Irish Canal Workers Memorial (Windsor Locks, CT)

The Ancient Order of Hibernians Hartford Division 2 is fundraising to build a monument to help remember a forgotten Irish-Catholic cemetery in Windsor Locks, Conn.

The memorial will honor the 400 immigrant laborers who left their homeland in Ireland and came to the area between May 1827 and November 1829 to build the canal bypassing the treacherous Enfield Rapids. These hardy souls lived in camps and worked from dawn until dusk in damp and dangerous conditions.

In particular, we will honor those canal workers and family members that are buried in a unmarked cemetery that is located about 100 yards and across the canal from where the memorial will be placed.

The memorial will be located at the Windsor Locks Canal Trail State Park near the Montgomery Mills Apartments.

Hartford AOH held a wreath-laying ceremony at the site in March of 2021 and pledged to have a memorial build by March of 2022.

All those who donate $250 or more will be invited to a special VIP reception following the memorial's dedication ceremony (Date TBA).