Two events held on a September Saturday provided glimpses into the history of the Rose City.

Descendants of an original Norwich settler traveled from across the country for a dedication and open house at the Hugh Calkins House. The rundown small white Cape, located at 232 West Town St. across from a Charter Oak Federal Credit Union branch office, is believed to have roots dating back to the 17th century.

President of the Calkins Family Association, Melissa Calkins, said the group’s purchase of the property last year came very close to not happening. Calkins said she received a phone call on a Friday in April, 2020, from Regan Miner, Executive Director of the Norwich Historical Society, informing her that the building was slated for demolition on Tuesday by the now former owner, with the land to be marketed for commercial development.

Calkins said she immediately contacted the association’s vice-president, Nanette Armstrong, who lives in Arizona. “I called the Realtor listing the property on Saturday, as well as Regan,” Armstrong said. “The Realtor told me to send a letter of intent to buy the site on Monday. The association held an emergency board meeting virtually, and gave the go-ahead to proceed with the purchase.”

The association secured a private loan for $120,000 and the closing happened in June.

“I told the Realtor that our association only wants the site if the building isn’t torn down,” said Armstrong. “If it’s demolished, we’re not interested.” The Realtor assured her the demolition would be delayed.

About 45 Calkins family descendants gathered for the open house and heard a brief history of the property, as well as plans to restore the site. Calkins says a $20,000 grant from the State Historic Preservation Office has been used to hire a Massachusetts-based firm to design the restoration, and more important, determine how old the house actually is. “I’m anxious about that,” she said. Armstrong said genealogy conducted so far indicates a house on the site as far back as 1674. Whether it’s the current structure isn’t known right now.

Calkins says the architectural group will also determine what portions of the house are part of its initial construction, and what was added in future years. The association plans to restore the house to its original historic configuration, and make it into a museum, genealogy center, and library. A final report from the consultant is due by December.

Calkins said there are features of the house that will definitely be removed, including dormers on the front, a rear first-floor room, and storage room. Some moldy materials have already been taken out, such as “tacky gold shag carpet, and old yucky wallpaper,” according to Calkins.

A tree that hung precariously over the house has been removed, and brush clearing and lawn mowing has been done, all donated.

A tarp hangs over the roof in the rear of the house, because of a leaky roof. Tropical Storm Elsa caused some damage to the tarp. Calkins said the association is in the process of applying for a $70,000 grant to repair the roof.

Association members who attended the open house were allowed to go inside the rundown house, but few did, due the structure’s severe deterioration. They opted instead to look in from the outside.The smell of mold and mildew was evident.

Speakers at the ceremony, though, were heartened to see such interest in preserving the historic structure. “We were about four days away from losing this building,” said Miner. “We now have a huge win for Norwich history.”

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, said she liked to see so many members of one family gather together in one location. “This really is what it’s all about,” she said. “Having the family come together so you don’t forget where you come from, and you remember all the bits and pieces of your family history..”

Calkins and Armstrong were presented with a replica sign that said “Deacon Hugh Calkins 1659 A.D.”, complete with a drawing of a rose, to symbolize Norwich’s designation as the Rose City. A similar plaque, minus the rose, hung in front of the house for many years, but has since been lost.

The new sign will hang on the front of the house, once its restoration is complete. Plaques designating the Calkins House as being listed on the state and national Register of Historic Places were also presented.

Donations to the restoration work are being sought. A GoFundMe page has been established, and has raised $5,477 of its $9,862 goal.

Contact Melissa Calkins at mjcalkins817@gmail.com for information on donating either money or time toward the restoration.

Calkins says future fundraisers are in the works. She hopes to have the restoration complete in six years.

“It’s going to be a marathon, not a sprint. It will be successful, though. It’s in our DNA,” she said.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Norwich history buffs gathered in front of the Leffingwell House Museum on Washington Street to witness the annual presentation of Benedict Arnold’s “leg” to the mayor of Norwich. The ceremony, arranged by the Flock Theater of New London, presents a coffined replica leg in a colonial boot to represent what is considered to be the only “good part of Arnold,”, according to the President of the Society of the Founders of Norwich Dayne Rugh.

Arnold injured his leg numerous times while fighting for the colonies during the American Revolution, including key victories at Valcourt Island and Saratoga in New York.

Norwich’s infamous native son, of course, is remembered for eventually turning against the colonies, and siding with the British. He led the redcoats in the Battle of Groton Heights in September 1781 that led to the burning of New London.

Colonists would later begin the tradition of burning Arnold in effigy in the Whaling City, which has since been resurrected by the Flock Theater. That ceremony, though, hasn’t been held for a couple of years because of the COVID pandemic.

Rugh stressed that the leg ceremony in Norwich is not meant to glorify Arnold’s treason.

“It’s really just the opposite,” he said. “We’re here to educate people regarding Arnold and his history. He is without a doubt the most recognizable name when it comes to the history of Norwich. You can’t ignore it....You want to make sure there are no more Benedict Arnolds in the future.”

Rugh said Arnold’s decision to turn traitor was not a simple decision for him. “He wasn’t born evil,” he said. “He wasn’t born with the intent of betraying his nation. Ironically, had he died from his leg wounds at the Battle of Saratoga while fighting for the colonies, he would be regarded today as an American hero.”

Ceremonies at the museum included separate presentations from Arnold interpretor Kevin Titus. He first portrayed Arnold as a commander for the American side, dressed in a colonial-era military uniform. He later spoke as the Arnold who became a British commander, in replica redcoat attire.

Rugh says the leg ceremony attracted the largest attendance ever since it began eight years ago.