Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-03

The opening Of horse fallroad
 service in 1870 which never became
 of adequate length or capacity to
 meet the necessities of the city and
 town, led the way to the first trolley system in eastern Connecticut, and the making of Norwich trolley cen- ter, and has extended our trading zone, increased our pleasures and put the Rose of New England" in hourly connection with all parts of New Eng land.
 Norwich has witnessed but one hor-
 TOT in this half-century-the aims
 house fire-which we refer to only to
 show how from destruction and suf-
 fering new spirit may be born. On its
 ashes, was built bigger and better institution and the towns poor were
 given a better home and better care.
 Shortly after was organized the Unit
 ed Workers to rescue children, or
 phaned and worse than orphaned. and
 to carry comfort and care to the aged
 and the deserving poor. Then through
 the influence, sympathy and liberality
 of one our wealthy citizens the Rock
 Nook home for children, the Shelter
 ing Arms for invalided women, were
 established, the City Mission absorb
 ed. the good work incorporated and
 given permanent headquarters, and then the work of endowment began,
 and the constant bequests, which
 though small aggregate now quite
 sum, should in another half-century
 be made adequate to make forever secure the floblest work in the city-r work which is conducted in the most catholic spirit and has the sustaining sympathy of all the people; and this grand work was crowned with the founding and endowment of the w. W. Backus hospital, an independent institution, MT W. A. Slater infiuenc- ing Mir. Backus to join him in devot- ing for public use over million, and in his modesty and largeness of heart asking no reward CT special rec ognition, finding in this good work am- pie satisfaction. Then the Kings Daughters, recognizing the necessity for a home for old women and men organized a movement which gave a companion institution to 1 the Huntington Memorial Home for l Aged Ladies, with open doors for the | aged of both sexes, incorporated as lHe JOnHSOn nome.
 We have added three parks to our | assets through the liberality of veal | thy citizens, Laurel Hill, given by | Henry Bill, Mohegan park, given by | pr. John A. Rockwell, aed the Lothrop | meadows at Norwich Town, as the | gift of the Gilmans. We are parking 'ur new streets and the taste of the ,itizens tends for an increase of street md city adornment.
 And through the public spirit, polit- cal influence and activity of our lead ng citizens we have added to our in- Ititutions Y. M. c. A. building, a heater an armory, government 'ostoffice, and state hospital for the nsane, which, when developed, prom ses to be the grandest public insti- ution east of the Connecticut river.
 Early in this half century the 1 'atholios led in church building with he erection of St. Pstricks church n Broadway. and they have built four ne churches, one by the Poles. to ay nothing of their parsonages, pa- ochial schools and nunnery; and the 'rotestants have built the Park. the central Baptist, the First Baptist. he Seventh-day Baptist, the Taftville Grace chapel at Yam lc, St. Andrews church and the Swe- ish church at Greeneville, ands the Hebrews have added two synagogues. say nothing of four denominational hapels in different parts of the town. nd the building over of Trinity hurch by the Methodists and two leeting houses by the colored people. { laking total of 21 religious edifces ] rected or improved in this time. ( 'hich speaks well for the religious ( srvor and growth of the place.
 The city has become the leader in le ownership of public utilities in this ate, and let us hope that the prob- ' m will be worked out both to the g edit and profit of the people. g The improvements in dwellings and lslness blocks have been steady since le century opened and the new bank T llldlngs and business blocks have a langed the appearance of the entire e lsiness section of Norwich; and with T e 300 new houses and the annexa- q on Of Preston we have a bigger and ore progressive Norwich than the thers dreamed of; yet, at the open- g Of another half-century we have UT large business blocks under way. 7 70 new bank buildings, and a church .
 prospect, with modern homes pIan-.I II d Tor in the best residential districts
 d well disciplined and modernized e department. Norwich in this fifty years has suf- s red a few reverses, her large estates ' not in quick demand and pron- a y is cheap, and some of her indus u es have failed; but viewed in all its poets the balance is right, and the Irit which has been so markedly " unrest In the past half-century for o oo and advancement is today as IT rt and assuring as eyer u mere are more aliens here than to y years ago, and our metropolitan aracter is disclosed by the various
 guages we now hear spoken on our as eets; but those who are not to the <A nor porn are to the manner born they make citizens of whom the Ai' Y lntry has reason to be proud-thev ol cn the American spirit, they rise to ~ ..
 nrst places of influence and power the. land. they become baptized bv
 spirit of liberty and are among the vest and most heroic defenders of in
 flag tn ust prior to the opening of this ne f-century race riots were disgrac- tn
 sections of New England. What w re called True Americans" were IS
 captains of industry and the learn ae
 wealthy and progressive men; but 10
 men who have the wealth and ry the banner of enterprise today
 the sons of those very aliens. and
 behold in them true Americans, oi
 rnan,s .o,,1. peih anu ooupt wi
 0~NAS'e VI uc III every eXigenCV l vi