I will wager that 90% of the residents of Norwich, CT have seen the photograph, reproduction or painting of the steamboat proclaiming it’s “Norwich” name. But I will also wager that 95% or more of that same percentage don’t know the following information about the steamer learned from a September 10, 1909, article in the Norwich Bulletin.

In 1909, the oldest steamer in the world was built for the Norwich-New York Service and was prominent in the Hudson-Fulton Celebration”.

I have borrowed the following text from a verbatim transcription of an article written by George W. Murdock, for the Kingston (NY) Daily Freeman newspaper in the 1930s and transcribed by HRMM volunteer Adam Kaplan. 

The wooden hull of the Norwich was built by Lawrence & Sneden at New York in 1836, and her engine was the product of Hall & Cunningham of New York. From stern to stern the Norwich measured 160 feet; her breadth of beam was 25 feet five inches; depth of hold five feet nine inches; gross tonnage 255; net tonnage 127. Her engine was of the crosshead variety with a cylinder diameter of 40 inches with a 10 foot stroke, and she carried one boiler in her hold.
               
The Norwich was built for the New York & Norwich Steamboat Company and ran on Long Island Sound for a number of years after she was launched.
              
The year 1843 marked the appearance of the Norwich on the Hudson river- in service between Rondout and New York as a passenger and freight carrier; and about 1850 Thomas Cornell purchased the steamboat and converted her to a towboat.

“The speed with which the work of rebuilding the Norwich has progressed assures the Cornell Steamboat company that the old vessel will be ready for the Hudson-Fulton naval parade and will be able to take her place in line notwithstanding the serious fire which considerably damaged her. At first it was thought to be a physical impossibility to complete the repairs, but this work has gone on so rapidly that no doubt now remains. Of the Norwich, the Marine Journal says:

The Norwich is the oldest steamboat, beyond a doubt, in the world. She was built in 1836, for service between New York and Norwich, Conn., and has continued running ever since on one route or another, and for fifty years on the Hudson River.

When she caught fire the painters and others were cleaning and shining her up for the Fulton-Hudson parade from New York to Albany. Mr. Coykendall manager of this towing line stated that notwithstanding the accident which befell the old timer, he would have her ready to take her place in the parade in the second division under the command of Capt. Ulster Davis, superintendent of the Albany Towing Company, who has been assigned to this pleasant duty for this special occasion. Next to the Clermost and the Half Moon, the 73 -year-old steamer Norwich should attract general attention.

One year ago fire threatened the destruction of the boat, and it was only after the hardest kind of a struggle then that it was saved from being totally burned. At that time it was thought that the boat would never again be used on the Hudson, but when after a few months repairs were completed the Norwich loyally resumed her trips up and down the river, drawing long, heavy lines of canal boats.

Every spring the Norwich has been used to break up the ice jams in the upper Hudson. No matter how big or strong it was, the old Norwich did duty well, and in a little time she acquired the title of the “Ice King.”

​The Norwich continued her career on the Hudson River until 1921 when she was deemed of no further use and was tied up at Port Ewen. In November 1923 the Cornell Steamboat Company sold the Norwich to Michael Tucker of Port Ewen, who broke her up for scrap. Today the fame of the Norwich is constantly recalled through stories passed from one individual to another, and visitors to the Senate House in Kingston, NY are reminded of the old “Ice King” when they view the bell of the Norwich which is displayed in the local museum.

To learn more of the adventures of the “Norwich” please visit the Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY 12401 ​845-338-0071 info@hrmm.org

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

The Superintendent of the West Chelsea School District of Norwich, CT was not afraid to voice his opinion about anything and everything that he thought might affect his community, his students and their families. In September of 1909 he addressed a pressing issue in his annual report his school board after a reference to the 250^th anniversary celebration was made.

“The problem of suitable celebration of the Fourth of July is one that municipalities must solve. It may not be primarily a school problem, but a question that concerns the welfare of our children cannot be totally ignored by school authorities. It seems to me that pageants similar to that given this year, together with athletic contests and festivals might be substituted for some of the noise and confusion that have come to characterize this day. Such a change would tend to increase civic pride, patriotism and our appreciation of the work of the men of the past. Norwich certainly has reason to be proud of her history, which speaks so loudly of courage, loyalty, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty; and Independence Day ought not to allowed to pass without some exercises that may help the children to appreciate the worth, the work and the character of those men who made the early history of Norwich.”

