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: Caleb B. Rogers Biography: Click Here
Added: Winslow Tracy Williams Biography: Click Here
Added: Sarah Osgood Biography: Click Here
Added: John C. Perkins Biography: Click Here
Added: George W. Kies Biography: Click Here
Added: William Henry Huntington Biography: Click Here
1806-1871 Caleb B. Rogers
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
Caleb B. Rogers was born in Lebanon, CT, on June 25, 1806. He became an inventor and businessman and held several patents for woodworking tools and machinery. Through mergers and acquisitions, the C. B. Rogers Company grew into the world’s largest woodworking company.
He got his start in the woodworking machinery business working for the J.A. Fay & Co. The company’s early history is somewhat confusing, because it appears Rogers worked for both Fay and his own company for a time. Some advertisements indicate that the C. B. Rogers firm was founded in 1841, which corresponds with the date Rogers constructed a factory in Keene, NH, but the machinery made there at that time was apparently all under contract for J. A. Fay & Co., of which Rogers was listed as a director.
The company produced a wide variety of woodworking tools, such as the planer shown on the left.
Mr. Rogers was awarded at least seven patents while in Norwich. All his patents related to woodworking and woodworking machines. Caleb B. Rogers’ US Patent No. 26,787 of January 10, 1860, shown here, is for a machine that cuts spiral moldings.
Click HERE to learn more about C.B. Rogers
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, October 2
C.B. Rogers & Co.
*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