Norfolk Then…
This photograph by Marie Kendall was digitized from the glass plate negative she made with her view camera in the 1890s. By scanning the original negative, we are able to see the remarkable details of the scene such as the train in the background crossing the Litchfield Road overpass (look for the blur just below […]
Norfolk Then…
Pictured here is the bungalow that was built in 1907 by Dr. Frederic Dennis, a noted New York surgeon whose family had lived in Norfolk for generations. His summer residence, known as Tamarack Lodge, sat just off Litchfield Road and the hilltop bungalow, designed by architect Alfredo Taylor, was a place to entertain guests, with […]
Norfolk Then…
During the first half of the 20th century, multiple businesses occupied the first floor of Village Hall, now known as Infinity Hall. Built in 1883 as a multi-purpose building, Village Hall provided the town with a commercial complex as well as a much-needed cultural center upstairs, where townsfolk could gather for lectures, concerts, dances and […]
Norfolk Then…
With a new firehouse proposed for Norfolk, here’s a look back at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Shepard Road firehouse on June 6, 1970. Fire Chief Martin O’Connor takes the first dig. Also pictured are (from left): Peter Mulville (builder), Walter Allyn (Selectman), O’Connor, Robin Mead (Chairman of the Building Committee), and Russell Childs (architect). […]
Norfolk Then…
This august group of gentlemen, heretofore identified as the original members of the Norfolk Culinary Institute, has recently been revealed to be a cadre of international spies. They operated out of a modest cabin in the Doolittle Woods, where they convene several times a year to exchange intelligence—anonymously, they thought. “Gentlemen, my a**! Buccaneers, they […]
Norfolk Then…
This photograph of Maple Avenue was taken about 1905. Ten years earlier, in 1895, Norfolkresidents voted on the appropriation of $500 for road improvement. Yet Maple Avenue remaineda dirt road, muddy in the spring, dusty in the summer. The paving of roads was one issue ofpublic interest that sparked heated debate, reflecting the divisive perception […]
Norfolk Then
Pictured here is the house built in 1898 by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Spofford as their summer home. The son of Ainsworth Spofford, Librarian of Congress, Charles Spofford was an electrical engineer, who would be hired in 1902 to manage London’s underground railway system, converting it from steam to electricity. The Spoffords engaged the architect […]
Norfolk Then…
This 1920s postcard shows Memorial Green just after the War Memorial, designed by Alfredo Taylor, was built. It was Taylor’s wife Minna who first proposed that a memorial “heroes grove” be planted on the small lot of land known as the Triangle opposite the Catholic Church. The lot had been left empty with the demolition […]
Norfolk Then…
This 1917 photograph is a timely reminder of the long struggle fought by many dedicated women for basic civil liberties, including the right to own property, hold public office, sit on juries, participate in public assemblies and vote. The group of 25 suffragists—20 women and five men—gathered on the porch following their meeting with Congressman […]
Norfolk Then…
When the railroad was constructed in Norfolk, it was necessary to build several crossings, such as the bridge over Litchfield Road seen in the background of this photograph. The house in the foreground, still standing opposite the entrance to Mountain Road, was the home of postmaster Leo Curtiss and called Twin Willows. The railroad route […]
