Windsor Whip Works Reborn as an Art Gallery

October 15, 2005 From 1901 to 1949, the building at 98 Main Street housed the Windsor Whip Works, one of three thriving buggy whip manufacturers located here in Windsor.

On October 15th, 2005, the two-story Italianate style building across from the village green opened as an art gallery, a crafters’ venue.

The rebirth of the Windsor Whip Works building is the culmination of years of dreaming and hard work of Bill Pesce, long-time President and CEO of Austin & Williams Advertising Agency located on Long Island.

“The building was a disaster, but with a lot of imagination, my wife and I felt it had potential. We never realized how much it would take – financially and emotionally – to bring it back to its former glory.

Over the years I always dreamed of a time when I could devote myself to full-time painting and to being around people who shared my love of art. Opening the Windsor Whip Works Art Gallery has finally made that dream come true. The gallery has become a creative environment attracting other dedicated artists and art lovers.”

The street level and the second floor houses the art gallery, attracting passionate and noteworthy national and local artists on a regular basis.

The level beneath the gallery is being transformed into an attractive and airy space that features local crafts, such as original pottery and ceramics, sculpture, handcrafted jewelry, woodcarvings, etc. Individual artists share the area displaying their work and greet customers as they actually create their crafts on the premises.

The building was constructed by J. G. Thomas in 1874. In 1901, James Elliott operated the Windsor Whip Works factory, becoming the third buggy whip manufacturing enterprise in the village. With the advent of the automobile, the need for buggy whips waned; but Elliot held on until 1949, selling carnival whips. Since that time, the building has served as a hardware store, an appliance store, an auto parts store, and the last occupant was Flintlock Station—a liquor store.

“The preservation and transformation of 98 Main Street into a cultural arts center fits in perfectly with the growth of the arts we’re seeing in nearby Binghampton. First Friday event is proof that the formula of developing the cultural arts environment in the city center works, evident by each month’s growing attendance all year long. We are excited to be able to extend this great happening to Windsor. The art gallery is having a snowballing effect, attracting investors to Main Street.

The new Windsor Whip Works Art Gallery is attracting art lovers and collectors, locally and throughout the state to Windsor – a proud community with a background of academic learning, and successful manufacturing. We look forward to becoming a part of that proud history in the exciting years to come.”

“Welcome to the new Windsor Whip Works Art Gallery.”

Contact:
Johanne Pesce (607) 655-2370
Johanne@WhipWorksArtGallery.org