I saw on Good Morning America that a small boy accidentally left behind at the Tampa International Airport his beloved stuffed Hobbs. The airport officials cared for Hobbs and took him on a well-documented adventure throughout the airport and presented a scrapbook and Hobbs to the boy and his family when they returned from their travels.
The leaders of Norwich are desperately trying to create the image that Norwich is an active tourist destination in Connecticut; so maybe this is the time to introduce a tourism ambassador that residents and visitors can relate to.
New London has “Flat Stanley” and he has appeared and disappeared in displays and photographs for years now. I am thinking about perhaps the silhouette of Christopher Leffingwell (from the Leffingwell House Museum) would be a great ‘ambassador.’ Leffingwell also had a large family that could expand the possibilities. Or my personal hero, hater of taxes, John Durkee . Or it might be fun to bring forth an image of the first Norwich Mayor, Benjamin Huntington (1784-1796) so he could be shown how much Norwich had grown and changed in size, shape and demeanor. My last but not least choice is for a hostess of Norwich and I would like to nominate from 1957, the first female 1st Selectperson of Norwich Viola J. Buddington.
I discarded inanimate objects like a rose and a living being like a fish that could walk or talk because I saw a walking fish once in Florida and it gave me the creeps for weeks. A deer could be a lot of fun and Norwich has a great history with them and lots of stories. So now it is up to you.
Who or what would you like to see as a photographic mascot of Norwich. Who would you like to carry with you and photograph as you walk, ride, bike, shop and eat in Norwich?
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