In 2022, next July, Norwich, CT needs to follow this advice. We, as a city, need our leadership to start working on our future projects now. We, as residents and taxpayers need to begin volunteering our time, our ideas, our thoughts, now. We need to work now, to give our future the pride of history, Norwich, CT so richly deserves.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

Over the homecoming weekend there was much discussion of Norwich Free Academy, but never once have I heard these details gleaned from an article in the Norwich Bulletin on September 23, 1909.

“The cut stone for the Academy building, some twelve hundred pieces in all have arrived to go into the structure.

Much of the stonework for the Academy building which comes from New Haven, is now arriving and is being laid out on the front lawn at the Academy. There are 1,200 pieces of cut stone altogether to go into the building. Four hundred pieces have already been set, among the latest being a piece at the front doorway which has delayed work there by its non-arrival. This can now be finished without further delay. “

There was a lot of other construction going on as well and it was all reported in the same article.

J. P. Barlow & Co. have the tinning on seven hours for the Ponemah Company in Taftville. C. Morgan Williams is the general contractor.

Masons are at work erecting the walls for the fourth story of the Shannon Building, the fourth floor having been poured and many of the steel window frames which have been delayed are now here. At Mr. Shannon’s  hotel the steel work is being put in so that the first floor can be poured there soon.

At the property of D. T. Shea in Main Street, the house has been propped up and contractor Williams is removing some of the ledge. Some of the foundation wall has been put in. The job is proving to be a lengthy one.”

I wish the local newspapers of today, in 2021 would carry details of the current construction happening locally. Maybe then the taxpayers and residents would feel that progress is being made in Norwich, CT. There is greater promotion of when the businesses close, move or opt to leave Norwich than there is to promote their building, renovating, opening or serving the public.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

With all the attention on the new round-about downtown, and the “discovery” of the bricks beneath the tar I thought this would be a good time to bring out the factual information from the September 2, 1911 Norwich Bulletin of the source of the brick.

” The first carload has arrived and four more are on the way – None will be laid until after the fair.

After an unexplained delay of a week the first carload of 2,000 vitrified brick for the Main Street pavement was received on Friday, and this morning the car will be switched at Taftville and brought down over the electric roads track to Franklin Square and be unloaded. There are four other carloads of brick on the way, which are expected here at once. On Friday the work of slushing the rails of the trolley tracks with cement was started, and this will be continued today.

It will be impossible to get the brick laid so as to close the street before the fair, as it was hoped would be accomplished. The sand it is considered will be too wet to be used today, and no work will be done on Labor Day so that because of the large amount of traffic it is believed that no work will be started on laying the brick until Wednesday or Thursday.”  

Not being familiar with the term, “vitrified brick,” I looked it up to learn, “A vitrified brick is fired at a higher temperature and for a longer period of time than a conventional brick used in construction or those used for sidewalks, making it harder and impervious to the absorption of water. Vitrified bricks were first used for paving in the United States in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1870.”

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

Norwich, CT residents are stuck on re-living the past. Repeatedly. Residents insist that the same things be done, in the same way, expecting different results. Well, this time I hope we do not have the same results or even similar results.

My example this time will be from the September 3, 1909, Norwich Bulletin. The tiny blurb was titled, “ “Auto on Franklin Square.”

George Bedard, the nine-year-old son of Joseph G Bedard of No. 248 Main Street, was struck and knocked down on Franklin Square about the middle of the forenoon Thursday by an automobile driven by Leo Kronig and painfully but not seriously hurt. The accident happened just in front of Madden’s Cigar Store, the boy being struck with force enough to stun him for a time, breaking two ribs and badly bruising his face and shoulder. 

