Experience 300 Years of Norwich History
The primary goal of this website is to educate the public about Norwich, Connecticut’s rich heritage and history spanning the 300-year period from 1659 to 1959. The site offers quick and easy access to an extensive collection of media, focusing on Norwich’s historical events, places, and other interesting tidbits.
This site is entirely free of charge
IconicNorwich.org features over 3,000 concise articles and numerous historical maps of Norwich. The articles are organized into more than 30 categories. The Media Library connects you to thousands of historical web-based links from Norwich. Several quizzes, prepared presentations, and crossword puzzles are provided to enhance the learning environment.
You are invited to add or contribute to new or existing placemarks by filling out the form in the “Contribute Article” section.
Recent Updates to IconicNorwich.org
Added: Norwich’s Historic Churches Category: Click Here
Added: 1887-Present: Congregation Brothers of Joseph: Click Here
Added: 1874-Present: Park Congregational Church: Click Here
Added: 1842-1854: Main Street Congregational Church: Click Here
Added: 1796-1959: First Methodist Church ~ Bean Hill: Click Here
1936: Santa Visits Norwich
Santa on his way to Porteous & Mitchell Department Store
*Place your cursor over the image to magnify
An historical fiction novel by Bob Dees about Norwich's 1850s Gold Mining Co.
Click On Image To Learn More
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
In 1936, Santa started his trip to Norwich in Taftville on a flatbed railroad car used by Ponemah Mills to move raw materials and finished products to waiting railcars. One day a year, it was Santa’s trolley.
Santa greeted the children in Taftville and Taft Station. He traveled through Greeneville, down the middle of Central Avenue, made a brief stop at Franklin Square, and then ended his journey at Porteous & Mitchell Department store in downtown Norwich.
Santa sat in the window, surrounded by toys, and wrote messages on a little hand-held blackboard to the crowd in the streets watching his every move. Mothers took their children into the store and to the window, where Santa had them sit on his knee.
Click HERE to learn about more famous Norwich visitors
Many thanks go out to Bruce Noland for colorizing the photo