Let’s have some fun in our city and help make one another smile as we make use of the free supplies of creative materials that have fallen from the skies.
Thank heavens for the newspapers in other states that are sharing their back issues on the worldwide web. I learn so much Norwich history by accident as I learn how to do a search in their particular system. Norwich may think that keeping their copies on microfilm and microfiche is preservation but it truly is not. Keeping the issues unavailable to the rest of the world is just plain selfish.
From the Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections and the Illinois State Journal I submit these gems for your interest and amusement.
From March 13 1832 “The Rev. Ephraim Judson, a clergy man, settled in Norwich, Ct., in 1771, was an exceedingly quaint and original preacher. Remarking in one of his sermons, upon the excuses made by the guests invited to the wedding feast, he observed that one who had bought five yoke of oxen simply entreated to be excused, while the one who had married a wife absolutely declared that he could not come. ‘Hence, learn,’ said the preacher, ‘that one woman can pull harder than five yoke of oxen.’”
From February 13, 1838 “A Mrs. Randall, of Norwich, Conn., died of hydrophobia, a day or two since. The malady was contracted by putting her hand, with a slight abrasion of the skin of one finger, into a pail of water she had offered to a cow that had been bitten by a mad dog. The froth from the cow’s mouth had become mixed with the water. “
From June 1, 1905 “Alice A. Wetmore, Box 67, Norwich, Conn., says if any sufferer from Heart Disease will write her, she will, without charge, direct them to the perfect cure she used.”
From September 28, 1933 “When President Jackson was at Norwich, Ct. the eccentric Lorenzo Dow presented him with a pole, on the lower end of which was a piece of Clay, on the middle some Mother-Wort, and on the top a Hickory sprig. “Here,” says he, “is Clay at the bottom, Wirt in the middle, and Old Hickory triumphant over both”
I hope you are enjoying these little tidbits as much as I did as I stumbled on them.
Idea Alert! How about a display somewhere of all the boats and ships and other methods of transportation that have been named for Norwich people, places and things. I have written about the US Shetucket and USS Yantic and now its time to talk about the USS Miantonomoh.
The first USS Miantonomoh was the lead and pride of the double-turreted, twin-screw, wooden-hulled, ironclad monitors built for the US Navy during the American Civil War. She was built in the New York Navy Yard in 1862, launched August 15, 1863 and commissioned September 18, 1865.
For a while she patrolled the shores of New England but then she was given a very special assignment by President Andrew Johnson and his Secretary of the Navy to deliver Andrew II, Emperor of Russia congratulations on his escape from an assassination attempt and to then tour all of Europe inspecting all the important navy yards for improvements the US could utilize. The Miantonomoh made the Atlantic crossing in 11 days. In less than a year the Miantonomoh cruised more than 17,700 miles to ports in Queenstown and Portsmouth England, Cherbourg France, Denmark, Helsinki, Stockholm, Hamburg, Prussia, Gibraltar, Canary and Cape Verde islands to name just a few before she anchored at League island, Philadelphia and was decommissioned July 26, 1867.
But her story does not end there. The Miantonomoh recommissioned November 15, 1869 to serve with the funeral fleet that escorted the British ship HMS Monarch carrying the body of American Philanthropist George Peabody back to Massachusetts for burial. Then she continued working in the North Atlantic until she decommissioned at Boston July 28, 1870.
In June 1874 Congress authorized funds for the repair of four double-turreted monitors but was really to build four new more heavily armored, iron hulled monitors leading to a new story of the second Miantonomoh.
The United States Navy has paintings of all the ships and I am certain if we approached them nicely they would loan them to us for a very unique show to more than just our community of Norwich.
The other Miantonomoh Class Monitors were the Agamenticus, the Monadnock and the Tonawanda.
As more information becomes available more history changes. It’s always a matter of where you are standing when you are looking at it though and sometimes that can change too.
When a Facebook friend posted a paragraph from the Mary E Perkins book “Old Houses of Norwich” page 24 with the account of”Josiah Rockwell and John Reynolls, Jun. were found dead, and thrown down ye River bank, their scalps cut off.” I felt I needed to look a little further.
Mary E. Perkins took her information from a letter from Edward Palmes to William Leete dated January 29, 1676.
The account states “This morning Early Came post from Norwich with the sad Intelligence of two men & a boy being taken & killed who went over Showtuckett River to spread flax vizt Jos: Rockwell & his boy of 15 or 16 years ould & John Renolls Junr of Norwich, the said Jos: Rockwell & Renolls ware found Dead, & thrown Down ye river banke there scalpes Cutt of, the boy Is not yeat found supposed to bee Caryed away alive. The two Indyans Came In to ye Pequitts, saying they ware almost starved. They formerly Did belong to them.”
Miss Perkins added that the “son of Josiah Rockwell (Joseph) was about thirteen years of age when he was carried off by the Indians but, was soon restored to his friends.”
Everything appears straight forward until you look at the date of the letter. Late January 1676. Even it were the January thaw that is awfully early in the year or the growing season to be planting a crop that is usually not sown until after the last frost. That’s risking a tremendous crop loss if there are bad weather conditions before harvesting.
Perhaps there was a delay in receiving the information and perhaps the murder took place in the fall? King Philips War began in June 1675. Maybe they felt safe with a party of three.
What happened to the two Indians mentioned? Joseph grew up and married and became a successful shop and Innkeeper.
You never know what odd little hobby that started out as something to do will turn into. For example, in the 1880’s Vermont farmer Wilson Alwyn Bentley began taking thousands of photographs of snowflakes on black velvet. He believed no two snowflakes were alike. Today scientists say that no two complex snowflakes are alike but simple combinations of snow crystals may be alike. I did not find a comment on how global warming and pollution are figured into the equation.
Bentley died in 1933 of pneumonia developed after he walked home in a blizzard.
From the State of CT page on interesting weather facts I learned the Average winter snowfall in the Northwest Hills is 50 inches while the Average winter snowfall along the coast is 30-35 inches.
In January Connecticut averages 3.5 inches of liquid precipitation or 12.3 inches of snowfall and January 20-25 is the traditional January thaw. Bring it on! I am ready!
The hard gray slippery ice/snow combination that forms on unshoveled sidewalks from people walking across it is called “panked snow” in the northern fringes of the country.
Snow is not necessarily white. Glacier snow can appear blue. Algae that can grow on fallen snow can appear red or green. Hikers call it “watermelon snow.” Sandstorms and volcanic eruptions can also change the color of snow miles away.
Yes it is possible for it to snow when its 40 – 50 degrees and there is such a thing as snow thunder.
And because you did not ask, the reason I do not live in Chicago – In 2013-2014 they had 82.0 inches of snow while in Connecticut we averaged around 50.0 inches..
Being a short chubby person I do my very best to stay away from or at least be judicious about what I choose to snack on. A crunchy mix of sweet and salty popcorn is tempting but if there is chocolate available I am lost. But on January 13th at the Norwich Agway Droll Yankees Movie Night Extravaganza (It was a fifteen minute movie on feed, feeders and houses available for local bird populations) they served a most wonderful treat! A treat that was for humans and not the birds! They served my first taste of Keifer’s Kettle Korn made in nearby Griswold, CT.
Of course Keifer’s Kettle Korn does not have a local distributor in Norwich but it is available in an impressive assortment of other southeastern CT towns and at every successful farmers market too except for Norwich (of course).But I am hoping that Agway will be the first of many. PLEASE try this corn and demand that it be available in Norwich. It comes in bags and containers with the well deserved warning that it is a highly addictive substance.
I had one small seed in the bottom of my bag. That was it. I never have just one seed left when I pop my own corn and sadly my own does not have the fresh crunchy quality I experienced with the popcorn in my bag of Keifer’s. It had a light mix of sugar and salt. My fingers remained clean while my tongue greedily licked any crumbs from my lips. It is difficult to describe the perfection of the mix.
Retail Norwich I am begging you to go out of your way to support Connecticut manufacturing and production. When you see something successfully being sold in other towns do not be afraid to bring it to Norwich. There are people here who will love it, like it and support it and you as well.
Somewhere out there is a whole new world that Norwich can be a part of. A world of new products and experiences and joy and wonder but Norwich must be the one to take the step out. Retail Norwich must be the ones to extend their hands, their hearts, their wallets and their support.
To learn the story of Keifer’s Kettle Korn visit www.keiferskettlekorn.com or call 860.376.5756 or visit Norwich Agway for your first bag. I promise you it won’t be your last.
Back in 1993 or 1995 I read a Dear Abby that stuck in my brain. It was a request by a Grandma Somebody and was asking Abby to republish her definition of maturity. I thought it was an excellent definition and I would like to ask the members of the Norwich City Council to make this a part of their New Year’s Resolutions. Probably wouldn’t hurt if we all did the same. My apologies to Dear Abby if I have messed them up in any way.
Maturity is:
The ability to stick with a job until it is finished. (Even when it is not a job you like.)
The ability to do a job without being supervised. (To do the job properly and thoroughly even though there are short cuts and an easy way out.)
The ability to carry money without spending it. (To save and prepare for that bigger project or the rainy day or the unexpected raise in the cost of living.)
And the ability to bear an injustice without wanting to get even. (Grown-ups accept that people make mistakes. When you goof-up, admit it. When you are the one hurt, allow the wound to heal and move on.)
Enjoy a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!
Norwich has long had a connection to space, the moon and Norwich has long had a connection to space, the moon and yes even the stars. Be nice! The reason is not just because we have a lot of space cadets in this city.
William Tyler Olcott was born January 11, 1873 and chose to live in Norwich, CT as a lawyer and amateur astronomer. His home was Glebe House, at 62 Church Street. The building is a two-and-a-half story dwelling, plain except for an elaborate wide cornice with very heavy dentils. A wooden observatory, was added by Olcott, with a revolving hexagonal tower was perched behind the roof. The observatory was removed by the Otis Library when they used the house as a children’s library.
In 1909, after attending a lecture by Edward Pickering, Olcott developed an interest in observing variable stars. In 1911, he and professor Pickering founded the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). Olcott also published several books to popularize the field of amateur astronomy. Including one for children so they could share in the dreams of the universe.
NASA named a crater on the moon in his honor for his dedication to space observation. I don’t pretend to understand the information on the craters location but for those of you that do from a Moon information site I borrow the following for you.
Olcott is a relatively fresh crater on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the south-southeast of the craters Seyfert and Polzunov, and to the north of Kostinskiy.
This crater lacks any significant appearance of erosion from subsequent impacts, and its features are relatively well-defined. The rim edge is generally circular, with a slight outward bulge to the northeast and a larger bulge to the south. It has an outer rampart and some terraces and slumped edges along the inner wall. Several low ridges lie near the interior mid-point, with the western pair near the center and the eastern peaks offset towards the eastern rim.
The satellite craters Olcott M and Olcott L form an overlapping pair along the southern outer rampart of Olcott, with the smaller member of the pair Olcott L overlapping Olcott M. The satellite crater Olcott E is partly overlain by the eastern rim of Olcott.
William Tyler Olcott died July 6, 1936.
Winter has officially arrived so I am once more campaigning to make hot cocoa the official beverage of Norwich, CT.
Documents connect Norwich and the manufacture of cocoa in small amounts beginning in 1766 to larger amounts and the opening of a chocolate mill in 1770 owned and operated by Christopher Leffingwell and his brother Elisha.
“Chocolate nuts” were off-loaded, roasted, shelled and ground into chocolate when the ships reached North American eastern ports. The resulting chocolate was irregular in appearance and slightly gritty in texture but when mixed with hints of cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg, milk, sugar and water it was ready to be drunk as a staple with any meal, as a military ration and used as a medicine. By 1773 colonial demand for chocolate exceeded 320 tons annually.
The 35 survivors of the attack on Fort Griswold were brought warm chocolate, wine, and other refreshments by Miss Fanny Ledyard while Dr. Downer of Preston was dressing their wounds.
While some recipes for hot cocoa have very exotic ingredients such as eggs, wine and chili peppers I propose to keep the recipe for Norwich Hot Cocoa simple. A dash of vanilla, a pinch of cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg added to your favorite wet or dry mix.
Is there a difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate?
According to thenibble.com hot cocoa is a chocolate beverage made by mixing cocoa powder with water or milk, and a sweetener. The cocoa may be dutched or natural.
Hot chocolate is a chocolate beverage made by mixing shaved, ground or other form of actual chocolate with water or milk, plus sweetener.
Dutch processed cocoa is cocoa powder that has been processed with alkaline salts for easier blending and a milder flavor.
Restaurants, families and individuals are encouraged to create and enjoy their own version of Norwich Hot Cocoa.
When you are searching for the past it is easy to hit a wall you can’t get past and have no one to tell you why you can’t get find what you want. For some it is the 1890 census. Well here is what happened.
The original copies of the 1890 Census were lost in a Washington DC fire in 1921. So if you are looking to document your ancestors remember to breathe because there are some alternatives available to you. Many cities, including Norwich, are lucky enough to have City Directories covering that year and many other individual years as well. Otis library has directories of the Norwich area and the directories are also available on-line. Ancestry.com has a searchable index.
Some states had their own census as well and those are freely available. Check with the individual state historical society.
Church records are a hit or miss. Some have been stored and are sitting in boxes at the back of attics or in basements. Some were sent to designated storage facilities nearby, in other states, or in some cases other countries. Some are on line. Some are in the process of being made public and some are lost forever. The Church of Latter Day Saints collection is mostly searchable but not infallible.
The Veteran’s Census will tell you if your Union veteran ancestor was living in 1890, as well as some basic information about his war service, along with his current age and occupation.
This is some of the information that was becoming available in the census and is what allows researchers to develop as accurate a picture as possible of what America was like.
The names of everyone in the household, including servants
Their ages
How they were related to the head of the household
Where their parents were born
What language they and their parents spoke
Their year of immigration (if immigrants)
Whether they could read or write
Whether they had gone to school in the past year
Whether the head of household owned or rented their home
Whether their house was a farm or some other type of home
So many questions and never enough time.
In June of 1974, Elsie R Bogue, one of the greatest influences of my young life passed away at 81 years old. She was the person who spent endless hours with me playing the card game “Flinch.” She was my neighbor and a friend and I treasure the tea cart and lamp that she left to me. As I grew older I became more and more concerned that the lamp with its original wiring would short and start a fire. The lamp is a table lamp with a heavy outer green glass shade lined with white glass, a brass stand and its cloth covered wire had a plug that still had its cardboard holder thingie (Sorry for the technical chatter) to keep the wires away from the prongs.
Once or twice I talked to someone about re-wiring it but I never did it because it just would not be the same lamp with a plastic cord. So it sat unused on the teacart. Then one day I mentioned it to electrician and neighbor, George Fratoni. George enjoys the research and the delicacy of re-wiring old lamps, chandeliers and displays and safely returning them to life. He told me he would re-wire it only if he could maintain the history and integrity of the lamp.
Oh my did he ever! My lamp looks just like it always has except now I can pull its chains to turn it on in comfortable safety and I have honored the memory of my neighbor by keeping the lamp looking the same as she passed it to me.
Years ago I took down a chandelier in my home, even though I loved it, because the electrician said it was dangerous and could not be re-wired. Now if I can just remember where I stored it, I think I found the person to re-store it.
Re-wiring treasured lamps and chandeliers is a wonderful gift for someone you care about and when it is done well it is an even greater gift or tribute. George Fratoni did a wonderful job and I cannot thank him enough for maintaining the integrity and the memory of my lamp. If you have a lamp or a chandelier that you think might be a challenge for George, give him a call at 860.625.5776.
It is happening already in Seattle, Washington and it is scheduled to begin in Connecticut within the next ten years. A new city law in Seattle makes it illegal to put food into trash cans. First warnings are a bright red tag being tied to the trash bin signaling to all that there is food in the trash and the law has been extensively violated. The law took effect to keep food out of the land fill.
Seattle officials estimate that every family throws away 400 pounds of food each year. The city provides each household with a bin to fill with their food and yard waste for municipal composting that can be purchased back for yards and gardens. Eventually single households will pay $1 per violation, but apartments, condos and other commercial buildings may be fined $50 per violation.
Eddie Oquendo is a Norwich resident with his eye on this future. Oquendo and Helen Yu have formed a company in Norwich called Rucoil, LLC. Oquendo has patented a kiosk machine that can accept filled one gallon containers and exchange them for an empty one with credit based on weight credited to your account through the use of a bar code on the container.
Oquendo’s kiosks can be adjusted for cooking oil, truck oil, and motor oil as well as kitchen waste. The difference between Seattle and Oquendo’s kiosk being that Seattle picks up their bins through trash collection and does not credit the resident; all money made from the waste goes to the City. Oquendo’s plan would pay the resident directly through a membership account signaled by the bar code. The owner of the kiosk would sell the contents of the filled containers to a food recycling or anaerobic digestion facility who in turn would sell either the compost or a methane gas product, to fuel power plants to produce electricity or further be refined into vehicle grade transportation fuel.
Oquendo’s dream as a visionary and inventor ”is to make a better world for his children and community by developing the tools to make living a greener life easier for everyone.” The manufacturing of Rucoil’s kiosks will employ 4 – 50 people locally and is currently the only project like it in the world.
Visit www.rucoil.net for further information and details on the kiosk and other projects.
On or about January 25th the Scots celebrate Robert Burns Day. Burns was a Scottish poet born on January 25, 1759 (He was the guy that wrote Auld Lang Syne.)and today many people and organizations have a Burn’s supper or a Burn’s Night. They have toasts and read bits of his works aloud.
Norwich, CT has been the birth place and home of a number of writers. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a Norwich writers’ celebration. A day or evening where the restaurants and bars each choose a different Norwich Writer to celebrate and honor with a specially named drink or meal or perhaps a bit of entertainment. A short reading of the honorees work perhaps?
The libraries in town could each choose a few of the writers to honor. There is a library at Three Rivers and NFA and the Tech Schools and they could work with Otis Library. Every school advertises it has a writing center, this would be an opportunity for them to use it. The ‘Open Mic’ locations could have a special local authors night that month.
Other places in the world are loud and proud of what their residents have done. Don’t you think that it’s time Norwich, CT became loud and proud of who we are and who we have produced? Let’s discover E. Annie Proulx, Brittany Goodwin, Wally Lamb, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Lydia Howard Huntley Sigourney, Donald Mitchell and Pat Gagliardo.
Why are we allowing other places to be prouder of these authors than we are?
On Tuesday night, February 24th from 6 PM – 8 PM at the Norwich Transportation Center will be a public community meeting about the SEAT Bus Study. All the people involved are going to be there and will be willing to talk about their findings so far and to hear from the public.
The representatives of SEAT want to show off their work. They want to talk about the improvements they have made and the ones they want to make. They want to talk to the people who use the busses and the ones that want to use the busses. And this is really important, it will be served by SEAT runs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9. YOU can ride the bus to and from the meeting!
This is a chance for your voice to be heard about the bus system. This is an opportunity to make the suggestions that you have been muttering about. If you can’t make the meeting in Norwich there will be another presentation in New London Union Station on Wednesday, February 25th from 6 PM – 8 PM and it will be served by SEAT runs 1, 2, 3, 12, 14 and 108.
Well done and thank you SEAT!
How do you know it’s a daguerreotype and not a photograph?
The 1850’s gave us our first framed photographs but they weren’t really photographs. The images were probably daguerreotypes. Daguerreotypes were a photographic process invented in 1839 by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre and were popular until the mid-1860s.
The Daguerrotype is a glass image was encased with a glass cover and a mat that was held together with a “preserver” strip along the edge so you have to hold the glass at an angle in order to see the image.
First we know that a daguerreotype format limits the time frame from 1839 – mid-1860’s.
Then we have to look at the fashions the people are wearing and hope that they are wearing the fashion of the day.
The sleeve for a woman of the 1850’s was narrow at the shoulder and flared at the wrist. Sometimes if you look closely enough you can see a white under sleeve peeking out.
Dresses often had a broad collar and buttoned in the front as they did their own dressing without assistance and the full skirts were still gathered over hoops.
The woman’s long hair was usually parted in the center and gathered over the ears.
Men’s fashions of the 1850’s are a little easier to distinguish. A dressed up man would wear a 2-inch-wide bowtie over a turned up collar so just a half inch or so of the collar can be seen. The sleeves were narrow and their coats were very fitted until the mid 1850’s and then they became a little looser.
Men kept their chins clean shaven but their hair was well oiled and long on the top.
The Great Backyard Bird Count will be Friday February 13th through 16th, 2015. It is a great fun activity toddlers to seniors. It can be done inside or outside. It’s just spending 15 minutes counting the types and kinds of birds you see and then reporting your count on www.birdcount.org.
You can do it looking out your kitchen or schoolroom window, while sitting in the park, while visiting someone in a protected environment. You and a friend can look at the same space from different angles and compare your counts on the phone.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society review the information to learn how the birds are doing, how we can better protect them and ourselves as we share the same environment.
There is no special time and you are encouraged to do it more than once and report your findings each time. Norwich, CT has twice been the most reported community in Connecticut.
It sounds strange to think that the researchers are looking at the trends of not just which birds are present in an area but which birds are missing from an area. Which birds have changed their migration pattern or times.
The bird count site is a live count site meaning that when you enter your numbers you can watch the numbers in your city climb up. It’s entertaining, it’s fun and you can even do this with people living in other cities, states and countries and then compare the results of your respective areas.
Don’t even try to tell me you don’t have the time. Your observation can be while you are waiting in the car for someone. You don’t know your birds? I bet you know your basic red Cardinal, blue bird, sparrow, duck, and swan. That is a start or you can ask someone else, “Do you know what that bird is?” or you can get a picture book of birds.
Go for a walk. Sit down by any window. Look out the windshield of your car. The hardest part will be remembering to have a pen and paper to write the numbers down to report to www.birdcount.org and visit the site for more information and be sure to check out the latest educational and promotional resources.
Be a citizen scientist and participate this year! There is no cost to participate and no one or organization will bother you in the future unless you sign up for it.
James Redeker was a very lucky man that in 30 years of commuting by train he never once had to use a bathroom. Department of Transportation Commissioner Redeker was able to time his arrivals at the commuter stations within five minutes of a train leaving. My guess is that he never left his house or his office late. Never had a child to drop off or pick up on the way, or a spouse that needed to be dropped off or followed to a garage for a repair and he certainly was never part of a rideshare. Never had an infection, took blood pressure pills, was pregnant, elderly or travelled with a person who was. I say this because the Commissioner has decided that bathrooms are not necessary in the commuter stations that will be built along the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield line.
