Serving Winsted, CT and the surrounding towns for over 40 years!
Our Story
Winsted Area Child Care Center, Inc. was founded in 1979 by three longtime preschool teachers, Penny Putnam, Ayreslea Denny, and Lyn Haskell. These ladies joined forces with some important community members who assisted them in transforming their dream into a reality. In October of that year, with a bit of elbow grease, Winsted Area Public Day Care opened its doors on the lower level of the Temple Beth Israel at 74 Park Place in Winsted. The site was licensed and became a United Way agency.
- Starting with only a preschool program, we grew steadily in enrollment, staff, and reputation. In 1986 the Center became one of the first in Connecticut to become accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and has proudly maintained this status.
- In 1991, the program expanded to include infants, toddlers, and students before and after their school day. We then changed our name from the Center to our name today, fondly referred to as WACCC.
- After many years of envisioning a more modern facility, the Board of directors, Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (or "CHEFA"), the executive director, staff, town, and local businesses made this dream a reality with a plan for a new building on Prospect Street. We moved in December of 2002 to our current facility at 185 Prospect Street.
- We expanded in 2006 to a second facility on 1 Lake Street exclusively for school age children which operated for 17 years. Unfortunately the economic challenges associated with the pandemic resulted in a downsizing back to one facility at 185 Prospect Street. We continue to provide care for 112 children on a daily basis, many of which are second generation WACCC and BASE children.
