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 H. Vaughn Biography: Click Here
Added: Henry H. Starkweather Biography: Click Here
Added: Chief John A. Bowen Biography: Click Here
Added: Gustave Geduldig Biography: Click Here
Added: Rev. Hiram P. Arms Biography: Click Here
1783-1861 Captain Samuel Chester Reid
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
Samuel Chester Reid was born on August 24, 1783, in Norwich. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1794 at the age of 11, where he served aboard the sloop-of-war USS Constellation. He became the Master of the brig Merchant in 1803 and later became the commanding officer of the privateer brig General Armstrong during the War of 1812.
He is credited with designing the 1818 U.S. Flag, which was the first U.S. flag to feature a stripe for each of the original 13 colonies, with one star added for each new state admitted to the union in the canton area of the flag.
On September 25, 1814, while Captain Reid’s brig, the General Armstrong, was docked in the neutral Portuguese port of Fayal in the Azores, three British warships attacked it. Although vastly outnumbered and outgunned, Reid and his men put up a strong fight in a vicious battle that included hand-to-hand fighting aboard the privateer brig General Armstrong.
Click HERE to learn more about Captain Samuel Chester Reid
Click HERE to learn more about hundreds of “Norwich Notables”
Click HERE to read previous “Norwich History … It Never Gets Old” articles
“Norwich History … It Never Gets Old,” is published here bi-monthly on Fridays.
Next issue will appear here on Friday June 25
Captain Samuel Chester Reid
An historical fiction novel by Bob Dees about Norwich's 1850s Gold Mining Co.
Click On Image To Learn More
The IconicNorwich.org website was designed, developed, and is maintained by Bob Dees