The Norwich Historical Society recently added two new stops to the Norwich Freedom Trail. We added the newly completed Jubilee Mural, and the Norwich Sister Mural – both located in downtown Norwich.

Additionally, NHS has also added Colonel John Durkee’s grave to the Benedict Arnold Trail. Please visit walknorwich.org to see these new additions to the Norwich Freedom Trail and the Benedict Arnold Trail.

The Jubilee Mural

4 Broadway

The Jubilee Mural, created by Connecticut artist Ben Keller, was unveiled on June 18, 2022, in celebration of Juneteenth Day. The mural is an initiative of Castle Church in tribute to individuals and communities of resilience, and is part of Jubilee Park.

The mural features James Lindsey Smith and Sarah Harris Fayerweather, contemporaries from the nearby historic Jail Hill neighborhood. Smith escaped slavery in Virginia in 1838. Along the journey, he overcame separation from his companions due to a permanent leg injury suffered in childhood that slowed him down.

He eventually settled in Norwich, where he raised a family, served as a minister, and operated a shoemaking business.

Fayerweather boldly requested attendance at Prudence Crandall’s all-girls school in Canterbury, becoming the first black student there before mob violence shut down the school.

Norwich Sister Mural “Freedom, Civil Rights and Human Rights” by Emida Roller and Samson Tonton

Market Street Parking Garage, downtown Norwich

This mural was initiated by Public Art for Racial Justice Education, which was launched in response to the tragic killing of George Floyd. This broad-based interracial, non-partisan, non-sectarian grassroots organization consists of volunteers from a number of communities who believe that public art has a critical role in raising racial and social justice awareness, helping us all to build “the Beloved Community” envisioned by Martin Luther King Jr.

Town by town, working in partnership with schools, museums, faith communities, civic organizations and concerned citizens, our “Sister Murals” project endeavors to create works of art to keep alive, from one generation to another, the stories of local and national figures who have distinguished themselves as racial justice champions.

These heroes of the human spirit continue to provide a “North Star” by which our communities can be inspired to become more just, more equitable, more welcoming, and more sustainable. The Norwich Sister Mural depicts a number of historical figures who directly or indirectly impacted and inspired freedom, civil rights, and human rights in our community.

By Regan Miner, Executive Director of the Norwich Historical Society

caption: Mural Unveiling January 2022.

Image : Jubilee Mural

Image caption: Image Courtesy of Castle Church.