Linda Perkins is sworn in as her replacement

By Bob Bumcrot

One for the record books: Anne Moses, with Linda Perkins (left), steps down after 40 years as Town Clerk of Norfolk.

On a warm, sunny November 15, Norfolk Town Clerk Anne Moses did something different in her 40 years of service to the town. She swore in her replacement, Linda Perkins. The Town Hall ceremonies began with the posting of colors, pledge of allegiance and national anthem conducted by Norfolk Boy and Girl Scouts. Moses then administered the oath of office to the newly-elected members who were in attendance. With the exception of Perkins, those sworn in will take office immediately. The Clerk’s term begins on January 4, the first Monday in 2010. Perkins opted to be sworn in with everyone else. First Selectman Sue Dyer, the last to be sworn, was the only speaker. Most of her remarks were in praise of Moses and her lengthy career in office. At the close of the brief ceremonies, Moses became emotional and apologetically invited the audience to have refreshments. Born in Lakeville, Moses moved to Norfolk in 1953. On October 5, 1968, she was appointed Town Clerk to fill out the term of Mary M. Hall, who had served for about four years. “In my first election I had two opponents,” she recalls. “The term of office was two years, which was later changed to four. For some time I have been cross endorsed.” After a quick look at town records she verified that she is the longest-serving Norfolk Town Clerk, since the position was first established in 1754. Moses expressed no surprise that the position predates the 1758 charter of the town. “Town clerk is the oldest office there is,” she says. “It goes back to the scribes of bible times.” In her earlier days in office, Moses was truly a scribe, making index entries with india ink and a straight pen. Later, information was typed on large ruled sheets that were then bound in ledgers. Now everything goes into a computer. In addition to technological innovation, she has witnessed many other changes in town. “There used to be lots of stores here,” she says. “Cars were parked on both sides of Route 44.” Moses plans to spend much of her retirement at her house in Port Orange, a seaside community of 56,000 near Daytona Beach, Florida. She expects to be visited by Norfolk friends, some of whom have already moved to the Sunshine State, as well as by her sons Charles (a Harwinton resident) and Tom (who resides in Torrington), her four granddaughters and her great-granddaughter, who lives in Maine. “I have many good friends here,” she adds, “and I’ll certainly come back to visit, especially in warm weather, even after my Norfolk house is sold.” Newly-elected Town Clerk Linda Perkins, a Philadelphia native, moved to town in 1968. “Before then I loved coming here to escape the hot Philly summers,” she says. “I’m here by choice, not by chance.” With a Masters of Education from the University of Hartford, Perkins taught school for a while, worked on title searches in a law office, and for many years was a travel agent. She raised two daughters, Heather (now in Far Rockaway, NY) and Barbara (who is here in Norfolk) and has two grandsons. Perkins is on the Historic District Committee and has served on the Economic Development Commission as well as many other groups. When the role of the travel agent seemed increasingly endangered by the Internet, Perkins began to consider other employment. One day, standing on her porch, Perkins, a long-time Deacon at the Church of Christ Congregational, prayed “Lord, what should I do?” The name Anne Moses popped into her mind, and they began working together part-time in January. “Anne and I have been friends for 40 years,” says Perkins. “She’s been a great teacher. But I’ve told her when she moves to Florida, I’m going to put her on speed dial.”