The official history of Notchview accords pride of place to Col. Arthur Budd, a much-decorated veteran of World War I (he even has a street named after him in France) who is credited with acquiring and uniting the many parcels of Windsor land that eventually became the Budd estate, aka Notchview. Less well-known is the soft-focus figure of
Read moreFUN FACT: FROM CHEESE TO GRAVEL!
Windsor has a long history of multiple industries, such as farming, raising sheep and poultry, sugaring, and dairying. Cheese-making was one of the many activities Windsor had going on in the 19th century. The Windsor Cheese Factory (c. 1811-1910) was located at
Read moreSTEWARD HOMESTEAD: FROM HOME TO MUSEUM
![The Steward Homestead, in 1975, being moved to its current location as Windsor’s “new” historical museum [Photo from Bernie Drew's “A History of Notchview,” published in 1986]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55412c47e4b0678f234f5b13/1556889251568-OPOTAG99VUU7T5TD9YFO/historyhouseRachel.jpg)
The Steward Homestead, in 1975, being moved to its current location as Windsor’s “new” historical museum [Photo from Bernie Drew's “A History of Notchview,” published in 1986]
Windsor’s small but mighty museum did not serve as such throughout its long history. In fact, it was not always at its current location on Route 9 in the center of town!
Originally known as the Steward House, the home was located on the southwest corner of the Savoy Hollow Road and Shaw Road junction, just west of the Notchview property. The property was assembled in the early
Read moreBenny “Fingers” Kohn: The Epic Evolution of a Windsor Pianist
Anyone who knows anything about the Berkshire music scene knows who Benny Kohn is. Arguably the best jazz pianist in the Berkshires and beyond, I first met Benny in 2008 when I was given the opportunity to play with a group of local jazz legends. I was immediately taken with his playing. The man behind the piano is
Read moreNOTCHVIEW FUN FACT: Keeping Order in Helenscourt
After Helen Budd and her husband, Arthur Budd, built Helenscourt and came to live there full-time, the estate also became home to employees, some of them housed in former homesteads on the property (such as the one that
Read moreFROM NORMAN’S FARMHOUSE TO HELEN’S MANSION
As one of approximately 20 homesteads that eventually made up Notchview’s 3000 acres, the Norman Miner Place began as a farm and became the nucleus of Notchview’s property after
Read moreNOTCHVIEW FUN FACT: Shelter Trail Logs
Notchview has several shelters on its property where skiers can take a break, enjoy the view, and spend time with other skiers! The Pierce Shelter (built in memory of
Read moreButter Bates Homestead
The Butter Bates Homestead, Bates Road (circa 1910?)
Photo by C.W. Thompson, courtesy of Adams Historical Society
The 200-acre Butter Bates Homestead, which is located at Notchview on Bates Rd, past Bates Field on the northeast side, was owned by Herman L. Bates. Bates bought the land from his father, William, for an 1847 price of….
Read moreA Musician in Our Midst
In 2008, my family realized dreams of pine scented breezes, woodland creatures coming to visit, snowshoeing by light of a full moon and spectacular starlit skies. Indeed, it was love at first sight when we found our paradise in Windsor, just past the Peru town line. I was THRILLED to learn..
Read moreNOTCHVIEW FUN FACT: Budd and His Dogs
After retiring from the Army in 1932, Arthur Budd lived on the property at Notchview until his death in 1965. A career Army man, Budd was well known for his love of dogs (who appeared in many pictures with him), as well as hiking his property barefoot and in a straw hat and short pants, no matter the weather. —Rachel Niswander, Terra Corps Intern
Read moreWindsor Club Cellar Hole
Windsor Club, a social and sporting group, was located in a two-story brick building built around 1824. Activities included weekend hunting, fishing, get-togethers, and summer picnics. The picnics were held a
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