Born in Berlin in 1796, Chauncey Winchell later came to Talcottville in Vernon and began working as a millwright. In 1829, he moved to Rockville (also in Vernon). In 1833, he was one of the organizers of the Springville Mill, one of Rockville‘s earliest woolen mills. A skilled builder, Winchell constructed his Greek Revival homestead in 1830 at 174 West Main Street, where the Springville Mill was located. He then constructed several other homes on the same street for his colleagues at the mill, including one for his his partner, Alonzo Bailey (at 162-164 West Main Street, built in 1836). Chauncey Winchell married Mary Vibberts in 1816 and one of their children was Cyrus Winchell, built two houses on Ellington Avenue in Rockville in 1885. Chauncey Winchell served as president of the Springville Manufacturing Company for 52 years.
