NORWICH: Early Homes and History. A PAPER Written and Delivered by SARAH LESTER TYLER At the Meeting of Faith Trumbull Chapter, D. A. R., held December 7, 1905. (SECOND EDITION.) PUBLISHED BY FAITH TRUMBULL CHAPTER, D. A. R. NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, 1906. Norwich: Early Homes and History. I am sure every one agrees that Norwich, which in the old Saxon tongue means North Castle, is a most picturesque and inter- esting city. In some of the old records it is called "New Norwich," having been named, it is pleasant to think, in loving memory of the old home in England. There has always been some controversy as to the true pronunciation of the name ; it has been called, Norich, Norwich, Norwidge, and Norridge, and even the old nursery rhyme, " The man in the moon came down at noon To inquire the way to Norridge, The man in the south burnt his mouth Eating frozen porridge," hasn't been able to settle the matter. It is something of a problem to decide when our city is more beautiful ; in the spring, when nature, springing into life, is putting forth her tender greens and the high hills are a mass of feathery beauty, or, in the autumn, when in her maturity she retires in a blaze of glory, the maples, beeches and other foliage vicing with each other in gorgeousness of coloring. Norwich stands almost aggressively between the arms of the Thames (the Yantic and Shetucket rivers), and with its bold landscape possesses unusually diversified scenery. The sail up the Thames is delightful ; the hills crowned with forests and sloping to the water's edge form an almost unbroken frontage of green, reflected in the placid water beneath, and the homesteads scattered along its banks add a touch of life, and give charm to the scene. The approach to the city is striking ; at the left, rising high, is Mount Pleasant; at the right, equally high, Laurel Hill, and in front, rising still higher, is "Jail," or as it used to be called, " Savin Hill," and on each, tier above tier, are dwellings peeping out from masses of foliage. It might indeed, like Rome, be called "The Hill City." Standing upon either of these heights one looks down upon a scene of exquisite beauty, the rivers, like threads of silver winding through the green fields that are dotted here and there with field flowers, gleam and glisten in the sunshine, and make one almost imagine themselves in Rasselas' "Happy Valley." One seeing Norwich today with its handsome streets, costly dwellings, its industries, educational advantages and cultivation, could hardly realize that originally this was a wilderness of nine miles square, divided among thirty-eight proprietors, or that it would occupy so distinguished a place in history, as it now does. The early settlers were men of remarkable ability and far- sightedness, and through their influence Norwich became a centre of patriotism, and later a pioneer of industries. Our " Rose of New England," as it has been aptly named, is truly an "American Beauty," fragrant with historic associations ; her leaves ever green with the records of the (Jevotion of her sons and daughters to the causes of liberty, religion, and the material interests of the place. It has been with feelings of sadness, as well as admiration, that I have looked over the history of this old town, and thought of the struggles of those early times ; the weary, anxious days and the watchful nights, when they knew not which to fear most, the face of the savage foe or the growl of the beasts of the forest. And the silence! we of the cities whose ears are accustomed to the whirr and hum of human activities, know nothing of the silence of a great wilderness ; the sound of a footfall or the crackling of a twig causing every sense to be on the alert, not knowing what it might portend. As there were no markets, and very little money, the trade was principally by barter, and no doubt the early settlers experi- enced many privations ; but as intercourse with other settlements was established and the redeemed land became productive, they after a time accumulated considerable wealth, and as they became more at ease about their temporal affairs, provided better houses for worship, education and residence, and the stirring events of the Revolution, and the participation in them of the people of the "Town Plot," has made their names and homes historic. 