On Aug. 5, 2020, the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office Council approved a Survey and Planning Non-Matching Grant in the amount of $20,000 to hire a consultant to complete a historical context with geographical social history mapping, for Cape Verdean people in Norwich.

The St. Anthony Chapel Foundation sent out Request for Proposals (RFPs) to several Historians and after the interviews, signed an Agreement for Historical context: Cape Verdean people in Norwich with Rachel D. Carley, Architectural Historian who resides in Litchfield, on June 28, 2021.

Cape Verdean individuals were contacted to inquire if they would be an Oral History Participant. Robert Farlow, Executive Director of The Otis Library, graciously allowed our foundation to utilize one of their conference rooms to host the interviews and his staff provided parking passes for those being interviewed.

On July 13, 2021, the first two people who were interviewed were Laura A. Pina and Alinda DePina, lifelong friends. Laura was born on the island of Fogo and grew up on the island of Sao Vicente, Cape Verde and was 18 years of age when she arrived in 1958 and married John Pina. Alinda was born on the island of Fogo and was 28 years of age when she arrived in 1963 and married John DePina. What truly amazing Cape Verdean women they both are.

Photos of Cape Verdean families (family name in bold) were interviewed and featured in the collages:

Across from the flag of Cabo Verde are Linda (Barboza) Hill, the late Roy Barboza and Trudi (Barboza) Gooden; Syvanna Santos, Heather D. Aldi, Angelina (Santos) Gardner and Marcellina (Santos) Aldi; L-R Alfred H. Gonsalves and Judy (Gonsalves) Gomes; Laura A. (Pires) Pina and Alinda DePina; late Tia Santos, Antonio Santos Jr. and late Jose’ and Abel Santos; Belmiro J. Rodrigues; Antoinetta Rodrigues and Marta Rodrigues; Dominica (Vaz) Silver, Augusta Nova Vaz-Edwards and Salomao R. Vaz; Roberta J. (Delgado) Vincent, Ronald Delgado and Brenda P. DelGado; Tasha (Rodrigues) Rowe; NFA Cape Verdean Student Group; Laura DelGado-Clemons.

Elanah Sherman was the catalyst behind "A Life in Stone: The Cape Verdean Stone Masonry Tradition in Eastern Connecticut,"; Denise (Gonzales) Rodrigues Morgan; Frank A. Perry; Mary C. (Cardoza) Silva; Joseph A. Perry; Barbara A. Gomes; April (Kolodnicki) Araujo; Jeffrey A. (Perry) Rose; Diane (DePina) Groner; Dolores Rodrigues; Maria (Rodrigues) McBride; Ricardo Rodrigues; Jeanette (Gonsalves) Cardoza; Michelle “Shelito” Vincent; Daniel Rose; Benjamin R. Barboza; from Hartford, CT: Edward F. Esteves; Patricia J. (Santos) Wrice; Gloria J. (Fernandes) McMullen and John Rose Jr.

On April 9, 2020, the Foundation unveiled for new street markers above the Talman Street signs (Cabo Verde Way). On this day we paid homage to our ancestors and celebrated the landmarks, culture, and traditions.

On June 18, 2022, the FINAL Survey & Planning Grant payment #4 was made to Rachel D. Carley; the project was completed. Carley provided the foundation with seven (7) spiral bound copies of the report and maps, GIS layers and digital copy of the report, photos/recordings of all participants.

Roberta recently contacted Julie Menders, Community Engagement and Adult Programming Coordinator at the Otis Library in Norwich and the Community and Meeting Room has been booked for noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 to present the Cape Verdean History Project to the Norwich Community.

The Otis Library will issue a press release once everything is finalized and post the event on their calendar and website. People will be able to register for the event on their calendar or by contacting Julie Menders at (860) 889-2365, Ext. 128.

Our foundation, Roberta J. Vincent, Alfred H. Gonsalves and Robert L. Howard II, would like to personally thank Jenny Scofield, CT State Historic Preservation Office; Mary Dunne, Dept. of Economic and Community Development; Architectural Historian Rachel D. Carley; Kate Schramm, CHS Director of CT Cultural Heritage Arts; Adam L. Richardson, EA to the Secretary of State; Lynne Williamson, retired Director of CT Cultural Heritage Arts; Robert Farlow, Executive Director of the Otis Library and his staff; initial letters of support for the project. We could not have accomplished this without you.