William Winters House & Neighborhood
Winters Avenue & Mitchell Lane
It’s not often I find myself in downtown Deep River. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been there before now. It just doesn’t have the caché as say, a Chester or an Essex. Yet there it is, right between the two. Perhaps it’s a bit grittier than Chester and Essex, but come on, this is a southern Connecticut River town through and through; how bad can it be?
It looked lovely during my drive-through. With 2-plus feet of snow piled into mountains everywhere, I found my way to the Bill Winters Neighborhood. The roads were cleared, but very skinny and wended their way up the hill.
I have no idea which house was the house Bill Winters lived; and I don’t actually think it’s still here. But no matter, the story lives on and kudos to the town for recognizing its important Underground Railroad past with a large sign on the old building at the bottom of Winter Avenue.
The development of the Winters neighborhood in Deep River provides some answers to what became of individuals who fled northward to escape slavery on the Underground Railroad. After making his way from South Carolina to Philadelphia, Daniel Fisher was assisted by underground railroad agents. According to his own account: “In company with some Philadelphia colored people, I was taken to New York, and it was there I met members of the Abolition party…at New York I was put on board a steamboat for New Haven… on arrival a colored man took me to the Tontine Hotel, where a woman gave me a part of a suit of clothes….I was fed and made comfortable, and then directed to Deep River with instructions that upon arriving there I was to inquire for George Read of Judge Warner.” Fisher walked from New Haven to Deep River. Once settled in the town, he changed his name to William Winters and wore a wig to avoid capture and return to South Carolina and enslavement. He was joined later by other family members and friends from the South.
CTMQ’s Underground Railroad Trail page
CTMQ’s Freedom Trail page
Ray Tiezzi says
October 12, 2012 at 5:23 pmI grew up on Winter Avenue in the 40’s and 50’s with two wonderful African-American families…. John and Katherine Mitchell (i.e Mitchell Lane) and the Robert Evans family. They came from the south and frequently mentioned their friends from “the Carolinas”. The house in your picture was built by Dominick Benedetto in the early 50’s. Later, Mitchell Lane (foreground) was constructed with John Mitchell’s house at our back on right side. I am so happy that the Winter Avenue history has been documented for future generations!
Denise Page says
July 3, 2014 at 8:44 amMr. Tiezzi,
Thank you for leaving this lovely account
I am a relative of the Mitchell Family – whom I never knew.
In the 1920-s and 30’s my mother spent summers there with her Uncle John’s family. I believe the John you mention is the son. I would love to connect with you and get more info.
Ray Tiezzi says
March 15, 2015 at 8:45 pmHello Denise,
John was Katherine’s husband……they had a son, Edward. Everyone loved John and Katherine and I grew up next door to them and especially spent a lot of time with them as a young boy. Have lots of anecdotal and historical info to share with you if you wish. You can email me if you wish.
Ray
Adele Tinney Earle says
November 10, 2017 at 8:34 pmHello, William’ s sister married George Beale who was my great great grandfather. His son Daniel married Winifred Mitchell whose brother was Charles. So I am related to both families. I went to deep river and received information from Ms Edith de forest. Would appreciate info.
Thank you.
Susan J Pinckney says
July 11, 2019 at 1:05 pmFor anyone who is interested there is now a book on Billy Winters available at the Historical Society’s Stone House (open summers from 2-4 on Sat & Sunday) or for purchase on Amazon: “Billy Winters; One Man’s Journey to Freedom” by the Historical Society’s curator, Rhonda Forristall.