Alfred A. Adam was born on February 6, 1858, in Norwich, to Christian G. Adam and Pauline J. Elben Adam. Alfred grew up in Norwich and developed a reputation for being warm-hearted and generous in his personal life and business dealings. He studied to be an architect but instead decided to operate a tavern in Norwichtown on East Town Street. He is best known locally for being the proprietor of Adam’s Tavern, a property he purchased in his early twenties.
The building, located at 112 West Town Street, consisted of a small gambrel-roofed house resting on a high brick foundation. It was built by Rev. Aaron Cleveland Jr., great-grandfather of President Grover Cleveland, about 1780, and had been used as a hat shop. He later purchased the Eden Lodge, a summer place at Gardner Lake.
Alfred was widely and favorably known all over this part of the state. For many years he was known for his standing offer to present a bottle of wine to the first person each winter who drove to his place in a sleigh. Early snowstorms were eagerly watched for by horsemen so that they might claim the prize.
At the age of 60, he married Flora L. Berry of Seekonk, RI, in Providence on 9 November 6, 1918. The same month, he closed his Norwichtown tavern, which he had operated for more than 35 years.
On November 23, 1919, Mr. Adam was found dead at Adam’s Tavern. The city medical examiner listed the cause of death as apoplexy or asphyxiation by gas due to an explosion or accident involving a small gas heater that was in the tavern’s small bathroom. Fireman called from this city to extinguish a slight blaze at Adan’s tavern, 122 West Town Street in Norwichtown, Sunday night at 7:45 p.m., found the body of the owner and proprietor, Alfred A. Adam.
His funeral was held in Norwich on November 26, 1919. You can read a complete account of the details surrounding his death in the reference below.
Alfred A. Adam was warm-hearted and generous in his friendliness and was well thought of throughout the community.
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James Coit was born in Norwich in December 1880. He was educated in local public schools, spending two years at the Norwich Free Academy, followed by two years at Holbrook Military Academy in Sing Sing, New York, where he graduated. After two years at Yale, James withdrew and began employment in the Merchants National Bank in Norwich, CT. (oldest national bank in Norwich, 1823) where he remained until 1906.
James then went to work at the Chelsea Savings Bank, where his father had established his honored career. He began as a clerk and, over the years, worked his way up to assistant secretary and treasurer. James was well-known and highly respected in the banking community and was also involved in many of the city’s social and philanthropic activities.
He was the Treasurer of the Americanization Institute and the Norwich Tuberculosis Fund of the American Red Cross. He was a member of the Arcanum Club, Norwich Golf Club, Sons of the American Revolution, Society of Colonial Wars, and Delta Phi fraternity.
Charles’ father was George Douglas Coit (b. 1845 – d. 1906), and his mother was Sarah Perkins Grosvenor Coit (b. 1806 – d. 1894)
In May 1909, James Coit married Emily H. Turnbull of Baltimore. They were both active members of the Park Congregational Church.
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