5 With people who had so strong religious principles as the early proprietors of Norwich, the first duty after securing homes for their families and a mill, was to provide a place of worship. The first church was built probably about 1661 and stood near the southwest corner of the Green. It was undoubtedly a very primitive affair, and in 1668, a small rate was collected to pay Samuel Lathrop for repairing and height- ening "The Meeting house." In 1673 the town contracted with John Elderkin to build a "New Meeting house." The site selected was on "the rocks." The turbulent state of the time demanded that it should be where they could not be easily surprised, and that it might serve as a watch tower, an arsenal and a garrison post, as well as a house of worship. Until all fear of the Indians had passed away, the men repaired to the church with their muskets, which were stacked outside, and some stayed to watch and guard them while the service was going on within. It must have been weary work for old people climbing the steep hill, but they continued to do so for nearly a hundred years, for it was not until 1770 that we learn the new church was com- pleted in the "Town Plot," probably on the same site which it now occupies under the rocks. In 1708 a bell had been given the town by Capt. Rene Grignon, a French Protestant, who had recently come there to reside. Miss Caulkins says : "This was supposed to have been a Huguenot bell brought from France by a band of French exiles who purchased lands at Oxford, Mass., and began a settlement, which the hostile visits of the Indians obliged them to abandon." Captain Grignon was one of this dispersed company, and the bell had doubtless resounded on the shores of France and amid the woods of Oxford before it came to Norwich. It was suspended from a scaffolding erected on the hill near the ridge west of the "Meeting house" and near the path by which the inhabitants of the west end of the town came cross-lots to meeting. It is doubtful if it was hung in the steeple of the new church, although it was ordered to be rung on the Sabbath, and "on all public days, and at nine o'clock in the evening, as is customary in other places where there are bells." Near to this historic old church, facing the Green, is the "old store." It was built by Gardner Carpenter, one of the first traders, and has remained in the family ever since, and is now occupied by one of the descendants, Joseph Carpenter, 3rd, a very old man. Between the store and the church was the tavern of Jesse Brown. In the early part of the Revolutionary war he was in the service of the state as an express agent and confidential messenger, bringing, in October, 1777, the latest news of the Continental Con- gress, then in session at Yorktown, and the occupation of Philadel- phia by the British under Lord Howe. This hotel was famous for its good dinners. Mr. Brown's daughter married a Mr. Vernet, and he intro- duced into the garden of the tavern a grapevine which was known throughout the neighborhood as the Vernet grape. It is thought some of the original vine may still be growing in the garden. In 1817, Capt. Bela Peck purchased the tavern, and lived there until his death in 1850. It was then bought by Mr. Moses Pierce, who lived there several years and then gave it to " The United Workers," as a home for friendless children, and the old tavern is now "The Rock Nook Home." On the corner of " Burying ground lane," was the store of John Perrit, diagonally opposite the house which was later sold to William Cleveland, son of Mr. Aaron Cleveland. On the site of Capt. John Mason's dwelling, which was the first house built in Norwich, was the court house. It was some years since converted into a school house, and remained in use until quite recently. " The key of the court house was given into the custody of Capt. Joseph Tracy in 1736, and a room was made to hold the town's stock of ammunition, and a fine of 53. imposed on any man 'who shall smoke it, in the time of sessions of any town meeting.' " In this court-house in 1767 was read the famous Boston Circu- lar, and a committee of prominent citizens was formed to draw up a report for the next meeting. This consisted of an agreement not to import, or to use articles of foreign manufacture or produce. One clause reads, "And it is strongly recommended to the worthy ladies of this town, that for the future they would omit tea drinking in the afternoon." In 1774, a circular letter from the Boston Com- mittee of Correspondence calling for resistance to the oppressive laws of the mother country, brought out so large an audience, they were obliged to adjourn from the court house to the meeting house. It was used not only for the county court business, but served as a theatre also. In 1791, several "Tragedy's" and a "Comedy" called "The Citizen, or Old