I can speak for no one else but it will take me about an hour before I can reach any of the planned commuter train stations. I will need to visit a bathroom when I get to the station. Yes. I could probably “hold it” until I got on the train but what if I missed the train and had to wait for the next one? Or the train was late? Or the bathroom was out of order? What if there was a line? What about the people who have issues using facilities on moving transportation – planes, trains and busses?
Transportation authorities in Connecticut have a history of believing that restrooms are not a necessary for travelers through Connecticut on our highways and now apparently in our train stations. No wonder we have so few travelers compared to other New England states and so few businesses looking to locate here. Denying people the opportunity to go to the bathroom is a form of torture. Ever needed to use a rest room but had to “hold it?”
Redeker claims the lack of bathrooms will be a “cost saving measure.” As a tax payer, I will happily have my taxes pay for bathrooms. I object for my taxes to be used for grandiose offices for commissioners, expensive lunches, and a great many other things but I want to be very clear, I will never, ever, object to my tax dollars being used for public bathrooms Hanky Incident
It must have been a slow news day on August 3, 1859 in Illinois because an incident in Moodus, CT made the paper there. It seems “An ingenious rascal posted himself close by the railroad track at Moosup station when the Methodist excursion train was returning from Providence to Norwich Ct, on Saturday, and as the ladies’ waved their handkerchiefs from the car windows, he reached up and caught a whole armful of them at once. He escaped with his plunder.”
Now doesn’t that give you a whole different image of train travel? What was going on on that train? Where were they coming from? What was the activity that had the ladies in such high spirits?
How many women today carry a handkerchief? A delicate square of thin cloth decorated perhaps with a light scent, a bit of embroidery or perhaps an edge of hand tatted lace. So much was signaled with that square! Waved in the air it could draw the attention of a friend in a crowd so loud screaming or yelling in a crowd would not be necessary or it could wipe away a stray tear or two.
Handkerchief use began in ancient Greece to wipe perspiration from the faces, hands, and mouths of the upper class. During the Renaissance, if a man were in good favor with his lady, she would offer him her handkerchief as a symbol of their love, or vice-versa. It was Marie Antoinette’s husband Louis XVI who decreed the length of handkerchiefs in France be equal to their width.
Eventually, men and women used their hankies for flirtation. If a woman was interested in a certain man, she would draw the handkerchief across her cheek, which translated into I love you. If she hated the man, she would draw the handkerchief through her hands. A tissue just does not the same.
Do you know what your City Counselor has done for the city lately? I know for a fact many of them are attending a meeting or an event or both multiple nights a week. Sadly, not everyone else is aware of how busy they are and what they do to help individuals or specific areas of town. I don’t specifically know who is meeting with whom, where or why but sometimes when I see them in the halls of City Hall they comment on their very booked schedule.
What if you are not a Facebook friend or tweeter? How about a tiny five lines of a high point meeting in a newspaper? Back in the day, WICH/WCTY used to have a running report or commentary of what was happening about town. Anyone interested in producing a local cable television show with the stars being the mayor, city councilors, department heads, or committee chairpersons?
I am not asking for a report of names, dates and places or even a paragraph per council member. I am only suggesting a short column with some of the things they are involved in or meetings they have attended. Just the very high points. A communication of sorts with the people that elect them. A communication that tells me what is being worked on that benefits the City of Norwich.
But maybe it’s always been that way The Terre-Haute weekly express, 21 December 1870 — Page 1 wrote Judging from an incident mentioned in the Philadelphia Press, we conclude that the Yankee city of Norwich, Connecticut, is to be most heartily congratulated upon the truly meek and devotional aspect of her City Council chamber. So mild and loving is the character of their sessions that a youth out one night, in search of the Young Men’s Christian Association, stumbled into the chamber, though: as the desired place, and greeted the astounded body as “My dear brethren in the Lord,” utterly disconcerting their profound deliberations. Such a mistake does not seem likely to occur here, until lie Parke street controversy is settled.
Let’s change this. Let’s stop the secrecy. Let’s all start working together to make Norwich a place of communication. A place where people talk, and work together towards the creation of a future.
It is always nice to see groups actively do something in Norwich. The RISE committee is partnering with the St. Vincent de Paul Place and the Norwich area spiritual groups and organizations to pick up trash and debris from the streets, woods and parks around the community on the last Saturday of March from 9-11am.
I hope to see you on March 28th. If you know of an area that could use some sprucing up please let Suzee Costa of Reliance House 860-887-6536 x228 know. It’s as if Norwich is leading the way for an Earth Day Celebration.
Earth Day is a name used for 2 similar global observances. While some people celebrate Earth Day around the time of the March Equinox, others observe the occasion on April 22 each year. Earth Day aims to inspire awareness of and appreciation for earth’s environment.
The original Earth Day, organized in 1970 was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution.
In 1978, American anthropologist Margaret Mead added her support for a March equinox Earth Day, founded by John McConnell. She stated that the selection of the March Equinox for Earth Day made planetary observance of a shared event possible.
Worldwide, Wednesday, April 22 Earth Day will be celebrated with outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform acts of service to earth. Typical ways of observing Earth Day include planting trees, picking up roadside trash, conducting various programs for recycling and conservation, using recyclable containers for snacks and lunches. Some people are encouraged to sign petitions to governments, calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction. Television stations frequently air programs dealing with environmental issues.
Best of all its an organized reason to go outside and clean up the debris of winter and meet friends and neighbors and check on what plants have survived the winter. Please join us on March 28th or April 22nd or any day you would like to make earth a better place to live.
What are you doing on Wednesdays from 6 PM – 7 PM? I tend to be watching the news on a major television channel knowing full well I can watch a new local cable television show at my leisure on You Tube. The Comcast television show seen locally on channel 14 called Norwich Confidential has three hosts – Bonnie Hong, Ben Hong and Bob Farwell.
Each week is a completely different topic that may have missed your eye or it may be a topic that has a great impact on your family but you never have the opportunity to ask the questions you would like to.
The hosts of Norwich Confidential ask the questions. The easy ones and the more difficult ones as well. On occasion Bonnie and Ben bicker a bit as if they are home and having a discussion at the kitchen table. Having a difference in opinion is fine by me because I know that there is more than one side to any issue and somewhere between the many sides are the answers that make the most sense to me.
I have gotten to hear their guests explain in more detail than I have previously heard or seen how they arrived at their positions, what their thought process was or what the circumstances are that they are having to deal with. Details and explanations help us all understand an issue even if we do not agree with the opinion or the result.
Abby Dolliver was a wonderful guest and gave some true insights into the considerations of the Norwich schools budget. Best of all, she was given the opportunity to explain her positions in detail. Sgt. Camp of the Norwich Police Department discussed the militarization of local police departments. John-Manuel Andriote spoke eloquently on the national media as a whole and bias in reporting and on another show the new international Trans-Pacific Partnership was discussed fully.
The best part of Norwich Confidential is that guests can return to discuss another viewpoint of an issue or perhaps a new issue entirely. If you have the opportunity, please watch Norwich Confidential Wednesday night at 6 PM on Channel 14 or subscribe to them on You Tube so you do not miss an edition.
I came across this in the Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 31, Number 29, 22 August 1883 issue
According to the article the issue was and is important because this case is the first attempt to enforce the penalty under the second section of the civil rights act which makes a violation of the law a misdemeanor, and it Is the first effort made to enforce the criminal provisions of the law in a territory where the Congress of the United States has exclusive and absolute legislative jurisdiction.
I have not changed the wording, spelling or punctuation of the original article. I have added clarification notes where I thought needed.”CIVIL RIGHTS. A decision Rendered against the Defendant in the Case of plaintiff. James Bell in Washington, on Aug. 18.
A decision was rendered by Judge Miles in the Police Court to-day in the civil rights case of Rev. George H. Smith (colored), of Norwich, Conn., against James W. Bell, proprietor of a restaurant. [In Washington DC]
The ground of the complaint was that Bell had denied the accommodation of his restaurant to the plaintiff on account of the latter’s color, and suit was brought to enforce the criminal provision of the act of March 1, 1875.
The Court holds that under common law an innkeeper is bound to take in and receive all travelers and wayfarers, and that by the act of March 1, 1875, it is a made a misdemeanor to discriminate against a traveler on account of race, color, or any previous condition of servitude.
A restaurant keeper has the right to establish certain regulations as to hours to meals and to regulate certain places or seats for customers, but such hours and seats must be the same for all, or if any discrimination be made it must be made upon some principle or for some reason the law recognizes as just and reasonable, and not on account of color of race or previous condition of servitude.
All guests of the Inn or restaurant must be given equal privileges, and the places designated for them must be accessible to all respectable persons at a uniform rate. From these just principles it follows that the defendant in discriminating against the complainant Smith on account of his race and so or was guilty of a misdemeanor, and incurred the penalty prescribed by the second section of the equal rights act of 1875. Judgment is entered accordingly.
This case is in some respects a novel one since it is the first attempt to enforce the penalty under the second section of the civil rights act which makes a violation of the law a misdemeanor, and it Is the first effort made to enforce the criminal provisions of the law in a territory where the Congress of the United States has exclusive and absolute legislative jurisdiction. “
From True Republican, 25 August 1883 — Civil Rights at the Capital “… he [the Judge] fined the defendant $500 or 30 days in jail, the lowest penalty under the law. Mr. Bells counsel noted an appeal.”
My friend Barbara found an advertisement for “Bell, James W Proprietor Bell’s International, a first-class meal for 25 cents, we make a specialty of 15 cent lunches, which are always ready, rooms fifty cents, no liquors. 349 and 351 Pa av nw and in another listing of “Eating Houses Bell, James W 343 Pa av nw.”
I checked the City Directory for 1882 and found a George H Smith, beds at 26 Franklin but no indication he was a clergy.
The Directory for 1883 was missing. 1884 and 1885 Did not list a George H Smith at all and in 1887 There was an E T Smith, Rev., 8 Eleventh St and an E F Smith Rev, ME Church 8 Eleventh.
So was George H Smith really from Norwich and was he a Reverend?
I attended an Eastern CT tourism “Summit” the other day. I won’t write about it but I was reminded of a few tourist tours that I have yapped about over the years but I admit I never followed through to develop.
Tourism is a fallback economic driver for our area. Even though we count on it, it is the extra income above what our residents bring to our local services and businesses. Tourists bring money, spend money and leave without burdening our resources.
The goal is to get people off of Rte 95 and off of Rte 395 and off of Rte 2 and onto the smaller roads and into the businesses that can be found there. What you present must be unique. Something that people can identify with yet not put them out too much.
Most of us recall the American Revolution but thanks to the efforts of the National Park Service there is a portion of the National Historic Trail of Washington-Rochambeau marked here in Eastern CT. It is well marked with beautiful scenery and interesting local businesses along the way and with a quick Google of Rochambeau or the information provided in a brochure or web-link, a visitor has made a Connecticut connection with the past. But to stay on topic there is no tourist promotion so it remains just our little secret.
How about examining the routes people, goods and services took over the years? Begin at the Custom House then follow the roads and turnpikes, (the Norwich-New London turnpike ) through the interior of CT. Complete the loop back to 95 by following a manufacturing tour with a stop or two at old and modern mills. Eat your way through Eastern CT by stopping at the many ethnic grocery stores that dot our region. Make toddlers and teens happy with stops that intrigue and dazzle.
Spinning a Yarn, or Weaving a Story can be the title of a tour that combines stories of the old mills and visits to a winery or a fish ladder or places like Six Paca farm where you can pet a living alpaca and purchase their spun wool and while you are in the area you can also visit Blue Slope Farm museum in Lebanon taking a tour or spending an evening around a campfire or square dancing.
Let’s join together and encourage visitors passing by to get off the highways and to support our economy by traveling our by-ways and leaving a lovely trail of green behind as they continue on their way home where they might tell others what a great place have here to visit.
Are you an armchair explorer? Constantly reading National Geographic and Travel magazines to learn about foreign lands? Do you feel the need to feed at every new type of cultural restaurant you come across? Have you heard new languages being spoken in stores and schools? Did you wonder who they were and where they were from? Maybe you have been working on your own genealogy and want to know more about where you came from? Then you are the perfect person to participate in “Fresh Air Nation.”
“Fresh Air Nation” is a developing program that allows and encourages immigrant neighbors to tell their own stories, told in their own homes to paying guests over home-cooked meals. In the Norwich area the families are from Peru, Cape Verde, Haiti, China and India.
Experience the cultures of the world in your neighborhood with an immigrant host family prepared to share their stories, language and food through managed gatherings in their homes. Their mission is to break down the walls of racial and ethnic division by increasing mutual understanding. Hosts are recommended by not-for-profit groups, schools and churches and at least one person present is fluent in English.
The first few evenings have been very successful allowing the new immigrants to tell their stories and creating an atmosphere of greater understanding of where the participant’s families came from and what life was like for them when they first arrived regardless of the era.
In their words you hear the story of the decision of which family member to send to the United States, their struggle to survive and save enough money for the next person.
The kickstarter.com campaign is to cover the initial legal costs, marketing, advertising, web development and host family coordination of the program. Donations of any amount are happily accepted with different and enriching rewards at different levels beginning at Five dollars through $10,000.
For more information please review https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1981010057/immigrant-host-families-to-create-living-museums-n or www. Freshairnation.com
A few weeks ago I attended yet another meeting about the future of Norwich. The Mayor and NCDC invited the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition to moderate a lunchtime brown bag to discuss making the arts an economic driver of Norwich.
As you can imagine it was the same faces sitting around the arranged tables. The usual paper pad was brought out with a magic marker and everyone was asked “What are the problems that Norwich is facing” and the usual answers were given almost by rote. Then the assembled were asked “What are the strengths of Norwich?” And again the answers were given almost by rote. What I am getting at is the same old questions were being asked and given the same old answers. OK so there was one new suggestion to light up events downtown with crime scene lighting so there would be fewer scary shadowy places for evil to lurk during public events. One other important event happened. Everyone attending was asked to give their name and the organization or reason they were there. Norwich Fire Chief Kenneth J. Scandariato was there on his lunch hour because he likes the arts.
I passed Chief Scandariato (a native of Rhode Island) a very brief note outlining a project I had tried to bring to Norwich in the 1980’s and had been soundly rebuffed but I still have the presentation if he had time in his schedule to review it. On February 19th 2015 I received a phone call from Chief Scandariato that caused the tears to flow. I didn’t need to show him the presentation. He was from Rhode Island and familiar with the painted fire hydrants of Warren, Rhode Island. He had even checked with the Norwich Department of Public Utilities that own the hydrants that they were ok with it. Chief Scandariato just asked that they be kept in the loop as to what hydrants would be painted and when and that the movable parts remain movable should the hydrant be needed.
This spring as we recover from a very snowy winter please look around your neighborhood and note the locations of the fire hydrants in your neighborhood. Look at your fire hydrants from all angles and what it reminds you of. What fits into your neighborhood? Is there a theme to your neighborhood? Warren RI painted their hydrants for Americas Bicentennial in 1976. Our hydrants can copy their themes of colonial period or we can copy the hydrants of other cities, cartoons or anything your imagination can see.
Painted hydrants becomes an economic driver when people want to see the fire hydrants and stop for lunch, or shopping, or to participate in any other activities of your neighborhood or city. It’s a great way for your group or organization to demonstrate commitment to an area of its choosing. Now do we know any artists interested in doing the actual painting? Not all of us have been blessed with artistic talent but there might be sponsors for those that are. Lets get started and don’t hesitate to call me for more information or to become a part of this project.
Sometimes I just have to let people know that a research website is available to them and how the information on it gets there and why they may need to visit it more than once and over time before the information they are seeking appears. This is one of those times.
At the moment the focus of the Federation of Genealogical Societies is on the preservation and digitization of the 7.2 million pages of the very fragile Pension Records from the War of 1812 (known by some as Phase 2 of the American Revolution.)
The approximately 180,000 pension and bounty land warrant application files relating to claims based on service between 1812 and 1815 are some of the most requested documents at the National Archives. The files generally contain documentation submitted in support of a claim, such as the original application form, affidavits, and statements from witnesses.
There are limits to what can be digitized but the following information will be captured with the images and will be available to researchers when it exists in the file.
Veteran’s name
Age
Place of residence
Widow name
Service data & dates
Organization & rank
Widow’s maiden name
Acres Granted
Marriage date
Soldier death date
Widow death date
Year of BLM act
Warrant number
Additional names
You can access the pension files that have already been made searchable online free of charge on the Fold3 website http://www.fold3.com/
Just as a point of information, the Federation of Genealogical Societies has created a Preserve the Pensions page with Fold3, Ancestry and the National Archives to accept donations and provide information about the important historical treasures they are working so very hard to save.
And to learn more about how you can help this very important project visit http://familyhistorydaily.com/family-history/war-1812-pension-records-preservation-effort-free-access/#sthash.da1L8Rh7.dpuf
Norwich has many old mills and buildings just crying for someone make them useful again. Then I read an article on vertical farming.
Herbs and vegetables can be grown indoors under grow lights. Very similar to greenhouses and can produce from 30,000 square feet enough fresh produce to feed 20 million people. That is a big claim and a large foot print but then I found a smaller plan that gave me pause. It’s the plan currently being built in conjunction with the municipality of Jackson, Wyoming population approximately 11,000 people so it is a community only a quarter the size of Norwich, CT.
Population is not the only difference the altitude is over a mile high, snow lasts until May, and the growing season is sometimes only a couple of months long, and residents are very aware of the costs of transporting food to their community where the average vacant lot can cost over $1 million dollars.
But on a thin slice of vacant land next to a parking lot will be a new three-story stack of greenhouses that will be filled with crops like microgreens and tomatoes. If all goes well, in a year, the greenhouse should be able to produce over 37,000 pounds of greens, 4,400 pounds of herbs, and 44,000 pounds of tomatoes. Far more than their population can use so they have presold their crops to hospitals, restaurants, grocery stores and schools.
Greenhouses typically use a lot of energy but with careful planning and design the plants will be moved throughout each greenhouse floor on a conveyor belt. As they rotate, each plant will receive an equal amount of time in natural light saving energy in artificial lighting. Then on the top level, their system also pulls plants up to the ceiling, effectively creating an extra floor. The conveyor also brings each plant to workers who can transplant or harvest the crops.
In my head I could see the plan be adapted to fit in so many of the buildings in Norwich and then restaurants and health food places springing up to use the available produce.
I am cursed with an imagination to see so many opportunities but a decided lack of business skills to make them a reality. Please research vertical farming and explore the possibilities with the Community Economic Development Fund www.cedf.com or with their local participating banks The savings Institute Bank & Trust, Chelsea Groton Bank and the Dime Bank.
Discussion of economics and income is nothing new to the Norwich area. Although the amounts of the wealth in the area do seem to differ tremendously from those that have wealth, those who do not have wealth and those that are making the claims of bringing the wealth to the coffers of Norwich.
I keep trying but I am just not seeing all this wealth being brought in to Norwich. So long as I must go to other towns to do my shopping for clothes and entertainments, the wealth is not here. So long as so many of us must earn our living in another town, the wealth is not here. So long as my taxes rise while the services go down, the wealth is not here. So long as the costs of my utilities rise while the services reduce, the wealth is not here. So long as the costs of the education of the students in the Norwich schools continues to rise but the services and educational options are not rising, the wealth is not here. So long as there is room for elitism in the community, while residents are choosing between food, medicine and heat, the wealth is not here.
When the seats are empty at the Norwich City Council meetings because there is fear to speak up about an issue, the wealth is not here. When the members of the City Council do not have public discussions on issues, the wealth is not here. When the City budget distributes more to outside consultants, as private business than it does to its departments and employees, the wealth is not here.
This rant began when I read in The Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 6, Number 47, 20 May 1876 a quote from the Norwich Bulletin of the same time period.
An exchange asks: “What are young men doing?” We can’t answer for the rest of the country, but around here they are engaged mainly in trying to lead a nine dollar existence on a seven dollar salary.
Over 139 years later, Norwich residents are still engaged in the same existence. If all this money and industry is being brought into Norwich, don’t you think we would be seeing a change by now? The building and filling of retail spaces and not more condo’s and rentals? The waiting would be over for the fixing ups and the doing overs. The taxes would not need to be raised so the level of services could remain the same. If all the money and industry claimed was being brought into Norwich, the taxpaying residents could have at least a short rest from the costs of living increases.
Technology is powerful and there is always an element of danger. From the Evansville Daily Journal, Volume 2, Number 236, 16 February 1850 — Page 2 I learned about this explosion for the first time.
On Tuesday night week the people of Greeneville, near Norwich, Conn., were roused from sleep by the shock of the explosions of two great steam boilers used to cleanse rags for a paper mill. The boilers were filled with gallons of water, and bleaching powders, so that the entire weight of each boiler was about eight tons. The steam was generated in boilers situated some seventy-five feet distant, and conducted to the rag boilers by an iron pipe, so that there was no fire under or about them. The cause of the explosion is therefore inscrutable. The watchmen of the adjacent mills saw the largest boiler flying over their heads like a balloon it rose to an immense height; and then descended to the earth with a concussion that shook the solid ground. The Norwich Courier says it was found a thousand feet distant, having been carried sheer over the high factory buildings, the canal, railroad, and telegraph line beyond the railroad, and set down much in the same position as that in which it stood before commencing its aerial voyage. A portion of the bottom had “dropped out,” but in other respects it looked nearly as good as new, except that the bottom end was badly crushed by the violent manner in which it was “brought up all standing.”
Today there would probably be a video and photos taken with hundreds of phones but in 1850 words were used to tell the story of what happened and so it is only in the readers mind that we see the boilers fly over buildings and the telegraph lines before landing with a solid thump. I wonder if the boilers were returned, repaired and put back in use or if new ones were purchased and put to use.
Residents are all atwitter about a speech Abraham Lincoln once gave in Norwich, CT but no mention has been made of how Lincoln felt about his speech or how it was perceived by others. So I thought you might like this excerpt of How President Lincoln Became an Expert Reasoner. published in the Indiana State Sentinel, May 26, 1886, on page 3. My apologies that this excerpt is so lengthy but the entire article is longer still.
