History of Norwich, Connecticut, USA

Journey back in time to Norwich, Connecticut, USA

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  Monument - Founder's Cemetery, Post Gager Burial Ground, Norwich, New London, Connecticut -- The thirty-five original proprietors of Norwich, Connecticut were:
  
  Thomas Adgate, Richard Edgerton, Maj. John Mason, Robert Allyn, John Elderkin, Dr.... Read MORE...
  
  
• Norwich justice
  The penalties at this time (first half of 18th century) were :
  
  For drunkenness, a fine, (5s. to 10s.,) or to sit in the stocks a couple of hours. ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1720 Flood
  Sept. 4, 1720. " The flood raised Norwich river to a prodigious height; stacks of hay floated down ; it carried away the bridge by the meeting house a...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1722 - Clever Indian in Norwich
  An Indian being found drunk, was brought before Mr. Justice Bushnell, and sentenced according to the statute, namely, to pay a fine of ten shillings, ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• In the freshet of February, 1727, four of the town bridges were swept away, and among them was this which crossed the Shetucket.
  
  History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession by the Indians to the Year 1866 Author Frances Manwaring Caulkins Publisher By H.P. Haven, 1874
  
  
• 1729 Flood (Norwich)
  The Boston News-Letter notices an extraordinary flood of the Shetucket at Norwich, 28th of February, 1729. The warehouses at the Landing were much inj...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1729 Norwich town common established
  In 1729, the proprietors agree, vote, and grant, "that the Plain in the Town Platt, called the meeting house, plain, with all the contents and extent ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1730 - Norwich Rattlesnakes
  1730. Voted, that whosoever shall kill a rattlesnake within this township at any time within one year ensuing, except in the three summer months, and ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1737 Flood (Norwich)
  A thaw and freshet of unusual power and rapidity of action occurred Jan. 16, 1737. The Shetucket above its outlet being impeded by a solid bed of ice,...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• In 1751 (Norwich) the selectmen were empowered to prosecute with vigor all who should sell or convey land to strangers, and all sales of this kind were declared null and void.
  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...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1764 - Leffingwell's Bridge completed (Norwich)
  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. Not...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1767 - 240 Acadians leave Norwich for Quebec
  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 peop...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• In 1773, the first Newspaper was established in Norwich.
  The proprietors and printers were Alexander Robertson, James Robertson, and John Trumbull, under the firm of Robertsons & Trumbull. It had a flourishi...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1784 - Norwich Incorporated as a City
  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 Mohegan...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1784 Flood (Norwich)
  Jan. 8, 1784, was distinguished by a yet greater and more sweeping freshet, which affected both the Yantic and the Shetucket. Several mills and bridge...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1789 Flood (Norwich)
  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 ri...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1792 - First turnpike road company, New London to Norwich, incorporated.
  After the American Revolution, Connecticut granted franchises for the building of ‘toll’ roads or turnpikes, and in 1792 the first turnpike in Connect...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1795 - First insurance company incorporated as the Mutual Assurance Company of the City of Norwich.
  ...This great fire of 1793 quickened public opinion in regard to the benefits to be derived from insurance. Within twenty days after the catastrophe, ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1796 - The Norwich Courier was founded by Thomas Hubbard, November 30, 1796
  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 ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1797 Flood (Norwich)
  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 dow...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• The annual Thanksgiving was a day of great hilarity, although its time- honored essential characteristic was a sermon. A peculiar adjunct of this festival in Norwich was a barrel bonfire.
  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 ape...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1807 Flood and Fire (Norwich)
  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 va...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1819 - Norwich
  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 ri...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1823 Flood (Norwich)
  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 bri...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1835 Flood (Norwich)
  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...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1854 - Norwich
  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 mi...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1854 Floods (Norwich)
  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. Centr...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1857 Flood
  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 tha...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Two Hundredth Anniversary, 1859
  
•  1861 - Norwich, Conn., April 14. - The excitement produced by the war news was never equalled here. All our people are read to uphold the Government, and hundreds are ready to enlist.
  
  genealogybank.com
  Philadelphia Inquirer
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  April 15, 1861
  
  
• 1865 Norwich - " A copperhead snake three feet long was killed by two young men in the woods near this city, May 21, 1865."
  
