
A couple of years ago I was going to surprise none other than Norm Frampton with a quick doorscurrsion when he breezed through the Hartford area. Norm and I had been planning to meet and to have lunch at Tunxis Grill, as he and his wife traveled from New York north to Montreal. They were heading into Vermont that evening, and It didn’t seem like there would be time to go looking for doors, but as I said, I had a surprise. Less than a mile from the restaurant where we planned to meet is the stately St. Joseph’s Catholic church.
I was going to surprise Norm, but a bad bit of photographic luck brought a bigger surprise to me. Early in the week of Norm’s visit, scaffolding went up around the church. Oh well, the people were great, the food was great, and the beer was cold, so all was not lost.
St. Joseph’s fell back into my someday-when-you-need-an-easy-door bucket. Unfortunately, when that day came, the history of this church made the photography more complex than I planned – it now required pictures of three churches.

St. Joseph’s is located in what is known as the Poquonock (po-qwan-uck) section of Windsor. Windsor is arguably Connecticut’s first town. Several of its neighboring towns used to be part of Windsor. The town split into sections, some sections became their own towns and we’re left with South Windsor being directly east of Windsor (across the CT River) and East Windsor being north of South Windsor. Windsor Locks is north of Windsor. To the west and northwest of the original settlement, Windsor retained control over large sections of farmland, much of which has been developed. Poquonock is in that general area, but neither remains agricultural, nor has it been commercially or industrially developed to excess. It is a pretty area, home to the bar I have been known to visit as well as Elm Grove Cemetery which was featured among my earliest door posts.
Falling between towns, Poquonock’s spiritual matters were originally assigned to the guidance of priests in Hartford, and then in 1852, to St. Mary’s Church in Windsor Locks. Downtown Windsor’s Catholics were also under the parish umbrella of St. Mary’s from 1852 until 1892 when St. Gabriel’s Church in Windsor was established. In 1892, St. Joseph’s was made an independent parish, and St. Gabriel’s began independent operation in an old Episcopal church in downtown Windsor. The current St. Gabriel’s was dedicated in 1916. In 2017, as Catholic parishes struggled to maintain sufficiently large independent congregations, Saint Joseph Parish and Saint Gabriel Parish were merged into Saint Damien of Molokai Parish
Although I failed in my attempt to share a few New England doors with Norm, I should not fail to point out that he remains the organizer and administrative head of the legions of door gatherers across the world. Each week, a large number of door aficionados find, photograph and organize images of doors. Then, we head north to Norm’s site, where the little blue frog grants us passage into the large gallery of doors. Check it out – take a look at Norm’s doors, click the blue tadpole and share your doors, or just take in the vast quantity of doors on display.
Today’s gallery includes St. Joseph’s (as it still is being called) and a few photos of the churches of St Gabriel and St. Mary.
Those churches are really beautiful. How awesome that you and Norm got to meet and hang out, doors or no doors. So good to see you together! I hope you have a beautiful weekend. 😀
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Thanks Cheryl. It was great to meet Norm and his wife (and I think his sister-in-law), and that was way more than enough to make it a great day.
It has been raining hard for over 24 hours, but it’s supposed to be nice and warm this weekend. I hope you’re having a good week.
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Same here with rain but the sun is coming out now and promises to stay with us for the weekend. I am having a great week thanks. The big festival is this weekend so we are looking forward to that! Good friends always make any day special.
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Lovely pictures
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Thank you!
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The trio of doors on St Gabriel’s are my favourite. I have a soft spot for large crosses on church front doors.
I don’t know how big of an area this is, but it must have been quite prosperous to support three great churches like this.
The best photo though is of the 2 fine gentlemen 🙂 Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but I’m confident there will be another chance.
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Thanks Joanne. This area went through a period of everybody wanting their own church. I guess, at one point, they were all chock-a-block full, perhaps at the height of the baby boom, but none have been packed for many years. Still, they are beautiful buildings and they all have small but loyal congregations. None were happy with the mergers, or the new names, and I don’t see the new names on any signage.
It was great to meet Norm and spend some time with him and his family. I am very happy he shared that photo with me.
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Ah, that was a fun day. And that’s my “I don’t care how goofy I look, I’m on vacation” shirt :-D
This is the first I’m hearing of your surprise plans. Too bad it didn’t work out. I mean geez, didn’t the construction crew know I was coming?
I do love the simple elegant modesty of most New England architecture. Next time we’ll make a joint doorscursion a priority.
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It was a good day, Norm! I would have thought the crew could have held off for a week, in honor of your visit. I was going to mention the opportunity, as our plans firmed up, but by that time, the scaffolding was rising.
