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Continued from Signs of Norwich Part One Having reached the divided highway just before the Interstate 91 entrance, I crossed Main street and headed back toward the Norwich village center. The first sign I encountered was this sign at the entrance of the town, "Centennial gift of The Norwich Women's Club". I think it's neat that Norwich, and some other nearby towns were chartered on July 4th. The royal governor who issued the charter at that time, had no idea what that date would mean, fifteen years later, when our Declaration of Independence was issued. Sign at the entrance to Norwich from Route 10A. Upon taking the above photo I noticed an area that seemed to be graded uphill, toward the interstate on-ramp. There were a few nice old maples flanking what might have been a roadway at one point, and I wondered if this might have been the old route of Lewiston Hill Road, before the interstate was built. Looking toward town, from above the Norwich sign, near the I-91 entrance. Here is what this area looked like on a 1961 D.O.T. map: Here is a transition map, from the Vermont Department of Transportation, showing both pre-interstate, and post-interstate roads: Above, in the lower left is an interesting question: "WILL THE PROJECTED INTERCHANGE STRANGLE THE LIFE-LINE BETWEEN NORWICH AND HANOVER?" The view below: Looking toward Lewiston, through the chain link fence above the Interstate entrance, I could imagine the days before the interstate. There must have been an awful lot of digging going on! Looking across I-91 and entrance ramp toward Lewiston, from Norwich. But let's get back to the Signs of Norwich today: The following photo shows part of a sign: Here is the other part: Uh-oh! The Lions are here in Norwich, and they are a very busy group of community minded folks, who's focus is to help others. This type of sign, for a benevolent association, is often seen at the entrance to a town: Lions Club is active in Norwich Here's our neckless friend again. This time he's letting us know we should be cautious, because there will be a crossing "AHEAD". Pedestrian Crossing AHEAD Here's an interesting trio: Appalachian Trail, A Chinese (?) sticker, and an M.I.A. sticker. A closer look at the two on the utility pole: The next sign shows our footless friends, again. Do you know why this sign is shaped like home plate? I like the way the following sign begins: "Welcome" As we proceed to the school entrance, we can see a few safety related signs along the driveway: The next sign is a little blurry, but I think it may be one of the predecessors to today's neckless sign characters. This one looks like an older version: Here's one more, at the schoolyard: A sign of the times for someone like me, who grew up with a lot of second hand smoke in public places. Meanwhile, back on Main Street: The Other Side of the Rapidly Flashing Bulb Pedestrian Crossing If you happen to amble on to the green, you'll see that we have a great little water fountain in town. If you look closely, you can see a little sign on it: If you look really closely, you can read it. It's also a sign of the times. I find temperance to be an interesting term. Technically, it means moderation or restraint. ERECTED BY THE WOMENS CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION NORWICH, VERMONT 1925 If front of the Bandstand there is a tribute to a local hero, Alden Partridge. Historical Marker in Honor of Alden Partridge I am still amazed by the fact that Alden Partridge, as early as the 1820's, used to take groups of students on overnight trips, hiking up into the White Mountains, walking all the way from Norwich, bush-whacking up the great peaks, and sleeping under the stars. I guess he'd approve of the Appalachian Trail running through Norwich, and his plaque lying along the Trail. Thanks for walking down Old Roads, Rivers and Rails of the Upper Valley with me, Bob Totz. If you haven't subscribed yet, just send an email to [email protected], and we'll add you to the club. Norwich Vermont, Main Street. Photos taken January 29, 2020
7 Comments
Toni Richie
3/20/2020 09:25:07 pm
Too too too many signs! Vermont must be the sign capital of the world. The signs that are most irksome are those ubiquitous ones that say "No Passing Zone " and "End No Passing Zone". Why can't the highway lines suffice?
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Bob Totz
3/20/2020 11:54:40 pm
There's a ban on billboards in Vermont,
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Sandy Chivers
3/23/2020 07:48:56 am
I grew up in Hanover, my cousin grew up across the river on McKenna Road in Norwich. We'd walk down the Lewiston Hill Road to the store and get penny candy all the time. I do remember the road. When this virus has abated, I'd be glad to (hopefully) show you where it began, from McKenna Road.
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jJoyce Childs
3/23/2020 09:03:21 am
What a great way to start my day, especially on a Monday.
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Jack E. Shepherd, jr
3/23/2020 11:42:25 am
My grandmother, living in Kansas, was a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), which (of course) was a Prohibition-era organization opposing the drinking of alcohol. Thus, a water fountain. . . .
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AuthorI'm Bob Totz, retired VT postmaster, and historical geographer ARCHIVES:
October 2021
EXPANDED ARCHIVES: AUGUST 2021 1858 Johnson Map of North America MAY 2021 1795 - "Road Over the Mountain" - Part Two Historic Toll House For Sale 1795 - "Road Over the Mountain" Part One OCTOBER 2020 Finding That Special Peaceful Place AUGUST 2020 Kayaking on the Pompy JULY 2020 Pt. 2: What the Heck Are These Things? JUNE 2020 Bob's Bio... What the Heck Are These Things? Pt. 1 MAY 2020 Stone Walls and Spirits The View APRIL 2020 Sunny Brook Farm Relics: Pt 2. Sunny Brook Farm Relics: Pt 1. MARCH 2020 Signs of Norwich Pt. 2 COVID-19 Tracking Map Centertown and Valleyquest Signs of Norwich Pt. 1 "Imperfect Union" - Book Review Historic Centertown FEBRUARY 2020 King's Hwy Pt. 2 WRJ Museum at Post Mills Airport Chatauguay Vermont The Independent Farmer poem Traveling Along the King's Highway - Lebanon NH JANUARY 2020 Finding Parkhurst Cemetery In Search of Parkhurst Cemetery Affordable Housing The Old Stone Grill Two Rivers Trail-Kmart License and Registration, Please! Prohibition, Murder and Dr. Seuss Peace, Paris, & P.O. DECEMBER 2019 BLOGGER'S LINKS Welcome to Old Roads Love-Quail Hollow fun Dartmouth Cemetery SEPTEMBER 2019 E. Thetford Cemetery JUNE 2019
Taps: Meetinghouse Cemetery 4-Corners Borders Quest Old Iron Gate Stumbling Upon History Sunrise Walk MAY 2019 4 Corners Cemetery Strafford's Abandoned Foundations Art in Old Stonework APRIL 2019 Strafford Tpke Pt 2 Strafford Tpke Pt 1 White River Valley FEBRUARY 2019 Learning from Historic Maps of the Upper Valley Change in Lewiston VT JANUARY 2019 A Vermont Ski Waltz John Ledyard 1773 What is the Upper Valley? DECEMBER 2018 Dartmouth Green Music Video: Sometimes Music Video: Montreal Express Railway Disaster of 1887 |