Just before the boy was struck, Jack McGrath, the champion heavyweight wrestler, saw his danger and made a grab for him to pull him out of the way, but didn’t quite reach him. He was the first to pick him up and the boy was carried into the cigar store and afterwards taken to his home directly across the street. Mr. Kronig’s machine was going at such speed that he was able to stop it within its own length after the accident and he at once got out and gave all the assistance possible. Dr. H. E. Higgins, who happened to be passing, was called in to treat the unconscious boy, who shortly revived and was taken to his father’s house, Mr. Kronig putting his machine in the garage and then returning to the Bedard place to see what could be done for the boy. Thursday evening the child was reported resting as comfortably as possible. “

In 2021 Norwich has a brand-new round about in its downtown. Please drive slowly. Give pedestrians the right-of-way. Maybe you or someone you know, or love will be the pedestrian.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs

It is finally October and there will be lots of walks with leaders telling mostly made up tales of old Norwich, CT. Stories they have obviously borrowed from other places and tell them as if they are original to Norwich. Believe what you like.

This story, was reported in the Norwich Bulletin on September 22, 1909. Is it possible he can still be seen walking the track in the fall at 4:07 pm?

You see the gentleman I refer to was Charles F. Whaley. According to the very detailed news article it was “On Tuesday afternoon at 4:07 o’clock, Charles F. Whaley, aged 62, of Norwich Town, living on Mediterranean lane, while walking up the Central Vermont railway track, was struck by a southbound freight train at the bridge in back of the Yantic Cemetery and instantly killed. He had reached a point at about the middle of the bridge, which is an open one, when the freight was seen by him. It is believed he tried to stand at the side to let the train pass but did not allow room enough and was struck and knocked into the river. The train crew saw that the man was hit, although it was impossible to prevent it, and brought the train to a stop. The body, which was in the river, was secured and brought back to the bank where it remained until Coroner Brown reached the place about five o’clock.

As soon as the body had been gotten ashore Chief Murphy was notified and he informed the coroner, the medical examiner being out of town. Coroner Brown went to the spot and gave Undertaker Gager permission to remove the body. There was no question as ton the cause of death, stated the coroner, as the injuries gave evidence of his being struck by the train.

Medical examiner Harris saw the remains in the evening and determined that death resulted from a fracture at the base of the skull. Mr. Whaley was struck in the head, receiving a bad wound on the left side near the eye, as well as other bruises. From the injuries received it is believed he was dead before he struck the water.

Charles F. Whaley was born in Norwich December 26, 1846, the son of Levi and Walthie Whaley. He was educated in the public schools of Norwich, and in early life was a teamster, understanding well the care of horses. He was the last of his immediate family, his brother, George Whaley, having died two months ago.

He is survived by a niece, Mrs. Bessie Beckwith, and a nephew, Philip B Whaley, both of Norwich Town. He was well known in that section of town. “

I just copied the newspaper article. Keeping to the truth of the story, how would you embellish this story to be told on a cemetery walk?

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs

In none of the history books of Norwich, CT have I ever read a story that has amused me as much as this tiny tidbit reported in the Norwich Bulletin of September 25, 1909. First of all, it’s a bit risqué. It would appear that some of the gentle folks of Norwich, CT around the turn of the last century were not all rich, famous, and perfect. Yes. You read that correctly. I am stating that the inhabitants of Norwich, CT were human with flaws.

At this point I would also like to add that I will never, ever, be able to hear the word “resort” without a flashback to this article and its unique use.  I even had to ”resort” to including this definition from Merriam-Webster “English Language Learners Definition of resort: a place where people go for vacations: something that you choose for help : the act of doing or using something especially because no other choices are possible.”

It was the column title and sub-titles that caught my eyes. ‘Keeper and Inmates of House of Ill Fame.” Who knew we had such places in our perfect city? Another Talman Street resort raided, having been kept by Patrick Harty. Well excuse me! There must have been others since the phrase, another Talman Street resort raided.” Were there others? Where are the historians telling the stories of those men and women? Who were they? What were their circumstances? What were their stories?

