1865 New Machine for Making Files
John Denison Crocker (1822-1907), of Norwich was a man of many talents. He is best known for his beautiful landscape artistry, however, Crocker was also an inventor. Leonardo da Vinci one of the first file-cutting machines circa 1500, but John D. Crocker designed and produced a new and improved version in Norwich in the nineteenth century.
On February 28, 1865 he was granted U.S. patent 46,545 for a new and improved file-cutting machine. The text of his patent begins as:
“To whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN D. CROCKER, of Norwich, New London County, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Making Files; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is …..”
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John D. Crocker, c1885
John D. Crocker spent most of his life in Norwich. In 1883 his house was listed at 103 Franklin and his “Crocker File Works” shop was located across the street, very near local gun manufacturers. The proprietor of Crocker File Works was Herman D. Raillon.
At twelve, Crocker was apprenticed to a silversmith. He left that trade to work at the shop of a furniture maker and restorer. While there, he was captivated by a portrait brought to the shop for varnishing. At the age of seventeen he became determined to become a portrait painter. Sources describe that Crocker sought advice, and perhaps lessons, from the respected artist Charles Lanman of Norwich.
These three views of Norwich were painted by Crocker in 1853
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You can see examples of Crocker’s fine artistry at the Slater Museum in Norwich.
John D. Crocker was also a purveyor of “Crocker’s Magical Stomach Powders”. His powder was advertised to be “a sure cure for indigestion and Bowel Difficulties.”
He married Harriet E. Dillaby in 1849. They had eight children. John and his wife are buried in Norwich’s Yantic Cemetery.
Acknowledgements
“John D. Crocker, of Norwich, Connecticut, File-Cutting Machine”, US Patent # 46,545 February 28, 1865
“John Denison Crocker: Renaissance Man”, (2005), by Vivian Zoë, Newsletter of the Slater Museum, Fall 2005
“John Denison Crocker (1822-1907), FindAGrave.com
“1883 Stedman’s Directory of the City and Town of Norwich and That Part of the Town of Preston Adjoining the City of Norwich”, page 63, by John Stedman
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Denison” in the SEARCH box.
1899 First Standard Croquet Rules in America
Club House of the
National Roquet Association of America
Norwich, Connecticut
Croquet was introduced into the United States in the 1870’s. In the early years it was only played by members of high society in New York City, but soon became the most popular lawn sport in America.
The National Croquet Association was formed in 1882 to help develop and control the game. In the 1890’s, however the game lost much of its popularity, partly due to its association with gambling, drinking, and generally unsavory behavior. It was banned in Boston.
By the turn of the century, however, the game was revived in both England and the United States. The Croquet Association, first formed as the United All England Croquet Association, was formed in 1896.
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1886 National Croquet Tournament Norwich, Connecticut
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At a tournament meeting, held in New York City in 1889, the letters c and t were dropped from the term croquet by some players, making the name roque. Roque courts and play differed markedly from Great Britain’s association croquet (q.v.) in having a clay surface and solid boundary walls.
In Norwich, the game was played during daylight or evening hours. The photograph, on the left, shows the club house, the National Roque Association court. Note the over head lighting in the photo.
Norwich became the home of roque in America in 1899, after a small group of players from the United States met in Norwich and revised the old, British Routledge rules. Their changes helped revitalize the game in America.
1902 Layout of a Standard Roque Court
The new rules, established in Norwich, provided for standardized court and ball dimensions. The standard court layout in the year 1902 is shown on the left.
In mid-August 1914 the National Roque Association hosted its 33rd Annual Championship in Norwich. At the completion of the championship games and the annual meeting, two resolutions were passed and published in the Norwich Bulletin (08/20/1914) :
“Resolved: That this association puts on record its heartfelt appreciation of the successful action and efforts of the city’s representatives, and our Kingston delegate.”
“Whereas, This National Roque association has, in its annual meetings in this city enjoyed for years the welcome of its citizens and much esteemed favors and advantages of the public press, therefore at this, our 33rd regular annual meeting, this 19th day of August, 1914.”
“Resolved: That we, the several delegates hereto, from various sections of the country, desire to express our continued hearty appreciation of everything that has been done in our interests, and that we shall again carry away with us happy remembrances of this meeting to cheer us through the year to come as we occasionally review the memories of the pleasures, and the genial friend she has gained at several reunions in this, the Rose City of New England.”
“Passed unanimously by a rising vote.”
Acknowledgements
“A Short History of Croquet”, by Connecticut Extreme Croquet Society
“When Norwich was a Roque Capital of the Nation”, by Christine Gauvreau (08/04/2015)
Norwich Ct. Pictures, USA (09/29/2016)
Norwich Ct. Pictures, USA (07/07/2015)
“The Roque Guide”, 1902
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and then typing “roque” in the SEARCH box.
