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Norwich History: It Never Gets Old …
Norwich has always been blessed with citizens who freely donate their time, skillful efforts, possessions, and monetary contributions. These notable individuals have fostered a vibrant community spirit that transcends time. A small sampling of these Norwichians is listed below. To learn more about them, click on their names.
Harriet Peck Williams: In 1859, her gift to the Norwich Free Academy of $5,000 ($190,000 in today’s $) established the Peck Library at NFA. This is only one of her numerous gifts to the community
Sarah Lanman Huntington Smith: At the age of 25 she served as a missionary to the Mohegans in Uncasville. She later served as a missionary in Beirut, Lebanon where she established the first girl’s school.
William W. Backus: After years of hard work, he became an extremely successful agricultural businessman. In 1891 he donated $185,000 ($6,400,000 in today’s $) that was used to build the William W. Backus Hospital.
William A. Slater: In 1891 he donated the 18-acres of land on which William W. Backus Hospital sits today. Later, in 1908 he donated $100,000 ($3,400,000 in today’s $) to build the Slater Memorial Library at Norwich Free Academy.
Philanthropists
Harriet Peck Williams1795-1880
Sarah L. Huntington Smith1802-1836
William W. Backus1803-1892
William A. Slater1857-1919
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An historical fiction novel by Bob Dees about Norwich’s 1850s Gold Mining Company
Did You Know That ….
Herbert Lerou won the June 7, 1920 election for the Mayor of Norwich by a ONE VOTE margin? It was the closest mayoral election in Norwich’s history.
Did You Know That ….
Benjamin Huntington was the first mayor of Norwich?
The office of Mayor of Norwich was first established in May 1784, when Norwich was first incorporated into Connecticut by the Connecticut General Assembly.
Frances Manwaring Caulkins said of him :
“This first Mayor of the City was one of the most honored and honorable men of that period, — a statesman of incorruptible integrity, conspicuous for his patriotic service in the town, state, and general government.”
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The Clinton Mills Company was organized for the production of ladies cloth, dress goods, and cloaks in 1864. The firm was led by J.D. Sturtevant, president; Francis Cabot, secretary and treasurer; and A.P. Sturtevant, agent. The company operated a sizable mill along the Yantic River in the Bean Hill section of Norwich and by the late 1880s employed 130 hands. By the early 1890s, the firm maintained 10 sets of carding machines and 56 broad looms and turned out 165,200 pounds of woolen dress goods per year.
The Clinton Mills Company continued to operate until 1910, whereupon the firm was purchased by its agent, Lewis J. Saxton, who reorganized it as the Saxton Woolen Corporation.
After changing ownership several times, the building is known today as the Turner and Stanton Mill.
Acknowledgements
“Clinton Mill”, by ConnecticutMills.org
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The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then entering “Clinton Mill” in the SEARCH box.
Vote November 5th
In the late 19th century women were second class citizens. It was not until an act by the CT General Assembly in 1877 that married women were given control over their own property. The earnings of the wife were her own and she had the power to make contracts and dispose of her real and personal estate. In 1893 women could vote for school officers. In 1897 married women could be the executrix of a will and guardians of minors. In Norwich In 1902 two women were registered to vote in the 2nd congressional district – Jennie P. Swan and Grace Willey. There were nineteen women in the 6th congressional district and only 6 of the 19 did not have a male counterpart registered to vote at the same address. It was not until 1909 that women were permitted to vote on library or school issues.
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