Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Prosperous and Proud
The census of 1870 lists Windsor's population at 550. With the presence of the Katy Railroad, the community continued to prosper, boasting 38 businesses, seven preachers and no saloons. The same year, the citizens of Windsor lobbied the state legislature to create a new county (to be "Meadow") out of Henry County and the three other counties nearest Windsor. The attempt failed; however, Windsor did successfully incorporate in 1873, and by act of the state legislature, became a fourth-class city five years later.

Through the years, Katy shipped a diversity of Windsor products, from brooms and buttons to chickens and cheese. At the same time, trains imported products from around the world and connected its citizens to the technology of the day.

Windsor Depot
The Katy Railroad constructed a top-of-the-line, Victorian-style framed depot with fine detail. Although the depot was demolished in 1979, another one identically designed is located beside Katy Trail State Park in St. Charles. The foundation of the Windsor depot can still be found just a few yards away.

This Windsor depot suffered damage in an explosion on Sept. 15, 1908. A boxcar loaded with cans of black powder was positioned near the freight bay. In order to unload Windsor freight, the barrels, bound for Lewis Station, were moved and some of the powder spilled. When one of the men went to sweep it up, another tossed a match into the,pile to give him a scare. The explosion that resulted left 13 dead and several injured and wrecked the south end of the depot.

[Upper Photo: The north side of Main Street in downtown Windsor is shown in a photo from about 1910.]
Used by permission, State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia.

[Middle Photo: Although considered small operations, Windsor boasted two broom-making factories. This photo is of a similar operation at Watkins Mill in Clay County.]
DNR file photo.

[Bottom Photo: The Katy Railroad constructed this top-of-the-line, Victorian-style depot with fine detail, shown around 1910.
Used by permission, State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia.

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