History of Norwich, Connecticut, USA

Orders were given likewise that no strangers should remain in the town without the public consent, and this consent seems to have been very cautiously dispensed. Applications were frequently made for permission to stay in town for a limited time, but this was seldom granted without some condition annexed ; such as, if he then remove, — if he behave himself, — if he do not become chargeable. These votes stretch down to 1769.

June 20, 1764. " Leffingwell's Bridge over Shetacket river at Norwich Landing it completed. It is 124 feet in length, and 28 feet above the water. Nothing is placed between the abutments, but the bridge is supported by Geometry work above and calculated to bear a weight of 500 tons. The work is by Mr. John Bliss, one of the most curious mechanics of the age. The bridge was raised in two days and no one hurt. The former bridge was 28 days in raising."

Norwich, as well as other towns in Connecticut, was taxed with the support of a certain number of the French Neutrals, a harmless and much-abused people, who in the year 1755 were driven from their seats in Acadia or Nova Scotia by their English conquerors, and forced to take refuge in New England. Many of them subsequently returned to Canada. Capt. Richard Leffingwell, in the brig Pitt, carried 240 of these French peasants with their priest to Quebec in 1767.

The proprietors and printers were Alexander Robertson, James Robertson, and John Trumbull, under the firm of Robertsons & Trumbull. It had a flourishing head-piece inclosing the rude cut of a ship under full sail, and an imposing title, making pretensions to a wide circulation. Price, six shillings and eight pence per annum.

This was part of the area known as Mohegin. Several men from Saybrook began a settlement in 1659 and obtained a deed from Uncas, Sachem of the Mohegans. For several years the settlement was known as "the new township of Mohegan." It was also referred to as New-Norwich. It is first called, Norridge, in the Colony records of 1660/ 1 but gradually becomes "Norwich." The City of Norwich was incorporated in 1784.

www.csginc.org/ csg_city_details.php?id=104

Jan. 8, 1784, was distinguished by a yet greater and more sweeping freshet, which affected both the Yantic and the Shetucket. Several mills and bridges on the upper courses were swept away, and large quantities of lumber came floating down the streams. Happily there was but little ice in the Thames, to obstruct the downward flow, and Chelsea escaped inundation. A slaughter-house near the wharf bridge was swept off with all its contents, beef, hides, tallow, cooperage, and tools, and not a vestige left.

The year 1789 was marked by a June freshet. For two days, the 10th and 11th of the month, the rains were continuous and flood-like, causing a rapid rise in all the streams that feed the Thames. The Shetucket and Yantie, swollen by their impetuous tributaries, sweeping aside bridges, mills and dams, deluging corn-fields, and precipitating large rocks upon the meadows, came rushing down upon Norwich Landing, and lifted the river nearly to it level with its lower tier of roofs. This flood, however, was of brief duration. The waters passed over with a furious swash, and then quietly subsided.

After the American Revolution, Connecticut granted franchises for the building of ‘toll’ roads or turnpikes, and in 1792 the first turnpike in Connecticut and in New England (the second in the country) linked Norwich and New London. www.cthistoryonline.org/ cho/ journeys/ j_infra_trans_early.html

...This great fire of 1793 quickened public opinion in regard to the benefits to be derived from insurance. Within twenty days after the catastrophe, the inhabitants were invited by a committee, consisting of Ebenezer Huntington, Joseph Perkins, Joshua Huntington and Roger Griswold, to meet at the court-house and for am association against future calamitous losses. A company was organized, chartered, and went into operation in 1795, under the title of the "Mutual Assurance Company," for insuring houses and other buildings from losses by fire: the badge, Mutual Assurance, and the policies to run seven years.


History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession by the Indians to the Year 1866
Author Frances Manwaring Caulkins
Publisher By H.P. Haven, 1874
Page 553

The original Norwich Courier was 18 x 11 inches in size, with four pages. February 12, 1817, Theophilus R. Martin joined with Mr. Hubbard in printing the paper and continued in it for two years. In 1822 Thomas Robinson and John Dunham bought out Mr. Hubbard, and they jointly carried on the paper until 1825...

In 1860 paper merges with the Morning Bulletin and continues as Norwich Bulletin to present.

Century Club of American Newspapers
Publisher St. Louis republic, 1909
Page 2

Jan. 29, 1797, was marked by a peculiar freshet resulting from a January thaw. The smaller rivers were broken up, and heavy blocks of ice sweeping downwards committed great havoc in their course. The court house bridge was so thoroughly broken up that only a heap of fragments remained. It was compared to a wreck made by thousands of hammers.

A lofty pole was erected, around which a pyramid of old barrels was arranged, — large at the platform, but a single barrel well tarred forming the apex. The burning of this pile constituted the revelry or triumphant part of the entertainment, and was considered by the young as indispensable to a finished Thanksgiving. When built upon the plain, the whole valley was lighted up by the blaze, like a regal saloon : and when upon a height, the column of flame sent forth a flood of light over woods and vales, houses and streams below, producing a truly picturesque effect.

