Third Oral History Interview of Doris Pelton Burgdorf
Date
2007 Jul 31
Scope & Content
Third oral history of Doris Pelton Burgdorf, completed by Maureen Bourn, July 31, 2007.
In this third interview of five, Doris talks about her mother, Helen Risley Pelton. Helen was born in South Windsor and went to school in town. She attended high school in East Hartford and went on to work in Hartford at an insurance company. When her parents moved to Florida, Helen eloped. The newly weds rented a house on Main Street and eventually moved into the Pelton Farm. Helen managed the household with a milk business on the side. She became interested in local history and helped to keep the Wood Library open and operating.
Helen's friend Hildred Raymond decided to purchase the Town Farm [Ferry Lane], and invited Helen and Doris to join her. Doris recalls the tenants who lived in the farm and how the three "owners" managed to repair and furnish the home.
Orgnaizational or Biographical History
Doris Burgdorf is a life-long resident of South Windsor. She is a member of the South Windsor Historical Society. Doris is the designer of our town seal, the illustrator of Long Hill; The Mary Jeannette Elmore Story, and the author of A Country Mile, a book about the houses in the historic district on Main Street. Doris is currently working on the committee to restore Union School and she is doing the deed searches and research necessary for a new book about the houses on the rest of Main Street.
Girl Scouts Great Depression Native Americans Niagara Falls (N.Y. and Ont.) Rationing--United States--History--20th century Tobacco -- Connecticut World War II