Before Mr. Lincoln was a candidate for President, he made a tour through New England and lectured in many cities and towns. Among other places he spoke in Norwich, Ct. A gentleman who heard him, and was struck with his remark about logical power, rode the next day in the cars with Mr. Lincoln to New Haven. During the ride the following conversation took place:
“Mr. Lincoln. I was delighted with your lecture last evening.”
‘”Oh, thank you, but that was not much of a lecture, I can do better than that.”
“I have no doubt of it, Mr. Lincoln, for, whoever can do so well, must inevitably be
able to do better.”
“Well, well, you are a good reasoner, aren’t you? That is cute.”
“But that reminds me,” continued the gentleman, “to ask how you acquired your wonderful logical power. I have heard that you are entirely self-educated and it is seldom that I find a self-educated man who has a good system of logic in his reasoning. How did you acquire such an acute power of analysis?”
“Well, Mr. G., I will tell you. It was my terrible discouragement which did that for me.”
“Your discouragement what do you mean?”
“You see.” said Mr. Lincoln, that when I was about eighteen years of age I went into an office to study law. Well, after a little while I saw that a lawyer’s business was largely to prove things. And I said to myself, ‘Lincoln, when is a thing proved?’ That was a poser. I could not answer the question. What constitutes proof? Not evidence, that was not the point. There may be evidence enough, but wherein consists the proof?
“You remember the old story of the German, who was tried for some crime, and they brought half a dozen respectable men who swore that they saw the prisoner commit the crime. ‘Well,’ he replies, ‘vat of dot? Six men swears dot dey saw me do it. I brings more den two tozen goot men who schwears dey did not see me do it,’
“So, wherein is the proof I I groaned over the question, and, finally said to myself, ‘Ah, Lincoln, you can’t tell.’ Then I thought, ‘What use is it for me to be in a law office, if I can’t tell when a thing is proved?’
So I gave it up, and left the office and went back home, over in Kentucky.”
“So you gave up the law?”
“Oh, Mr. G., don’t jump at your conclusions. That isn’t logical. But, really, I did give up the law and I thought I should never go back to it. This was in the fall of the year. Soon after I returned to the old log cabin, I
fell to with a copy of Euclid. I had not the slightest notion what Euclid was, and I thought I would find out. I found out but it was no easy job. I looked into the book and found out it was all about lines, angles, surfaces and solids. But I could not understand it all. I therefore began, very deliberately, at the beginning. 1 learned the
definitions and axioms. I demonstrated the first proposition. I said, that is simple enough. I went on to the next and the next- And before spring I had gone through that old Euclid’s geometry and could demonstrate every proposition like a book.
“I knew it all from beginning to end. You could not stick me on the hardest of them. Then, in the spring, when I had got through with it, I said to myself, one day, ‘Abe, Do you know when a thing is proved?”
And I answered right out loud, ‘Yes, sir I do.’ ‘Than you may go back to the law shop.’ And I went.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lincoln, for that story.
You have answered my question. I see now where you find your logical acumen, you dug it out of that geometry.”
“Yes, I did, often by the light of pitch pine knots. But I got it. Nothing but geometry will teach you the power of abstract reasoning. Only that will tell you when a thing is proved.”
Said Mr. G., I think this a remarkable incident. How few men would have thought to ask themselves the question.
When is a thing proved? What constitutes proof? And how few men of eighteen would have been able to master the whole of Euclid in a single winter, without a teacher. And still fewer, after they had done so much, would have realized and acknowledged what geometry had done for them; that it had told them what proof was.”
My only clue to the identity of Mr. G is the name of the article’s author was “the Congregationalist.”
With so many new versions of old tales being told and made into movies I thought I would share some of the animal tales of Norwich, CT. From the Indianapolis journal, 30 December 1888 the following story illustrates how raucous mice love their tails:
In Norwich, Conn., the other night a young lady set a mouse trap in her parlor. The trap was like a diminutive railroad round-house, with arched doorways, and with a delicate little loop of steel under each doorsill until a treat was eaten by mouse by the muzzle.
The steel nooses snapped busily shut during the night resulting in mice clinging in five of the inhospitable door ways, and, a bit of a mystery to her as well. Three long mouse tails were hanging from the three other entrances.
She puzzled her head long over the inscrutable problem. Why did three mice visit her trap at night and deliberately leave their tails behind them? But there was no answer to it. Tho a very bright idea, however, came into her mind, and she set her trap again. Verily, the three tailless mice came back to recover their tails, and in the gray dawn of the following day the young lady found three tailless mice dangling from the trap.
A horse in a small town near Norwich, Conn., is disposed to swallow anything that comes within its reach, and recently bolted a large ball of wrapping twine. The ball rolled in easily, but a knob at the end of the cord anchored itself windward between the animal’s front teeth, and the knob and the visible piece of twine served as a key to the situation. When the young grooms-woman visited the stable and inspected her steed. There was a somewhat troubled look on the horses face as he stood with feet braced, ears lopped, mouth open and in eyes was a mute appeal that bespoke a growing suspicion that probably the case was hopeless. The young lady unloosed the knot, wound six inches of the cord around her hand and began to unravel the mystery. The horse kept his mouth open, looked wise, and seemed perfectly to understand what was going on; and out yard after yard, fathom by fathom, the animal compliantly stood, and on neither side of the manger was a comment uttered, except that now and then the grateful beast emitted a sigh, as he observed the external ball swelling in magnitude and felt the internal one steadily diminishing. Finally the last yard of the cord was removed out of the horse, wound up, and the ball was taken into the house, where the animal couldn’t get at it again.
A friend mentioned to me that the expensive shampoo, conditioner and body wash that they had become accustomed to at their hotel had a lesser brand substitution on their recent visit. I immediately felt great sympathy for them and related this story I had learned from The Saturday evening mail, Volume 1, Number 25, 17 December 1870 — Page 7
A PUBLIC TOOTH-BRUSH. As the steamer Connecticut was passing Blackwell’s Island, on her way from Norwich to New York, a gentleman might have been seen performing his ablutions in one of the marble basins in the wash-room in the forward part of the boat.
While he was in the midst of his task, a tall and verdant specimen of the incipient Yankee traveler entered the apartment, and, after staring about a few moments to assure himself, commenced a conversation with his fellow passenger: “I say can anybody wash himself in this here cooky?”
“You have a perfect right to avail yourself to the accommodations of the boat. You can help yourself to the water.”
“Yes, but this here pumpkin-shell has got a hole in the bottom, and the darned fasset’s knocked all askew. I show, you, is that brass cock made of solid silver? I swanny, this wash-hand dish looks just like marble!”
The gentleman quietly placed the stopper in the right place, and “turned on” the water for our hero, who soon made himself at home pretty generally. The former, however, in a short time missed his tooth-brush, and on looking around, was astonished to perceive the Yankee applying it vigorously to his tobacco-stained ivory.
“My dear friend, you made a great mistake in using my tooth-brush,” said the gentleman. ‘Your what?—your brush? You don’t mean to say that this here’s your tooth-brush.’
I do, sir but it is of no consequence now. You are welcome to the brush.” The Yankee looked puzzled at first, as if he suspected a trick, but at length he exclaimed “Here, you, take your confounded thing-umbob! But I should like to know what in thunder has become of the tooth-brush that belongs to the boat!”
Soon Norwich residents will be encouraged to observe fish at the Occum Fish Ladder and to watch the stocking of the various rivers so that Norwich can then brag what a great place it is to fish. But once it was reported in the Marshall County Republican, Volume 12, Number 20, 26 March 1868 — Page 3 that “At a place on the river Thames, about two and a half miles below Norwich, Conn., a party of 7 men recently hauled in a net with 6,000 pounds of perch, and eighty-three large bass the whole making about three tons of fish, valued at $700.
But these stories also caught my eye and I could not help myself but to share them with you.
The Plymouth weekly Democrat, Volume 14, Number 45, 15 July 1869 — Page 4 reported – A submarine diver who has been operating in the Thames river, at Norwich, Conn, says there is a cave under the banks of considerable size, the hidden properties and strange formations of which, could the water be drawn off so as to make it accessible, would form one of the wonders of the world. I wonder where he was.
According to the Marshall County Republican, Volume 14, Number 2, 18 November 1869 — Page 1 There is a gold mine in Norwich Ct., on Wawecus Hill, which is worked by a company, which held its annual meeting on the 28th end elected officers. The mine yields gold, silver and nickel, and some rich ore has been taken out this year. Do the houses on Goldmine Road come with mineral rights? Do you have a memory of panning for gold in Goldmine Brook?
The Plymouth Democrat, Volume 15, Number 13, 2 December 1869 — Page 1 Tells the story of Emma Harding, who for a few years palmed herself off on the citizens of Norwich as the widow of a soldier, and sold them fictitious autographs of Washington and other celebrities, and has recently been committed to jail, and turns out to be a man.
Norwich really did have some spectacular moments in its history. But moments are not forever and things do change but I hope these blasts from the past lighten your day as they were shared before video cameras, tweets, twitters, television and even radio.
From the Vevay Times and Switzerland County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 41, 17 September 1840 — Page 2 “Awful Hard Times.— The Hartford Times says, the manufacturing establishments at Norwich, in that State, employ two sets of hands, and keep their works in operation night and day.”
Per the Indiana State sentinel, Volume 11, Number 10, 7 August 1851 — Page 2 shoppers learned to “Look Out for Fresh Counterfeits. A spurious five dollar bill of the Thames Bank, Norwich, Connecticut, of which the vignette is a female reclining and pointing to a rainbow over a ship, has been put in circulation recently. No such bill has been issued by that Bank.”
Fashions were important and sometimes served more than one purpose according to the Evansville Daily Journal, Volume 9, Number 217, 9 April 1857 — Page 2. Virtue in Hoops. As the steamer Commonwealth came alongside the wharf at New London, Conn., on Friday night, on the passage from Norwich to New York, a lady walked overboard and would have been drowned but for the hoops, in her skirt, which rendered the same somewhat balloonish, and answered the purpose of a more common personal life-preserver. The night was very dark, and it was nearly half an hour before she could be extricated from her perilous situation, during which time the hoops were sufficiently strong to buoy her up and prevent her from sinking.’ ‘It was important to be able to laugh at yourself as well as others and the precarious events that happened. The Plymouth weekly Democrat, Volume 9, Number 16, 19 November 1863 — Page 1printed “An awkward, bashful man, who was getting into a stage at Norwich, a few days ago pushed his foot through the hoop skirt of a lady passenger. In the course of trying to extricate himself, only succeeded in putting his other foot through the hoop of another lady. Calling out in seeming despair, he shouted: “Hullo driver! I thought I was getting into a rig, but I find myself in a coopers shop.”
Norwich was in fact the place to go shopping from the Plymouth Democrat, Volume 15, Number 18, 6 January 1870 — Page 4 “An old lady bought a shroud for her husband in Norwich, Conn, the other day, remarking that he was not dead yet, or particularly ailing, but she “didn’t think she would ever be able to buy it so cheap again.”
I believe everything I read on the internet and before the Internet I believed everything that was printed in the newspaper. After all, would anything written be approved by an editor and published in print if it were not the truth?
Good deeds though don’t get as much publicity as bad news so you know that I was pleased to read this from the June 13, 1877 Indiana State Sentinel, A superior tramp made his appearance in Norwich, Conn., the other day. He asked for breakfast, and having received and eaten it he was requested to cut the grass in the front yard. He at once cheerfully went to work, and labored for three hours in the hot sun. The neighbors were called in to look at this unprecedented phenomenon, and such was the admiration which the spectacle excited that the industrious tramp received a good dinner, 25 cents in cash and a tolerable pair of pantaloons.
And a good joke was not kept a secret but was also spread through the power of print. Like this treasure from the June 7, 1877 Terre Haute Weekly Gazette that originated from the Norwich Bulletin.
It seems a Norwich man, who lectured in an adjoining town last week, came home and reported that he had a regular ovation. It seems the audience threw eggs at him.
Lately the papers have been full of the stories of animals saving other animals or perhaps a human that has gotten itself into a sad and sorry situation so it came as no real surprise when I ran across this article from the May 22, 1879 Plymouth Republican.
There is a dog in Norwich, CT which is entitled to salvage from the insurance companies. In emergencies he never fails to raise an alarm. Recently the straw bedding under a horse in the stable caught fire. The dog rushed into the stall, drew the burning blanket from under the horse and carried it into the street , burning himself quite severely.
Our pets and the neighborhood wild animals ask so little of us. A safe place to roam. A supply of food and the freedom to eat and enjoy it (However this does not mean that my vegetable garden has been planted for this purpose. ) and fresh water to drink.
Please remember to provide shade and water for your pets and don’t forget the wild critters as well.
Modesty will not lead you to wealth and sometimes it just doesn’t lead you anywhere. A friend has been poking around in the Founders Archives and brought to my attention a few letters I will be presenting to you from time to time. My gratitude to the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. http://founders.archives.gov/documents
To George Washington from Christopher Leffingwell, 15 July 1789 From Christopher Leffingwell
Norwich [Conn.] July 15 1789. The Petition of Christopher Leffingwell humbly sheweth—That your Petitioner took a decided part at the commencement of the late War; a circumstance in evidence. He was one of Six Gentlemen who furnished Money, planned & gave Orders to the Officers who went from Hartford the 25th of May 1775 to raise Men at Pittsfield Bennington &C. to take possession of Ticonderoga & Crown Point & secure the military Stores there—Your Petitioner was in the mercantile line before the War, & was in easy circumstances; was appointed a purchaser for the State of Connecticut; and served under Colo. Trumbull Commissary General during his continuance—also served in the quarter master department under General Mifflin during his continuance in that department. In which time he advanced large Sums of his own money for Provisions &C. for which he now has Loan office Certificates for several thousand Pounds, the Interest of which for many years has been of little use for support of a large family—He has been the Officer for the Port of Norwich ever since it was first established; which since he quitted mercantile business has given him considerable towards support. Your Petitioner is the senior Naval Officer in Connecticut east of New Haven; had, and presumes still has the confidence of his fellow citizens, is known by all the Gentlemen in Congress from this State—Mr Huntington from this Town Col. Wadsworth, Col. Trumbull, & Mr Sturges he is intimately acquainted with—The Honorable members in Senate know him & can give his character—He therefore humbly prays for the appointment of Collector for the District of New London—being advised by some of the members to solicit; presuming he has no competitor who has a better right to solicit with hope; & your petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray
Chrisr Leffingwell
ADS, DLC:GW. Christopher Leffingwell (1734–1810) was a Norwich businessman and manufacturer, who in 1766 established the first paper mill in Connecticut. In 1770 he established a fulling mill, a gristmill, and a chocolate mill in partnership with his brother Elisha Leffingwell. During the Revolution Leffingwell served as a colonel in the Norwich light infantry brigade, and in 1784 he was appointed naval officer for the port of Norwich. By 31 July 1789 Leffingwell had apparently learned that the main port of entry for district no. 1 in Connecticut was to be New Haven, not Norwich, and he again wrote GW: “It being Suggested to me by my worthy friend Col. Trumbull that General Huntington was one of my competitors for the office of Collector at the district of New London whose character is high in my estimation. should your Excellency after comparing our claims qualifications & situation appoint him to that office I earnestly solicit that I may not be wholly unnoticed but be appointed Suveyor for that district” (DLC:GW). When the customs appointments were made in August 1789, the post of surveyor for New London went to Nathaniel Richards, not Leffingwell. Jedediah Huntington was named to the collector’s post (DHFC, description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972—.description ends 2:14, 18).
Leaping to conclusions is never, ever going to lead me to a good thing. I have taken to reading the telegrams that were printed in the newspapers across the country. I’ll bet you thought that there was privacy before the internet. Nope. Personal and business matters sent by telegram keystrokes were published in local papers after delivery or pick-up by the intended. Sometimes it was Jane Doe received a telegram from her brother John Smith in Another City and sometimes it was a juicy tell-all.
Anyway, I found the following on page 3 in the Grand Rapids, Michigan Telegram-Herald of December 07, 1887. I of course read it backwards and thought immediately that it concerned the breaking of the wall for the expansion of the Boston Store (later Reid & Hughes) building in Norwich. But I was wrong and it was the breaking down of the wall in the Grand Rapids store and now I just want to know who the members of the Scotch Syndicate House in Norwich, CT were.
The following dispatches between the Boston Store of this city and the Scotch Syndicate House, of Norwich, explains itself:
Grand Rapids Dec 5. 1887
To A. Mitchell, Norwich, CT A glorious success. Crowd passing through the wall through Foster, Stevens & Co. Trankla, Jamieson & Co.
Norwich, Ct. to John Jamieson : Telegram received. Accept our congratulations on your grand success; hope it will be repeated tomorrow.
A. Mitchell
Grand Rapids Dec. 6, 1887
Crowd equally as large this afternoon, an unqualified success.
Trankla, Jamieson & Co.
I was so longing for the sights and sounds and warmth of summer. I welcomed the drone of the flying insects the flies, wasps and bees. So I was led to discover a few legends regarding bees. That’s when I found these treasures –
In some areas of Northern Europe, New England and Appalachia, it was believed that once someone died, it was important for the family to “go tell the bees” of the death. Whoever kept the bees for the family would make sure the bees got the news, so that they could spread it around.
If a bee flies into your house, it means that someone is coming to visit. If you kill the bee, the visitor will bring you bad news.
Know the phrase “busy as a bee”? Bees in a hive work repetitively at the same task all day long. A bee may forage as many as ten miles a day, gathering pollen and nectar to bring back to the hive, over and over again. According to the National Honey Board, a bee may visit more than two million flowers to gather enough nectar to make just one pound of honey.
Bees, in some cultures, are associated with purity because worker bees that produce honey never mate.
If a bee lands on your hand, it is a sign money is coming your way.
Author J.K. Rowling named Professor Albus Dumbledore for an archaic English word related to bees. She imagined the headmaster of Hogwarts “wandering around the castle humming to himself,” and so chose to associate his name with bees.
Ancient Egyptian pharaohs used the honeybee as the royal symbol, during the period between 3000 BCE and 350 BCE.
The Greeks believed that a baby whose lips were touched by a bee would become a great poet or speaker.
Several deities are associated with bees and honey – Aphrodite, Vishnu, Pan, Cybele, and Ra and the Norse eddas, are connected with Yggdrasil, the World Tree.
In Celtic mythology, the bee is a messenger between our world and the spirit realm.
Back in the days before the internet, even before radio and television information was published in newspapers without verification. People trusted that if it had been written down and published, it was the truth and once one paper published it, papers across the country felt it was their right and duty to also publish it. So it was from the front page of the October 8th, 1903, Evening Bulletin of Maysville, Kentucky that I learned a resident of Norwich, CT had made an impact in the history of the White House in Washington, DC during the Presidency of Teddy Roosevelt.
With a keystroke search I located a John Decker in the 1870 and 1880 census and in the 1897, 1898 and 1900 Norwich City Directories. In 1870 there was an 11 year old John M living with a 47 year old Fred, a 45 year old Mary F, a 15 year old Charles and a 13 year old Henry M. In 1880 the census shows a divorced Marianne as a head of household, Henry working as a laborer and John at home. By 1900 according to the Norwich City Directory John Decker had rented a room at 4 Franklin and worked as a mechanic and in the past John had rented a room at the American House while working at Hopkins & Allen Arms Company. Then he disappears from the Norwich records.
ARRESTED IN WHITE HOUSE. Another Crank Makes His Appearance and was sent to the Asylum.
Washington, Oct 8. John Decker, of Norwich, Ct, who evidently is a mechanic, about 44 years of age, entered the White House soon after the doors were opened Wednesday morning. The officials thought, from his actions, that he was a crank and arrested him. He was not armed and made no resistance when placed under arrest. He was turned over to the police authorities. Decker was examined by [Secret Service] officials later in the day, pronounced insane, and was removed to the government asylum.
But now I have questions! What were his actions? What was his purpose? What had annoyed him so he traveled to Washington? What government asylum was he sent to? How long did he remain there? Was he ever released? Did he die in the asylum? Did he ever return to Norwich? Did his family ever discover what happened to him? Is anybody looking for him?
On occasion it’s not our own history that we have had an impact on. For example the following letter was written by J. H. Fourgee of Norwich, CT and submitted to the Arizona Champion of Flagstaff, Arizona August 30, 1888 where it appeared September 8, 1888.
Editor Arizona Champion,
Thinking that it might be interesting to your readers, to know that the tree which was trimmed for the flag-staff from which your town took its name, was cut down and planted by three [surveyors led by Lt. Beal] of the Boston Colony, April 1876, your humble servant being one of the three who erected the flag-staff, planted a coin with the words.”In God we Trust” under the butt of the tree. I remember while we were in camp at this place, A bear came out of the woods some distance from where we were. The flag was floating from the staff. One of our party, who had a field glass, saw the bear was much surprised to see the flag and stood for some time viewing the beautiful visitor and then lazily trotted off into the woods again. I have heard of “the lion running from the U.S. flaf” but never a bear. Hoping your town will grow and blossom as “The Rose of New England.” – I am fraternally yours, J. H. Fourgee
Not all of a residents history takes place at home. Sometimes a residents history takes place elsewhere and needs to be brought back as it is a part of our history too.
According to Fast Facts – Flagstaff derived its name from a flag-raising ceremony held on the Fourth of July in 1876. Boston travelers chose a tall pine, trimmed its branches from the bottom up and attached a flag to the top in of observance of the nation’s centennial.
Victorian Norwich was nothing if not full of scandal. The Johnson family was well known for being flamboyant making certain everyone was aware of their wealth by wearing or carrying valuable gems, mostly diamonds and then losing them, accusing others of stealing them, or creating a great fuss about their locations being changed after a visit by a friend, or a new staff member. Mrs. Edwin Johnson was so well-known for these antics that she was often referred to as Mrs. “Diamond” Johnson in the society pages of the newspapers. But there was no question that the papers took some enjoyment to their reporting too.
According to page 2 of the May 31, 1893 Anaconda Standard 11-year-old newsboy Johnnie Walsh, of New London city found a pair of diamond earrings. Not knowing the value of his find he carelessly put them in his pocket and showed them to his mother when be reached home, who fainted when she saw them. The next day an advertisement offered $2,000 for their return and so Johnnie, accompanied by his mother and Dr. Harris of that city returned the earrings to Mrs. Johnson of Norwich. Ct. and received the $2,000 reward.
