Norwich — The Ponemah Mill went silent decades ago, but the gigantic cotton mill left behind an enduring village where descendants of thousands of French Canadian workers still live in their mill town duplexes and hold onto fond memories.

Taftville will break out in celebration this week with a four-day festival that will serve as a village reunion for many families, with relatives from afar planning trips to their hometown neighborhood to mark the 150th anniversary of the village.

A committee of 30 to 40 volunteers has been planning the event for months, and tri-chairman Greg Schlough said all the group needs now is a big turnout and good summer weather.

“People from all over country, former Taftville residents, plan to fly in and see the village,” Schlough said. “It should be a lot of fun. It's been a lot of work. It's coming together so nice right now.”

The festival will run Thursday through Sunday at Wequonnoc School on Providence Street/Route 169 and the Taftville Fire Department across the street. Hours will be 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The festival will feature the return of the Taftville carnival, once a summer staple event, open all four days at Wequonnoc School. Craft booths and vendors will accompany the carnival.

Saturday's events will kick off a 10 a.m. parade, led by the Taftville Fire Department, other fire departments, school groups and civic groups. The parade will start at Taftville Congregational Church and will progress to Providence Street to the fire station.

On Saturday, the Taftville Fire Department will sponsor a celebrity dunk booth. Acting City Manager John Bilda and Alderman Mark Bettencourt, Taftville Fire Chief Tim Jencks and other fire department members and festival organizers will take turns in the booth.

Saturday also will feature a children's health and safety fair. The Norwich Lions Club will offer free children's eye screenings.

Norwich police will run a car seat installation checkpoint, and the local Masonic order will offer children's fingerprinting and computer database registry. Four bicycles will be given away in free drawings.

On Friday Taftville VFW will run a clam chowder and fritters night at 5 p.m. at the Taftville fire department, and on Saturday Sacred Heart School Association will host a chicken barbecue, also at 5 p.m., at the fire department.

Throughout the festival, Taftville history will be on display at the fire department. Ponemah Mill artifacts, village memorabilia and historic photographs from the extensive collection of the 100-year life of village photographer Rene Dugas will be on display.

Relatives of Rene Dugas, his cousin, former Major League Baseball player Lefty Dugas and longtime Taftville constable and unofficial “mayor of Taftville” Ray Boening will attend and recall village life.

Admission to the carnival and museum are free. Handicapped parking for those with official handicapped stickers will be available at Wequonnoc School and in the immediate vicinity. Public parking will be along the streets throughout the village.

For information about the festival, go the Facebook event page: The village of Taftville 150th anniversary festival. or contact Schlough at (860) 608-2396 or the Taftville Fire Department at (860) 887-6676.

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday

Ubox:

Taftville 150th anniversary festival, Wequonnoc School and Taftville Fire Department, Providence Street, Taftville. Carnival, music, food, crafts, history display.

Thursday and Friday: 5 to 10 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.

Admission free.

Information: Facebook page “the village of Taftville 150th anniversary festival” or contact Greg Schlough at (860) 608-2396 or the Taftville Fire Department at (860) 887-6676.