Square Toes Outwitted," and "The Female Madcap " were given. The entertainments began at six o'clock. Singing schools and dancing classes were held here. Mrs. Sigourney says, when discords occurred, the master, with more knowledge of music than grammar would say, " There, it is them young treble," referring to the girls of the novitiate, tech- nically called the young treble. Her first dancing master was a Frenchman, whose previous history not even Yankee perseverance could elicit. In front of the court house was the whipping post and pillory. The first newspaper was established in 1773. The press was at first set up in an office at the foot of the Green near the court house, but in July, 1775, was removed to a new building near the meeting house, and for fifty years or more was known as "Trum- bull's printing office." This newspaper was called " The Norwich Packet, and Connecticut, New Hampshire, and the Massachusetts, Rhode Island Weekly Advertiser." It was afterwards entitled "The Norwich Packet and Country Journal." Another printing press was set up on the Green the same year by Judah Paddock Spooner, brother-in-law of Timothy Green, who printed "The Connecticut Gazette, New London at the North West corner of the Parade." The paper used by both firms was manufactured at Leffing- well's Mills on the Yantic. In an issue of the Packet, Sept. 1st, 1785, we find : "Wanted A good new Milch Cow, that is very gentle and orderly Inquire of the Printer." This "inquire of the printer" was a common ending to advertisements in the Packet, and was used by the wits of that time as we use a slang expression. Also, Just Published Price i | 6 (stitch'd in blue) And now selling by J. Trumbull, at his Printing-Office in Norwich, (By the GROSS, DOZEN or SINGLE,) For Cash, Country Produce, Public Securities, or clean Linen Rags 8 THE Youth's Assistant Being A Plain Easy and Comprehensive GUIDE to PRACTICAL ARITHMETIC By ALEXANDER McDONALD. This work was recommended by Nathan Daboll of the Aca- demic School, Plainfield, and was subscribed to by the following gentlemen : The Hon. Samuel Huntington, the Hon. Benjamin Huntington, Gen. Jedediah Huntington, Col. Christopher Leffing- well and others. Another Packet advertisement is : Ebenezer Freeman from Boston Blue Dyer Informs the Public that he carries on the business of dyeing of Cotton, Tow, and Linen a most beautiful blue (in indigo) with the greatest dispatch. Also takes in genteel Boarders. Has a handsome chaise to let. Ladies Gauze Caps, Flys, Handkerchiefs, Aprons &c. ready made in the newest taste at his house leading to the Landing, mostly opposite to Capt. Hubbards also Just opened AT Chelsea HALL upon a liberal Plan and the most reason able Terms A good school for the ad mission of A large number of scholars; where will be taught every necessary branch of Education ; Who- ever will be pleased to place their Children in this Academic School, may depend upon having them well instructed, in The respective branches they shall choose and the greatest attention paid to their morals and good behavior. O^gr" Good Accommodations may be had for Boarding at six shillings per week. (B^T" Grain, Beef, Pork, Butter or Cheese will be taken in part pay for Board and Instruction For further par- ticulars enquire of the Subscribers Hezekiah N. Woodruff. Alexander McDonald. Norwich Landing October 19 1786 On the east side of the Green, Madame Sarah Knight owned and kept as a tavern the house now occupied by the La Pierre family ; her warehouse which was near her home has been con- verted into a dwelling. She was the daughter of Thomas Kemble of Boston. In 1673 he was sentenced to stand two hours in the stocks for lewd and unseemly conduct in kissing his wife at the doorstep, after an absence of three years, on the Sabbath day. In the town records, August 12, 1717, we find: "The town grants liberty to Mrs. Sarah Knight to sitt in the pue where she use to sit in ye meeting house." This church still has in its possession the handsome silver goblet presented to it by her, to be used in its communion service. In 1704 she made the perilous journey, as it was then consid- ered, from Boston to New York on horseback. She wrote a very interesting account of it in her diary which was printed in 1825, and reprinted by the Academy Press in 1891. She relates very graphically her experiences. At one place where she was to lodge for the night, she says "she found everything very neat and clean. After supper she went to bed, but not to sleep, on account of some "top-ers" in the next room. At last she rises, sets the candle on a chest by the bedside, and "falls," as she says, "to my old way of composing my resentments," in the following manner: " I ask thy aid, O potent Rum, To charm these wrangling Topers Dum Thou hast their Giddy Brains possest The man confounded with the Beast And I, poor I can get no rest. Intoxicate them with thy fumes, O still their tongues till morning comes." And she adds, "I know not but my wishes took effect, for the dis- pute soon ended with tother dram, and so Good night." 