“In the city court on Wednesday morning Patrick Harty was charged with keeping a house of ill fame in Talman Street and given ten days in jail. Complaint was made to Captain Linton Tuesday night that a man had been robbed there., which resulted in the place being raided. As frequenters, Sadie wheeler, colored, and Lizzie Shepard, white were each given ten days and Ernest Frost was fined $5 and Paul Gauthier of Westerly $10 for being frequenters. The latter paid his bill.”

And then what happened? Did the “resort” re-open when Mr. Harty and the ladies were freed? Did Mr. Frost pay his fine? What were the “resorts” like back then? How many were there? What kind of income did the “resorts” bring in? Where oh where are the anxious historians when we need them? I have more questions.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs

The following is an important piece of Norwich, CT history that has long been overlooked. The history of the Norwich-New London Turnpike is often mentioned by historians because of its age but not a syllable about what occurred in 1909.  The first survey was conducted for the first turnpike to be built in America, between Norwich and New London, Connecticut was in 1670.  At least according to the September 5, 1909, Norwich Bulletin.

For those not familiar with the term “macadam” is broken stone of even size used in successively compacted layers for surfacing roads and paths, and typically bound with tar or bitumen. (I looked it up.)

“Soon there will be a macadam road all the way of the fourteen miles, more or less, from New London to Norwich. Bids will be opened Friday, September 10, for the construction of the macadam road, over the portion of the Road not now macadamized.

The bids will be opened at the office of State Highway Commissioner MacDonald at the capitol, Hartford, as the road is to be built by the state. Contractors have been notified and some from this city and other sections of eastern Connecticut may bid.

The amount of road to be built is about seven and one-half miles. It will start at a point near the Waterford schoolhouse on the Norwich-New London Turnpike and will run to Trading Cove, where the macadam to Norwich begins.  

The contract will be much sought, as it is a big one – too big, in fact, except for quite extensive contractors. It will mean a contract price of about $60,000 and the employment of a large force of men.

The decision of the state to build this macadam, thus establishing a good highway from New London to Norwich, is hailed with delight in this section of the state. It will be a great boon to New London and Norwich and in fact to all of eastern Connecticut.

The work will be started this fall and hurried along. The preparations for building this road and the building of other state roads in several towns of New London County seems to indicate that Commissioner MacDonald is doing all he can for good roads for eastern Connecticut.

The road will be built of native crushed stone with a one-inch top dressing of trap rock and is to be built fourteen feet wide throughout. The work will be let at once and contractors will be compelled to proceed to work on the roads at once and complete them before severe cold weather sets in.”

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs

Retiring is always cause for celebration. In the August 1, 1903 Norwich Bulletin was a story about the retirement presentation to Supt. W. L. Adams of the Norwich Street Railway company.  

On Friday evening the employees of the Norwich Street Railway company and of the Montville Street Railway company presented substancial tokens of their esteem to Walter L. Adams, their retiring Superintendent, in the shape of a magnificent seventeen-jeweled gold watch from the former and a splendid seven-piece silver bon-bon set in a cabinet from the latter corps of employees. A party of about sixty employees of the roads called at Mr. Adams’ house and Mr. Frank F. Underwood made a presentation speech on behalf of the Norwich railway men, while Mr.  John W. Dawson officiated in a similar capacity for those employed on the Montville railway.  

Mr. Adams was taken completely by surprise, but managed to express his thanks to the donors, both for the substancial tokens of esteem and for their hearty co-operation with him during his term as superintendent. He also assured them that they would occupy a permanent place in his memory and that he would leave Norwich with many pleasant recollections.  

Mr. Adams invited his visitors in to partake of light refreshments and a pleasant social hour followed.  

The occasion will cause Mr. Adams much gratification to look back upon, and afforded his fellow-employees an opportunity to assure fittingly of his popularity among them.  

Of course I do have a few questions after reading the article. Why do people get a watch when they retire and supposedly now have all the time in the world? Wouldn’t it be better to give a watch when people begin a new job, career or position so that they can keep an eye on the time and watch time speed along? What precisely is in a seven piece bon-bon set that is to be kept in a cabinet? For some reason I discarded thoughts of chocolate candies right away and my mind imagined something more along the lines of a wooden case with a handle to hold a flask and six shot glasses. What do you think it was?  

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs