Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-01-19
DEVELOPMENT OF NORWICH
Stereopticon Lecture by Prof F. p CULVER Describes it
from 1659to the Present Time with Its Many Changes
Old and Interesting Views--Reasons for Slow
Growth and Suggestions to Promote Growth.

many other larger cities. The water
supply can be increased, as there is
/ Pease brook and Gardner Lake. The
three forms of government offer some
4 drawback but as yet Norwich is but a
group of villages and there are needed
/ boulevards connecting these villages.
Norwich has always consisted of villages
which was the reason for the many
petitions for sections to be set off.
Trolley facilities are greatly needed. a
trolley line could be run up Broadway
or Bath street, circling through Dur
kee lane into Franklin street, around
which curve every car shoul1 pass and
have a central station in Franklin
street at the corner OF Durkee lane
and Franklin street, where there are
old buildings which could be done away
with. The freight business should be
done at the freight depot by line
through Shetucket street and possibly
! the electrification of part Of the
steam road to the freight house. There
should be a trunk electric lineup Wash
| ington street, going through to Yantic,
Lebanon, Colchester and Hartford.
He showed maps of Norwich in 1911
and 1888, showing the five turnpikes,
three from the Norwich Town section.
TO Canterbury, Lebanon. Colchester
and Hartford, and two from the city
to New London and Providence. An
He referred to fact that the West
side In 1927 wanted to be set off
because the Yantic was a turbulent
stream and could not be crossed often
times and as dangerous at all times
and because there were six fire en-
eines in the city and none on the
west Side. It was to be known as
the town Of Mount Pleasant.
Fill in Yantic Cove.
Yantic cove, he said, should be filed
in and with that done there could be
a street laid out from Rockwell street
at Broadway through the Mowry ruins
across Washington street and the
Roath place for something of value,
he claimed had to be destroyed in
making improvements, and by a grad
ual slope down the hill. On the other
side, by following the valley. Asylum
street near Alice could be reached by
a gradual rise and in that lays the
great future of Norwich in the time
when 1t has 10000 to 100000 inhabi-
tants. Another road could be laid out
from Munroe street and cross the filled
in cove down into Falls avenue, and
he showed how the unoccupied land
should be made available for such
plants as the John 7. Young Boiler
Co., OF which he showed an advance
sketch which drew forth much ap-
plause.
The territorial limits Of the city
have changed many times. Once in
1884 it was cut down and IN 1927 the
effort to have the West Side and
Norwich Town separated from the
rest resulted in Norwich Town be-
ing cut off and made countrihed,
and he showed views of the old
and stocking mill. In 1853 Norwich
was reduced to its smallest area. being
then without Boswellville and Greene
vile, while from 1853 to 1870 it had
its banner period Of growth. In 1874
GreeneVille was added, and for
time there was a section between,
known as Boswellville, which did not
come in and Norwich was a divided
city, but that was added in 1875, as
was Laurel Hill.
East Side Was Returned.
In 1901 the East Side was added, be-
ing part Of what was once rtven to
Preston. The city fathers, however,
when that part was given to Preston
cid not give the river but retained
1t even to the high water mark so
they retained all of value and It was
necessary to return that district In 1907
there was an addition Of the new park
Maps were shown illustrating these
conditions.
The filling in Of Yantic cove can
be done, as 1t was given to the city by
an act Of the legislature and all that
is necessary is push, and the canal
through the Shetucket can be secured
through the government Old views of
the Greenevfle mills were shown An
excellent likeness of Secretary Tibbits
was shown as the man who could
bring about the results.
The delight of the board was ex-
pressed by Vice President Tracy. who
moved the vote Of thanks and the
honorary membership.