How Bean Hill Got Its Name
“The origin of the savory old name, Bean Hill, is thoroughly affirmed, I think, by several histories of the settlement of New England, which assert that those who first visited this region were prospectors under an invitation from Uncas. They struck upon this cozy little patch of table land having its rear a rolling meadow in its warm southern front divided by a beautiful fish-stocked river, beyond which lay another strip of tableland skirted by a romantic range of highlands, the Wawecus Hills.”
“The weary and hungry prospectors, being favorably impressed with the locality, halted, and casting about for greatly needed food, they discovered pots of beans deposited in the earth. Considering them an equivalent to the manna sent to the Israelites, they joyfully appropriated them, and for the time being acknowledged with thanksgiving the providential meal, since which time, and most appropriately, too, not only upon and around this original Puritan bean mount, but wherever the foot of her descendants press the soil, the savory rye and Indian bread and dish of baked beans continues to be the Saturday night and seventh-day meal.”
Excerpt from Info Source
Acknowledgements
“Reminiscences of Bean Hill”, (1896), page 295, by Burrell W. Hyde
Why Founders Moved From Saybrook To Norwich
“It has been said that the Norwich settlers, being for the most part farmers, were driven from Saybrook by the crows and blackbirds. This story is at least suggestive of a great nuisance in the early days of our country. It is well know that clouds of the gormandizing fowls, darkening the sky, and filling the air with clamor, would come down upon the newly planted maize, in the late May or early June, when the young shoots could be easliy torn up, and in a few days leave the fields of a whole district in ruin. These cormorants were peculiarly troublesome upon level corn-fields, near the sea, or large rivers, obliging the farmer to plant and replant, and sometimes destroying prematurely the whole harvest.”
“In most of these settlements by-laws were made rendering it obligatory upon every man to destroy, during the three spring months, a certain number of crows, black-birds, wood-peckers, jays, and other grain-devouring birds. A dozen was the usual number required, with a premium for all over a dozen, and penalties imposed on those who fell short. Thus, it appears an annual war, not only with wild beasts, venomous serpents and pilfering animals that burrowed in the ground, but with predatory fowls swarming in the air.”
“But that the people of Saybrook were routed from their habitations, and forced into exile by the inroads of voracious birds, was doubtless a pleasant satire rather than a fact.”
Excerpt from Info Source
Later in text from the Info Source the author wrote:
“most people who consider the circumstances will coincide, that Mr. Fitch and his congregation relinquished their Saybrook grants in the hope of finding accommodations better adapted to their pursuits and aspirations at Norwich.”
Maybe it was the birds, …. but, no one really knows for sure why the Norwich founders left Saybrook.
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, page 55, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
Norwich Pied Piper
“An early Norwich Pied Piper used a violin to charm rattlesnakes and is reported to have come into town from Waweekus Hill with assorted snakes, varmints and goats trailing after him. Many settlers raised goats because those animals could resist rattlesnakes and subsist on the rocky pastureland.”
Excerpt from Info Source
Acknowledgements
Methodist Chapel Floats Down River
“One of the most interesting legends of Norwich – and a favorite story of Aaron Cleveland, the great-grandfather of Grover Cleveland, who was a noted politician, speaker, writer, Congregational minister and abolitionist – concerns the overflowing of a stream in March 1823. The sudden rise of water washed away the Methodist Chapel which, with its lights still burning, is reported to have sailed serenely down the river and past astonished skippers on Long Island Sound.”
Excerpt from Info Source
Acknowledgements
“Connecticut Encyclopedia” (2015), page 256, by Jennifer Herman
1851-1870
Wawecus Hill Gold, Silver & Nickel Mining Co.
In the 1850's several Norwich residents were convinced that gold and other precious metals had been found in the northwestern part of Norwich. A start-up company the "Wawecus Hill Gold, Silver & Nickel Mining Company, sold mining rights. The company was first formed in 1851 and was organized with a capital of $500,000. ($15,700,000 in today's dollars). Jesse Fillmore of Providence, RI was its President and largest stockholder.
The company was based upon the supposition that rocks in the area contained gold, silver, and nickel. A 100 year mineral lease for a land area of approximately 100 acres was obtained.
The idea that the area contained valuable minerals was first suggested by G. M. Roberts, a young man whose interest was first aroused to the idea, by what seemed to him, as the smell of sulphur when rocks in the area were broken apart. Subsequently, Reuben Safford, an agent of the company, spent a considerable time on the premises in search of fortune. He made repeated digging and exploring efforts in the bed of rock where the minerals were suppposed to be situated.
The 1868 company report shows 37 investors owning shares of stock. There were a total of 20,000 shares, with a par value of $25 for each share, ($780 in today's dollars). There were 7 investors who held more than 1000 shares. 1000 shares would equate to a value of approximately $783,000 in today's dollars. The report lists the par value as $25 per share, and, the market value is listed as "unknown".
The Company never produced any gold, silver, or nickel. But ... the brook that runs through the area still bears the name proudly, "Goldmine Brook".
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, page 624, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
Connecticut Historical Society
Ghosts in Leffingwell House
The following is an excerpt from Info Source 1:
Built in 1675 in Norwich, Leffingwell House has a rich history in Connecticut. But there’s also been some spooky activity there, which is why The Atlantic Paranormal Society, or TAPS, was sent to investigate. “Leffingwell was Lieutenant Thomas Leffingwell and he acquired the home and turned it into a tavern,” explained tour guide Arthur Mueller.
During the Revolutionary War, George Washington was known to visit the tavern to conduct important business. “He ordered supplies here from the Leffingwell family who basically provided commissary services for the army,” Mueller explained.
But amongst this rich history, also lies some mysterious activity. “Several of the guides here other than myself have had doors close on them,” Mueller said. “Others have not been pushed but perhaps stumbled when they felt that they should have had sure footing.”
That’s where TAPS comes in. “TAPS is a very science-based organization,” explained lead investigator Traci Boiselle. The team uses devices to detect electromagnetic fields, read temperature, and record audio and video. “So we’re trying to document quantitative data that we can provide to clients and say here’s what we can prove,” Boiselle said.
TAPS’ investigations of Leffingwell House revealed some spooky findings. “We heard a lot of unexplained knocking in the house that seemed to be in response to our questioning and at our request at times,” Boiselle explained. “Footsteps were heard across the main floor and we heard those as well in the basement coming from above us. The door handle right here on the front door rattled on its own and moved.”
An investigator’s headphones mysteriously swayed as they rested on his laptop, and a group of people saw a dark figure dart in front of a tavern room window. “It actually made me step back because it was one of those things that it was so shocking that your brain is trying to figure out what’s going on,” Boiselle said.
After the investigation, audio was combed through for electronic voice phenomenon, EVP, believed to be spirits from beyond communicating. In one clip, you can hear investigators as they wrap up their research, and a voice respond, ‘Good.’” In another from the tavern room, a male voice can be heard grunting.
“So from our two investigations here at the Leffingwell House, definitely would say there’s some sort of paranormal activity,” Boiselle said. “I’m not sure who or why. Definitely audio evidence indicates the presence of at least one male or one female spirit in the home.”
Acknowledgements
“Tales of Ghosts at the Historic Leffingwell House in Norwich, Connecticut”, (10/31/2018), by Meghan Yost, WTNH