I recently saw a post and a photo of a deer being seen in downtown Norwich, CT on Face Book and was reminded of an article first published in the Norwich Bulletin November 6, 1895 and then published in the New York Times on November 10, 1895 because it was such an important occurrence.
From the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) website I learned that in 1648 Connecticut prohibited deer hunting. Probably because the Native Americans population had little effect on deer numbers but as the colonists numbers grew and more and more land was clear cut the deer could not find the shelter it needed to survive and hunting deer became easy sport.
So easy a sport that in 1677 Connecticut law prohibited the export of deer hides and venison. But the extermination of the deer continued and in 1893 Connecticut joined other Eastern states from Maine to Florida by passing a law giving complete protection to white-tailed deer for ten years but that was subsequently extended to 1917 or twenty-four years.
But in 1895 when the numbers of deer in the wild were still low, “A Deer Wanders in the Street,” was reported in Norwich, CT.
“A real live deer appeared in Norwich recently, and its movements were as free and unrestrained as if the city were its natural haunts. The deer was first seen at about 5:30 A.M. In the yard of C.P. Cogswell [President of the 2nd National Bank], on [38] Lincoln Avenue. The deer was frightened by the approach of a boy, and bounded through the street, and disappeared in the direction of Chelsea Parade. The deer was next seen on Chestnut Street, where a dog owned by James McCaffrey scented the big game, and gave chase. The deer left the dog in the lurch, taking a cross-street to Franklin Street. The animal was seen later trotting down to Franklin Square. The approach of a car frightened the animal, and it made a sudden turn, jumping over the head of a lad who was walking through Main Street. The deer sped through East Main Street toward the Preston Bridge. The Legislature of 1893 made it a grave offense to kill a deer in this state, so sportsmen would do well not to shoot at the creature if it should continue in this neighborhood.”
The path of the deer makes an industrious hike through parts of Norwich not usually included in other walks. Some of the streets have remained unchanged while others have no resemblance to what was. For example on Chestnut Street was a veterinary surgeon, a livery, boarding and feed stable, DM Wilson & Co. that did a bit of everything from carpet beating and steam cleaning to dyers, to harness and carriage making, repairs and painting, and cork cutting. It was also the home of the Norwich Nickel & Brass Works at that time known for display fixtures, paper-mache clothing dress forms, and general electroplating with New York salesrooms at 142 8th Street, 2nd building east of Broadway, New York, New York.
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