After the present century came in, the first great flood was in 1807. The rivers began to break up on Saturday night, Feb. 7th. The cracking of the vast blocks of ice was like the crash of thunder. The Shetucket rose eighteen or twenty feet. Lord's and Lathrop's bridges were swept away. On Sunday morning, fire was cried through the streets, and alarm bells were rung. For many years no such inundation had been known. The current swept over East Chelsea, and for a time gave it the appearance of a lake, with a few house's lifting their roofs above the waters.

The flood rose so rapidly that several families were taken by surprise and imprisoned in their houses. They retreated to the upper stories, but when the water came within a few inches of the second floors, it was considered unsafe for them to remain, and they were brought away in boats, into which they dropped from the windows.. From hill to hill, all Franklin and East Main street was an expanse of water.

At the intersection ...

Norwich, a wealthy commercial post town, and the semi-seat of justice of the county, is situated at the head of navigation, on the Thames or Pequot river, in north lat. 41 degrees 34' and west lon. 72 degrees 29'. It is 13 miles north of New-London, and 38 southeast of Hartford; bounded on the north by Franklin, on the east by the Shetucket and Thames rivers, which separate it from Lisbon and Preston, on the south by Montville, and on the west by Franklin and Bozrah. The township has an average length of 7 miles, with a medium breadth of about 3 miles, comprising an area of about 21 square miles...

A remarkable freshet occurred on the 6th of March, 1823, which was caused by a rain of twenty four hours continuance falling upon a deep snow. Six bridges over the Yantic were carried away, viz, three in Norwich, two in Bozrah, Cat Col. Fitch's iron-works and Bozrahville,] and one in Franklin. The oil-mill at Bean Hill was swept off, and the oil-mill and machine-shop near the Falls much injured. On the wharf bridge some of the buildings were shifted in their position, or partly turned round, and the Methodist chapel, which stood on the bridge, was swept away entire, moving off majestically like a ship from her moorings, bowing to the waves and righting herself again, floating a mile down the river before any part of it was broken, and the frame keeping together, according to report, until it passed into the Sound. It had been decorated with evergreens for some previous festive occasion, and these ornaments had not been removed when it sailed so gallantly away. This incident of the...

March 11, 1835, ushered in a freshet similar to that of 1823. the water rising twelve or fifteen feet. The walls, sheds, and small buildings along the banks of the Shetucket were swept away like chaff. Lathrop's bridge was broken up ; a shanty used by workmen on the Norwich and Worcester Railroad was carried past the city without breaking; another building in which some persons were collected was submerged nearly to the roof, and the occupants were taken from it by boats. Two horses which were carried away and were seen passing down the river, helplessly tossed about in the torrent, formed an impressive feature of the scene.

Norwich, Connecticut
One of the chief towns of New London county. Norwich city is situated at the head of navigation of Thames river, at the point of land formed by the junction of the Shetucket and Yantic rivers, whose united waters constitute the Thames. The main part of the city is built on the southern declivity of a high and rocky hill: the houses are built in tiers, rising above one another. The city, as it is approached from the south, presents one of the most beautiful, interesting, and romantic prospects in the state. The buildings, which are mostly painted white, appear in full view for a considerable distance down the river; these, contrasted with the deep green foliage covering the rocky and elevated banks of the river, give a picturesque variety to the scene, forming on the water a delightful avenue to the city. There are in this city, (or as it was formerly called, Chelsea or Norwich Landing,) a court house and town hall. A high school for boys, and a female academy, in ...

Norwich, a city and semi-capital of New London county, Connecticut, at the head of navigation on the Thames river, where it receives the Yantic, 13 miles N. from New London. This is a beautiful city, built on a steep acclivity facing the S., the edifices rising in terraces street above street, making a delightful appearance as approached by the river. In wealth and population it ranks first in the county. It contains, besides the county buildings, a town ball, and 8 or 9 churches. Two newspapers are published. The financial institutions are 6 banks, a saving institution having on deposite $1,115,169, and 3 insurance companies. The confluent streams which here form the Thames, afford excellent water-power, which is extensively used in manufacturing. The principal articles produced are paper, cotton and woollen goods, pottery, ropes, leather, &c. The city has communication with the seaboard and interior by two lines of railway — the Norwich and Worcester, and the New London,...

Feb. 8, 1854, most of the wharves were submerged by the breaking up of the ice, and the basements of buildings near the river filled with water. Central wharf and the Junction railway were overflowed. At the freight depot of the New London and Norwich Railroad, the rails were covered to the depth of eighteen inches.

On the 30th of April, the same year, a violent storm caused another inundation ; the currents of the Yantic and Shetucket struggling together, threw the water back, and the wharf bridge was partially destroyed.