The marriage was having some problems and Mrs. Johnson wanted to return to her childhood home in Chicago. Mr. Johnson wanted to stay in Norwich. From the Society page 6 of the March 21st 1895, Washington Times.
DIAMONDS FOR THE COACHMAN
Conservator Appointed for Mrs. Johnson,
But She Skipped With the Cash.
Norwich, Ct., March 20. Dr. Patrick Cassidy was today appointed conservator of the property of Mrs. “Diamond” Johnson as the result of proceedings instituted by the latter’s husband. Mr. Johnson alleged that his wife had given diamonds of great value to her coachman and had otherwise shown herself incapable of managing her affairs. Mrs. Johnson anticipated the appointment of the conservator, and disappeared from the city, and it is believed she has left the State. She took with her $13,000 in bank notes and $7,000 in bonds.
Then with help from her parents, children, and friends and officers of the court and promises of being remembered at her passing she lived a life of comfort in Chicago until 1932.Though not everyone was remembered.
I am getting a kick out of the selection of Norwich history walks. I would like to see a walk to the future of Norwich. So I present this idea of merging a bit of history, with a present day walk and activity so that there can be a step into the future.
From the past I present information from Focus on T.R.U.E. Test Allergens #19 and #22 — Mercaptobenzothiazole and Mercapto Mix, Volume: 14, September 15 2006, Issue 9_2006 By Sharon E. Jacob, M.D., and Cheryl Nelson, B.S.
In 1832, Wait Webster was the first to patent a process connecting rubber soles to shoes and boots for durability and traction. In 1867 this innovation was implemented in a croquet shoe, introduced by Candee Rubber Co. of Norwich, CT. (Norwich CT is also listed as the home of modern day croquet. See Croquet By Steve Boga page 2.)The novel shoe had a rubber sole and lightweight canvas uppers and was considered a luxury item of the rich and famous. Movement in the shoes was so noiseless on most surfaces that they became popular among sneak thieves, and so the shoes became known as “sneakers”.
So does anyone else think it would be fun to merge the three – walks, sneakers and croquet into a single event one Saturday or Sunday in Norwich? Invite a few different sneaker companies to come to Norwich for a day of stories, presentations (what is new, proper fit etc.) fitness, fun and perhaps a bit of measuring, fitting and shopping for sneakers.
Decide on a date and place and send out invitations to manufacturers and shoe stores to bring their wares for display and sale. Maybe have a special tour for those interested in renting retail or manufacturing/distribution space. I am pretty certain there are some places available in the city.
As with any event there are a number of technicalities to be worked out but what about this basic idea? Is this an event the Norwich Walks Committee, the Norwich Historical Society, the Norwich marketing representatives, the Norwich Realtors and local and area residents should be working on in an effort to bring new people and business to Norwich.
I saw on Good Morning America that a small boy accidentally left behind at the Tampa International Airport his beloved stuffed Hobbs. The airport officials cared for Hobbs and took him on a well-documented adventure throughout the airport and presented a scrapbook and Hobbs to the boy and his family when they returned from their travels.
The leaders of Norwich are desperately trying to create the image that Norwich is an active tourist destination in Connecticut; so maybe this is the time to introduce a tourism ambassador that residents and visitors can relate to.
New London has “Flat Stanley” and he has appeared and disappeared in displays and photographs for years now. I am thinking about perhaps the silhouette of Christopher Leffingwell (from the Leffingwell House Museum) would be a great ‘ambassador.’ Leffingwell also had a large family that could expand the possibilities. Or my personal hero, hater of taxes, John Durkee. Or it might be fun to bring forth an image of the first Norwich Mayor, Benjamin Huntington (1784-1796) so he could be shown how much Norwich had grown and changed in size, shape and demeanor. My last but not least choice is for a hostess of Norwich and I would like to nominate from 1957, the first female 1st Selectperson of Norwich Viola J. Buddington.
I discarded inanimate objects like a rose and a living being like a fish that could walk or talk because I saw a walking fish once in Florida and it gave me the creeps for weeks. A deer could be a lot of fun and Norwich has a great history with them and lots of stories. So now it is up to you.
Who or what would you like to see as a photographic mascot of Norwich. Who would you like to carry with you and photograph as you walk, ride, bike, shop and eat in Norwich?
Oh boy did I do it again. I mentioned that I had read an interesting article and thought it would work well in Norwich in a variety of spaces including Mohegan Park, city housing¸ schools and the senior center to name a few. From that point was a rapid descent of how it would never work in a city like Norwich. There is not enough funding for places like that. No one would be interested in using it.
The idea I brought up for discussion was an adult playground.
The adult playground concept is borrowed from China and parts of Europe, where outdoor fitness areas for adults are routine in in preventive care, particularly for older people.
Now a growing number of city and park officials, health experts and community leaders throughout the country are praising the health and social benefits of adult playgrounds. They say that the playgrounds will succeed where treadmills have failed in combating obesity and related illnesses by enticing the grown-ups out for play dates. The play areas may also help new mothers shed baby weight and veterans to maintain their physique and for endurance training.
There is much support for the Heritage Trail so perhaps there could be some support for exercise stations at some of the scenic spots along the trail as well. The chosen spots could begin with static pieces like chin-up bars or strength and stretch bars and additional stations can be added as residents and visitors become used to the fitness circuits. Backus Hospital published 30 Active Ways to have fun in Norwich and number 24 was to have an adventure on the playscape at Ouelett Park so I am certain they would be in favor of recreational equipment for the adult size and weight.
Someday Norwich could even have comprehensive workout areas and equipment with moving pieces. Prices for the equipment begin at about $15,000 and grow from there. Some of the recommended equipment even I recognized such as the push up bar, tai chi spinner, self-weighted rowers and bounding bars.
It would be nice to have some exercise equipment designed for people in wheel chairs, or who use canes or crutches but I think that’s a rant for another day although accessible playgrounds in Connecticut can be found in Avon, Berlin, Bristol, Bloomfield, Burlington, Cheshire, East Windsor, Farmington, Glastonbury, Groton, Hartford, Killingly, Manchester, New Haven, New London, Newington, Ridgefield, Southington, Simsbury, South Windsor, Stamford, Waterbury, Wethersfield, and Willimantic and I think it would be nice if Norwich could be added to the list.
I have the world’s best and most creative friends in my internet world. This came from Bryon T about an event organized by the CT Beer Trail at City Steam Brewpub, 942 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103
If you have not been, go now to City Steam Brewery in Hartford. It is its own work of art as it adds its own warmth and charm to the Cheney building known for its gorgeous 1877 Romanesque architecture. Their evening of art included a buffet from their upscale bar menu. Not just wings, chips and salsa. I am not even certain you’ll find those on their creative menu of made on site treats like their dumplings with lemon grass or bing cherry sauce. Pesto salmon with a tangerine butter sauce. For the vegans they even developed the Frickle which sounds a little strange but the fried pickle sandwich is an absolute crunchy delight to the taste buds. They serve wonderful, light and white omelets anytime too. Desserts are made on site and they bake their own malted barley burger buns and other treats. Anyway, for only $35 the evening included a single craft beer of your choosing, a bar-bite buffet, expert instruction from two local talented artists Suzanne Jill Levy and Michelle Thomas as attendees created artwork from paints infused with the goodness of craft beer brewed on the premises. Yes, the paints used were partially made from the beer hand-crafted at City Steam! The evenings are proving to be a novel and fun way to celebrate with friends and to make some new friends too.
Norwich is trying to become an art center for Eastern CT and is very excited to become the home of two craft breweries. Both projects are in the development stages so I thought I would pass on what is available a forty-five minute drive away. Craft breweries are not typically local hang out bars but have rotating variety menus of beers, ales, stouts, pilsners, malts and sometimes IPA’s dependent on what is seasonally available. You can expect to hear involved conversations about taste, texture, colors, clarity, food pairings, and weather.
Ranking 33 in the nation for breweries, in 2012 Connecticut’s 22 breweries and brewpubs employed 430 people directly.
I am hoping that this type of entertainment will also follow along in the development of our city.
Are telemarketers calling you? Has telling them to remove you from their list not worked? Of course every year you have renewed your name and number on https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx for your home and mobile phones. You have screamed at them. You have begged them to stop. But still the telemarketers call for donations, purchases and for you to sign up with their school. Don’t just hang up the phone. Hanging up on the telemarketer will not remove you from the call list. However, being just as nice as you can be and telling them a variation of any of these will take you off their hit list forever.
Tell them you have been unemployed for over a year now and are completely out of benefits. Inquire if they are calling from an area on a bus line and be certain to ask if their office is close by and is hiring.
Ask if they accept food stamps. Explain that you are a federal, state, or county dependent and you can only participate if it’s allowed by the program. Don’t worry you don’t have to be specific about what program, the telemarketer will not care.
Explain that you are only working part-time as your work release program specifies you can work only 15 – 18 hours a week so you can meet with your counselor, probation officer and anger management therapist.
You would love to have a visitor for one hour or more as it will give your caretaker a break or an opportunity to run errands. Promise that your bandages or bed linen will be changed just before your scheduled appointment.
Ask if this is a test by the judge. You had been warned by the court that you can’t sign any legal documents and the next time there would be a large fine. Comment you are going a little stir crazy as the court has taken away your cell phone, computer, e-mail and monitors your calls. Ask them to clearly identify themselves and their company and their business ID number if they know it should they be required to testify.
Be so sorry but you are only renting your living space but will certainly pass the message on to the owners.
Word of caution, do not make an appointment and then not be home for it. This only prolongs the agony for both you and the telemarketer as they will be asked to call you and leave messages. Lots and lots of messages to re-schedule your appointment. This is annoying to you and the telemarketer who really is just trying to earn a minimum wage living.
So who do telemarketers love? Homeowners, who always have lots of extra disposable income and so do fulltime workers, parents, retired couples and pet owners. You do not ever want to admit to being one of those even if that is who you really are. Good luck!
I am missing terribly one of my neighbors. Joe Geer passed away a couple of years ago and I just came across a project he would have enjoyed using his woodworking skills on. The project is called “Little Free Library.”
In 2009, to honor his mother, a retired schoolteacher, Todd Bol of Hudson Wisconsin built a wooden model of a one room schoolhouse and filled it with books and then posted it in his front yard with a sign that said FREE BOOKS. Take a book. Leave a book. His neighbors loved it and asked him to build more for their yards.
Rick Brooks, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, saw Bol’s do-it-yourself project while they were discussing potential social enterprises. They collaborated using various models including
Andrew Carnegie’s support of 2,509 free public libraries around the turn of the 19th to 20th century.
“Take a book, leave a book” collections in coffee shops and public spaces.
Grassroots empowerment movements in Sri Lanka, India and other countries worldwide.
By the summer of 2010 they had their mission and their goal to build 2,510 Little Free Libraries—as many as Andrew Carnegie—and keep going for the promotion of reading, literacy and libraries around the world. They achieved their goal in August of 2012 and more than 25,000 Little Free Libraries have been built around the world.
More information and blueprints are available at the www.littlefreelibrary.org website. It is a movement built around the enthusiasm of residents within their own communities and with the enthusiastic backing of local libraries and school districts.
Otis, Slater and 3 Rivers library users and supporters could use the building of the Little Free Libraries as a fundraiser for their main libraries, and as an outreach and distribution program for gently used books within the communities of Norwich, CT. Not everyone is comfortable or able to use the various library facilities but they enjoy reading and this is a way to reach out to them. Bookmobiles are costly. Little Free Libraries would also be great companions for the buddy benches that have found homes throughout the Norwich area.
Please consider taking this project on for your group, troop, class or personal project. I will be at the One for One Book Swap August 19th from 10 AM – 2 PM at the Norwich Farmers Market near Brown Park if you want to discuss it further but feel free to take it on and make it happen on your own.
I was at the Downtown Norwich First Friday of June 2015, an absolutely gorgeous day of slightly cool pleasant temperature and low humidity. I began my evening by checking out the Bold As Love Guild & Emporium tent by the Gazebo at Brown Park. Stephanie Fear and Eric Sheffield are working hard to create an atmosphere for area crafters to feel comfortable selling their various wares in Norwich. It is a very ambitious project and I wish them success with their efforts.
From there I met a friend for dinner at Mi Casa, the Mexican Restaurant across the street from Otis Library. The food was good and the atmosphere was fine. I had a fried shrimp salad and a tamarind soda.
Then up to the Gallery at the Wauregan. Dan Topalis always has a wonderful display of art. I don’t always like it or understand it but I count on it to always be welcoming, interesting and entertaining. This Friday Dan had encouraged friends to play music on the street and later there was an impromptu hula hoop performance. I am sorry to have missed that.
Silenced reigned as we walked up the street to Encore Justified where a man sat playing happy tunes on a piano and a small group wandered about checking out the wonderful selection of antiques and collectables that are there at truly bargain basement prices. Norwich is very lucky to have this tiny treasure in Norwich.
Backtracking a tiny bit we followed the chalk arrows to the Reliance House Gallery. I enjoy chalk art and wish more encouragement was given to artists with the skills to make visions come alive on pavement. This time there gallery was filled with oil paintings of various outdoor scenes. I was transfixed by three different paintings of a white birch grove and my friend by another painting of an arch that made her curious as to what was on the other side. The artist was very excited to be part of the mural project being planned for the city.
Then we were onto the NAC or the Norwich Art Center. I liked a series of copper prints. The silence of the gallery was deafening. People spoke in whispers and kept their hands to themselves as they examined not just the art on the walls but the jewelry and note cards that have been on sale for so long they are now seen as permanent displays. I knew that there was a musical fundraiser for the NAC playing that night and I wanted to run upstairs to beg a copy of whatever cd the performers might have and play it in the gallery as a teaser to direct people to the performance upstairs.
It was still early and my friend and I had not finished chatting and were ready for a cup of coffee and a sweet treat but there was no place to go. An enterprising fundraiser for one of the churches in the area might be to have a coffee house on the First Friday open from 7pm – 10pm for the people who have come to Norwich for the art and are not into the bar scene. Just a thought.
You just never know where you are going to trip over another bit of Norwich history. This time from The Connecticut Irish American Historical Society, Ethnic Heritage Center, 270 Fitch Street, New Haven. For more information visit ctiahs.com or call 203-392-6126.
Ellen O’Neill was an Irish immigrant who found both a suitable workplace and a sort of home away from home. Nellie, as she was known, arrived at Ellis Island in May 1897 from Sneem, County Kerry, with three brothers. Her brothers became coachmen and gardeners. She was hired as a cook and housekeeper at 71 Williams Street, Norwich, the upscale home of two professional women, Christiana Faunce, a physician, and Helen Marshall, a high-school Latin teacher. Nellie’s grandson, Paul Keroack, says that O’Neill family tradition has it that her employers treated Nellie like a daughter. When Nellie left to marry after seven years, Faunce and Marshall gave her a set of fine china. Keroack treasures two of his grandmother’s belongings: the cookbook Nellie used in the kitchen of her employers and a greeting card given Nellie upon her departure bearing the inscription, “The latch string is always out at 71 Williams Street.”
But for the sake of my curiosity I am compelled to know who did Ellen O’Neill marry? What became of her three brothers? Who was female physician Dr. Christiana Faunce? There have to be some great stories of her practice here in Norwich. Which Helen Marshall became the high school Latin teacher? Was she the Latin teacher at Norwich Free Academy? Was this the Nantucketer Helen Marshall that was written about by Margaret Moore Booker in her 2002 book “Helen Marshall’s Adventures Abroad?”
How different the adventures of these three women were and what a wonderful time they must have shared telling their tales.
Ever wondered if Norwich could present its history for a more modern audience? I do all the time and receive much criticism because while I have the vision I recognize that I do not have the skills to make the vision a reality.
For example, Thomas Danforth was a noted 18th century producer of pewter tableware. He was born in 1703 (died in 1792.) in Taunton, Massachusetts and was the first of several generations of pewterers.
Thomas moved to Norwich and opened a pewterer’s and brazier’s shop on the Norwichtown Green in 1733, built his home at 25 Scotland Road in 1746. His son John worked with his father until Thomas retired in 1773. The business name Thomas Danforth & Son was kept until John’s son Samuel took over the business in 1792, finally selling it in 1802 and moving to Ellsworth, Ohio.
The Leffingwell House Museum has a small collection of Danforth pewter on display on the shelves in the tavern room as well as some others. They are not original to the Inn but were gathered from the attics of many of the homes in the Norwich area. There are also displays of Danforth pewter at the Smithsonian, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Museum Collection at Colonial Williamsburg, VA.
From the Danforth history page I learned that after the Civil War, glass and ceramic became affordable to everyone and the pewter industry collapsed leading to the last of the colonial-era Danforths halting their work in pewter in 1873 but going on to invent the Danforth anchor among other things. One hundred years later, Thomas Danforth II’s great-great-great-great-great grandson Fred Danforth, and Fred’s wife Judi Danforth, revived the family tradition when they opened Danforth Pewter in Vermont in 1975. In 2008, Danforth Pewter acquired Shirley Pewter of Williamsburg, Virginia. In 2011, Danforth acquired Pewter Port line of products from WT Wilson Products of Providence Rhode Island. Today, every piece of Danforth, Shirley and Pewter Port pewter is crafted by hand from 100% lead-free fine pewter in the Middlebury, Vermont workshop.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a Danforth Pewter distribution shop here in Norwich, Connecticut where it all started? Who is in charge of marketing Norwich as a great place to open a business? Norwich has many empty historical and retail places available for the right customer. Maybe it is time to go out there and sell the city to its history makers that ran away so long ago.
May was a very sad month for me. For some names familiar to me it was an anniversary of their passing and for others it was the announcement of their passing. Sometimes I can attend the wake or the funeral and for others, I have issues handling it emotionally for a variety of reasons. I am not always sad but not willing to be public even when they have been close to me.
Somehow I can read the obituaries of those from a hundred or more years ago with not so heavy a heart and occasionally I read one that touches my heart and wonder if perhaps a bell rings or an angel receives wings or a breeze beneath their wings when I think of them.
Norwich, CT was once the home of many gifted and popular dancers and musicians and this particular write up from the June 30th, 1874 Indiana State sentinel made me smile.
“Harvey L. Hazen died last month at Norwich, Connecticut. All his life he had been a dancing master, and he taught in the old style of the young Turkey Trot, cheek to cheek, and bow in hand. He was seventy-seven years of age, and came to his death at last in the course of his profession by catching a bad cold. His last request was that his fiddle and bow should be buried with him, and those who looked a farewell at the body as it lay in the coffin saw a violin lying by his side, and a bow across the breast of the old dancing master.”
I am not certain when I’ll hear the Turkey Trot played next but when I do, I know I will think of again of Harvey Hazen, gone but not forgotten. July 2015
This is an open letter to the members of the Chelsea Garden Group. I completely understand how difficult it is to begin a project and then not be able to complete it as you dreamed it could be. The dream of a botanical garden and butterfly pavilion with acres of convenient parking is a wonderful one. I would like to see it too but with a modification that would allow the deforested land to be returned to the wildlife that desperately needs it more than the humans need another place to spend their money.
I give voice to converting or building the botanical garden and the butterfly pavilion in the Mohegan Park Center. Where the old zoo buildings are now. I am not certain if the buildings are empty or if they are being used for storage but I think it would be a wonderful place as there are already two parking lots established. There are the opportunities for the expansion of the program to include educational trail hikes. How unique it would be to be able to add an aquatic education both plant and fish component. The dog pound can be used as another educational experience for students, families and groups. Everyone can help save their environment. There is a playground for young students and families to burn off a little extra energy too. There are gazebos, benches and shelters so that groups can bring their own lunch or snack in moderate containment. There is also a building that once served snacks that could be re-built and put into service again. Consider using what we have to build the future.
As individuals you will not be making the personal profit you were planning on, but after twenty-three or so years and at the cost of so much of your time and energy maybe it is time to turn the project into something that can be given to the community of Norwich. I am certain that once completed the City of Norwich will be happy to put up a plaque with your names praising you for your dedication and hard work.
How about a pretty garden where the areas have been cleared? Or a series of educational plantings? Maybe something designed by the students at the University of Connecticut or the University Extension Service? A place that can be used for outdoor speakers and programs and public education programs. Maybe something like the University of Rhode Island offers?
So what do you say Chelsea Garden Committee? How about taking a deep breath, a serious look at your resources and growth over the last twenty-three or so years and a re-evaluation of how you can make your dream come true with a little less public angst?
I am so excited for the start of the Taftville 150th Anniversary Festival that is going to be held at the Wequonnoc School Grounds and the Taftville Fire House from Thursday July 30 from 5 pm through Sunday August 2nd 8 pm. It is so well planned and organized with attention to details the likes of which Norwich has not seen since its own the 300th in 1959.
I can hardly wait to see the treasures displayed in the History of Taftville Museum. Maybe there will another of the fabric sample books from one of the mills. The Leffingwell House Museum was given one for their collection a few years ago and took great pride in showing it to museum visitors noting the high quality of the material. A bolt of velvet was also preserved but I do not know if that is still the case.
There is going to be a carnival, an old fashioned midway with rides, games and food. But then on Friday the American Legion/VFW is going to be dishing up Clam Chowder and Fritters. All day on Saturday there will be Child Safety Events and then it’s up to the Sacred Heart School PTO to wow us all with their version of a community nightly dinner. Hmmmm. No one has said anything about pre-sale tickets so my advice is to get there early because it is sure to be delicious.
Commercial vendors will be there every day with a variety of wares but on Saturday and Sunday the plan is for a huge domestic craft show and Community booths from all over town have also been invited to show off their wares as well.
I have my hopes up for an old fashioned town parade at 10 am with kids on bicycles and local groups marching, and businesses of the area displaying their signs proudly and seeing the Matriarchs and Patriarchs of the Taftville families riding in convertibles with huge smiles of pride as they are driven along the parade route and waving to friends and family.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday there will also be a variety of entertainment on the main stage. Please don’t hesitate to look for updates on the Village of Taftville 150th Anniversary Page.
I can’t wait to see everyone there – rain or shine!