10 Many of the old houses about the Green and the streets lead- ing to it have a history of Revolutionary interest. The house now owned by Mrs. William Fitch was built by Gen. Jedediah Huntington, who married Faith Trumbull, and served in all the most important engagements of the war. General Huntington probably entertained the younger Talleyrand, and at a ball that he gave soon after peace was declared, Rochambeau and General La Fayette, as well as Washington, were present. Near here lived Lieutenant Tracy, and Gov. Samuel Hunting- ton built the house now owned by Mrs. Charles Young. Here was the centre of gaiety, Miss Caulkins says : " The Governor's nephew, and his wife's niece, the beautiful Betsey Devotion of Windham were frequent guests. After the social chat of the parlor they would repair to the kitchen, and dance away till the oak floor shone under their feet, and the pewter quivered upon the dresser." These pastimes seldom lasted beyond nine o'clock. The good old Norwich custom of ringing the bell at that hour broke up all meetings, dispersed all parties, ended all discussions, and sent all visitors quietly to their homes and their beds. At the head of North Washington Street, a little up the hill, is the house where Mrs. Sigourney lived at the time of her marriage ; she often refers in her poems to the little brook that passed her door. Her youth was spent with Mrs. Dr. Daniel Lathrop, who lived where the Misses Gilman live. Norwich has always had the greatest veneration and affection for her gifted daughter. Mr. Thomas Harland established himself here in 1773 as a clock and watchmaker, and in the Packet, December, 1773, he promises "to do repairing and make watches as fine as can be done in London." It is said the row of trees standing directly in front of the Harland house was set out by Nathaniel Shipman, Sept. 6, 1781, the day New London was burnt by the British. Still farther down the street was the "grant" belonging to the Bliss family. The son of Mr. John Bliss was a distinguished bridge builder, and built the bridge known as the Geometry bridge. It was de- scribed in a newspaper article June 20, 1764 : " Leffingwell Bridge over Shetucket River at Norwich Landing is completed. It is 124 ft in length and 28 ft above the water. II Nothing is placed between the abutments, but the bridge is sup- ported by Geometry work above, and calculated to bear a weight of 500 tons. The work is done by Mr. John Bliss, one of the most curious mechanics of the age." This bridge is supposed to have stood where the Laurel Hill bridge now stands. Across the way from the Bliss home lot, as it was called, was that of Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell or Leppingwell, as it was some- times spelled. Leppingwell means " Leaping well," denoting a boiling or bubbling spring. He took a leading part in all town affairs. The Sheltering Arms was once the property of Thomas Leffingwell, 3rd. Col. Christopher lived on the home lot, and was an ardent patriot. General Washington on one of his visits par- took of the hospitality of the Leffingwell home. He contributed land toward the opening of Broadway, and planted some of the elms which are such an ornament to the city. The Benedict Arnold house was on the site of the one now known as the James Ripley place, and the old well and other surroundings remain as they were in his time. He was apprenticed at one time to Doctors Daniel and Joshua Lathrop. These two doctors and Dr. Philip Turner were the leading physicians of the place. Near the entrance to Mill Lane is the Reynolds house, which is on the original home lot, and is one of the few houses that has some of the original house still in it. The other one is the Gen. Jabez Huntington house, which is the quaintest, oldest and most interesting one in the city. Mill Lane was the thoroughfare to the Landing. It was changed to La Fayette Street, because it was said General La Fayette called on a Frenchman living there named Louis Barriel, a stocking weaver. The triangular plot now the Little Plain was formerly called the Everett Lot. It belonged to Colonel Leffingwell, and