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, 4th, 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 .