My new favorite environmental concerns reading material is now available on-line at http://www.ecori.org/ I enjoy it because it is chock full of the positive actions being taken by residents mostly of Massachusetts and Rhode Island to help preserve and protect their environment. Once in a while there is something from Connecticut but it is rare. Rare because the people of Connecticut do not like to tell people about themselves or their projects because they consider telling people about their projects to be bragging.
For example, Norwich, CT has a number of community gardens that individuals and groups have set up to provide themselves, neighbors, friends, the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen and local food pantries with fresh vegetables and herbs.
I am waiting anxiously for one of the churches with a commercial kitchen to set up a home canning program so that individuals with their own canning jars and new lids can bring fresh produce to learn the fundamentals of safe home canning and take home a variety of goods swapped between their classmates. I always have been jealous of the communities that have the kitchens where people come together for an evening of cooking and then swap the dinners between themselves. Imagine it, 6 people come together for an evening of visiting and cooking. Each person makes a different meal for 6 and then they trade dinners. Everyone goes home with different dinners. No leftovers!
Anyway, I saw an article on the Lots of Hope Urban Greenhouse project in Providence and I thought what a great project this would be for the Chelsea Garden Group in Norwich, CT to demonstrate that they have a concern for the benefit and education of the residents of Norwich, CT. The urban school farming project has four objectives: develop an on-site retail space to increase neighborhood access to healthy food; conduct outreach with churches, schools, libraries and community organizations; sell produce at farmers markets; and grow cold-weather produce. The city, in partnership with the African Alliance of Rhode Island and Groundwork Providence, was awarded funding from the Rhode Island Foundation and Partners for Places.
Can’t you just see a similar project in Mohegan Park? A new use perhaps for the closed up snack building near the parking lot by the Park center? I feel badly that the old zoo buildings were not considered a suitable location for the butterflies or the botanical center as they are just being left to deteriorate while acres of wildlife habitat has been deforested so someday a building can be built to house plants and butterflies.
It is said (by some) that behind every great man is a woman. Norwich CT has a new to some hero so allow me to introduce everyone to Martha Devotion Huntington. Martha Devotion was the daughter of the Reverend Ebenezer Devotion with whom Samuel had spent a great deal of time studying law and politics.
At age 22, Martha Devotion, married Samuel Huntington, 30, on April 17, 1761, choosing to make their home in Norwich where they had lots of influential relatives and friends to help Samuel establish a steady income and become involved in politics without being in competition with Reverend Devotion. Martha’s father was entrenched in the politics of Connecticut and represented Windham in the General Assembly from 1760 to 1771.
Martha was known to be a pleasant but very plain lady. I read where she would take her afternoon two o’clock tea with a respectable neighbor dressed in a white short-gown and stiff petticoat, clean muslin apron and with a nicely starched cap on her head. Of course the respectable neighbor would be the butcher or the blacksmith’s wife. Please keep in mind this “memory” occurred more than 100 years before it was written down so any or all of it could be adjusted for the time it was written in.
Samuel spent a great deal of their married life away from home in Hartford, Philadelphia, New Jersey and other towns as he helped to create our new country. When he arrived January 15, 1776 in Philadelphia he was soon developed small pox and was not able to carry out his representative duties until late February. I mention this only because in 1779 after Samuel was elected President of the Continental Congress and discovered he really needed to be in Philadelphia for the entire year he sent for Martha who arrived in December and promptly fell ill with small pox. She also recovered and eventually returned to Norwich where her family helped with the finances as Samuel’s pay from the Connecticut treasury was not enough to cover the expenses and entertainment of dignitaries in two homes.
After the Articles of Confederation became the official constitution on March 1, 1781 Samuel returned home and built a new house expecting to live a quiet, dignified life but there are diaries and tales of many happy and active young people being made welcome as visitors to the now Governor of CT’s adopted children and visiting relatives such as Mrs. Huntington’s niece, Betsy Devotion who spent much of her time in her aunts home.
Just like with a gathering today, there would be social visiting and perhaps a game or two in the parlor before everyone would gather in the kitchen to dance on a floor without a carpet and easy to move furniture so they could “dance away till the oak floor shone under their feet, and the pewter quivered upon the dressers.” These were not balls or cotillions but simply gatherings of friends which might last until 9 o’clock when the church bells would ring with the message it was time for visitors to go home and residents to go to bed.
I had the most wonderful time at the Small Potatoes Soiree, 309 Otrobando Avenue, Norwich, CT. Of course I love the shop owned by Erica Sullivan-Corbett that is just chock full of Connecticut made items.
At the Soiree were some wonderful artisans with wonderful wares and the relaxed, party atmosphere was such that the vendors had an opportunity to visit other booths, to shop, visit and be relaxed too.
There was also some of the best organized fundraising efforts I have been to of late. The fundraising was for the Soup Kitchen Community Garden that was begun this year. There was a wide and varied assortment of prizes wind chimes, a glass birdfeeder, bath salts, a flatware lizard and for sale were the largest pots of herbs I have ever seen. Ever and that includes plants that are in ground. I took home three and I am praying that they will like their new home in my back yard. I have even explained to them in great detail that during the colder weather I will bring them into the house to live with me and they will be protected from the cold and winds but able to enjoy the warmth of the sun through my windows. Two are responding well to me while the third, well I am still hoping to convince it that I am well-meaning even if I do pick its leaves.
My latest favorite find though is Lakeside Naturals Laundry Soap Powder by Margo Mulholland from Colchester, CT. The tiny packet of all natural detergent does 8 loads of clothes with low-suds, no chemicals, no fake scents, nothing artificial and wonderfully soft clothes are the results after washing.
The packets are perfect for new mothers who don’t want to introduce heavy scents and chemicals to their babies and for people with allergies to the chemicals and scents that are found in regular laundry detergents. For those who enjoy making gift baskets it will be hard to find a better source of unique treasures for whatever theme you choose.
I can’t wait for the next Soiree and I hope to see you there!
On occasion a well-organized group will send me their calendar of events in advance. I post it on my bulletin board and may even remark on it that there is an event coming up I would like to participate in but then I don’t put it on my calendar so I will actually go to it. I drive myself crazy when I do that.
So please be sure to place these dates on your calendar to participate in these fundraisers for Hospice of Southeastern CT and for more information please call 860.848.5699 or email events@hospicesect.org
There will be a summer racing series 5 pm on July 15, 2015 at the Niantic Bay Yacht Club, Stonington Dinghy Club & Thames Yacht Club; 11 am on July 18, 2015 will be the Mystic River Mudheads. At 5 pm will be the Mudhead Megaparty at the Mystic Shipyard.
The 30th Anniversary Gala will be on Saturday, November 14th with 7 pm cocktails and 8 pm dinner with dancing and festivities following at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT
Norwich led the year of festivities off with a walk in Mohegan Park on May 9th.
Funds raised through these and other events make it possible for adults and children in Eastern Connecticut to receive quality end of life care and to also provide no-cost bereavement resources to anyone in our community who has lost a loved one, whether or not that loved one receive hospice care.
I am hungry. I want pizza. And I do not want to make it myself. I want a pizza like Flat Bread Pizza in Providence RI. Fresh herbs, fresh veggies¸ fresh dough. Everything fresh and nothing out of bottle, freezer or container.
Flat Bread Pizza is not only known for its fresh vegan fare but for how it supports the large and small efforts of its community and so receives their support in return. Every event and there is a new event every weekend and multiple times during the week and some events are spur of the moment in response to the weather or to the availability of something unexpected. Whatever it is they are not afraid to give it try. When it snowed they opened their doors with an invitation to bring the kids and build snowmen on the patio and then enjoy the warmth of the pizza ovens with a special cocoa.
In Norwich, there are multiple places to get a pizza but no place that puts their own spin on their offerings. Some places make their own dough but I haven’t found a place that makes their own mozzarella. It’s not hard and I make it myself on occasion. 1 1/4 cup water, 1 1/2 teaspoon citric acid, 1/4 rennet 1 gallon milk, whole or 2%, not ultra-pasteurized* , 1 teaspoon kosher salt and about 45 minutes. In Norwich there is nothing to distinguish one place from another. I do prefer the onion and black olive pizza at Sunset Pizza on Laurel Hill though. Theirs is a pizza covered in onion slices and not a single slice of onion chopped up and sprinkled gingerly across the top of the pizza.
Billy Wilson’s Aging Still on Broadway in Norwich has been trying to be more community active by hosting pancake breakfast fundraising events but the advertising has been low-key while they are still working out the kinks. Please watch for the special events to be held there on Sunday mornings.
It’s all about distinguishing yourself from everyone else and creating a following. So I think I am going to Laurel Hill and invite you all to follow me there.
I saw this article and a photo in EcoRI News an environmental newspaper for Southern New England and I could not help wondering if any of the schools in Norwich CT had such a program. Wouldn’t it be a great thing if even one classroom teacher had an environmental program like this? I am willing to bet the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council in Rhode Island would be delighted to share their lesson plans.
“Let It Go. Fourth-graders from Paul Cuffee Elementary School recently released trout that they raised with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council. The students read farewell letters they wrote to the fish, then let them go one by one near the fish ladder at Riverside Park in Providence. While at the Woonasquatucket River, the students also searched for and identified bugs in the water with Trout Unlimited Northern Rhode Island Chapter 737 members. The students had been participating in “Fish in the Classroom,” learning about watersheds, the river and fish.”
Sometimes the best reinforcement of a lesson is creating an interest that goes further than regurgitating an expected response on a test. I wonder what the farewell letters to the fish said. I wonder if there was another lesson plan that involved the fish having an adventure as it traveled up or down stream or what it thought of the fish ladder. The fish ladder in Norwich was visited by an otter one year much to the delight of his fans. A camera was set up and anyone who tuned in was able to see his antics, habits and hunting techniques. I wonder about his adventures too.
When I was in school there was an environmental educator in Norwich and a program called MOPEEP. I don’t recall now what all the letters stood for but it trooped all the classes through trails in Mohegan Park and made certain every child in Norwich saw the woods at least once a year. Now the building stands empty, unused and a bit forlorn. Too bad no environmental group such as Chelsea Gardens is willing to take the initiative to use the facility for an occasional bit of community environmental education. Oh well I admit it is a lot more fun to create new buildings than to use what you have for a new purpose. Who doesn’t like to have new and fresh?
I went in search of a great Norwich Fourth of July story but sadly this was the best I have found, so far. I found it in the July 3, 1879 Nebraska Advertiser and they boast they found it in an issue of the New York Tribune.
There is a tradition to the effect that the Democrats forced an extra session of Congress that they might make political capital and advance their cause with the people. They have been tugging and pulling for several weeks and have been boasting of the great progress they have made.
This reminds the New York Tribune of the story of the bibulous persons who attempted to row from Norwich to New London, Ct.
The night was foggy, but armed with a bottle of whiskey, they started in an enthusiastic mood. “The fact upon which they dwelt with the most satisfaction, and to which; they most frequently recurred, was that the tide was with them. “‘S very plain (hic) ‘the tide wiz us, “said one, in a pause in the splashing of the oars. Then there was a gurgling sound as though a bottle had been inverted, and the other said, “(Hie) Yes. We’ve got everything ‘ur own way for sure. We’re wizze tide, and its very strong.” And they resumed the work.
After a while they heard a cock crow on shore. “Mus” be passin’ Allyn’s Point,” they said, and took a drink. A little later they heard another crow, and said, “Tha’ rooster mus’ be at Gale’s Ferry ;” and as they were getting along so finely they agreed unanimously to take another drink. With the approach of dawn the crowing increased, till they made up their minds that they were drawing very near New London and the shores must be lined with hen coops.
For fellows who had been pulling alternately at the oars and the bottle all night, they were in uncommonly good spirits. About the time the bottle was empty day began to dawn and the fog suddenly lifted. The land was right behind them, and the wharf had a strangely familiar look.
As well it might.” They hadn’t cast off their stern line. Then they drew in their oars, and one said, “Well, we’ve(hic) had the exercise all same. Let’s go ashore.” They went, and as they went a bantam rooster on a wood-pile flapped his wings and crowed again.
The Democrats in Congress have not made any progress, but they have had the exercise, and now that they are about to go ashore, there will be crowing and flapping of wings by the Illinois State Register and the other little bantams of the Democratic press.
Some things just don’t change.
The latest craze to find its way to Norwich is eateries that serve beer and wine. 36 Town Grill & Tap at 42 Town Street, Norwich CT just opened its doors this weekend, Sunday thru Saturday 11am – Midnight. It is right next door to Stop & Shop, Yogurt City and the Lucky House Chinese Restaurant.
There is lots and lots of parking. I was met by a very pleasant hostess and seated immediately in the dining area. While the restaurant is not wide the split between bar and grill is well defined and the colors chosen for the walls soothing.
The menu is plain and simple and the portions large. I was hoping for a light snack before I went grocery shopping to keep higher calorie items from making the leap into my shopping cart. Appetizers are mostly $7.99 for nachos, chili cheese fries or an order of onion rings. An individual shrimp with cocktail sauce is $2.99. Chicken wings, Chicken Tenders or Jalapeno Poppers with cream cheese are $8.99.
There are four versions of entrée salads and all contain chicken varying only in price from $9.99 – 11.99.
Cold chicken salad, tuna salad, sliced roast beef, sliced ham or turkey sandwiches are served on white, wheat or marble rye bread for $9.99 with French fries.
Hot sandwiches with French fries are mostly $9.99 and include French Dip, Grilled Cheese with Ham, Tuna Melt or for $10.99 a Reuben or a Patty Melt.
It’s a typical selection of burgers from $8.99 – 11.99 served with French fries.
Soups are a cup or a bowl of their own creamy Clam Chowder, Chef’s Choice Soup of the Day or House Chili from $3.49 – 5.49.
Home style dinners are a choice of grilled Teriyaki chicken, homemade meatloaf, pot roast, grilled pork chops or chicken Pommery all with French fries, mashed potatoes, or rice, side salad, and vegetable of the day. $13.99 – 14.99 Steak dinners are $16.99 – 18.99 Seafood dinners begin at $13.99 to a Surf & Turf at $19.99.
All soda, milk, iced/hot coffee/tea is $2.49. Desserts were not yet available when I was there but the coffee was hot and the service was prompt and pleasant. I am still searching for the coffee and sweet shop open until midnight.
It is true that you never know where a small statement is going to lead. On April 16th 2013 I wrote a blog about a John Meyer exhibit with the hope it might someday come to Norwich where the company was once located. From September 20, 2015 to January 15th 2016 it will be at the Slater Memorial Museum here in Norwich.
Recently I was contacted by Tjitte S. Pal of the Netherlands. He had read the blog while looking for some information on the internet as he had a wonderful and unique experience with John Meyer. In May 1968, after completing his military service, he travelled from the Netherlands to Norwich, CT for a full year “trainee-ship” at John Meyer under the flag of the Netherland America Foundation. He learned a great deal and had a wonderful experience before returning to the Netherlands to continue his professional life.
Tjitte S. Pal, who was called “Cheetah” when he was at John Meyer, sent me a few questions and I am hoping that there are readers out there who will be able to answer them for him. “As for myself (Tjitte S. Pal) I would like to exchange my life-guiding-memories at “John Meyer’s” with former employees if they would like to have the same goal.”
1 John Meyer’s secretary “Marge” was quite a character (with a heart of gold)
2 Herbert Stern was manager of Personnel, always looking after his people, had together with his son a few “Saab 96” cars to drive and maintain.
3 Arlene Meyer had 2 female assistants, Jan and Donna, they were a little younger than I was.
4 My last day at John Meyer’s, a Goodbye party, I received a “hand-embroidered Logo/ Image” to wear on my Blazer/Blue jacket, made by one the female John Meyer employee’s, she came from one of the Caribbean Islands.
I can continue with names and situations.
My question is: what happened to Marge, Herb, Jan, Donna, are they still living around, or in Norwich CT, do relatives recognize their situation and are they able and willing to tell how their lives went after the plant was closed down around 1974?
If you know the next chapter to this story and would like to be in touch with Tjitte S. Pal to exchange information, memories and tales please call me at 860.887.9000 and I will give you his email address..
I miss traditions. For example once upon a time in a land called Norwich, CT on a specific fall day close to All Hallows Eve, the students were given the day off from their studies to go into the woods and lanes of the area with baskets, bags, and even aprons sewn shut at the sides to make capacious pockets to gather the ripened walnuts, butternuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts and other nuts that were bountiful. It was Nutting Day!
The various nuts and shells would be treats for the long winter serving as well as flavoring, filler, dyes, and/or ground into flour for breads, pies and cakes. When more was collected than the family could use it was sold as any other crop and shipped to other areas. It was a way for even the youngest to contribute to the coffers of the family.
On this special day teenage boys and teenage girls roamed the woods. This was a special day as normally girls were not permitted into the woods without an adult escort and certainly not together with a teenage boy.
By the mid-1970’s Nutting Day was a teacher in-service day at Norwich Free Academy and a day off from their studies for the students and now it has disappeared altogether.
If I was a member of a group that had cut down a large area of trees and brush and did not have the money or the support for a planned project, I might consider taking a lesson from Seattle Washington and plant a grove of fruit and nut trees that could provide food for humans and animals, shelter for various wildlife and a learning experience for many who have never seen fruits or nuts growing on trees.
Many people have stopped having fruit and nut trees in their yards because of the mess they create every year or the animals and insects that think the trees were blooming for them alone. Well placed paths and a few benches would give visitors a unique experience not found in many places.
A public sustainable forest in Connecticut is definitely something unique that would draw visitors and fill our residents with pride. That was the goal of the unfunded original project. This would just be a change in the vision. What do you the readers of this blog think? Let your voice be heard and don’t hesitate to tell Chelsea Gardens what you think.
Did you know that Norwich CT has a calendar on its website? Well yes it does and community events, exhibitions, performances and fundraisers can be submitted to be on it. First go to the City of Norwich, CT web page http://www.norwichct.org/ and on that very first page on the right is the calendar. Now I need you to be brave. Go ahead click on it and then one by one answer the questions.
Are you an non-profit or other community organization which has an event, exhibition, performance, or fundraiser in the near future? If so, you can use the Submit an Event feature below to list your event on Norwich’s website. Once you answer all the questions you have to wait two or three business days for your posting to be approved as appropriate for this community-based calendar.
Selecting a calendar is kinda fun. The options are 1. All Calendars 2. Community Events 3. Fire Recruiting 4. Human Services 5. Municipal Meetings 6. Police Recruiting 7. Recreation 8. Registrar of Voters 9 Senior Center I admit that I am an All Calendars gal. The more the merrier I say to events I am in charge of.
The next questions to answer are cake and once you answer these you will be ready to also post your event in the newspaper calendars – The Bulletin, the Day, The Willimantic Register, the Hartford Courant, the Providence Journal and don’t forget all the free weekly papers that can be found throughout the region.
What is the title of your event?
What is the date of your event? When does it start and when does it end? Does it run for more than one day? AM or PM is important so be careful.
What is the location of your event? There is usually a drop down box of places that have been used before or you can fill in a new one. Most websites will allow you to link the location to a map, GPS, or the event website. Look carefully and I am certain you will find an opportunity to post pictures too. All with the click of a mouse.
There are usually some other optional features that allow you the opportunity to explain costs, more details about the event, a contact phone number and an e-mail for further information.
Did you answer the questions Who, what, when, where, why and how much?
READ over all of your information TWICE. Take a deep breath and begin to let it out slowly as you click on submit and you are done. Wasn’t that easy? You can do it! Add your events today!
I am borrowing with gratitude the following article from an August 1883 Indiana State sentinel because it mentions that Rev. George H. Smith was of Norwich. I have not been able to verify him as Norwich resident but he may have been from the area and Norwich was the nearest city.
A decision Rendered against the Defendant in the Case of plaintiff. James Bell. Washington, Aug. 18. A decision was rendered by Judge Miles in the Police Court today in the civil rights case of Rev. George H. Smith (colored), of Norwich, Conn., AGAINST James W. Bell, proprietor of a restaurant. The ground of the complaint was that Bell had denied the accommodation of his restaurant to the plaintiff on account of the latter’s color, and suit was brought to enforce the criminal provision of the act of March 1, 1875. The Court holds that under common law an innkeeper is bound to take in and receive all travelers and wayfarers, and that by the act of March 1, 1875, it is a made a misdemeanor to discriminate against a traveler on account of race, color, or any previous condition of servitude. A restaurant keeper has the right to establish certain regulations as to hours to meals and to regulate certain places or seats for customers, but such hours and seats must be the same for all, or If any discrimination be made it must be made upon some principle or for some reason the law recognizes as just and reasonable, and not on account of color of race or previous condition of servitude. All guests of the Inn or restaurant must be given equal privileges, and the places designated for them must be accessible to all respectable persons at a uniform rate. From these just principles it follows that the defendant in discriminating against the complainant Smith on account of his race and so or was guilty of a misdemeanor, and incurred the penalty prescribed by the second section of the equal rights act of 1875. Judgment is entered accordingly. This rise is in some respects a novel one since It is the first attempt to enforce the penalty under the second section of the civil rights act which makes it a violation of the law a misdemeanor, and it is the first effort made to enforce the criminal provisions of the law in a territory where the Congress of the United States has exclusive and absolute legislative jurisdiction.
What is it with Norwich, CT? As a city Norwich, CT has a large pristine forest land in the center of its limits with free access to hiking trails, a beach, fishing, picnic and play areas. At various times there were even educational and wildlife programs, and even an assortment of zoos!
Connecticut and other states across the country are currently in the process of revising its original Wildlife Action Plan for the next decade of 2015-2025 while Norwich, CT suddenly decides to destroy theirs.
Norwich began playing with Chelsea Gardens in the 1990’s, but the State of CT and the rest of the nation began creating a Wildlife Action Plan in 2005. Guess which will be done first? Yup. The State of Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan is now ready for your citizen input. Mohegan Park is not required to follow along with the State of CT Wildlife Action Plan but wouldn’t it be nice if the Mohegan Park advisors were aware of its existence and participated in its planning and shared its goals? There is also a very helpful section on available funding for specific projects. Just sayin’.
The following is directly from The Connecticut Department of Energy and Wildlife Protection
Goals of Connecticut’s Wildlife Action Plan (CT-WAP)
The intent of the CT-WAP is to provide guidance and vision for wildlife conservation in Connecticut. Accordingly, the plan:
Addresses the broad array of all fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrate species.