after his death was purchased jointly by Hezekiah Perkins and Jabez Huntington, and in 1811 presented by them to the city on con- dition that it should be enclosed and used only as a park. East of the park was the old L'Hommedieu house and rope- walk. This house was a quaint old mansion with a lean-to, and the rope-walk was conspicuous with its red paint. Next the L'Hommedieu house is the one now owned by Mr. B. P. Bishop, which was built some time in the latter part of 1700 by Mr. Thomas Coit. It was purchased in 1816 by Mr. John 12 De Witt, who married Harriet, daughter of Gen. Jedediah, and granddaughter of Gen. Jabez Huntington. The last time General La Fayette was in Norwich he went to see Mrs. De Witt, and asked her if there were any other descendants of Gen. Jedediah living here. Little Sarah Huntington, now Mrs. Edward Hunting- ton, who was living with Mr. Jabez Huntington two houses below, was sent for. She was about twelve years old when she saw him, and remembers him as tall and very thin. When he went away he kissed all the children, and Mrs. Huntington is the only one living, in this city at least, who has had the honor of meeting and being kissed by General La Fayette. Where the Broadway Church stands was an old house called the "Bath house," probably Bath Street was named from it. When there were freshets in the spring the Franklin Street brook would become a river and regularly surrounded the old Bath house. Once while Mr. Dorchester, the Methodist minister, was living there, the water rose so high the family had to be taken out of the chamber windows. He said : " If he had been a Baptist, he shouldn't have minded it so much, but as he was a Methodist, he didn't like quite so much water." Across the street from the Bath house lived Mr. Lemuel Warren, "Daddy Warren," as he was called, and the older people say when they were children they used to go to Daddy Warren's to get frozen apples. It seems a most satisfactory remembrance. A part of Union Square was Mr. Warren's garden, and where the court house stands was the home of Capt. Christopher Vail, master of the packet Venus. On the site of the Central Building, Lower Broadway, stood the old Nathaniel Backus house. This was a very fine specimen of the old dwellings. The paneled front door was a work of art, and very imposing with its immense brass knocker, which, when lifted and brought sharply down, gave forth a sound that re- sounded throughout the house. Entering the door, one found themselves in a square hallway, and facing the stairs which led to the rooms above. The stairs were broken by two "landings;" the sides were of solid wood, beautifully paneled and rich with carving. The rooms were large, the "lights" in the windows small, and the fire-places large enough to contain nearly a cord of wood each. We must not forget the kitchen fire-place with its 13 crane and pot-hooks, and the capacious oven, where were baked the winter's store of mince pies, the pumpkin pies, and the crisp loaves of brown bread. Next to the Backus house was the Grace house on the corner where the Wauregan is, and the Christian Association building and Otis Library occupy ground formerly belonging to Dr. Ripley. The next house of note is on Church Street, just above the Central Baptist Church ; it was built by Mr. Prosper Wetmore and sold by him to Dr. Lemuel Boswell, who for many years was the principal physician of Chelsea. There are several interesting traditions of the Boswell family. They have a very dainty blue satin slipper that belonged to Miss Anne, daughter of Dr. Lemuel Boswell. It is said she used to walk in these slippers from her home on Church Street to Norwich Town to do her shopping. All the ladies of Chelsea used to go to " The Green," a dis- tance of nearly two miles, to do their shopping, for they found there the best assortment of dry goods ribbons, laces, crapes, calimancos, tammys, London dolls, etc. Dr. Thomas Boswell, son of Dr. Lemuel, when a boy was of a mathematical and inventive turn of mind. I was told he used to go up into the attic after school and make drawings and calcula- tions on the rafters, telling the family there would be steam car- riages in the future, and people would ride in them. The family was alarmed about him, thinking his brain was affected from over- study, as at that time anything of the kind was unknown. He was so persistent and talked about it so much, his father determined to send him to sea with his brother, Capt. John L. Boswell, master of the ship Sally. They had not got far from New London when they encountered a severe storm ; the