The holidays are a time of memories. Of recalling the names of people never met and long forgotten. This is a story of a man I never knew existed. It’s a tale I was told did not exist. I found the details in the November 24, 1924 Norwich Bulletin. I wonder if it’s true that when an individual’s name is mentioned by the living, spoken aloud or even just in brief and fleeting thought, that person awakens for a time from their forever sleep. How many individuals are named, wondered about and thought of in just this one story alone?

“The body of Onufry Toupass, 32, who boarded at 189 Howard Street, New London was found hanging from a tree in Mohegan Park Sunday morning by his brother-in-law, Paul Sankow , of Chesterfield, qho came here to make a search for the man, whose abandoned automobile was found in the park several days ago.

No motive is known for the man’s suicide, but this may be disclosed in a letter in the Ukranian language which was found in his pocket, has been translated. Coroner J. J. Desmond and County Detective William Lewis will take steps to have the translation made at once. The letter is addressed to, “Dearest Sister’.’

The deserted car, which had been left near the lake at the park, was first reported to the police on Thursday by Park Superintendent Krohn, who learned from one of his helpers that the car had been there four days. Chief Linton notified the New London police, through whom it had been learned that Toupass had not been seen at his boarding place since he left there a week ago Friday.

The abandoned car was placed in a Norwich garage and Sunday morning the brother-in-law and his son came here to make a search. They went to the park with the garage man who had taken charge of the car and when they had been shown where the machine had been left they scoured the region around the lake without finding anything and then they went along the road leading to Washington Street. At some distance from the lake and a considerable distance from the road they found the body of Toupass hanging from a tree. He had used a new piece of sash cord which was just long enough to allow his feet to touch the ground.

Police headquarters and Medical Examiner C. C. Gildersleeve were notified and his body removed to the undertaking rooms of Cummings & Ring.

According to what the brother-in-law told the medical examiner, he had been in the New London address last Monday and again on Wednesday to inquire about Toupass and was told both times that he had not been seen since he left there a week ago Friday.

Toupass was a native of Ukrania, was unmarried and leaves a sister in New York and one in Chesterfield.

May all who are mentioned in this story rest in peace.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

Sometimes the most important things I learn about the history of Norwich, CT and its residents is not what is reported here in Norwich, CT.

For example, it was in the May 8, 1904 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle that I learned about the existence of the Diary of Asa Waterman (1743-1789), that he kept during the war against the French in 1760.

Later during the American Revolution Waterman (1743-1789) was a commissary responsible for providing food and supplies to the troops. Asa Waterman was born 1 May 1743 in Norwich, Connecticut to Asa and Lucy Hyde Waterman. On 20 July 1777, he married Anne Cook Sterry (1752-1837), the daughter of Governor Cook, of Providence, R.I. and together they six children.:Asa Waterman died of consumption in January or February 1789 in Norwich, Conn.

It is a wonderfully descriptive diary of the campaign in the North a full fifteen years before the American Revolution. The campaign was led by, Major John Durkee of Norwich, CT.

The diary is not very large and is described as being only six inches long and perhaps four inches wide. Asa Waterman was not an officer and was perhaps only a very minor clerk if he was one at all but he had an eye for details. He wrote in clear handwriting the names of the sixty-eight men who formed the company. A company formed with the express purpose of fighting against the French in Canada in the spring of 1760.

There are no details of how the company made their way to Albany but begins with detail on June 21, 1760.

The rest of the military and provisional career of Asa Waterman is much documented and can be found in many published books and articles. Around 1780 Waterman returned to working as a merchant in Norwich, Conn until his death in 1789.

But I wonder if the tales he told were about the encampments, the changes to his title as he remained in the same position supplying provisions for Connecticut and Rhode Island troops near and far or if his experiences, tales and possibly his connections for purchasing and supplying salt, sugar, beef, and flour to the troops came from his experiences as a ship merchant and master of the sloop Draggon from New London, CT from 1763 to 1776 when he once again answered the call of patriotism.

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 .

On November 11, 1924 with great pomp and ceremony the World War Memorial Tablet was unveiled to the public on the Northern most point of Chelsea Parade. It was a dedication ceremony that should not be dismissed or forgotten.

