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: Horace A. Briggs Biography: Click Here
Added: Lucretia Bradley Biography: Click Here
Added: Alfred H. Vaughn Biography: Click Here
Added: Henry H. Starkweather Biography: Click Here
Added: Chief John A. Bowen Biography: Click Here
1820-1915 Horace A. Briggs
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
Horace A. Briggs was born in 1820. He was only a few months old when his father died. He was brought up in Plainfield, CT, educated in the common schools, and while still very young, learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed for a number of years in Windham and Middlesex counties in Connecticut and in Massachusetts. In 1849, after working at Daniel Wesson’s gun shop in Hartford for about two years, he went to Norwich, where he worked at Horace Smith’s gun shop. Mr. Briggs relocated to Worcester for two years, working as a gunsmith, and returned to Norwich in 1858. He spent one year making whale guns for Tracy & Brand (a.k.a. Charles Tracy and C.C. Brand), followed by three years in Norwich and New Haven working for Smith & Wesson, which was later succeeded by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
His next position was with the Manhattan Arms Company, where he had charge of the concern until he started in business for himself. In 1859 he became connected with the Bacon Manufacturing Company, at Yantic Falls, and was thus engaged till 1868, when he sold out.
In 1868 the Bacon Manufacturing Company was succeeded by the Hopkins & Allen Manufacturing Company, formed largely through the efforts of Colonel Charles A. Converse, and included Charles H. Allen, Charles W. Hopkins, Samuel S. Hopkins, and Horace A. Briggs; sometime later, H. H. Hopkins joined the firm.
Mr. Briggs was elected president of the new company and served in that position for 28 years.
Click HERE to learn more about Horace Briggs
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 7
The IconicNorwich.org website was designed, developed, and is maintained by Bob Dees
An historical fiction novel by Bob Dees about Norwich's 1850s Gold Mining Company. Click image to see.