waves were very high and the ship was rolling badly ; a wave swept across the deck and washed young Boswell off, almost the next moment a returning wave brought him back again. The sailors were super- stitious and declared he was a "Jonah." They said he did not want to go to sea, and if he stayed, they would not sail the ship. Captain Boswell was obliged to return to New London and send the young man home. He then decided to study medicine, and became a prominent physician. His daughter, who told me these incidents, went with her father to see General La Fayette when he was here the last time. A great celebration was to take place 14 in the General's honor. He had some slight illness, and her father was sent for the night before ; in the morning he went again and took her with him ; she remembered him distinctly, his features, his uniform, and his genial manner with her father. Dr. Thomas Boswell married the daughter of Nathaniel Pren- tice Peabody, who built the house now owned by Dr. Cassidy and next to those that belonged to Rev. John Tyler. Dr. Lemuel Boswell built the large house on the corner of School Street Lane, now used as a boarding house, between his old home and that of " Parson Tyler." Opposite is the Second Congregational Church, organized Nov. 29, 1751. The meetings were first held in Trapp's tavern, corner of Shetucket and Water Streets (where the Bill block now is), and the people were summoned to worship by the tap of a drum. In 1763 a small wooden building was erected on Main Street, very unpretentious, and without tower or steeple ; so the church bell was hung on the limb of a tree near by and performed its duty there. This wooden church was destroyed by fire ; then the present site was purchased, it had been the regular training ground, and another wooden church built. To defray the expense of building, a lottery to raise 850 was granted by the Legislature. The church was used as a polling place until it was forbidden, because they were so careless about spitting tobacco on the floor. This church was destroyed by fire also, and the present stone church was built. Every precaution was taken to secure this from fire ; among other regulations, the sexton was allowed to demand a quarter of a dollar for every foot-stove left in the house after the meetings were ended. This great fire of 1793 caused the first fire insurance company to be organized here. Let us go back now to Mill Lane, stopping for a few moments at the Falls, made famous by the legend of the pursuit and flight of the Mohegan and Narragansett Indians, and the reckless leap of the latter into the Falls. As the story was told me when a child, some of the Indians leaped across the chasm and escaped, which does not seem so incredible when we remember the mar- velous stories told of their agility in leaping and running, and that the chasm was not so wide as it is now. As we come down town again, we pass through Sachem Street and stop for a moment at the Indian burying ground and Uncas 15 monument. This burying ground extended beyond Mr. William N. Blackstone's place on the north and Mr. Frederick L. Osgood's on the south ; and no doubt the ground is rich with Indian relics, as a friend told me whose mother lived there when she was young, that she used to see them bury their dead with all the Indian rites, placing in the graves wampum, tomahawks, arrowheads, beads, and many personal belongings ? Chelsea Parade was at first known as the Little Plain, to dis- tinguish it from the Great Plain, which was on the other side of the city. Can anyone tell why we call it East Great Plain when it is on the west side of the river, unless it was divided for some reason, and that is the eastern division. On the nth of September, 1793, the 20th Regiment of Infan- try was reviewed on this Plain, and after that, it was always called The Parade. Long before, it had been known as Adgate's three- square lot. Joseph Perkins and Thomas Fanning, two far sighted and generous men, of their own free will and expense cleared this piece of ground of all incumbrances and claims and gave it to the town of Norwich and its inhabitants for a public parade or open walk forever. The house occupied by Rev. Dr. Howe, facing The Parade, was built by Joseph Teel of Preston in 1789 or '90. It was de- signed for an hotel and advertised as "The Teel house, sign of General Washington." It was noted for its fine hall or assembly room, where shows were exhibited and "Balls and Clubs accom- modated." Where General Ely lived was the home of Rev. Alfred Mitchell, and his distinguished son Donald (Ik Marvel) was