Franklin Square was under 8 feet of water after the Hurricane of 1938, also referred to as “The Long Island Express” because it was so powerful it went over Long Island like it wasn’t even there, dumped days of heavy rain and raised the harbor into Franklin Square. Norwich firemen use their rowboat “The Winnie” to rescue stranded citizens. This view shows how the water made its way up Franklin Street, past the Norwich Bulletin, to Willow Street. Every storefront on Franklin Square, Franklin Street, and Bath Street were flooded, destroying the stores and ther inventory.

Ken Keeley is the author of 12 pictorial books about Norwich history. He can be reached at kenekjr000@comcast.net.