Uses available funding to address the species in greatest need of conservation and their habitats.
Identifies actions needed to conserve species diversity and keep common species common.
Builds upon past efforts to conserve all species of wildlife.
Encourages the creation of partnerships with conservation organizations at local, state, and regional levels to enhance opportunities for implementation of actions to conserve wildlife.
DEEP has published an overview of fish and wildlife projects in Connecticut that have received funding through the State Wildlife Grants Program (PDF, 12 pages): Connecticut State Wildlife Grants – Taking Conservation into the Future
A complete draft of the 2015 Wildlife Action Plan can be found at www.ct.gov/deep/WildlifeActionPlan.
Comments can be sent via email to deep.WildlifeActionPlan@ct.gov. They also can be faxed to (860) 675-8141, with “2015 Wildlife Action Plan” on the subject plan. Comments also can be mailed to Connecticut Wildlife Division, Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, P.O. Box 1550, Burlington, CT 06013. The deadline for submitting comments is Aug. 21.
Please participate by reviewing the 2015 Wildlife Action Plan draft and encouraging the members of the Mohegan Park Advisory Board to do the same. Thank you!
I was privileged to attend a walk through the Jewish cemeteries near the old Norwich Hospital. My guide gave me a wonderful explanation of Jewish burial customs but unfortunately, was not able to share any Norwich Jewish history. So I went to the cemetery website and learned the following from the history tab. I have not verified this information but I am hoping to get to that some day.
In the October 30, 1851 copy of the Norwich Evening Courier was the advertisement of Adolph Chamansky of 119 Main Street offering “cloths and clothing” for sale. The City Directory shows that he lived alone and boarded at the American House. In 1860 a Joseph Chamansky came to Norwich and also opened a clothing store.
The graves of Adolph and Pauline (wife of son Louis) can be found in the First Hebrew Society Cemetery along with Joseph and Henrietta and David Chamansky. Louis, son of Joseph left Norwich and became the merchandising manager for R.H. Macy and Company Department Store of New York and upon his retirement became a director of the company.
In 1857 Ellis and Sam Raphaels came to Norwich from England as cigar makers at 199 Main Street and traveling merchants remaining there through at least 1875.
The 1875 Norwich Directory lists the name of David Rosenblatt, a weaver, who lived in Yantic. Rosenblatt was one of the 7,000 Jews who volunteered for the Union Army (5,000 Jews served in the Confederate Army.) Rosenblatt did not serve long. He enlisted in Rifle Company B (commanded by Captain Frank S. Chester of Norwich) of the 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and was captured July 21, 1861 at the first battle of Bull Run or First Manassas and was paroled on June 2, 1862.
Thousands of Jews fled Germany during the 1850’s to the bright economic futures and guaranteed civil rights of America. Bu 1900 the City Directory lists 36 Jewish peddlers, 7 shoemakers, 11 tailors (6 who worked in the Falls Mills), 17 store owners, 3 bakers and 2 laborers.
A Mr. Friedman was the first Jewish volunteer fireman.
Who are all those nice people in kayaks unloading bag after bag of trash at Brown Park boat launch? They are students of the submarine school given the assignment to clean and maintain the area waterways and then a break to enjoy the waters themselves. The students do not always cover the same areas so they get the chance to see different parts of the rivers and how it responds to storms, currents and tides. One young man told me how he will never litter, even a little bit ever again. He is from Tennessee and would try to pack out what he packed in with when he went hunting or fishing but if something blew away he didn’t chase after it. It was just a single piece of paper or wrapper. “It’s amazing how many single pieces of trash are out there.” Single pieces of trash that make a whole lot of trash when they are gathered together. Has the City of Norwich ever said thank you to the participants and sponsors of this program? Yes, the sponsor is the United States Navy and the participants are students but someone had to first say, “Let’s take a bunch of kayaks up to Norwich and clean up the waterways.” This is a case where someone took the initiative to say, “Someone should do something.” Someone said “We can do something.” Then someone said “Let’s do it.” Thank you Basic Enlisted Submarine School (BESS) men and women for your service to your country and to Norwich and thank you to the officers who allow and encourage the participation in this program and others like it. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172
For anyone living in Norwich, CT looking for the listing of the fun adult education classes they are hiding unless you know where to look. Being a silly person I looked first to Norwich Adult Education but if you are not seeking your GED you won’t find any classes there. I looked to the library, but it only allows groups to meet but it does not sponsor classes. When I asked at City Hall we wound up chatting about how there used to be an entire catalog with 50 or so classes of a huge variety but how that was years ago and the last catalog was about four pages of mostly advertisements and sponsors.
So the residents of Norwich CT a City of over 40,000 must have to go to the surrounding much smaller towns for classes of skill, fun and interest but how do you find out about them? Visit each town individually and hope they have a catalog or perhaps it will be an advertisement in the Bulletin or the Day? How many of us have subscriptions to one or both papers? Perhaps there will be an advertisement on the local AM radio that we all listen to daily. No? So imagine my surprise when I discovered hidden in the back of the Three Rivers catalog a listing of some fun non-credit classes available to the Norwich community at the steep price of $102. Each. So then I checked with Colchester and was a bit over whelmed with their variety of classes available from Free to $100+ and filled with community activities, library events, trips, and if you can name it you will probably find it there. The other thing I noted that Colchester is not ashamed or embarrassed to join forces with adjoining communities in their offerings. Norwich Adult Education have you considered this? Groton, New London, Ledyard, Mystic and even tiny Bozrah have classes that Norwich residents can join in.
When you see what Norwich is not offering, look around and do not hesitate to join classes in these other towns. Each of them will give you a warm welcome. I am also taking this opportunity to make the strong suggestion that the cities and towns of New London County join forces and present a single catalog of Adult Education offerings. I think it’s time to realize we are all in this together, and not competitors. It is time to learn individually from one another.
November 3, 2015 is Election Day and don’t forget your reading glasses. For the first time in years it is going to be a double-sided ballot. On side one will be the candidates. Do not for an instant think that this is a minor election. The City Council makes the decisions how your property taxes are used. The School Board controls the largest budget in the city. Learn everything you can about the candidates and cast your votes with care.
After you have cast your votes, it is time to turn your ballot over to the EIGHTEEN Charter Revision Referendum questions. I suggest a personal cheat sheet to make the time spent coloring the little circle shorter. I have attempted to make my explanations of the 18 questions short and simple and easy to answer with a yes or no. Please read the three page double sided official City of Norwich Explanatory Text for Charter Revision Questions for November 3, 2015 Referendum available at City Hall, NPU, Otis Library and the Senior Center.
Ballot Question #1 Should the term of the Registrars of Voters be increased from two years to four years? Yes or No
Ballot Question #2 Should the Charter be changed to read that the Mayor has the option of attending or not attending all State, regional, and national conferences for Mayors? Yes or No
Ballot Question #3 Change the Charter to read the Mayor will be an “ex-officio” non-voting member of all commissions and committees rather than a “ex-officio” voting member of all committees and commissions created by the City of Norwich? Yes or No
Ballot Question #4 Change the minimum capital budget tax levy to be no less than 2% of the previous year’s General Fund expenditure budget? Yes or No
Ballot Question #5 Eliminate the need for an individual bank account for the Capital Improvement Fund because the current accounting software can track the revenues and expenditures for different funds. Yes or No
Ballot Question #6 Remove the City Charter terms and conditions for the issuance of bonds and notes and accept and use the terms and conditions to the issuance of bonds and notes provided in the Connecticut General Statutes. Yes or No
Ballot Question #7 Exclude from the $800,000 referendum threshold those utility projects (water, sewer, natural gas, electric) financed with general obligation bonds the City has entered into an alternative payment agreement from the revenue of the selected utility. Yes or No
Ballot Question #8 Retain the requirement that the City Comptroller submit financial information from the previous month to the City Manager and City Council without the timing requirement of the information being due at the ”first regular City Council meeting in each month.” Yes or No
Ballot Question #9 Eliminate the provision allowing for a 2% discount on property taxes for taxpayers who pay both installments by August 1st. Yes or No
Ballot Question #10 Match the State of Connecticut Public Act No 14-71 allowing the municipality to increase its competitive bidding from $12,000 to $25,000. Yes or No
Ballot Question #11 Correct a typographical error changing the word “reserved” to the correct word “preserved?” Yes or No
Ballot Question #12 Allow the City to make approved payments by any commercially acceptable method, including, but not limited to, checks. Yes or No
Ballot Question #13 Make the Department of Public Works responsible for providing the heat, light, and janitorial care for all city-owned properties including the police department. Yes or No
Ballot Question #14 Remove the responsibility of street lighting and house numbering from the department of Public Works. Yes or No
Ballot Question #15 Eliminate the requirement the Director of Public Works obtain the advice of other officers and employees before appointing or removing officers and employees of the Public Works Department. Yes or No
Ballot Question #16 The City Engineer will have custody of all City maps unless specifically entrusted to other officials by the Chief Executive Officer of the City. Yes or No
Ballot Question #17 The Chief Executive Officer of the City, acting through the Director of Public Works, shall have the power and duty of carrying out and administering all cemetery trusts and to care for and maintain all cemetery properties under the control of the city. Yes or No
Ballot Question #18 Allow the Public Utilities Commissioners to approve certain NPU leases, contracts and agreements up to and not more than 25 years. Yes or No
Read the full explanations and please do not skip voting on these issues. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Just heard a nasty rumor that Norwich is going to tar over the lay tennis courts near Kelly Middle School at 76 Mohegan Road just down the street from the Senior Center. What an incredibly bad and insulting move to the tennis playing residents of this city. I am not a tennis player. But even I know that clay courts are a surface that professionals prefer to play on. The Paris Open is played on clay courts. Norwich has clay courts for regular people to play on. Unheard of! Don’t lose this gift making our city special. Use the courts in marketing the city to investors. If help is needed how, please contact me, and I will help you or steer you to others who can.
Allow me to tell you how the clay courts came to be in Norwich. 1930 was a time when tennis was a game played only in private clubs and establishments of only the wealthy. Steve Armstrong had a friend with a connection to the courts at Backus Hospital and the love of a lifetime began. He played in singles, in doubles and as a tennis team member. Through college, marriage, family and changes of career Steve developed as a top tournament player, and ranked player in New England for over 20 years. He won several tournaments, two state titles in doubles and once played in the nationals at Forest Hills.
Though a successful salesman for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company he worked on and supervised the building of various tennis courts throughout New England. All while learning what he wanted for the courts someday to be built in Norwich. With much persuasion, debate and perseverance the 1940’s recreation department agreed to build municipal tennis courts. The material for the court was not just ordered from a supplier. Armstrong led a convoy of trucks to the site in Connecticut where the clay could be found so that there could be no error or substitution in the materials that would be used for the final mix.[i] Once the courts were built his dedication did not stop there. For many years he pulled a six-foot drag brush over the courts, supervised the precise painting of the lines and repairs to the court surface, surrounding fence and poles.
‘Red’ Armstrong was appointed to the city’s Recreation Advisory Board in 1952 and remained active for the next 20 years. In August 1967, the Norwich City Council officially named the courts the Stephen S. Armstrong Tennis Courts.
The Clay Courts of Norwich, a history of the public tennis court facilities in Norwich, CT was written in 1985 by Steve Armstrong and dedicated to his wife of 42 years Marguerite.
Steve passed away in September 1989, but his legacy at 76 Mohegan Road, Norwich CT lives on.
I didn’t think twice about it when I invited a friend in Maine to stroll the Benedict Arnold Trail with me when she comes to Connecticut in October or November. A prompt and speedy reply was “it’s no stroll” and if she is in Connecticut “how can we be ‘strolling’ together in Maine?” So I quit emailing her and picked up the phone to ask what she is talking about.
I was quickly set straight that the Benedict Arnold Trail is a 13 – 15 mile hike and/or portage trail beginning at Carrying Place Stream on the western shore of Wyman Lake, a 15-mile stretch of the Kennebec River that climbs 750 feet to East Carry Pond to Middle Carry Pond to join the Appalachian Trail, crosses Arnold Bog to West Carry Pond at Arnold Point and reaches its 1,519-foot high point just north of Roundtop Mountain before descending to cross Long Falls Dam Road on its way to Flagstaff Lake. My friends twin sons hiked, cleaned and guided on the trail as Boy Scouts participating with the Arnold Expedition Historical Society for more than the seven years it took them to build it. AND didn’t I realize it’s a six hour drive and only a five and a half to her house with wine and cushy seats available.
If I am serious about hiking the trail, her twin sons will take me so I need to schedule a visit when they are home from college and available or I can buy a copy of “Arnold’s Wilderness March,” a full-color map and guide ($6) to enjoy 80 mile expedition route between the Kennebec and Lac Megantic by car, canoe and foot or go to www.arnoldsmarch.com for more information and details.
The Benedict Arnold Trail in Norwich, CT is but a short and easy sidewalk path with stories told of an intelligent and handsome boy growing up with the trials and tribulations of family, friends, poverty and wealth. Later in his life he made some choices that made his name famous for longer than 15 minutes.
Norwich is unique because we have multiple Greens and we pretty much know the history of each one. How many of us have ever taken a moment to appreciate the Little Plain Green that sits at the crest of Union and Broadway? In the early 1900’s the name was changed to “Union Square Park” but it quickly reverted back to “Little Plain Green. ”
When Deacon Jabez Huntington and Hezekiah Perkins deeded the property to the city in 1790 they clearly stipulated that it was to be used only as a “park.” George Ripley planted the trees outlining the small park later possibly, without official permission. Perhaps he felt there needed to be shade on the hot summer days. I wonder about the discussions that were held about the installations of the sidewalks and fences that surround the small park. Who would design them? Who would build them? Who would pay for them? Oh how I wish the records included more details of the discussions. I also savor the visions I have created in my mind of the baby carriages with the great hoods and large wheels and the mothers and nannies pushing them in circles around and around the park.
By 1875 and the aging of a generation or two there were official complaints against noisy ball playing and music concerts on “the little plain.” They were halted and have never returned. I wonder what the sounds of guitar’s or banjo’s or the mournful wail of a trumpet might be like. It’s size is small for a baseball game but not for the game of croquet or a simple game of toss.
Currently there is a tribute to the men lost by Norwich in the Civil War and on and off throughout the current years a fountain or three has been donated, constructed, stolen or removed for various reasons. The DAR wanted their 1909 fountain to :
“…like this open space and these trees, prove to be a blessing to the children who play here from early spring to late fall; to the visitors, who come in increasing numbers to our city and loiter in this park, to the lovers who occupy its benches, and to those who come from the heated quarters of the town and spend their summer evenings here.”
Grateful thanks to James Sexton, Architectural History Consultant , A Case Study of the Norwich Greens published in 2001 that can be found on ownGreens.com
It is time for the local election when people vote to choose someone for a particular political office or job. Being a member of the City Council is a tough job and very few people want to commit the time.
This is the time you get your say as to who you want to represent you when it is time to raise taxes, fix roads, apply for money from the state or federal governments, and set the budget for the city. Norwich has 11 people running for its City Council and it’s time for them to speak out.
I want to know what particular knowledge and experience they are bringing to the council and the city. What their thoughts and plans are for the future of the city. Nobody plans to fail, but they may fail to plan, so what plans are they bringing to the table for the future of Norwich. What are they personally going to do to make Norwich a better place to live? How are they going to improve the business environment of Norwich? Where are they going to focus their strengths and energies for the benefit of the city? Do they have a specific timeline for their pet projects in mind? Who will be benefitting from these projects? How much is it going to cost me, the taxpayer? What do they think are the issues most affecting the residents and taxpayers of Norwich? What are the problems and what are the solutions?
11 friends, neighbors, and residents have applied for the job as City Councilors. How well do you know them? The voters make the decision who will be hired. It is your responsibility to be registered to vote. You can register on line at https://voterregistration.ct.gov If you are out of town on election day complete an absentee ballot available through the Office of the City Clerk. Learn all you can about candidates for city council Joanne Philbrick, Stacy Gould, Gerald Martin, Peter Nystrom, Bill Nash, Elanah Sherman, Pete Desaulniers, Samuel Browning, Edward Martin, Mark Bettencourt, and H. Tucker Braddock. The largest portion of your tax dollars is governed by the members of the Board of Education. How well do you know Board of Education applicants Margaret Becotte, Susan Thomas, Angelo Yeitz, Aaron Daniels, Dennis Slopak, Joyce Werden, Jesshua Ballaro, Robert Aldi, Cora Lee Boulware,Yvette Jacaruso, and Kevin Saythany.
Ask questions before the election so you are not surprised after the election. Your vote counts!
There is a great deal of excitement over Norwich having an educational Botanical Center. So I looked up a few definitions in the dictionary and learned –
A garden is a piece of ground often found near a house used for growing flowers, fruit or vegetables.
A botanical garden is an establishment where plants are grown for display to the public and often for scientific study.
An arboretum is a place where trees or shrubs are cultivated for their scientific or educational interest.
Then I looked up gardens and arboretums in Connecticut. All have an educational component, many are connected to university programs and a few developed to preserve and maintain ecological balance in an area. Due to space limitations this list of gardens and arboretums, all in Connecticut, are in alphabetical order. I did not include parks and recreation areas with educational trails or admissions as those may vary. Please check with the individual facility.
American Clock & Watch Museum Sundial Garden Bristol, CT
Ansonia Nature & Recreation Center Butterfly/Hummingbird Garden Ansonia, CT
Arboretum New London, CT
Ballard Park Ridgefield, CT
Bartlett Arboretum, Gardens & Trails Stamford, CT
Bates Scofield House Darien, CT
Beardsley Zoo Bridgeport, CT
Boothe Park Wedding Rose Garden Stratford, CT
Butler McCook House & Garden Hartford, CT
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center Mystic, CT
Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum Rocky Hill, CT
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Conservatory & Garden Storrs, CT
Eight Mile Gardens/ Devils Hopyard State Park East Haddam, CT
Eklund Garden Shelton, CT
Elizabeth Park Rose Garden* West Hartford, CT
Fairfield Nature Center Fairfield, CT
Garden of Ideas Ridgefield, CT
General William Hart House Old Saybrook, CT
Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden Woodbury, CT
Greenbrier Greenhouse & Crosby Conservatory at Edgerton Park New Haven, CT
Harkness Memorial State Park Waterford, CT
Harriet Beecher Stowe House Hartford, CT
Highstead Arboretum Redding, CT
Hollister House Garden Washington, CT
Keeler Tavern Museum Ridgefield, CT
Marsh Botanical Garden New Haven, CT
New Canaan Nature Center New Canaan, CT
Noah Webster House West Hartford, CT
Norwich Memorial Rose Garden Norwich, CT
Palmer Arboretum Woodstock, CT
Pardee Rose Garden Hamden, CT
Phelps Homestead Simsbury, CT
Roseland Cottage Grounds Woodstock, CT
Sundial Gardens Higganum, CT
Webb Deane Stevens Museum Wethersfield, CT
White Flower Farm Morris, CT
Wickham Park Manchester, CT
Wilton Old Town Hall Wilton, CT
Wright’s Mill Farm Canterbury, CT
Norwich CT dearly loves its parking lots and garages. So do I. But let’s discuss the not so loved stormwater.
Stormwater is water resulting from rain or snowmelt that runs off surfaces such as rooftops, paved streets, highways and parking lots. Along the way, the water picks up and transports contaminants including motor oils, gasoline, antifreeze, and brake dust (commonly found on pavements), fertilizers and pesticides (found on landscaped areas), and soil sediments (from farms and construction sites).
The water eventually flows into a local stream, river or lake, or into a storm drain or sewer that concentrates the runoff into smooth, straight conduits where it gathers speed and erosional power as it travels underground. When this runoff leaves the storm drains and empties into a stream, its excessive volume and power blast out stream banks, damaging streamside vegetation and wiping out aquatic habitat. These increased storm flows carry sediment loads from construction sites and other denuded surfaces and eroded stream banks. They often carry higher water temperatures from streets, roof tops and parking lots, which are harmful to the health and reproduction of aquatic life and can impact swimming and recreation areas as well.
The loss of infiltration from urbanization may also cause profound groundwater changes. Increases in flooding during and immediately after wet weather, and in many instances it results in lower stream flows during dry weather. Many native fish and other aquatic life cannot survive when these conditions prevail which is not good for an area that wants to be known for its great fishing.
Did you know that the amount of storm water washing off a paved one acre parking lot is 16 times greater than that of a comparable size grassy area according to the CDC?
DEEP is working to engage stakeholders to prevent the introduction of pollutants into storm water through its Non Point Source Pollution Management and Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Programs.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated a number of permit programs, administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), to deal with storm water pollution.
There is The General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activity. The General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater and Dewatering Wastewaters from Construction Activities The General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater Associated with Commercial Activity The General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems.
So often we act at the suggestion of someone else simply because we lack any experience with it ourselves or perhaps our experience was limited to a very controlled circumstance.
According to the Anaconda Montana Standard of September 8, 1894 one of the first recorded attempts to chloroform a horse took place in Norwich, CT by local blacksmith Gib Pierce.
It seems banker Lewis A. Hyde’s valuable family horse needed a new shoe. Well behaved ordinarily the horse kicked habitually and mightily when being shoed. The blacksmith first tried to coax the horse gently by raising its right front hoof gently but the horse was not fooled and soon a crowd had gathered to watch the performance.
Local veterinarian Dr. Tower suggested chloroform, saying it was easy enough. So the animal was chloroformed, though he kicked against the operation vigorously, and yielded reluctantly to the anesthesia.
It was wonderfully easy to shoe him then, reclining on his side, with his limp leg dangling.
Then all hands tried to arouse him, but the steed so contrary, kicked resolutely against taking up the burden of consciousness again. He lay all day motionless and flaccid in the blacksmith shop, and the surgeon kept him swathed in wet blankets and doused him with a cold-water douche from time to time. At night be regained his consciousness, and was returned to his stall in Mr. Hyde’s handsome stable at Norwich town.
But it was evident that his chloroform drunk hadn’t agreed with him. A few days later be began to droop, dying in his stall of lockjaw although there is a difference of opinion about the cause of his death. Many believe it was due indirectly to chloroform, saying it was an unheard-of thing to employ the drug in shoeing a horse.