born there in 1822. It was a fine large mansion, but one sad day it was cut into two parts, raised on jack-screws, and with slow and digni- fied movement retired to the Falls, where the parts were rejoined and became a mill house "sic transit gloria mtmdi." A large portion of Washington Street was through land be- longing to Mr. Simon Lathrop. It followed the river, and the path had been called the West sheep walk, while Union Street and Broadway had been called the East sheep walk. The first house was built by Elijah Lathrop in 1780, others soon followed ; Samuel Woodbridge, afterwards owned by Mr. Richard Adams, Theodore Barrel, a gentleman from Barbadoes, and in 1809 Mr. John Vernet, who married Mr. Jesse Brown's i6 daughter, purchased the Lathrop house (built in 1780), had it moved down the street a little distance, and caused a new house to be built that exceeded in cost and elegance anything that had ever been built in Norwich before. Sudden embarrassments coming to him, he sold his place in 1811 to Mr. Benjamin Lee of Cambridge, Mass. The grounds about the house were very handsome, and it was one of the de- lights of my childhood to walk up Washington Street, and when I came to this place, stick my feet in the wall and pulling myself up, look over at Adam and Eve in the garden. They were mira- cles of art and beauty to me then, and although they do not look quite so large or magnificent these days, I was always glad to see my old and valued friends, and was sorry to have them leave town. They are of historical value, too ; they were made of lead, and be- longed to Mr. Lee's brother who lived in Cambridge, and had them buried all through the Revolutionary war, presumably for fear they might be melted into bullets. Quite a ways down the street was the home of the Clements and Breeds, next above Mr. Harwood. Mr. Jeremiah Clement's daughter Elizabeth married Mr. David Breed, and after his death she married Mr. Aaron Cleveland, ancestor of President Cleve- land. The large elm tree in the centre of Washington Square was planted by Peabody Clement when he was twenty-one years old in what was then the front dooryard of the Clement home. The tree is now (1906) about 160 years old. Mr. John Breed lived there also. Passing on down Main Street we come to the Austin block ; this was at first Kinney hotel, but was later called The Merchants hotel. In the summer of 1833, President Jackson was making a tour of the New England States ; the opportunity was seized to cele- brate the event by having the President assist in laying the corner- stone of Uncas monument. He stopped at Kinney's hotel and a banquet in his honor was prepared for three hundred guests. The dining room was beautifully decorated with greens, and artificial flowers furnished by the milliners, of whom there were several on the opposite side of the street. Mrs. Lee of Washington Street had some cultivated strawberries, the only ones in this vicinity, and they were considered a great luxury. She sent a dish of these 17 to the President, and the old lady, who was ninety years old when she told me of these incidents, said she prepared the berries with sugar and cream and gave them to him ; it was all he ate for his dinner. Another interesting event was the crowning of President Jackson with a wreath of flowers by Miss Ann Lanman, daughter of Judge Lanman, as he sat on the porch of the hotel. She also told me her grandfather kept the tavern on the corner of Main Street and Broadway where the Norwich Savings Bank now is. General Washington stayed there when he passed through Norwich on his way to take charge of the troops at Cambridge, June, 1775. It was called " Cheney's tavern." In the early days, to be licensed to keep a tavern, one would have to be possessed of considerable means, and of some consequence in the community. On the Shannon building corner was the store of Nathaniel Backus, Jr., one of the most conspicuous places of the Landing. As we go through Swallow All, as East Main Street was then called, we pass by Franklin Street, then the road to Lisbon, and come to the Governor Buckingham house. All this vicinity was a hive of sea captains. Governor Buckingham's house was built much later and is associated with later history. General Grant, when President, visited the Governor, and a reception was given in his honor to which the public was invited. Abraham Lincoln is said to have spent a night there also. Many of the Presidents of the United States have visited here, and Mr. La Fayette Foster whose home was on Chelsea Parade, was for a short time Vice- President of the United