New-York tribune., 1903-07-05
NORWICH OLD HOME WEEK
Natiues of Connecticut Toscn Gather
to Renezc old associations.

Norwich Conn, July CSpeciaI. has been
"a gathering of the clans this week end IN TINS oeau-
xful and typical New-England city-of the clans
hyho call it '-Nor-idge' They have come by nun
sreds from NeW-york to far off California, and the
Eeason for the gathering is found in three words
sold Home Week.
There never has been a city more proud OF her
self and her families and the native will surely
ipsd ..Neyer a city had more reason TO be proud
If IS said that once man has lived in Norwich ne
claims It as his home ever afterward. han d
sdozen Of the greatest names in the citys list OF
isame are of men who not born within the
t.scred limits Of the town. Yet ask these men
whence they came. and they promptly answer
'.Iorridge."
The Old Home Week began on Friday, and by
se,-ening there was hardly house that was not
sr+ar,atning relatives or oIdtme neighbors while
the hotels were full of who had been away
since boyhood. and did not care to accept the nos
rdtality of friends of so long ago. Some or these
Erought their families with them on first visits TO
So ola home They we're the most interested Of
aB participants in the celebration and they were
rthe most interesting
yesterday was the visitors day FOR renewing ac-
.,,ua,ntances with old friends and old landmarks
i-soe+ ~ the men turned their minds back twenty,
l,hirrv and forty years. The women really went
back as far they did not compute the tlIne as
nccurately. Old sunties and uncles were much IN
demand as guides Grandmothers were posluVe
iluxurIes and were excited and happy as girl
graduates
One dear old woman in a white cap led nearly a
uEcore Of her children and grandchildren ABOUT the
town She had a family story for every other
house, and, indeed, they mao IlVeo III nan 'iie N
houses in the town.
we lived here when your father Joined the
church - she declared when this personally con-
ductedf party reached the ancient suburb OF Nor
wich town. She pointed out little house covered
with wide shingles. and figured that the father
must have Joined" some sixty years ago.
you had the scarlet fever in this house. she
said TO 4 woman Of middle age. her daughter
uTrr fTau
wich. but it is changed so you hardly know It.
When was that mother?' asked the daughter
Let me see, let me see" she began. counting OH
.be epochs on the finger ends which stuck from
her black silk ulitts. why, that was the very
time Zephanah Joined the church" The dear OLD
woman computed everything that way
Yes. the old town has improved somewhat" ad-
fnitted son of Norwich who is leaolhg cl'lzeH
fn boom town in Kansas
-'Improyed, somewhat cried an old townsIhah'
s5isg7,sted because the other did not become more
enthusiastic. Il should say it has improved why,
re have electric horse cars on McKipley-ave now
There were horse cars on the avenue before the
froIleys came and the cars have been electric
horse" ever since.
DO you mean TO say that there IS some one Nv
ing IN the old Rockwell house" exclaimed Won-
rn who has not been in Norwich for a number OF
years 1T used to be haunted. and we CHILDREN
would not go within blocks of it. No one seemed
20 know just what sort of ghost it was but no
one would live in the house
.uto another street and paused before modest
cottage. We used TO live here" she said. and fell
70 rnusng There was haunted room in the
s7ouse then the blue Ny brother and sisters
were afraid 10 enter il. AS last resort I was
nrven TO use it as hiding place for my poor treas
1,res Anything was safe after tossed 1t within
the door. but it was an awful ordeal to get things
out again for ghosts are ghosts. even if you have
q charm I remember we had huckleberry
farts Ny brother. who older and stronger
had 10 end Of an appetite for them He gobbled
1,is down in hurry and tried take mine away.
fed with him IN close pursuit. had just time to
omen the door OF the blue room and toss the tart
within It was safe from my brother. but woe
was me later on. That tart lit wrong side up, of
carpet Mother gave such plain talk on ghosts
that all fear Of the blue room was removed and
had no place Of refuge"
All this was from a Of thirtyhve. and
she laughed little. foolish sentimental laugh. 1t
al seemed so long ago and so much had happened
since. I wonder" she began again; Il wonder If
there Is a haunted room in the house today
She called TO q little girl who was sitting on the
porch.
Is there haunted in your house. my
dear?" she asked. after paving the way with pre-
lirninsry questions.
Yes" from the surprised young one. How did
you know"
Which room IS it?" asked the woman
The blue room" answered the child promptly.
I knew the story would stick" the woman said.
almost gloatng. You see we did not want to
move from here. and we hated the family who
moved IN after US. For revenge we told them the
story Of the haunted blue room. They have handed
II down oh, bur it does good to get back to
al this"
There was another man whose boyhood home