Nuggets - Iconic Norwich

Norwich Nuggets

Choose A Nugget

The “Ode To Norwich” was written in support of the celebration of Norwich’s 275^th Anniversary. The song was performed by the Norwich Choral Society at the principal event of the anniversary program. The program was held on July 1, 1934 at the former Broadway Theater (113 Broadway). This is the same building that was visited by Frank Sinatra in 1949, when he opened the Loew’s Poli Theater.

The music for the song was written by H. Louise Fuller. She was the sister of the Norwich Art School Director, Charlotte Fuller Easton.The lyrics were written by W. Tyler Olcott. He had a peculiar fascination for various forms of verse. He composed several many sonnets, however, his first love was astronomy.

He was a renowned astronomer, who lived on Church Street in Norwich for almost his entire life. Olcott wrote five books on the subject and was highly regarded in the field. A crater on the Moon is named after W. Tyler Olcott.

Two other songs, “To The Future Inhabitants of Our Norwich Home” and “Two Hundred Years Ago, A Bi-Centennial Ode” were composed and sung at Norwich’s 200th Jubilee in 1849.

Acknowledgements

The Muse (Summer 2008)

Popular Astronomy (October 1936)

“The Norwich Jubilee A Report of the Jubilee at Norwich, Connecticut on the 200th Anniversary of the Settlement of the Town (1859) ” by John W. Stedman

The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Ode To Norwich” in the SEARCH box.