According to the article of the Norwich Bulletin on November 23, 1924 there was a parade column of over 6,000 marchers and there was a program of “dignity and impressiveness that touched the hearts of the thousands gathered within sound of the voices of the speakers.”

The streets, spaces and lawns nearby were a solid mass of humanity and automobiles. The Gold Star Mothers float was given a position of advantage close to the stand.

There were speakers, hymns, anthems, songs, music interludes and prayers. Three memorial wreaths were placed and taps were sounded three times. But for me the greatest honor and most touching part of the reported ceremony was that of “First Selectman William S. Murray, who read the list of the 47 who made the supreme sacrifice and again the bugler blew Taps with an impressiveness that brought tears to the eyes of many.”

The following was the list:

Horace Hastings Allen, Dominick Barber, Irving Edwin Bogue, Anthony Clarence Bonin, Jr., Ernest John Bosney, William Brault, Durlin D. Bushnell, James L. Carver, Edwin H. Cohen, George A. Dawson, Albert Henry Dexter, Kerwin Doyle, William Morgan Durr, Robert O. Fletcher, Peter Gallan, Raymond E. Gibson, Fred B. Hasler, Harold R. Hotchkiss, Richard Edward Hourigan, Thomas Perry Johnson, Frederick Joseph Kelley, John McGrath, James Thomas Morrison, Michael J. Murphy, Isadore Nagdyman, James Joseph Nevins, Antonio Pancicco, Harry Pappagallio, James Henry Harrison Perrin, William E. Perry, Frederick W. Roessler, Arthur Schofield, Arthur Paul Schulz, Edward Francis Smigiel, William Alexander Stankiewicz, Rufus Hubbard Stanson, Leroy Amos Swan, Herbert Clifford Taylor, John Ulanovich, William A Weeden, George Constantine Weltin, Frank Alfred Wilcox, Charles W. Willey, Walter James Woodmansee, Charles Zdancewicz, Peter Zeneski and Donald Fraser.

Then there was a benediction and the Star Spangled Banner was played and with heads bared there was a renewed pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and for which it stands.

The next time you walk by the Northern Point of Chelsea Parade and see the markers standing in their stark cluster. Think of how many men and women, children, families and friends they each represent. Please don’t let their humanity be forgotten.

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 .

How has Norwich, CT truly grown as a giving community? For my example In the November 25, 1924 it was reported that 125 families were to receive Thanksgiving Meal baskets. Barrels were placed at the Greenville, Taftville, Bridge Street and Hobart Avenue schools. The parents and students brought in fresh vegetables and canned goods that filled and at times over flowed the barrels.

The “United Workers Motor Squad” was in charge of collecting the barrels and transporting them. The “Motor Squad” was made of volunteers with an automobile at their disposal.

The plan for the extra food was to hold it for later distribution as the need arose.

Unlike today, every volunteer was mentioned in the article and not just the department or committee head. I am certain that some were missed but the descendants of Mrs. Julia C Corcoran, family welfare worker and her welfare committee of Miss Nancy Lucas, Chair, Miss Mary Porteous, Mrs. Robert W. Perkins, Miss Jane E. Bill, Mrs. John D. Hall. Miss Marion Bishop, Mrs Gardiner Greene, Miss Martha Osgood, Miss Edith Bliss, Miss Sarah Armstrong, Mrs Archibald Torrance, Mrs. Archibald Mitchell, 4^th, Mrs Harry E Higgins, Mrs John H Barnes, Mrs William Wade, and Mrs Fitch Dolbeare have much to be proud of.

In 2022 over two hundred Thanksgiving dinners were distributed. I wonder who the workers were? If sometime in the future anyone will search for their names hoping to find a glimmer of a glimpse or a shadow of what they did in the community in a newspaper or social media.

In a movie I really don’t recall, there was a scene about how the dead come briefly to life when their name is spoken aloud or they are remembered in some way. I hope the people I mention in this blog are brought to life for even an instant so that we can all appreciate their spirit for making Norwich, CT a better community.

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 .