Maybe there was a message in the scaffolding – focus on what’s important. If you come through again, I’m sure we can find some doors – or not, the beer will still be cold.
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Such majestic buildings! Oh, and sun today, nice and warm: 15C/59F!
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Thanks Pam. The sun has to burn a few remaining rain clouds away, but we’re going to have a nice day. Enjoy yours.
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Love the pic with Norm, door gatherer as you say. Always enjoy accompanying you virtually.
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Thanks Ruth. I always appreciate it when you tag along.
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Scaffolding has made its aggravating way into many a vacation photo and caused many others not to be taken. But who cares about doors when we have the a-door-able photo of the two of you and not even via a reflection?!! It’s always fun to meet other bloggers in person.
This is actually my favorite part of the entire post though:
“South Windsor being directly east of Windsor (across the CT River) and East Windsor being north of South Windsor. Windsor Locks is north of Windsor.”
Whaaaaat? :-)
janet
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You and Norm look great. Nice to see the grill as well as all the beautiful photos (I don’t mind scaffolding) :-D
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Thanks John. You spent enough time in New York, where scaffolding has been known to get decorated for Christmas.
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So true. It is great shade in the summer.
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And s great place from which to take door photos in the rain.
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And to walk in the rain.
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Even the scaffolding can’t detract from the beauty of that building. All the doors are great, but my favorite is the front entrance to St. Gabriel’s. Stunning.
Great picture of you and Norm. He shoulda brought the frog along! 😃
Interesting history lesson today.
🔹 Ginger 🔹
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Thanks Ginger – The scaffolding meant that the building was being maintained, and that’s always a welcome sign. I do like those doors at St. Gabriel’s/
I think the little blue frog had the day off.
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That is a great photo of you and Father Norm. You have captured some beautiful doors, Dan. What the heck–the church didn’t know Norm was coming?!
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Thanks Lois. I stopped short of casting Norm in a church role today. I think I would have had to have gone with at least a Cardinal, perhaps the Pope of doors and I’m not sure I want to go there.
I would have thought the church could have checked his schedule before putting up the scaffolding – it’s their loss, they could have had their doors on the Master Page.
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How lucky you two got together! Happy Thursday to you…
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Thanks! It was fun to meet and spend some time together.
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Dan, as others before me have said, these are indeed lovely pictures
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Thanks John!
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Looks like a great time was had. Nice photos, too. Wish I had a wire filter.
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Thanks Audrey – every side of that church is blocked by something – auuuugh.
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You still showed us the beauty. No worries
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I’m a weirdo who actually thinks scaffolding adds interest, maybe because it shows someone cares for the building. Just like someone cared enough to merge and oversee varying faiths as needed. People make a huge difference.
Those windows at St Mary’s are unusually lovely. St Joseph’s has the steeple dream though, that steeple is downright godly. Clearly St Gabriel’s takes the cake on architecture, so much detail and craftsmanship. The doors on St Gabriel’s are divine. Really a nifty collection, worthy of saving for a rainy day.
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Thanks Joey. I do recognize that the upside of scaffolding lies in the fact that they are doing much needed maintenance. I just wish they had waited a week. The details on St. Gabriel’s are amazing, but you’re right about the steeple at St. Joseph’s. The unfortunate thing about St. Mary’s is that they gutted the inside and went with a more modern look. We already had a modern Catholic church in town, and it was a bit of a blow to the traditional folks.
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Ah, that’s sad for them, then.
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How nice that you had a meetup with Norm in CT, even if the doorscursion plans were foiled by scaffolding. Nice selection of churches! The Tunxis Grill looks inviting with an outdoor patio. I need to check it out next time in CT.
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Thanks. It was really cool to meet Norm. I avoid the patio, as I’ve usually been working outside before heading over and I prefer air conditioned spaces at that point.
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Dan, beautiful churches! I love the old brick and usually the interiors are elaborate designs and very peaceful. 😊 Christine
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Thanks Christine. As I mentioned in reply to Joey, St. Mary’s gutted the inside and went with a more modern look. We already had a modern Catholic church in town, so it was a bit of a blow to the traditional folks. I haven’t been in the others, but photos I’ve seen on websites would support your thoughts.
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How great is that! You and Norm look terrific and the weather looked to be perfect for a doorscurtion. Too bad about the scaffolding… perhaps you should have told them ahead of time to please put that off until you and Norm could get some pictures (I’m sure they would have been happy to comply 🙃). I’m sure there will be another time for both of you.
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I’m sure they’ve heard of Thursday Doors, I probably could have made the request. We did fine with just food, and family. Thanks for stopping by.
