1907: Buffalo Bill Visits Norwich
On July 2, 1907, American adventurer and showman Buffalo Bill Cody visited the Royal Mohegan Burial Grounds in Norwich. Colonel William F. Cody, who had begun his popular Wild West shows in the 1880s, was touring the Northeast when he came to lay a wreath on the site of the Uncas monument, a memorial to the Mohegan sachem. Cody was accompanied by two chiefs, Rocky Bear and Iron Tail of the Sioux tribe, as well as over 100 members of his traveling show.
The Norwich Bulletin newspaper article shown below describes the event in detail. Place your cursor over the images to magnify
Buffalo Bill at Royal Mohegan Burial Grounds in Norwich
Norwich Bulletin
July 7, 1907
Buffalo Bill
Cody was also in Norwich that day to present historical re-enactments in one of his Wild West shows. The more than two-hour entertainment included buffalo hunting, a train robbery, wagon trains, rifle skills, horse roping, bull whip demonstrations, stunt riders, Native American dances, gunfights, a stagecoach attack, train holdups, and rodeo events.
One of the most impressive presentations was the Congress of Rough Riders. The line of horsemen formed a parade of marksmen from around the world. On occasion, one of the riders was the future president of the U.S., Theodore Roosevelt.
Audiences worldwide particularly enjoyed seeing, in person, Western personalities they had only read about. These, at times, included Will Rogers, Annie Oakley, Wild Bill Hickok, Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Frank Butler, and Calamity Jane.
Buffalo Bill’s Deadwood Coach ~ circa 1900
Buffalo Bill’s famous “Deadwood Coach” is shown on the left. Bill claimed the coach was a refurbished stagecoach that had indeed been robbed on the Cheyenne—Deadwood route, later attacked by Indians, and abandoned alongside the trail, where he reclaimed it.
Unfortunately, it rained heavily in Norwich while Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show was in town. After the show, one of his heavy wagons became mired in mud. It took 20 horses to free it. The newspaper article, shown on the right, chronicles the event.
Place your cursor over the images to magnify
Norwich Bulletin
July 7, 1907
Western historians have estimated that more than 100,000,000 people worldwide saw Cody’s shows from 1883 to the show’s last performance in 1913. Those same historians generally agree that no one created the American cowboy like Cody did.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Richard Russ for his contributions to this article
“Indians Pay Respect at Grave of Uncas,” (07/03/1907), Norwich Bulletin
Norwich Ct.Pictures, USA
The complete list of sources can be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button and then typing “Buffalo” in the SEARCH box.
1909: President Taft Visits Norwich
As a part of Norwich’s 250th Anniversary Celebration the 27th President of the United States, William Howard Taft visited Norwich and spoke on the steps of the Norwich Courthouse.
He traveled to Norwich from Beverly Massachusetts with his friend Winslow T. Williams. Williams is shown in the left photo on Taft’s left side. The man on Taft’s right side is a Secret Service guard.
They stayed in Williams’ mansion in Yantic, shown in the right photo below.
Acknowledgements
Connecticut Judicial Branch
“The Muse,” Spring 2008, by Slater Museum
“The Rose of New England – Norwich, Ct Celebrates the 250th Anniversary of Its Founding”, (1909), page 438
1936: Santa Claus Comes To Norwich
Santa started his trip in Taftville on a flatbed railroad car that was used by Ponemah Mills to move raw materials and finished products to waiting railroad cars. One day a year it was Santa’s trolley.
Santa would greet the children in Taftville and at Taft Station, travel through Greeneville, down the middle of Central Avenue, make a brief stop at Franklin Square, and then to the Porteous Mitchell store.
Santa would sit in the window, surrounded by toys and write messages on a little hand-held blackboard to the crowd in the streets watching his every move. Mothers would take their children into the store and into the window where Santa would sit them on his knee.
Acknowledgements
“Today A Big Parade to Celebrate Christmas”, 12/02/2007, by Bill Stanley
“The Santa Claus Special“, 12/02/2007
1948: President Harry Truman Visits Norwich
In the spring of 1948 the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman began his famous 31,000 mile Whistle Stop Tour of rural America, in which his speeches at each stop were made from the back of the caboose on his campaign train.
When his train stopped in Norwich, a large, enthusiastic crowd gathered and was told by the president that if the Republicans were to win the election, the country would go into a deep economic depression. The crowd began a most familiar chant, yelling, “Give ’em hell, Harry!”
The photo is of President Truman, Mrs. Truman and their daughter, Margaret Truman, at one of the stops of their tour.
Acknowledgements
“Truman Makes Whistle Stop in Norwich”, 12/21/2013, by Richard Curland
Cruise The Past
1949: Frank Sinatra Opens Loews Poli Theater
The Broadway Theater was a majestic building on Broadway across from City Hall. However, it was replaced in 1949 when Izzy Berkman built the new Loew’s Poli Theater at the foot of Cliff Street.
The dedication of Loew’s Poli seemed to be the high-water mark for motion picture theaters in Norwich. Frank Sinatra spent a week, coming from Hollywood by train, for the grand opening. He was in his heyday and from City Hall on Union Square, Sinatra proceeded down Broadway and up Main Street to Franklin Square.
It was reported 50,000 people turned out.
Acknowledgements
‘Live Theater Still Lives”, 10/07/2007, by Bill Stanley
1949: Bert Lahr Stars in "Burlesque"
In July 1949 Bert Lahr, the Cowardly Lion from “Wizard of Oz” visited Norwich. At the time he was starting in the Norwich Summer Theater’s production of “Burlesque.” He had previously starred in the production on Broadway in New York City from 1946-1948.
Mr. Lahr stayed at the Norwich Inn and Spa. Bill Stanley, a reporter and photographer for the Norwich Bulletin, reported that Mr. Lahr, while in Norwich, was not at all like he thought he would be. Instead, he was grumpy and profane.
Acknowledgements
“Once Upon A Time: Norwich has Long History of Quality Theater”, 07/04/2009, by Bill Stanley
Wikipedia
1952: VP Candidate Richard Nixon Visits Norwich
In the fall of 1952, the future 37th President of the United States Richard Nixon visited Norwich during his campaign for Vice President. He was Dwight D. Eisenhower’s running mate and was elected as the 36th Vice President in November 1952.
Representatives B. Maynard and Jack McKenzie are on Nixon’s right. Rene Dugas and Joe Goldberg are on his left.
Acknowledgements
“World of Politics Just Not What It Used to Be”, 08/29/2007, by Bill Stanley
Facebook : Norwich Ct.Pictures,USA
1956: VP Richard Nixon Visits Norwich
During the fall of 1956 Vice President Richard Nixon visited Norwich. He spoke at Chelsea Parade.
Acknowledgements
“Residents Good, Bad, Mediocre, Spent Time in Region” 12/24/2017, by Richard Curland
Facebook : Norwich Ct.Pictures,USA
1994: Bill Clinton Visits Norwich
The photo is of the 42nd President of the United States William J. Clinton giving a speech in Slater Hall on the Norwich Free Academy campus on February 24, 1994.
Earlier in the day, he stopped by a pharmacy on Central Avenue. He stood behind the counter there and listened to emotional stories of people’s struggles to pay for prescription drugs.
He also listened as druggist John Kiszkiel, at the Greeneville Drugstore, described the frequent dramas that play out in the shop that his father had opened in 1951.
Acknowledgements
Chicago Tribune
c-span.org