Town of

Norwich, Vermont

     About Norwich, Vermont

1765: First European settlers to winter in Norwich
1766: First saw mill on Blood Brook
1768: First town meeting held in Norwich
1771: Norwich had 40 families and 206 inhabitants
1775: Rev. Lyman Potter called as first minister
1777: Norwich sent two representatives to Westminister where Vermont independence was declared
1778: First meetinghouse started
1785: Vermont legislature met in Norwich
1790: Peter Olcott became second Lieutenant Governor in Vermont
1791: Vermont joined the U.S. Union as 14th state
1819: Captain Alden Partridge established A.L.S & M Academy in Norwich
1835: Academy chartered as Norwich University by Vermont Legislature
1866: After burning of South Barracks, University moved to Northfield, VT

1875: The "Old Corner Store" at Norwich village consumed by fire.  The Baptist meeting-house at West Norwich demolished and removed to Sharon Village.

1880: Norwich Public Library established in December.

1889: Union Hotel and connecting buildings destroyed by fire.

1990: "The Newton Inn" erected by Dr. W. S. Bowles.

1892: Ames' steam mill burned in August; rebuilt and again destroyed by fire, October, 1893.

1897: Academy building, formerly the north building of Norwich University, destroyed by fire.

1898: School building, Norwich village, erected.

1901: First observance of Old Home Week.

1927: Flood

1938: Hurricane.  Town hall completed and opened.

1963: Dresden School District last bill JFK signed before his death in 1963.

1971-2: Dresden went interstate.

1951: Addition to school building.

1989: Another addition to school building.

1915: Community bandstand built.