Vibrant Communities Initiative

During the years of the Gardiner Hall Jr. Company (1860 – 1954) South Willington was a center of innovation, industry and a progressive program of community development that included worker housing, church, school, infrastructure for water and fire protection, street trees and other public amenities, in addition to the actual manufacturing complex for thread. As a result of the contributions by the Hall Company, in 1921 the Town of Willington adopted the spool of thread as its corporate seal.

With the closing of the company the vibrant community slowly drifted away. In the present day small businesses are located in the former mill buildings, and a new cultural organization emerged to shine light on this historic community. Despite the resurgence of the arts, a host of issues exist that are much larger than the properties themselves. The speed of travel on State Route 32 coupled with irregular placement of sidewalks that are now in poor condition presents pedestrian safety issues and undermines the feeling of a residential neighborhood.

Home ownership is evolving from single family or duplex ownership to rental property. In spite of all the challenges facing South Willington the village center is rich with historical importance, has tremendous legacy of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman and vernacular style homes, 19th-century barns, brick and masonry mill buildings, a Gothic Revival church, and Colonial Revival school and is surrounded by scenic and natural resources. To the east of the village Hall’s Pond with the original spillway for the mill and a beach on private land made available to the public during the summer season. To the west, the scenic and natural resource of the Willimantic River. Surrounding the entire village area are steep slopes that act as natural buffers. Taken in total the village presents a unique aspect not readily matched by other areas and one that can thrive as long as the impediments for managed growth are identified and directed in positive ways, and protections are set up to maintain the intrinsic village character.