1902 First Hydraulic Compressed Air Plant
In the early 1900’s the use of compressed air was gaining favor in most machine shops. Compared with other methods of transmitting and distributing energy, it had no equal in economy, convenience or safety. However, at that time, compressed air could only be obtained by means of a mechanical air compressor which was operated by steam or some other power source.
In May 1902, a new method of securing compressed air using the direct action of a water fall was set into motion. The hydraulic air compressor plant in Norwich was the first plant of its kind in the United States. The plant was built and operated by the Continental Compressed Air Company.
The postcard above shows how the plant appeared near the early 1900’s. The map on the left below shows the location of the plant, just north of today’s Greeneville Dam.
The plant took two years to build at a cost of $500,000 (approximately $15 million in today’s dollars). It was comprised of three major components, a dam, a compressor, and a compressed air delivery system.
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Construction of the dam, designed by J. Herbert Shedd, began in October 1899 and was completed in March 1901. The engineering plan for the Quinebaug River Dam is shown on the left. Notice the Z-shape of the 3-section dam. This shape was necessary due to the narrowness of the river and the proximity of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railway bed. The dam was 18 feet high, on the average. The first section of the concrete dam was 120 feet long, the second was 140 feet long, and the third was 200 feet long. The extreme length was deemed necessary in order to obtain a sufficient rollway.
The image on the left provides an overview of the inner workings of the hydraulic air compressor. The Info source provides a detailed description of how the energy from the falling water could be converted into compressed air. The compressor was designed and built by William A. Webber. It used the river water to produce approximately 1350 horsepower of compressed air at a pressure of approximately 85 pounds per square inch.
The third component of the plant, designed and constructed by Taylor Gleaves, was the compressed air delivery system. The delivery system was essentially was a 4-mile long pipeline running from the compressor to downtown Norwich. The compressed air was forced into a 16-inch diameter cast-iron pipe at the site of the dam. Machine shops along the way could tap into the pipeline and use the compressed air to power their equipment.
Under ideal river conditions the dam generated enough compressed air to power several air engines in Norwich. Unfortunately, much of the time the compressor could only use a portion of the water flow in the river, and at many times the river flow was inadequate to meet the air requirements. The plant was dismantled in 1929.
Acknowledgements
“New Plant for Compressed Air”, (1902), by Harvey Briggs
Iconic Norwich
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “compressor” in the SEARCH box.
1910 First Triplane Built in America
The first airplane to fly in Connecticut was on August 14, 1903, however, the first triplane designed and built in America was by William H. Stebbins, Louis Geynet, and James Murphy in Norwich.
According to Info Source 1: “Four big aeroplane propellers designed by Stebbins and Geynet of this city, and built under their supervision at their shop at Sachem Park, are displayed in Preston Bros. window. The heavy wooden blades that will drive through the air the first aeroplane built in Norwich and the first triplane in America, attract much attention from passersby.”
According to a Info Source 2: “Triplane constructed by Messrs. Stebbins and Geynet will be tried out in October … In a little shed just north of St. Mary’s cemetery this bird of the air stands with its snow wings poised ready for flight at the word of its creators. Back in 1908, William H. Stebbins and Louis Geynet began to have visions of flying through the air. They began to study the science of aeronautics, they worked out theories, and finally evolved a tiny model aeroplane the forerunner of the full grown machine they have today at their workshop at the park.”
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This postcard shows William H. Stebbins at the controls of the Stebbins-Geynet triplane. The photo, published in the Norwich Bulletin on September 6, 1910 , was taken at the New London County Fair (hosted in Norwich)
According to Info Source 3:“Flying machines are the big attraction at the New London County fairgrounds this year and the majority of the crowd there Monday too the opportunity of seeing them, one triplane built by William H. Stebbins and Louis Geynet and on other a model constructed by James Murphy. Hundreds saw the two machines do everything but rise from the ground in two tents where they are on exhibition.”
SACHEM PARK
Prior to 1912, Sachem Park was home to several enterprises. The 1901 map of Sachem Park shows a bicycle track. From 1900-1910 several Norwich Norwich minor league baseball teams played here. And, during 1908-1911 William Stebbins and Louis Gannett stored and tested their triplane here. The area was converted to St. Joseph’s Cemetery in 1912. Comparison of 1901 and 1918 maps illustrates land development.
The Stebbins-Geynet triplane could also be configured as a biplane according to Info Source 4:
“At Norwich, Conn., the Stebbins – Geynet Co. , after several years of experiment , has begun the manufacture of a combination triplane and biplane machine . The center plane , which is located about midway between the upper and lower surfaces , is made removable . The change from triplane to biplane , or vice versa , may be readily made in a few minutes …”
On August 8, 1911 Stebbins and Geynet received a patent for their flying machine. Portions of their Patent # 1,000,127 is shown on the left.
