Wally Lamb to be among Norwich Historical Society speakers Monday

Norwich - The Norwich Historical Society will celebrate Norwich in stories told by five notable natives and residents during the society's annual meeting Monday at the Sidney Frank Center at Norwich Free Academy.

The five-speaker program "9 Miles in 9 Minutes" will feature guest speakers Wally Lamb, Norwich-raised best-selling author featured on Oprah's Book Club; Sarette Williams, attorney and member of the Evans Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church; Roger Marien, retired Norwich banker and former minor league professional baseball player; Faith Damon Davison, historian and member of the Mohegan Tribe; and Lewis Randall, NFA sports enthusiast, retiree from the state Board of Education and Norwich native son.

Each will discuss diverse topics, their experiences and stories of growing up and living in historic Norwich.

The program begins at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

The event was inspired by the late William B. Stanley's book "The 9-Mile Square," which will be given as a special gift to those who join the Norwich Historical Society at the Monday event.

The book also will be sold for $25 ($20 for current society members).

More than 70 authors contributed articles to the book, and many of them will be at the event for a book signing.

Denny Gibbs, former NHS board member and current member of the Forgotten Founders' board, will serve as master of ceremonies.

The program will begin following a brief business update by NHS President Bill Champagne, who will announce the new William B. Stanley Lecture Series.

The series will debut April 19 at 7 p.m. in Slater Auditorium with "Steal Away to Jesus: Fugitives and the Underground Railroad in Connecticut," presented by Derrick D. McKisick, assistant professor of history at Fairfield University.

Updated information on the annual meeting can be found on the society's Facebook page, facebook.com/thenorwichhistoricalsociety.