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So much for your someday-when-you-need-an-easy-door-bucket! But I do love the first door, and even more the roof-frame above it (don’t know how you officially call that). Nice pic of you and Norm, of course that’s when you can make up all these stories about the latter:):)
Hope I still make it to your Wednesday one-liner this week…
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Thanks. I’m not sure if the roof has a name. I’d go with portico but they usually have columns. I do like that roof. It was pretty cool meeting Norm.
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You seem to get along with many, and would welcome most bloggers:)
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I do like this community.
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Yes, I do too:) I wonder if it also has to do with it’s so international – and people might be more careful with what they say, and give the other more leave way?
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I think the mix is helpful. It stands in such contrast to the people who want a less open, less diverse world. Different opinions, along with respect, really works!
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Yeah, the respect visa versa makes it work!The rest of that evening I was kind of undone of how I have been blessed my whole life and not realize that that is not a given.
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It’s good to realize that. I think it makes us better people.
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It is great to hear stories of bloggers getting together.
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I’ve met a few. It’s always fun.
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Sometimes repairs need to be made~! Love the pic of you and Norm.
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Thanks Jan. The work was necessary (but they could have waited a week).
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As a friend of mine said, God always had the nicest house on the block.
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Ha! That’s good 🙂
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Great to see the smiles on you both. Doors can wait. Good that Italians are not very hardworking and such surprises are not to be feared. You still have time to organise September in Italy, Dan, when Norm will come a-hopping. ;)
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I wish I could. Still working for a living and using vacation time for local projects.
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Wow, such rich history there! All 3 churches are gorgeous with their brick, and lovely doors, and windows.
I think I like St. Gabriel’s the best though.
How fun to Meet-Up with Norm and his wife! You two are looking good with your handsome smiles.
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Thanks Deborah – it is hard to choose, but I think you’re on the right track. I love the brick work at St. Gabriel’s.
It was fun meeting Norm. I hope to be able to visit him up north at some point. I don’t normally have a good smile. We must have been saying “doors.”
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LOL! No doubt! :)
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Instead of you being told to say one Our Father and three Hail Marys, I think you get those because of all the beautiful church doors you’ve shown here. Then, when we add the photo of you and Norm, you get a bonus Glory Be. :-)
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Blogging penance? I’m not sure we dare go there, Judy. I stopped short of casting Norm in a fictional religious role today. On the other hand, these are houses of the Lord, built by people of faith. It’s amazing, especially considering when these magnificent buildings were constructed. Thanks for the comment!
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Fascinating. So many twists and turns in the story
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It will be interesting to see what happens to these buildings as the parishes are consolidated.
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Terrific doors, Dan. Honestly, you must have “door radar” imbedded in your vision. Great photo of you and Norm!
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Thanks Jennie. After participating in Thursday Doors for a while, I do think my vision started zooming in on doors first in many cases.
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Makes sense. And, keep zooming. 🙂
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So many doors in your world! I like how you find them, and then have a way to photograph them. Name-changing Catholic churches fascinate me. Here a RC church picks a name and it sticks. Forever and ever. Amen.
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Thanks Ally. I thought I better get the photos while these churches are still open for business. The name changes aren’t being embraced by very many parishioners.
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It is quite an experience to read your post peacefully since I have a couple of days to myself before I am sucked into this vortex of new assignments. Your images plus the historical data makes it a pleasure to read. In fact, these images teleported me for a few seconds mentally and I was imagining myself there. Great post.
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Thanks Sharukh. And thanks for spending some of your precious free time here. It’s good to see you. I hope you guys are doing well.
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It is always a pleasure to read your posts, Dan. Yes, we both are doing good health-wise, how are you?
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We are all well. Looking forward to spring and summer.
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We’re already battling the summer. Thankfully, we still haven’t hit 100 F, but we will in May.
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Your photos are divine this week, Dan. Nice that you and Norm had a chance to meet up and it looks like you were blessed with good weather for the occasion, too. :)
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Thanks Jean. It was a good day and a great time.
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When it comes to doors, churches of all kinds are the deal. You’ve got a great eye for them, for sure. Years of Thursday Doors, maybe?
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I think so. Paying attention to Doors is now a thing. Thanks.
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I start to be more than tempted…
What’s another challenge when it’s only weekly? 😊
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So reminds me of the architecture and doors of the churches I grew up with in the midwest….not so much like that out here in the west! Great pics!!
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Thanks Kirt. We have some interesting churches around here. These are sort of the normal design. I think you could find these anywhere, up until a point. I doubt you could build these today.
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Most of the new start up churches today are in store fronts or rent space in schools for Sunday services….makes sense, just different than that era with the stunning architecture!
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