Last week of MCS school info, a Puzzle, and a letter to read from 1870 along with a request
Interesting and informative and not in any order
Good Sunday morning to all Norwich and Upper Valley residents and readers,
The weather is not cooperating with my golf tee time so I will improvise and take in a puzzle , read a letter from the past and look into the future (last week of school graduation and activities info). For those who have children in school the week will be a busy one, and the summer even more I would imagine. Oh well! life is good.
On another note , I have included a photo of a nice garden and would like to inform you that I will be doing a photo essay on gardens in the area and ask if you would be interested in sharing your lovely garden photos so all can enjoy. If interested please send them to aboutnorwich@gmail.com I will try to put something together in July.
Enjoy the topics below and thanks to those who provided have this info for my readers.
Thank you Ethan
Here are the topics of interest for you to read and view.
Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle
From: Sarah Rooker <sarah@norwichhistory.org>
Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2024 23:48:00 -0400
Here's your Sunday puzzle. Since it's Dartmouth graduation, I thought I'd
post this puzzle showing how Dartmouth students got to and from school.
https://jigex.com/wwufd
--
Sarah Rooker, Director
Norwich Historical Society
277 Main Street / P.O. Box 1680
Norwich, VT 05055
802-649-0124
www.norwichhistory.orgAnd also from the Norwich Historical Society another letter for you
A letter to Henry Blood Esq (New York)
....and an archive comes home
Click here to listen to the letter
Henry Blood was the director and vice-president of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway between 1870 and 1872 and NHS has (now had) dozens of letters written to him concerning the raising of funds for the new railway. Just a month after this letter was written, on July 20, the rails did indeed reach Emporia. This location proved to be a lucrative location transporting cattle.
Right: Henry Blood, collection Kansas Memory.
Blood was also deeply involved with the dispersal of the Potawatamie lands in Kansas Territory. The Treaty of 1867 certified the purchase of lands by the railroad in exchange for $150,000. The Potawatomi used the funds to acquire a reservation in Indian Territory. Unfortunately no money was alloted for resettlement and for over 20 years, Potawatomi families made their way from Kansas to Oklahoma.  Read more here
Left:Â Chief Crane, Potawatomi delegation to Washington, 1855-65, Library of Congress
Who was Henry Blood and how was he connected to Norwich? We found him in the 1860 Norwich census. Here he is at the bottom of the page. In looking at his record, something immediately stands out: He had $240,000 in real estate and $152,500 in his personal estate. Right above him is listed one of the most successful lawyers in town with real estate valued at $7500. They were neighbors, so how was this possible? It's not a typo--at the bottom of the page the total real estate for the entire page adds up correctly to $284,000.
Further investigation reveals that his wife was born in Tennessee and his children were born in in Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee.Â
Henry Blood was born in Norwich in 1811. Blood was a "planter," land speculator, and businessman. He became a shipping agent in New Orleans and then moved to Nashville where he met and married Laura Shelby, daughter of a plantation owner. The 1850 census lists him as a Planter, residing in Brazoria, Texas, with 15 enslaved workers. Henry moved with his family back to Norwich around 1859 and managed a Tennessee plantation inherited by his wife. Â
Interestingly, while managing his enslaved people from Norwich during the Civil War he at the same time gave each man in Norwich who signed up to fight $10.
Blood died in 1885 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery. His wife, Laura, moved back and forth between Tennessee and Norwich, bringing along her "colored servants."Â
An Archive Comes Home
While reading these papers and investigating Henry Blood, we wondered why we only had his papers from after the Civil War. He must have kept other records, but where were they? We looked through archival listings in Tennessee and Kansas to no avail.Â
This winter an email arrived from a former Norwich resident now living in Minnesota regarding some papers she had concerning a Henry Blood from Norwich.Â
She had used them for years with her history students, but was now ready to sell them. We reached out to Rauner Library to see if they would be interested in acquiring the documents as NHS could not afford to purchase them and we felt that they are of national significance and belonged at an academic institution. Dartmouth was able to acquire the collection and we then donated our letter collection to Rauner so the archive would be complete.
It is an extraordinary story of a Vermonter, heading to the South, making enormous amounts of money and then transferring that wealth after the war to building the West. As a consequence many, many people suffered and died.
