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 Bibliography 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 Alfred A. Adam Biography: Click Here
Added: Henry B. Norton Biography: Click Here
Added: Gardiner Greene Jr. Biography: Click Here
Added: William H. Page Biography: Click Here
Added a link to a video about mill development: Click Here
Added: Henry Harland Biography: Click Here
1858-1919 Alfred A. Adam
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
Alfred A. Adam was born on February 6, 1858, in Norwich, to Christian G. Adam and Pauline J. Elben Adam. Alfred grew up in Norwich and developed a reputation for being warm-hearted and generous in his personal life and business dealings. He studied to be an architect but instead decided to operate a tavern in Norwichtown on East Town Street. He is best known locally for being the proprietor of Adam’s Tavern, a property he purchased in his early twenties.
The building, located at 112 West Town Street, consisted of a small gambrel-roofed house resting on a high brick foundation. It was built by Rev. Aaron Cleveland Jr., great-grandfather of President Grover Cleveland, about 1780, and had been used as a hat shop. He later purchased the Eden Lodge, a summer place at Gardner Lake.
Alfred was widely and favorably known all over this part of the state. For many years he was known for his standing offer to present a bottle of wine to the first person each winter who drove to his place in a sleigh. Early snowstorms were eagerly watched for by horsemen so that they might claim the prize.
Click HERE to learn about Alfred A. Adam
Click HERE to read previous “Norwich History … It Never Gets Old” articles
“Norwich History … It Never Gets Old” is published here on Fridays.
Next issue will appear here on Friday August 28
Adam’s Tavern in Norwichtown
*Place your cursor over the image to magnify
An historical fiction novel by Bob Dees about Norwich's 1850s Gold Mining Company. Click image to see.
The IconicNorwich.org website was designed, developed, and is maintained by Bob Dees