Horseshoes are stilled nailed to the walls of the hooves of horses and require replacement every six to eight weeks depending on the activities of the horse or its needs as shoes may be needed because of abnormal physical stress such as carrying riders, or pulling wagons or for correction of a bone, or musculature issues or for traction for performance horses such as eventers, show jumpers or polo ponies.
Norwich CT has really gotten into the Last Green Valley “Walktober” walks and hikes. There have been many walks regarding the architecture of Norwich. The leaders of the walks in Norwich expect a certain amount of architectural type knowledge sophistication that I simply don’t have so I went off to learn about architectural types. Here is what I think I learned.
The Cape was popular from the Revolutionary period through the middle of the 19th century. Early capes have low eaves and are generally a story-and-a half with a gable roof.
The Colonial is generally two-stories with a gable roof, evenly spaced windows, very little ornamentation, and a center door. Still as popular today as in revolutionary times.
The Georgian was popular from the 1750’s – 1820’s. It’s almost square with a hip or gambrel roof, center door, evenly spaced windows symmetrical in design possibly with heavy columns or pilasters at the doors and pediments and dentils underlining the pediments or cornices.
The Federal was popular 1780 – 1820 and also has the hip or gable roof, symmetrical windows and doors, higher ceilings than Colonial or Georgian designs. Ornamentation tends to be delicate with tall slim columns.
Greek Revival was popular 1820 – 1860 and may resemble a temple with gable end at the front with a triangular pediment, columns and where there are no columns there maybe vertical moldings at the corners.
Carpenter Gothic or Gothic Revival (gingerbread) was popular in the 1840’s – 1850’s has very steep roofed gables with great decorated eaves called barge boards, vertical board and batten siding. The original paint may have simulated various shades of sandstone.
The low-pitched hip roof with overhanging eaves, high ceilings, lavish ornamentation over windows sometimes rounded at the top and with ornamental brackets over the eaves is typical of the Italianate design of the 1850’s – 1860’s.
If it looks to be a confusion of a variety of shingled external surfaces on its upper story, a mansard roof, towers, fancy windows some with stained glass, ornamental porches and a vertical line that appears to break at the bottom of the upper story it will probably be a Queen Anne popular form the 1880’s – 1910.
In Norwich it was not unusual for a small humble home to sprout a grand new wing or become a side or back ell as a more pretentious home was built in the front. Interiors and exteriors often displayed exceptionally fine workmanship courtesy of the skilled workmen from the shipyards available during bitter months.
I have had a very sad week. I have been forced to evict a very fine tenant and turn away a darling family.
The tenant was really a squatter who was a real stinker. She added another entry to suit herself never asked permission or took out a permit. Please don’t tell the building inspector! I wouldn’t have minded as she wears a gorgeous fur coat with a sharp pure white stripe but her perfume was more than my neighbors and I could bear. She was very helpful keeping the yard free of grubs and insects though. Yes she was a skunk and was just looking for temporary lodgings for the winter but I could just not accommodate her. To encourage her to leave I followed the wildlife directions, dishes of vinegar, I think she was using it on her nightly grass salad. I blocked her entries which she promptly cleared. When I saw an old farmer friend I asked him what to do and when he stopped laughing and making really bad jokes at my expense he told me to shine a solar light into the hole and play a radio really loudly as skunks and most other critters don’t appreciate light and noise the way humans do. Worked like a charm! Then I did a better job of closing up the holes. So far, so good.
I have a tree in my front yard within an easy leap to my roof if you are a grey squirrel. But towards the fall the cute babies want to branch out on their own and they all want to make their home in my attic. Not a one of them will listen to me when I say the rent is more than just out of sight nuts! So once more I asked my friendly farmer friend what to do and he told me to raise the roof and make some noise or simply play a radio to a rock and roll station. Squirrels like peace and quiet when they are choosing their nesting places. Working so far!
At the recent Park Church Fall Festival I was wandering around and happened on a small stand of outrageously delicious salsas, pickles and jams manned by Pastor Jacob Junker of Lee Memorial Church. A very friendly man he quickly filled my hands with samples and told me a condensed version of how he and his wife brought 3 Chicken Farm to Norwich from his last posting in Indiana. They have no chickens here in Norwich but the name makes people smile.
Since they have been in Norwich they have been expanding their family and still found the time and energy to create a small community garden at the back of their church and another small garden to create the tasty treasures of sweet jams. Thank heaven there were no spoons available or the jar would never had made it back to my car let alone to my house and a slice of bread or a cracker. Just the scent of the fruit jam made me happy.
The salsas were on the spicier side and bursting with the fresh taste of native tomatoes and peppers. The next day when the neighbors and I gathered on a porch to discuss the state of the universe someone mixed some jam and some salsa for a new taste sensation. I have to give the Junkers a call at 860.861.3141 to ask if they will make a special batch just for me to give as holiday gifts for friends and family who already have everything they need or want or are just too particular. Nobody ever turns down snack food! They also had a corn salsa that was delicious!
I am a pickle person and they had dill pickles. Yummy, yummy, yummy fresh dill pickles. No chemicals and strange spices I have never heard of.
Pastor Jacob also mentioned that they will create special labels for special occasions when asked. Welcome to Norwich Pastor and Mrs. Junker and thank you for sharing your delicious skills and recipes with us.
Frankly, I have never heard any of these old sayings but I so enjoyed reading them in in the collection, What They Say in New England. I hope you enjoy them too. To my trick or treaters I promise you there will not be any stump of cabbage hanging over my door.
Males: To know who you are to marry roll up your socks when you go to bed at night, name them after two girls, put them under your pillow and get into bed over the footboard, backwards. You will marry the one you dream about.
Keep track of the white horses you see, and count them up to ninety-nine, and the next person of the opposite sex you shake hands with will be the one you are to marry. The modern girl, may count white cars. The next she meets is her fate.
On Halloween hang up a cabbage-stump over the door. The first person of the opposite sex that comes in is the one you will marry.
For children to decide who they like best. Get a companion to name two apple-seeds. Wet the seeds, puts one on the upper lid of each eye, and proceeds to wink as fast possible. When one falls off, the companion tells who the seeds were named for, and which was which. The seed which stayed on longest indicates the best friend.
On the first night you sleep in a strange bed, name each of its four posts. If you dream of one of the four persons you named the posts after that person will be who you will marry. Unhappily, the person who tries this frequently, may fail to dream of any one of the four, or may not dream at all.
If you tread on some one’s toes, it is a sign you love that person.
Girls sometimes determine whom they are to marry this way. On each of twelve slips of paper the girl writes the name of some boy. These she puts them in an envelope, and sleeps with them under her pillow. Each morning she draws one of the slips at random, and throws it away. The last one left names the one she will marry.
Let a boy light a match, and burn it till a charred end drops. See which way the big end of this points, and that will show where his ”best girl” lives.
Light another match, and when one end is charred take hold of that end, and see if you can hold it without breaking till the flame eats clear through to the other end. If you can, it proves that your girl loves you. But if the match breaks in burning, the girl does not care for you.
Wear a bit of marrow in your button hole, if you are anxious to know whom you are to marry. The first person of the opposite sex you meet afterward is your fate.
Put some apple-seeds in a frying pan. Get a friend to name them. The one that pops first reveals the person you love best.
When you go to a wedding, take home a piece of the wedding-cake. Sleep with it under your pillow that night, and the person you dream of will be the one you are to marry.
The boy who dreams of the same girl three nights in succession may know that she is the one he is to marry.
Somewhere, and I freely admit I can’t recall where I picked up the Guide to the Sanctuaries of Central Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. It’s a simple two-sided photocopied list of name, address, city/town, phone, website, admission, 3-line description, whenever possible. Then I wondered if the Connecticut Audubon Society or one of the other nature conservancies I am aware of has such a listing or brochure for Eastern Connecticut. Nope.
It is long past time for Eastern Connecticut towns to work together, play together, learn together and join together to bring residents and visitors with various interests to our area. Every town has a park, pond, some kind of natural habitat that can’t be developed because it’s preserved somehow.
I accessed the Connecticut Audubon Society to learn it has 5 Centers and 19 Sanctuaries throughout the state of Connecticut. The Centers represent Connecticut’s ecosystems and habitats, and work to preserve those habitats and educate students and the public about them. The Center at Fairfield contains land and freshwater wetland habitats. The Birdcraft Museum their natural history education programs. The Coastal Center at Milford Point works with its ecosystem and saltwater marshes of Long Island Sound. The Center at Glastonbury in the Connecticut River Valley focuses on river ecosystems. The Center at Pomfret contains extensive grassland habitats. Learn more at http://www.ctaudubon.org
Nature Conservancy has programs on Long Island Sound, the Connecticut River and the Lower. Connecticut River in Lyme, Essex, East Haddam, Salem, and Deep River. Do you think their members and supporters might be interested in the Yantic, Thames and Shetucket rivers? OK, so the Thames is really an estuary. They even have a headquarters in North Stonington. Learn more at http://www.nature.org Maybe they just need an invitation?
There are garden conservancies in Litchfield, Hartford and Fairfield counties too. I am not certain who should put together the list for the brochure but it could be a scout troop, Master Gardeners, students, senior citizens, environmentalists, bird watchers, it could even be you. We depend on the government and official groups to take the lead to get things done and maybe it’s time for the people to demonstrate to them how with a little cooperation and common sense things can be done quickly and easily.
I have been seeing the store-bought scarecrows in the yards and porches of Norwich. To make them at home you need: A long stake, garden hook or old broom, a few nails, upholstery tacks, or screws, old clothes, a gallon jug or bottle, scarecrow stuffing material (grocery bags or newspapers), heavy twine, nylon string or fishing line.
Pick a spot. Look at the length of your stake/pole. Determine how you will make it stand up firmly. Will it lose height if you bury it in the ground? Does it need help to stand up? Lay out the clothing you want your scarecrow to wear. Decide if/ how you will use the gallon jug/bottle to make the head. (If you saved the cap to the bottle/jug slip in a solar light to make the head appear to float in the dark. The cap will keep it from falling out.) Stuff the head and body with the straw, grocery bags or newspapers to get the effect you want and tie the ends with the heavy twine so the filling does not fall out. If you did not build your scarecrow onto your stake, attach him using the twine or nylon string. Done!
Hungry birds have always been a problem for farmers as they enjoy the seeds farmers plant for their crops. North America Native American tribes used bird scarers. Some would sit on raised wooden platforms and shout at the crows or woodchucks. Some families would build their huts in the fields. The Seneca Indians soaked the corn seeds in an herb mixture that would cause the crows to fly crazily and scare away the other birds.
In the 1800’s the Southwest Zuni children had contests to make the most unusual scarecrow. In the 1930’s a Navajo scarecrow was a teddy bear on the top of a pole. The report said it worked very well.
The Europeans settling in America in the 1600’s chose to stand guard over their crops so they could protect the fields against the birds and the wolves that would dig up the fish being used as fertilizer. In the 1700’s bounties were offered for dead crows. So many crows were killed that in the 1800’s towns stopped offering the bounty because cornborers, worms and other insects once eaten by the crows were destroying the crops.
Immigrants settling in the 1800’s brought a variety of European ideas for scarecrows. German farmers built human looking scarecrows called bootzamon or bogeyman and even sometimes a wife for him was built as well. During the depression of the 1930’s scarecrows spread across America. After World War II farming was too big a business for scary dolls and crops were sprayed or dusted with poisons like DDT until the 1960’s when the scientists discovered the chemicals hurt the people who ate the sprayed crops.
Then some farmers built whirligigs for their fields and one company built a box that exploded every 45 minutes. It annoyed people and didn’t scare the birds.
Today, In India and some Arab nations old men sit in the fields and throw stones at the crows. In the USA large corporate framers are still using poisons to control insects or changing the plants DNA to not be attractive to insects. As long as there are hungry birds the farmers will be finding new ways to Scare Crows.
As the temperature drops outside, the temperature of my beverage rises. I am working my way this fall through my herbal teas. During the American Revolution some thought paying the British taxes on tea and sugar was treasonous so herbal tea was called Liberty Tea.
There was even a very silly Boston newspaper writer who thought that women should refrain from drinking tea altogether rather than find alternatives. He wrote a satire that portrayed these revolutionary women as “determined, constantly to assemble at each others houses, to HANG the tea-kettle, DRAW the tea and QUARTER the toast.”
Women purchased the consumer goods for the home and were instrumental in maintaining the boycotts. The most zealous of these women refused to accept callers for themselves or their daughters who were not sympathetic to the patriotic cause. They distributed petitions and gathered anti-tea pledges.
The newly named Liberty Teapot was limited only by the households menu and spirit of adventure in their taste.
Some of the teas favored by these patriotic women included leaves from the mint family, leaves of berry bushes such as strawberries and blueberries, flowers such as clover, chamomile, violets, roses and goldenrod. For stronger tastes tree bark of the willow and the sassafras were used.
A mixed leaf tea produced near Portland, Maine was so popular during the American Revolution it replaced the teas of the British East India Company and was exported tax-free to England.
To learn more about how you can harvest tea from the wilds today I recommend this from the 2014 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2014/jul-aug/wild-herbal-tea.html.
Cafemantic, 948 Main Street in Willimantic is one of my favorite restaurants because its farm to table, a menu that changes weekly due to what is fresh and available. The staff is always pleasant and willing to ask the chef to make whatever change in a recipe I might dream up. Usually it’s to change the cilantro to parsley (cilantro to me tastes like soap.) I can’t say enough nice things about the high quality of their food, variety, presentation, and staff. Please ask to see the dessert menu before you order your meal. Take it from me, life is short and you will want to save room for dessert. Wine by the glass and bottle is available and on the wine list is a 2 to 4 word description of the wine to help you choose what will go best with your meal. The same is true for the beers. Please check out their menu at http://www.cafemantic.com/.
Cafemantic also operates 750 Main in Willimantic, a full service event space. It is a neat, clean, tidy space that can be re-shaped for your special event even a pop-up retail business or fundraiser. They are very proud of their 12-foot high pressed tin ceilings, hardwood floors, surround sound and wood burning fireplace. The space is designed to accommodate two – 125 people for private dining to receptions. Chefs and bar services are available. Rental is by the day, week or month. The facility has A/C, heat, two handicapped accessible bathrooms, buffet tables, coat racks, a rear entrance for equipment loading and a list of options and contacts to help you make your event a success. Please contact feast@ctfeast.com for more information.
I would like to see this type of restaurant and event space in Norwich. I hear a lot of talk about the great architecture of Norwich but I seldom see it being shown off. I would like to have a restaurant that makes dining out a fun affordable adventure. Norwich has culinary classes in the various high schools and community college with marketing and customer service classes. Local students can be trained for superior service. Norwich has the potential and it is time we used it.
And from the South Bend news-times, of October 1913 I share the information of how the World Series champions used their winnings.
The majority of those world’s champion Athletics, who Monday were each mailed a check for approximately $3,280. are using their winnings in buying a farm, investing it in business, educating themselves or laying it aside for the rainy day, while a few of them are going to spend a small part of it doing such frivolous things as taking a trip abroad or buying a new automobile. “-My check goes to the bank to stay with the little wad I have there now’” said Capt. Eddie Collins. “Some of these days, when my account gets quite sizable, I’ll look around for some investment that will bring me nice returns when my playing days are over.”
“Chief” Bender, pitcher “My money goes into the bank; ‘someday I may need it.”
Ira Thomas, catcher “I own 34 houses and two stores in Philadelphia now. That $3,280 will enable me to build about two more houses and I’m going to get busy Just as soon as I find me a good location.”
Eddie Plank, pitcher “I’m going to put my money in the bank. If I see a good farm down my way I’m going to buy it’
Jack Barry, shortstop “I have a small interest now in a garage up In my home town, “Worcester, Mass.,
Frank Baker, third baseman “The bank for mine. Don’t quote me as saying I’m going to buy a farm. I’ve got some farms already. When I get through with baseball I hope to go into some other business than farming.”
llube Oldring. left fielder “The minute that check reaches me I’m going to rush over to New Jersey and buy a farm that I took an option on a few months ago when it looked as if we’d surely grab the pennant.’
Eddie Murphy, fielder “I’m going to use part of the money buying a new automobile, trading in my old machine in part payment. The rest of it will be a farm near my home in White MUD, Pa.”
Amos Strunk, center fielder “I haven’t made up my mind yet. For the time being I’ll put the money in the bank.”
“Dan Murphy, utility outfielder “I’ve got a cafe up in Norwich, Conn. It will return bigger dividends If I enlarge it and improve the looks of the place, and I’m going to use the larger part of the money making the change.”
Does anyone have any information on his café?
There is more to researching your ancestors than just knowing their birth, marriage and death dates. I am always curious if they traveled anywhere or received visitors and relatives from out of town. I want to know if they were involved in a scandal and what the details might be. How did they celebrate their anniversaries and birthdays? Did they ever speak out at a town meeting or were they involved in political or civic affairs? For all of this information and more it is necessary to turn to local newspapers. Many newspapers have been digitized and are full-text searchable.
Bridgeport, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hartford, Manchester, Middletown, Naugatuck, New Haven, Norwalk, and Westport have searchable newspaper databases. Norwich and New London are very fortunate to have two of the oldest newspapers in the state, but sadly neither paper feels that digitization of its earliest issues is important. Neither do the local libraries who feel that having the early issues on microfilm and microfiche is good enough. (Some of the Norwich Bulletin from 1909-1922 were digitized by a CT State Library project.)
How fortunate are those communities to be able to learn not just about who celebrated a birthday or anniversary but who may have attended the gathering, what they wore, an anecdote or two and perhaps an accompanying photograph or two.
Things have changed over the years from when newspapers contained long detailed accounts of engagements, obituaries, visitors to the community, notices of illness and recovery, births and even military service.
Here are a few places to find newspapers on line. Don’t be hesitant to check out the article if the dates are slightly off. It was not unusual for papers to share information but it took time or the paper might not have been consistent in its publishing dates. Look for details and learn to see your ancestors as individuals and not just dates.
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
GenealogyBank.com/Newspapers
www.library.illinois.edu/hpnl/newspapers/historical.php icon.crl.edu/digitization.php
cslib.cdmhost.com/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15019coll9
https://sites.google.com/site/onlinenewspapersite/Home/usa/ct
www.newspapers.com/place-connecticut
libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/newspaper
newspaperarchive.com/us/Connecticut
I just saw this recipe in a Washington Post article about the various favorite foods of celebration brought to the White House by various Presidents. Parsnips are a favorite of mine to sneak into soups and potatoes for added sweetness and can easily imagine them in a fritter. President Cleveland had grandparents from Norwich, CT although he lived his life in Albany, NY.
I can’t help but wonder if this recipe was not from his personal chef who accompanied Cleveland to the White House but from his Grandma who cooked the plain and simple food he loved. So whether that is true or not, I am going to start the rumor that this is an old Norwich, CT favorite of the Cleveland family while in Norwich, CT.
From a written description in 1887 (the fritters) “resemble very nearly the taste of the salsify or oyster plant.” The serving size is for fourteen so feel free to cut it back to an amount you are comfortable with. Washington Post chefs added the nutmeg for extra flavor so that is up to you. I did not use oil or butter as suggested, I used olive oil spray on the fry pan and had a good result. Fritters are always a good way to use up and disguise over cooked and soft veggies.
style=”text-align: center; font-size: 130%;”>Cleveland Family Parsnip Fritters
16 ounces parsnips, peeled, trimmed and cut into 2-inch lengths, thick rounds cut in half lengthwise
Salt
2 teaspoons flour
1 large egg, beaten
A couple pinches of freshly grated nutmeg (see head note)
2 tablespoons lard, turkey fat (from pan drippings) or unsalted butter , or more as needed
DIRECTIONS
Boil parsnips in lightly salted water until tender (about 8 minutes) and then drain thoroughly.
Mash drained and cooked parsnips in a large mixing bowl. Discard any sections that are tough and woody. The yield is about 2 cups.
Stir in the flour, egg, salt to taste and the nutmeg, if using, and combine well.
Line a large plate with several layers of paper towels.
Add the oil to a large frying pan and place on medium heat. When the oil is hot, add one spoonful of parsnip mixture at a time, pressing down on it to form a round patty about 2 inches in diameter. Work in batches so as not to crowd the pan. Cook until the patties are golden brown, about 2 minutes, then turn them over and cook until golden brown on the second side, about 2 minutes.
Transfer the cooked fritters to the paper towels to drain. Repeat to fry all of the batter, adding oil as needed. Serve the fritters warm. I kept them on a cookie sheet in a warm oven until I was ready to serve.
By the way, Grover Cleveland’s first term was 1885-1889.
On Thanksgiving there is always much to be thankful for. So I am taking the opportunity to thank all of the farmers and gardeners that have kept food on our tables around the world. It wasn’t always, easy and it is not always easy now.
The Pilgrims were serious gardeners because if their crops failed the fear was very real that they would starve. How would they know which plants were safe to eat in this strange place of North America?
The Pilgrims created garden plots 12 feet long and four feet wide outside their homes and also created and tended communal plots on the edges of their settlements. Norwich is very blessed to have a number of community gardens in addition to some wonderfully fertile soil for private gardens. Sign up early for your community garden plot as you meet the most wonderful people there.
Don’t forget to build your compost pile and to turn it over on a regular basis for super rich soil. You can omit the dead fish. By the way according to the December 30, 1871 the Norwich Bulletin thinks the chief advantage of roasting chestnuts is the rich and gamey flavor it gives the worm.
The Pilgrims planted some familiar crops such as peas and some that I have no experience with. Have you ever tasted skirrets? How about scorzonera? Were they good? Did you like them? Root vegetables were a favorite as they could stay in the ground until they were needed. Unless, you will have to wait for the snow to melt to get back to the ground. Dried vegetables became a favorite during long voyages, long explorations and longer winters.
Using directions mostly from Europe John Gerard published The Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes 1597 for medicines and remedies for rashes, fevers and the common cold. Witch-hazel is one of Americas oldest known herbal remedies and Connecticut is home to the largest bottler in the world. Much medical research is being conducted on the old home remedies and plants for new and improved treatments of our modern ills and maladies.
Without rototillers, electricity or gasoline the Pilgrims took care of all of their tools by hand and made improvements whenever the weather allowed. Sharpen and oil your tools over the winter too.
My gratitude to all who have made my bountiful table possible and to all a happy Thanksgiving!