States. The old toll bridge was an interesting place ; it was covered, and a lady said she used to count the boards going over to take up her mind she was so afraid ; they were so far apart you could see the water rushing along beneath, and she felt every moment she might fall through. Above the bridge, almost in a line with St. Mary's Church, Greeneville, was the old "riding way," or ford, over the Shetucket river, connecting with the old turnpike from Boston to Providence; the same used in all probability by General Washington on his different visits to Norwich. The people living in Preston often used this " riding way " to avoid paying the toll at the bridge. There was an upper " riding i8 way " near Taftville, which was more convenient and probably used much of tener by the Town Plot people ; quite likely this was the one used by Madame Sarah Knight. The first bridge uniting Chelsea and Preston was built by Capt. William Whiting, who obtained a loan of So from the town treasury for this purpose. He was afterwards distinguished for gallantry in the French war on the frontier. This bridge was built 27 years before the Bliss bridge, that being built in 1764. Mrs. Welch told me, in her young days, more than a hundred years ago now, they used to go over this bridge to Tory hill, now called Lanman's, and Pepper's hill, now Laurel, to have picnics. Old Mr. Pepper and his wife lived there, and sold beer and ginger- bread. Across the river the hill was sometimes called Oak Spring hill and sometimes Baptist hill. The wharf bridge was built in 1771 at the instigation of Mr. Gershom Breed. In the Norwich Packet, December, 1773, was the following advertisement of the lottery : SCHEME OF A LOTTERY Granted by The General Assembly of The Col ony of Connecticut at their Sessions in Octob- er 1773 for raising the Sum of ^278 or 926 Dollars for finishing and compleating the great Wharf Bridge at Chealsea in NORWICH viz. 2000 TickETS at *\ Dollars each is 5000 Joshua LATHROP ) SAMUEL TRACY > MAnagers. RUFUS LATHROP ) 4074 Are to be distributed in prizes 926 For the benefit of the bridge 5000 We must not forget that Norwich, or Rocky Point, was en- gaged in shipbuilding at one time many small vessels and one small man of -war were built here and sold elsewhere, because wood was plenty, and it was easy to float them down the river. The European and West Indian trade was quite important, and a source of great wealth to the people of Chelsea. 19 Along the wharves were lying coasting sloops, packets and brigs, and back on Water Street were the mercantile establish- ments ; the most prominent of all were those of Jacob De Witt and Gershom Breed, both established in 1765. On the way to Taftville we pass the monument of Mianto- nomo. The history of this chief is too well known to repeat. If this monument does not mark the place of his death, it does of his capture. At first it was a rude heap of stones, cast there by the Indians, friend and foe alike, though each was actuated by differ- ent motives. It gradually disappeared, and when it was decided to erect a monument, a committee was appointed to determine the place where it had been. Rev. Mr. Shipman's father was one of the number and remembered seeing the heap of stones when a boy. When asked afterwards how he knew where the exact spot was, replied : "I didn't know where it was, but it was no time to balk." Coming across from Taftville, we will make a flying trip to Bean Hill, and just look at the old Meeting house, the Edmund Cookings', Lieutenant Tracy's, Governor Sutton's, Lieutenant Griswold's and other houses, remembering these, too, were the founders of Norwich. At Bean Hill was one of the first potteries in this country. They manufactured a yellow brown salt-glazed earthenware, of which there are very few specimens in existence. This salt-glaze was discovered about 1680 by a servant who lived on the farm of a Mr. Yale. There was an earthen vessel on the fire with brine in it to cure pork. While the servant was away the brine boiled over, the pot became red hot, and the sides were found to be glazed. A potter utilized the discovery and the salt-glaze became an estab- lished fact. Half way down to the "Town Plot" is the Mason monument, which is placed on what is supposed to have been the first burial place of the founders. History and tradition alike say Major Mason was buried here. After a long and, I hope, not too weary a trip so long, how- ever, we have had to leave unnoticed many notable places, I will leave you where we started, at the Norwich Town Green in the old Town Plot. NORWICH RECORD PRINT.