

  4. Saturday mornings at Market Park through October.

  5. A 24/7 self-serve farm store for glass-bottled milk and ice cream.

  6. An NRHP-listed 1913 country synagogue, best viewed from the street.

  7. Chef-owned Mexican fusion in Ellington Center.

  8. Locally grown bakery-cafe, headquartered in Ellington.

Windmills and a country synagogue

Ellington's original Native American name, Weexskashuck, meant "Great Marsh"; Samuel Pinney was its first settler, and the area became a parish of Windsor in 1733 before incorporating in May 1786. In 1854, Ellington machinist Daniel Halladay patented an "Improved Governor for Windmills" at the request of local businessman John Burnham — a self-governing mill that turned itself into the wind; a prototype ran six months unattended, lifting water more than 100 feet from a 28-foot well. Halladay's windmill company, founded in Ellington, moved to South Coventry and then to Batavia, Illinois, becoming the US Wind Engine and Pump Company. Congregation Knesseth Israel, one of Connecticut's rare surviving early-20th-century country synagogues, was founded in 1906 by Yiddish-speaking Jewish farmers from Russia and Eastern Europe; its 1913 Colonial Revival building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Getting there

No passenger rail station exists in Ellington, and visitors arrive by car on Connecticut Routes 83, 30, 140, 74, 286 and 32 — Route 83 is the town's main north-south corridor. No interstate passes directly through Ellington, but the town sits roughly equidistant between Interstate 84 and Interstate 91. The nearest CTrail Hartford Line stops are Windsor Locks and Windsor, with Hartford Union Station — also served by Amtrak Northeast Regional and Valley Flyer — the nearest major hub, all west of town. Metro-North's New Haven Line and Shore Line East serve the coast and do not reach Ellington. A seven-mile rail line built in 1876 once ran from Vernon to Melrose through Ellington but went defunct by the mid-20th century.

Farms and fairs

Oakridge Dairy's self-serve farm store at 80 Meadow Brook Road sells glass-bottled milk, ice cream, juices and cider around the clock; the farm also hosts an annual Farm Day with tours, food trucks and games. The Ellington Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings at Market Park through the end of October. No hotel, inn or B&B could be verified inside Ellington; the nearest confirmed options are Holiday Inn Express in Vernon and Graduate Storrs.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Ellington?
By car — no interstate runs directly through Ellington, but Connecticut Routes 83, 30, 140, 74, 286 and 32 all serve the town. There is no passenger rail station; the nearest CTrail Hartford Line stops are Windsor Locks and Windsor, west of town.
Is there a train to Ellington?
No. Ellington has no passenger rail station today — a seven-mile line that once ran from Vernon to Melrose through town went defunct by the mid-20th century. Metro-North's New Haven Line and Shore Line East do not reach this part of the state.
What is the Nellie McKnight Museum?
A circa-1812 house museum on Main Street run by the Ellington Historical Society. It is named for Nellie McKnight (1894-1981), a teacher who returned to Ellington in 1929 and served as librarian of the Hall Memorial Library until 1967. The museum keeps no regular public hours; it opens for scheduled events.
Where can I swim in Ellington?
Crystal Lake Sandy Beach, the town's guarded beach, typically runs mid-June through mid-August. Non-resident walk-in rates are $20 for adults, $10 for ages 5-17 and $1 for seniors 60+; resident rates are lower.
Is there a hotel in Ellington?
No hotel, inn or B&B could be verified inside Ellington. The nearest confirmed options are Holiday Inn Express in Vernon and Graduate Storrs.

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