  History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession by the Indians to the Year 1866 Author Frances Manwaring Caulkins Publisher By H.P. Haven, 1874
  
  
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  New London and Norwich
  Picturesque America... Oliver Bell Bunce, William Cullen Bryant
  New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1872-1874.
  
•  1883 - A FAMOUS HOSTELRY BURNED. - THE BRASE BULL INN IN CONNECTICUT DESTROYED BY FIRE.
  NORWICH, Conn., Dec. 23 - The oldest house in Windham County, a large wood colored edifice of the "lean to" period, which greatly antedated the revolu...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1887 - NORWICH, Conn., March 16. - St. Patrick's Catholic Church was damaged to the extent of $10,000 by fire to-day.
  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.
  Dallas Morning News
  Dallas, Texas
  March 17, 1887
  
  
•  1888 - NO END OF FUN. How the Norwich, Conn., Boys Celebrate Thanksgiving.
  They Go About the Town Gathering Barrels, and Then After the Turkey is Eaten What a Thanksgiving Bonfire They Have.
  
  ROAST turkey and fixin's!
  
  Ph...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Thanksgiving Barrel Burning, Norwich, Conn.
  Painesville Telegraph
  Painesville, Lake County, Ohio
  Nov 29, 1888
  
•  1889 - A SACRIFICE TO MAMMON. Coroner Park's Idea of New Freight Cars Should be Constricted.
  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 fal...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Depot
  
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  East Main St. looking West
  
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  Corner Main and Shetucket Streets
  
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  Norwich Savings Society's Building
  
• 1895 - Norwich
  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 Shet...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Court House
  
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  Washington Street looking North
  
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  Central Fire Station
  
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  Bird's Eye View from Laurel Hill, Norwich, Conn.
  
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  Preston Bridge, Shetucket River, Norwich, Conn.
  
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  First Baptist Church
  
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  View on Broadway
  
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  Franklin Square
  
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  Norwich, Conn.
  
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  Masonic Temple, 1905
  
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  Norwich Inn
  
• 1906
  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 Ya...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Slater Memorial Hall, 1906
  
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  St. Patrick's Church, 1906
  
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  Broadway School House
  
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  Free Academy Buildings
  
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  Broadway Theatre
  
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  Municipal Gas and Electric Plant, 1909
  
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  Norwich Inn Equestrians
  
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  Broadway North from Broad St.
  
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  Falls and Canon on Yantic River
  
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  View of the Harbor, 1910
  
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  Taftville Mill, 1910
  
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  Trinity Episcopal Church
  
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  Haile Club Tally-Ho
  
•  1913 - BOAT TRAIN WRECKED.
  One Woman Badly Injured in Accident Near Norwich.
  
  Special to The New York Times.
  
  NEW LONDON, Conn., Sept. 13. - Central Vermont train running fr...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Edgemere Hall, Wa-Wog Camps
  
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  Falls and Mills from Indian Leap
  
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  Broadway from Shannon Building
  
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  Davis Theatre, 1920s
  
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  The Lake, looking North, Mohegan Park
  
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  Main Street from Shetucket Street
  
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  Thos. Lamb with S. Crane, Nurseryman, Great Plain
  
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  Home of the late David A. Wells
  
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  Women's Shack, Tuberculosis Sanatorium
  
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  Post Office and B.P.O. Elks, No. 430
  
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  Universalist Church
  
• 1967 - March 5 - WEDN TV channel 53 in Norwich, CT (PBS) begins broadcasting
  
  historyorb.com
  
  
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  Home of Samuel Huntington, Washington Street, Norwich, New London, Connecticut
  
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  Plaque in memory of Benedict Arnold family - Old Burying Grounds, Norwich, New London, Connecticut.