Yes I am going to bring it up again. Norwich, CT can be a real leader in plant conservation in Connecticut with very little effort. We, as a city have an amazing amount of green spaces in our neighborhoods with our parks, fields, meadows and greens and in the center of our city we have Mohegan Park.
I know that there are some very good reasons that none of the garden groups or the master gardeners or the school ecology classes, or groups have speakers or tours in Norwich CT although I have yet to hear one. It is truly time to change that. One of my delusions was that Chelsea Gardens would be a driving force to bring ecological education to the forefront. That in order to build their “world renown school and botanical garden” they would want to be a demonstrated leader in working with the community and expanding and utilizing what we have to build a bigger and brighter future of which their school and garden would become a shining gem.
I thought the Master Gardeners would be another source of education but they have limited resources and skills. Our schools do not have adults in the community willing and able to take the time to demonstrate how to best care for our environment.
If you have an interest in our environment talk amongst your friends, family and neighbors. Ask some organization you are a member of to sponsor the speakers on environmental topics and make certain that the announcements of your program are in as many papers as you can think of, discussed on the radio and announced on the local television news local events. Call me and I will help you if that seems a bit daunting.
This was a talk given in Providence RI sponsored by the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society and there is no reason it could not be given here too with emphasis on habits and plants of Connecticut, with consideration to factors fostering diversity and the primary ecological and man-made threats to both rare and common species. Sorry Chelsea Gardens but I am more concerned about local native plants than I am about seeing another botanical garden of foreign plants.
The Rhode Island discussion was about her regional report, “State of the Plants of New England.” and was led by Elizabeth Farnsworth, a biologist, educator, scientific illustrator and Senior Research Ecologist with New England Wild Flower Society.
Being a leader is more than announcing to one and all that you are a leader, being a leader is demonstrating leadership. Come on Norwich! I know you can do it!
Amy Johnson Crow is an amazing genealogist who is kind enough to share pointers and tips with the rest of us who just dabble into cemetery sciences.
In a recent article Crow went into detail about the five cemetery photos that should be taken and preserved with the family history and why they will be helpful to you and to future generations.
The Cemetery Sign so later you will know which cemetery you were visiting.
The Entire Tombstone – front, back, sides, and even the top. This can also be a wonderful help in case of natural decay or vandalism.
Take close-ups of the details. For worn tombstones its suggested to take several shots from different angles to help in the reading of them later.
Take a few wide shots that include the neighboring stones or other landmarks to help you or someone else locate the stone. Remember not everyone has their geo-tagging turned on or may have the cell-phone coverage that you do.
The neighbors. Ancestors may be buried near each other. The dates of the deaths may be a clue of an epidemic. Knowing the neighbors can be helpful to learn the rest of the story.
Get in the habit of taking lots of photos at the cemetery. But, taking these basic five photos will prevent the great frustration of identifying them later.
Taking and using the digital photos will also make it much easier to share with other members of your family or group and will also allow you to examine them in greater detail than ever before.
Please remember to always be respectful of others and the property as you take your photos and share them with others.
Lately I have been feeling as if I am nothing but a plastic tube. On one end I have a giant funnel gathering ideas and programs to do the most unexpected things, from the most unexpected places, and in the most unexpected way.
I just learned that November 15th is National Recycling Day 2015. Some places join forces to celebrate the day with an event. Near us the Blackstone Heritage corridor and the Woonsocket Materials Recycling Facility are having an event on November 14th from 10 am-2pm.
There is going to be free recycling of the following items: Electronics, Styrofoam, propane tanks, metals, books, clothes, shoes, rigid plastic, bottles, cans, paper and cardboard. Attendees are encouraged to bring gently used coats and sleeping bags to benefit WHAM (Woonsocket Homeless Awareness Movement). There will also be free litter pickers (while supplies last). Plus, touch-a-truck with Waste Management and Department of Public Works, and meet Max Man from Rhode Island Resource Recovery. All Woonsocket residents can enter to win a free compost bin. Info: Visit blackstoneherritagecorridor.org.
Part of marketing Norwich to attract new residents and businesses is to have lots of programs that generate interest in the community and the area. Efficient programs do not have to cost lots of dollars but they use volunteers and may require one or more organization to work together.
I think that such a day could be organized easily in Norwich. Maybe not as fancy and with as many free gifts. I am not certain what litter pickers are or who Max Man is but certainly we have the resources and imagination to come up with someone or something and I know that a Waste Management touch a truck can be organized for a touch a truck. But I guess my question has become is anyone interested in a program like this? Please look at http://americarecyclesday.org and then let’s talk about what we already have in place and what we can plan for next year.
Pooh. It’s the fundraising time of the year. Everyone is raising money for some worthwhile cause or another but everyone is having the same types of fundraisers. BORING!
I just read about this class and thought what a new and novel fundraiser it could be. Instead of another cooking class, wine tasting, or party for the children who will now have toys but no home to keep them in how about a class for travelers on how to mix a better mini-bar cocktail?
Yup. A class dedicated to the hotel mini-bar. You know the one. It sits quietly in the corner daring you to use a mini-bottle of whiskey, beer, soda or candy bar. In the article I read in Tasting Table I learned that the mini-bar was invented in the 1960’s by Siegas, a German Company and was soon a feature of the top luxury hotels around the world self-serving their guests alcohol and snacks 24/7.
Sorry. I digress. The fundraiser I envision would be held in a hotel and would be for locals and hotel guests. (Yes. People staying in hotels sometimes look for something to do for a couple of hours in the evening and don’t mind spending money to do it.) The class would be on some creative ways to make the available ingredients in the mini-bar work to your advantage. In the article, Natasha David of the NYC bar Notecap gave a few tips I’ll share with you on how to make a better hotel-room cocktail and the most valuable and wanted travel partner in your office.
Indulge and take full advantage of room service. Order olives from room service and mix the olive brine with a mini of vodka to make a dirty martini.
Discover beer cocktails. Salt the rim of a glass and then combine a bottle of beer with a can of tomato juice and enjoy a michelada. To dress it up order lime wedges and hot sauce from room service or order extra at a meal and bring a plastic snack bag to take them back to your room. Extra points if you can snag some hot sauce.
Prefer wine? There is usually at least one bottle/glass in the minibar but to change it up, add a splash of seltzer or sparkling water and perhaps a drop or two of champagne. Or maybe entertain with a Sangria. Make a simple syrup with a packet of sugar and a bit of heated water and orange juice, cranberry juice and wine. Ask room service for an orange or grab one from the breakfast bar for your “snack” later.
Talk to the hotel and ask what are the most popular items in their minibars. Maybe they would give a discount to their guests that participate in the fundraiser? Maybe they would like their bartender to be the instructor? Just a thought for something a little different.
With grateful thanks to Walter Fleming for knowing where to find two locally grown persimmons and supplying them to me, I can submit to you my personal findings on using persimmons to predict winter weather.
Ripe persimmons are soft, fleshy and slimy on the inside. The seeds are large, flat and hard. I would dearly love to learn who and why someone ever thought to cut the seed in half in the first place. Cutting the persimmon and removing the seeds is no big deal. Keeping a hold of the slimily covered seed is another story. Rinsing it in water does not work. Rubbing the slimy seed with dry towels removed enough of the gunk so I could finally grip and examine the flat, almond shaped seed, about a half inch long and a quarter inch wide firmly sealed with thin skin covers. There appeared to be more than one layer of coverings, one for the slime, one as a protector, another sealing and another to keep the core of the nut away from nosey humans wanting to predict the weather.
There are four or so seeds in each persimmon and I wasted all of the seeds in one just trying to break them apart. I went through a dozen different knives but then someone suggested using a single edged razor blade. Success! Still not easy and but accomplished in my 6th seed splitting attempt.
I really want to know what the other seeds have to say as I really do not like what the seed I split showed to my tired eyes – a spoon shape meaning that there will be a lot of heavy, wet snow. My back is already aching with the prediction. How I longed to see a fork and the prediction of a mild winter with light fluffy snow and not the knife forecasting ice that we would have to cut through or the spoon.
According to Dennis Patton, a horticulture agent with the Johnson County Kansas State Research and Extension the folklore goes back to early settler days when there wasn’t sophisticated weather equipment and “probably has more to do with the stress that the plant was under when it was being formed during the summer weather patterns.”
Thanks again Walter!
Norwich CT has laid claim to President of the Continental Congress from September 28, 1779 to July 9, 1781 Samuel Huntington. Huntington was not born in Norwich but he did choose to use Norwich as his base of operations as he traveled to Philadelphia, New York and Hartford. He is also buried in Norwichtown.
I think it would be wise and fun to add a celebration of sorts to the growing list of activities available in Norwich to celebrate Huntington. Something simple perhaps focused not on history but on the spirit he and his family shared with the community when in residence.
Not having children of their own, he and his wife adopted his nephew Samuel H. Huntington and niece Frances as their own. Perhaps an adoption fair on the Norwichtown Green? Yes. I am talking music and dancing and fun on the Norwichtown Green or Lowthorpe Meadow. What a great place to celebrate foster families and those interested in becoming a foster family. Maybe some pet adoption programs too.
Various diaries tell readers of the music and storytelling often heard in the kitchen of the Huntington home and how indoor and outdoor games were a favorite pastime for the young of the household.
It is time for Norwich residents to admit that people in history laughed, played and even giggled while they worked to create the foundation of our community. We can pay tribute to them by sharing their joy in life and hope for a better future for themselves and their children.
My personal recommendations for sponsoring organizations are UCFS, Reliance House and the Norwich Historical Society but I have not approached them. I think planning needs to begin soon. Lots of volunteers are needed. Would you be willing to support this kind of activity?
This has nothing to do with Norwich but I found it so interesting I just had to share it. Pirating of music has a long history and I had no idea about this chapter. In the Soviet Union from the 1940’s through the 1960’s there were very strict rules about what music was acceptable and what music was not.
Per the Andrei Ahdanov Doctrine of 1946 just about anything from the United States was bad. There was a special hatred for American jazz music as well as modern and Western and so the stilyagi were born.
Stilyagi were rebellious young people in their early twenties who dressed as if they were characters in the movie Grease and could be found lounging on the street corners but were really more interested in being uber-cool than destroying Khrushchev’s regime. They enjoyed the fun of the music and the Western culture, but the movement was largely apolitical in its attitude.
Loosely translated stilyagi is style hunter and that was supposed to embarrass the style forward young. It didn’t and the fashionistas went about getting their stylish clothes and their Western music.
Records or vinyl was hard to obtain but where there is a will, there is a way and soon the stilyagi were rummaging hospital dumpsters and even buying the used x-ray sheets to have someone copy a record onto the vinyl and then cut the sheet into a disc and burn a hold in its center so it could fit on a spindle and be played like a record. It became a black market industry.
The discs were far from perfect and only one side could be used but it was better than no jazz or rock and roll at all. The images on the x-ray could still be seen so they became known as “bone records.” The making and selling of the “bone records” was a thriving industry until 1958 when the discs officially became illegal and making them could result in a prison term.
In the 1960’s Russia began to ease access to Western culture and the stilyagi culture declined.
In 2014, The X-Ray Audio Project was founded to create a database of information on the unique records including images and recordings of many original x-ray tunes. There is even a book about the history of the records. While the stilyagi may no longer be loitering around the streets of Russia, their brand of musical rebellion is still active and the music of the Russian youth is always cutting edge.
Learn more about Bone Music at https://x-rayaudio.squarespace.com/about/
Thanks to Atlas Obscura and Eric Grundhauser.
I was in the Dollar Store looking at all the pretty calendars they have when a very nice man came by and we began chatting and showing each other the cute calendar photos. That’s when he told me he was looking for the plainest calendar he could find so he could put as many of his ancestors birth dates on it as he can.
A few years ago he developed an interest in his genealogy and been able to trace his family back seven generations. Some generations were very large, some very small, some died out and some were happily still flourishing. When he began entering his information onto a spread sheet he noticed that many of his ancestors were born in the same month and day but different years. He is going to put as many as he knows onto a calendar and next year his gift to his family will be a calendar marked with all of the ancestors and current birthdays as that is the day to rejoice. He is considering adding weddings and death dates but wasn’t certain if that was going to be too much information for one calendar.
His calendar program on the computer was a bit cumbersome to work with so he wants to do it on paper beforehand then when he puts it on the computer he can also add photos when possible. After it is all done he will be emailing it to all his relatives young and old so they can continue to update it. If all works out he plans to color code the different families and generations but if it doesn’t that is ok too. With three babies due in 2016 he said his son is considering creating a family bingo game using the birth dates.
Someday he would like to place all of his living relatives on an interactive map with the address and a picture popping up when the cursor is placed there but he is leaving that for another year.
I adore a good love story and a story from 1878 has more twists than some very modern fictional novels. A Norwich young lady married against her father’s wishes. He quickly cut her off without a penny so long as she remained the mans wife even after the parents death. But no fool was she, much to the horror of community she received a divorce on the grounds of cruelty, claimed her money and then remarried the same man getting both a husband and the money.
From the Helena Weekly Herald of December 1878 I learned more of the story.
An affair has just come to light in this city which has created quite a sensation, inasmuch as the parties have moved in the highest circles of society and affluence. The persons involved are
Edward F. Chase, of New Bedford, formerly sea captain, and Miss Mary A. Maples, a daughter of the late James Maples, one of the wealthiest farmers in the State. Edward first became known in this city about six years ago. He opened a shoe store on one of the principal streets and lived in fine style, possibly beyond his means, for he failed shortly and has been unemployed since. During his mercantile business, among his many lady customers he made the acquaintance of Miss Mary, with whom he soon became more and more intimate, until finally that intimacy grew into an infatuation and she appeared no longer to control her own actions. Her father protested against Chase’s visits and even went so far as to turn him out of his house several times. It is known in addition to this that Mary’s brother had actually threatened to shoot Chase if he persisted in visiting his sister, so great was the family dislike for him.
In consequence of this, Mary being of an unyielding disposition, their meetings were necessarily clandestinely held. Time passed on, and they were married on February 19, 1874. The father, aggrieved and despondent at the action of his daughter and the loss of his own wife a short time before, finally died.
At the funeral several special policemen were stationed at the gates and avenues leading thereto to keep Chase from entering. In the will, which bequeathed the large estate to the heirs, was a proviso that forbade Mary entering into possession of, or controlling in any way, her share while she lived with Chase, and also stating that Chase should never be benefitted thereby. Everything has been done to thwart the father’s purposes in this regard by the Chases, but without success, Edward and Mary, not having any control of the legacy, were slowly being brought down to poverty. People refused him credit, and even the roof over their heads was sold. Such was the history and condition of the Chases when a petition was sent into the November term of the Superior Court by Mary Chase, praying for divorce from her husband Edward, on grounds of “intolerable cruelty.” No one probably in this section ever anticipated such a thing, knowing they lived in perfect harmony and felicity.
The divorce was granted, and Mary Maples then presented her claim for the property, asserting that she was no longer the wife of Chase, which was corroborated by presenting her divorce papers to the trustees, who immediately gave the control of the property, which consists of houses, bank stock, and bonds worth thousands of dollars, into her hands. Edward and Mary again met as lovers, and at the end of two days the sequel shows, they were once more united in the bonds of holy matrimony. The wedding tour No. 2 was not as extensive as the first, and the ceremony throughout conducted on a strictly private scale, without ostentation.
I have mentioned scanning old photos onto a computer many times but I never discuss how to do it. Possibly because I am not very good at it but I will happily share with you what I have learned and then we can discuss what I am doing wrong.
The first lesson I learned was clear pictures on Facebook often look blurry or pixilated when I printed them out. So with apologies to various authors of untold articles here is what I have learned.
Pixels per inch (ppi) is new to my vocabulary but to get a clear print picture you need to scan a photo between 300 and 600 ppi at the very least. The higher the ppi the clearer and more defined the photo will be. This will be really important if you want to focus in later at something in the background.
I have been told I should always save my “digital negatives” in a TIF file. They may give the best quality and color but they are huge in size so I save those to flash drives. I don’t like saving things to clouds. I am too afraid what I store there will float away.
JPEG’s were easy for me to save to but they lose their quality if you open them often. JPEG’s were made for websites and social media and not for archives and they look terrible when you try and zoom in to get a better look at something. If you don’t believe me, try it.
Save your digital photo archive in more than one place. Ancestry and other sites have photo storage areas as well. If you have the ability to print out a directory or an index book that is great too. But save, save, save!
Important. After you scan the photo go back and add names, dates, places, who had the photo, who took the photo and any other information you have into the metadata or the name of the file. Remember just because you know who the person is does not mean subsequent generations will. Remember the box of unknown photos in the closet.
Keep the original photos in a safe place and keep your data files in safe places too. When in doubt or if you have a question, ask your grandchild or any teenager you know as they are always up to date on the latest technology available. Besides you can have the pleasure of watching “the moody one’s” face light up when you have to go to them for help and advice.
Do you hate shopping as much as I do? Maybe it is not so much the shopping but the choosing of items for other people to like. I am not good at it. I really don’t know what they like. What they need. What they have. What others are getting them. Color preference. It is all too much so with a little help from some articles I have been reading here is a short list of items that can be made by children with or without a little help depending on ages and skills to those in their autumn years and beyond as a legacy to generations present and beyond.
Record and share a story. The story about a holiday past has been told and heard a million times so record it for generations to come so they can hear it told too. Add in lots of details and sound effects and voices. Comments from others and laughter is OK too. Traditions are important and it’s fun to hear how a tradition is passed on in the family or among a group or just among friends.
Who does not love the “family story,” “the family legend” but maybe you could do a tour of the workshop where a particular gift was made, or see a demonstration of how to make a favorite food dish, but it could be a story read out of a book. It could be a song. It can be anything you want it to be and with the ease of modern technology it can be sent to many and reproduced and played for other events and holidays as well. Best of all it can be replayed over and over again by someone special who just wants to hear your voice.
Sponsor a party for all of the senior members of your family, a very special party. Have them gather all of the photos from the back of the drawers and in that box in the closet. You know the ones I am talking about. The photos with no names on the back. Gather and share all of those old photos and see if a few cannot be identified. Is your family too scattered to gather easily? Ask to borrow the box of old photos and scan them to a file that can be shared. Just because you are not in the same room at the same time does not mean it cannot be a group project.
Share that recipe. Show us how to open that box of mix or the proper way to knead the bread. Show the world that the old ash tray has found a new life as a spoon rest. Discuss how you have made an old recipe your own or perhaps more healthful. Do you still use grandma’s old cookbook just once a year? Take a bit of time and share those recipes with others. Ask your teenagers to help with the data-entry of that project. They might even want to make a few that could be used as illustrations for the cook book.
Children love a bedtime story but so do adults. For residents in a nursing home record a days adventure of a little league game or a shopping trip to the grocery store. It doesn’t have to be loud or brash or have a moral at the end. It just has to have your voice..
Joy of the season to all.
It has taken you a while but now you have located the obituaries of your ancestors and perhaps even a wedding announcement or two in the digital newspapers of the past that have been released to the public but they are using some words that do not look like they digitized correctly.
It looks like Ult. after the date of the death or a battle. When I first started reading the old obituaries it took a while for me to realize I was looking at a real word and not a misprint. Then I had to find out the whole word the abbreviation was short for. Ult. stands for the Latin word ultimo meaning ‘of last month.’ How much simpler it is today for the newspaper and the reader with just the notation of the month, day and year of the death or battle.
The other common abbreviation is Inst. meaning instant or the current month. This can get really confusing when the obituary or announcement is shared between many newspapers and there has been a delay between the original and subsequent printings. So it’s important to write down the name, date of the newspaper and page number so you can always check back quickly should a question arise.
Once you find the announcement you are looking for, don’t stop looking. It was very common for announcements and news stories to be shared and re-printed sometimes with more details than the original one you found. What you think is an end; may be only a beginning of yet another chapter in your story.
Thanks to Amy Crow for this timely reminder.
“Hope In A Bag” Ministry needs your help every day says Janet Reed. Her vision is to remind women at risk and living in shelters throughout the east coast that they have hope and someone does love and care about them. Reed and her friends fill gallon size zip lock bags with shampoo and conditioner, body wash, body lotion, poufs, journals, pretty pens, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Those items sound so easy to get and so simple when you have them but imagine your life without them and without the funds to purchase them.
I met Janet this fall at a huge community yard sale at Park Church where she was a vendor selling some handmade items to raise funds to purchase more items for her bags of hope. As the temperature drops this winter you will see me sporting around my neck a “Hope in a Bag” bright pink fleece collar. Each one is handmade and wonderfully warm. Janet is making the rounds as a vendor at area craft sales this season so be certain to look for her selection of handmade scarves and make a few purchases or just a donation.
Next time you are searching for the perfect gift for the person who already has everything they need or want and perhaps even a bit more, remember organizations like “Hope in a Bag” with a donation in that person’s name to make a difference in the life of someone else.
Yes, Hope in a Bag supports the women belonging to organizations and in shelters in Norwich as well as surrounding towns. The mailing address is Hope in a Bag, P.O. Box 344, Scotland, CT 06264 phone 860.303.9453 e-mail hopeinabag@gmail.com and yes they are on Facebook.
Thank you for caring this season and all year round.
I have to keep this in mind to bring up next spring instead of waiting until December. But in my defense I was trying not to think about it. I wanted to get past the snow and concentrate on spring or summer.
Residents of Norwich are very lucky to have a responsive and dedicated Department of Public Works that work long hours, weekends and holidays included to clear our streets after each storm.
But, I would like to see a public forum led by a city official, dedicated to the problems and solutions of the winter. A discussion that also includes the private plower’s and the driveway plower’s. What problems do they have or what solutions can each offer? Let’s create an opportunity to talk.
Let’s examine photos and maps of the pot holes and their locations, poorly plowed roads, well plowed roads and how the city dealt with the mountains of snow banks of the winter. Is there an easy way to open up driveways and clearing the icy slush at street corners. Where were the problems and how can we develop a better solution?
2015 was a tough year, so what is the plan to do more effective curb to curb plowing? Where should the over-night curb parkers go when it snows? Is there a 24/7 snow hotline for the City? How will they be informed? Is the snow budget realistic? What are the alternatives?
Are the places of the sand barrels listed anywhere? Who can be called on to help shovel walks for the infirm or elderly? Let’s begin the new year by working together.