Click here to see the listing at Rauner Library
Thank you to Dan Bornstein for narrating this letter.
Thank you to Rauner Library for partnering with us to bring this archive home.
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And last but not least the info for this week at MCS
 Friday, June 7, 2024Â
Important Dates
Wednesday, June 12 - Field Day 9:45pm - 1:45pm
Thursday, June 13 - 6th Grade Celebration, 4:30pm, MCS Gymnasium
Friday, June 14 - Last day of school, 12:10pm dismissal
Marion Cross School Website Calendar     SAU 70 All School/District Website Calendar
Message From The Principal
What a wild weather Friday. Just a heads up that your children had indoor recess, so they may still have some energy to burn off when they arrive home this afternoon!
As the year winds down, there are a few reminders that will make next week run smoothly. The last week of school is full of special happenings and strong emotions. Even though we are all excited for summer time adventures, kids do love coming to school and begin to miss their friends and the predictability of school. Adults, as well, have worked hard to develop strong classroom communities and ending those connections brings about emotions. Next week is a good week to give some extra attention and care to students and adults.
Next Friday, our last day of school is an early release with a 12:10PM dismissal. Your children will come home having had lunch and eager to begin their summer vacation!  Â
Report cards can be found on the Parent Portal after 4PM on Tuesday, June 18th. The report cards will indicate who your child’s teacher will be for next school year. Teachers will have their last work day on Wednesday, June 19th. If you have any questions about the report card that would be the day to inquire. Many staff do not check their email over the summer.
The lost and found at MCS has a healthy supply of lonely clothing and is located in the front vestibule. Please consider taking a few minutes next week to see if any of the clothing belongs to your family. On June 17th, any remaining items will make their way to the Listen Center.
For your anticipation, next Friday the Who’s Wise Words will include thank you notes to departing staff and the lineup of teachers for next school year.Â
Have a terrific weekend,
Shawn
Student Services Update
Yesterday afternoon we hosted two great celebrations. First, Kindergarten families spent time visiting their student’s classrooms and got to see proud presentations of forest experiences. All the families I talked with thought it was a fantastic event that should be replicated next year.
The other event brought students in grades 1 through 6 and many community members to the gazebo to give a proper Norwich send-off to Olympic hopeful Billy Bender. Norwich’s history of sending athletes to the Olympics, mostly winter, but now two Summer Olympics is impressive.Â
I really appreciated seeing the connection between the activities and opportunities that Bill enjoyed growing up in Norwich (Norwich Public Library, 4 square, Mayfest, etc.) and our current students enthusiasm towards those same things.Â
Have a great weekend,
Greg
School News and Information
PE News:
The Field Day countdown is on. Wednesday June 12th is 2 school days away!
What do your children need for field day at MCS?
Sneakers (lots of sandals were broken on field day last year)
water bottle
Towel
change of clothes for the end of the day.
Thank you for all of your volunteer efforts thus far!
Melanie Farwell
PTO Bulletin Board
Field Day Prep Volunteers Needed
Do you have a truck? Are you available on June 11th (or 12th) to pick up (or return) the dunk tank from Hartford Parks & Rec? We need you!
Ms Farwell is also seeking volunteers on June 11th after school to help with equipment organization and watermelon slicing (BYO knife).
Thank you!!!
Staff Birthday Celebration
June 12 is the last Staff Birthday Celebration of the school year and we’re still looking for someone to make a gluten-free dessert. Please sign up if you’re able!
Lost & Found
The lost & found bins and racks are overflowing! Items will be placed outside on the last day of school at pickup. Please plan to take a look to make sure you have all of your child’s belongings before summer vacation. Whatever is left behind will be donated.
Volunteer Appreciation
A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to and/or volunteered for the PTO this year. We were able to host so many fun events - from Popsicles on the Playground in August to the Skating Party with Norwich Rec in January to Walk/Bike/Roll to School Day in May - all because of you! Thank you!
It’s been a pleasure being your PTO president this year.
See you around the playground,
Erin
Courtesy Community Interest Posts
22 Church Street
Norwich, Vermont
802-649-1703