The 9th and 10th of February, 1857, were marked by a freshet which might be called the Half-century Flood, as occurring so near the anniversary of that of 1807. The destruction of property was greatest in the last instance. The heavy timbers from Lord's and Lathrop's bridges came floating down with fearful power. In the flood of 1807 it was East Chelsea that was submerged, the rise of water being in the Shetucket and in Stony brook ; but in that of 1857, the water front of the city was swept over by the raging flood. The river below was blocked up by the ice, and the loosened streams meeting with this obstruction, were thrown back upon the wharves and buildings of Water street in a sudden deluge, which however performed its mission at once, and having opened a passage below, rapidly retreated.

NORWICH, Conn., Dec. 23 - The oldest house in Windham County, a large wood colored edifice of the "lean to" period, which greatly antedated the revolution, having been built in 1710, has been burned in Thompson the past week. It was famous old inn christened as the "Brase Bull," and bore over the front door a miniature bull of old-fashioned hammered brass, which was also swallowed up in the flames. In the days of the then great New York, Hartford and Boston turnpike it was a changing station for the stage horses, and when the stage route vanished at the approach of the railroads it feebly held its own as a Summer resort. It had little diamond window-panes, wide fireplaces, and outer doors cut in halves, after the original New England style, which suffered the lower part of the door to be used as a breast-work against the onslaught of Indians. From its situation, on the apex of Washington Heights, a charming bird's-eye view in the different States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and...

The building cost $250,000, and is insured for $52,000. The fire was caused by a careless altar boy dropping a coal from the censer.

NORWICH, Conn., July 2. - Coroner Park has filed another unique verdict in the case of John Pender of New London, a brakeman, who met his death by falling from a car one night last week. After reciting with much particularity the known and supposed circumstances, the coroner continues:

'I find that John Pender's death is directly chargeable to the perilous requirement of brakemen on freight cars as now constructed, in being furnished with a footway of a board or boards from fifteen to twenty inches wide on the top of the cars and being required at all hours, and in all weather, to pass on this narrow footway over cars of different heights to set brakes---in which duty a mis-step, or a slip, sends them to their death---and so an army of our most active young men go yearly to their death, a sacrifice to mammon!

And there was no way to avoid it! I say yes! A thousand times yes! One way may be: Let freight cars be constructed with a short platform at either end, where the brakeman...

Nor'wich, a city of Connecticut, and semi-capital of New London co., is finely situated on the Thames River, here formed by the confluence of the Shetucket and the Yantic, 13 miles N. of New London, and about 36 miles E.S.E. of Hartford. It is mostly built on the sides and summit of a steep eminence which rises between the Shetucket and Yantic Rivers, and in 2 or 3 small valleys. It is noted for its beautiful residences, which occupy several terraces in the most elevated parts of the city. Broadway and Washington street are noble avenues, lined with mansions and gardens. Norwich is at the head of navigation, has a commodious harbor, and is on the Norwich & Worcester Railroad, at its junction with the New London Northern Rail road. Steamboats ply between this city and New York. It contains a court-house, 25 churches, a public library, a theatre, a masonic temple, a business college, the Norwich Free Academy, liberally endowed, the Slater Art Museum, 5 national banks, with a capital of...

Norwich, a city, semi-capital of New London co., Conn., finely situated on the Thames River, here formed by the confluence of the Shetucket and the Yantic, 13 miles N. of New London, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford and the Central Vermont Rs. It is noted for its beautiful residences which occupy several terraces in the most elevated parts of the city. Norwich is at the head of navigation and has a commodious harbor. It contains a court-house, public library, theatre, masonic temple, the Norwich Free Academy, with the Slater Art Museum, the St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, etc. The branches of the Thames afford water-power here for various kinds of manufactories, which are very numerous and extensive. The products of these are cotton goods, woollens, velvets and silks, paper and leather, belting, locks, machinery, cutlery, fine-arms, iron pipes, etc. There is also considerable ship-building. Pop. of the city in 1900, 17,251; of the township (town), which includes Norwich...

One Woman Badly Injured in Accident Near Norwich.

Special to The New York Times.

NEW LONDON, Conn., Sept. 13. - Central Vermont train running from Brattleboro to New London to connect with a boat for New York, was derailed near Norwich, at 9 o'clock to-night. The locomotive left the rails and plunged down an embankment, but the cars remained on the track.

Only one passenger was badly injured. She is Mrs. Marie Cram, a nurse, residing at Norwich.

The other passengers were transferred to trolley cars and sent to New London.

Norwich Heritage and Regional Visitors Center: Start your visit here to get an overview of the city's history and pick up maps and brochures for your exploration. The center often has exhibits and information about local events.

Leffingwell House Museum: This historic house museum is a great place to learn about the early days of Norwich. It's a beautifully preserved colonial-era home with guided tours available.

Slater Memorial Museum: Located on the campus of Norwich Free Academy, this museum houses an impressive collection of art and artifacts from around the world. It's a great spot for art enthusiasts.

Mystic Aquarium: While not in Norwich itself, Mystic Aquarium is just a short drive away. It's a fantastic place to see marine life, including beluga whales, sea lions, and penguins.

Norwich Arts Center: Check out this venue for a variety of arts events, from live music and theater performances to art exhibitions.

Norwich Falls: Take a stroll along the Yantic River...