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Unfortunately, there is no recorded evidence that the triplane ever flew. It is believed their engine was under-powered. Stebbins and Geynet placed an advertisement in the September 1910 issue of the Aeronautics Magazine to sell or exchange their motor. The ad offers to sell their 30 horse-power motor, or trade it for a 50 horse-power motor. The stated reason is “want more power.” It should be noted that the ad was placed in the exact same month as their appearance in Norwich’s, New London County fair. After the fair, the Norwich Bulletin did NOT publish an article boasting the accolades of a successful flight.
Acknowledgements
Much of the information for this placemark was compiled from the “Norwich Ct.Pictures,USA” Facebook site. Special thanks to Robert Ladd, Bruce Noland, and Tbird Sullivan
“Builders of Triplane Will Make Another Try With Present Engine After New Tires Are Received”, (08/30/1910), Norwich Bulletin
“First Airplane Built In Norwich, CT. – 1910”, (01/16/2018), Norwich Bulletin
“Two Flying Machines Are Shown Here For The First Time And Receive Much Attention”, (09/06/1910), Norwich Bulletin, posted on Facebook by Robert Ladd on 03/06/2022
“Flying Machines: Construction and Operation”, (1912), by William J. Jackman and Thomas H. Russell
“Pilot Stebbins in a Geynet Tri Plane Built in Norwich CT”, (10/6/1910), Norwich Bulletin, posted on Facebook by Robert Ladd on 11/24/2012
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Triplane” in the SEARCH box.
1937 First National Apprenticeship Regulation
William J. Fitzgerald, a native of Norwich, authored the National Apprenticeship Act, now known as the Fitzgerald Act. He was born to Irish immigrants and learned the value of an honest day’s work at a young age. He was employed in a Norwich local foundry as a molder and later served as the superintendent for 26 years (1904-1930).
In 1937, as a United States Representative to Congress, he authored the National Apprenticeship Act. This legislation, also known as the Fitzgerald Act, was passed by Congress and signed into laws by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Source 1 states :“The measure established national certification standards for apprenticeship programs in manufacturing and other sectors that have opened pathways to high-quality jobs for the last 80 years. The Fitzgerald Act was the product of the real-life experience that Fitzgerald brought to Washington, having worked in a Connecticut foundry from an early age and later serving as an official in the Connecticut Department of Labor.
Fitzgerald knew, even in an era of less complex technology, that connecting workers to a job required consistent, high-quality job training. That process begins in grade school, of course, but apprenticeship training is often the final step in achieving job readiness and positioning workers for success in their future careers.”
Acknowledgements
“Train Skilled Workers, Created Jobs with Good Wages”, by Joe Courtney
1965 & 1966 Werman's Shoe Patents
The Werman family operated Norwich’s Werman’s Shoe Factory from 1923-1969. They also operated two other factories, one in Brooklyn, NY and one in Marietta, PA. Their family businesses employed thousands of employees over the years.
David and Martin Werman both lived and worked in Norwich for many years. In addition to their contributions as a major employer, David also served as a fireman in Norwich. They jointly filed the “Molded Sole Shoe Construction” patent in 1962, shown on the left. It was approved in 1965. According to the patent application:
“This invention relates to shoes and particularly to an improved construction for shoes having an extension edge and to improved methods for fabricating the same.”
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The “Apparatus for the Heat Activation of Adhesives on Shoe Components or the Like” patent was filed by Martin S. Werman in 1963 and was approved in 1966. According to the patent application:
“This invention relates to shoes and particularly to an improved construction for shoes having an extension edge and to improved methods for fabricating the same.”
The history of Abraham Werman’s family is one of hard work and successful improvement of their quality of life. Abraham and his young family emigrated from Zychlin, Poland in 1894. He and his wife, Fannie, had five sons and a daughter. In 1918 he founded the A. Werman & Sons, Inc. Their sons and grandsons operated the three shoe factories, obtained patents for new shoe construction, were members of the U.S. Air Force, and served as firefighters.
Abraham served as the Life Vice President of the Congregation Ahavath Israel in Brooklyn NY and his grandson David was a founding member of the Congregation Ohav Shalom in New York City.
Acknowledgements
Patent 3,175,308: Molded Sole Shoe Construction, by David Werman and Martin S. Werman, approved March 30, 1965
Patent 3,256,420: Apparatus for the Heat Activation of Adhesives on Shoe Components or the Like, by Martin S. Werman, approved June 14, 1966
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Werman” in the SEARCH box.