The intersection of West Main Street and Thames Street was once a smaller Franklin Square, serving the West Side. Budnick’s Seafood, Hanson’s Meat Market, Cooper Drug Store and Bokoff’s Hardware were a few of the dozens of stores serving the hundreds of residents living on the West Side Hill.

In the 1950s the new Route 52 (now I-395) eliminated the heavy traffic going to New London through Thames Square. Businesses relocated to the exits of the new turnpike, abandoning their Thames Square location. Today, from this vantage point, you see American Ambulance.

Ken Keeley is the author of 13 pictorial books of Norwich history, including his newest book, Norwich — “Our Glorious Past.” To purchase any of his books he can be reached on Facebook or via e-mail at kenekjr000@comcast.net.