This view of Thames Street, circa 1900, shows the aftermath of a fire on the corner of Thames Street and West Main Street. In the future, the building in the lower left corner of the photograph would be home to Bokoff’s Hardware Store. The fire-damaged building, called the O’Connor Block, was repaired, and survived until the 1950s. Today, this spot is a vacant lot across from American Ambulance.

Ken Keeley is the author of 12 pictorial books about Norwich history. To purchase any of his books, he can be reached via e-mail at: kenekjr000@comcast.net.