Norwich, Ontario

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Country	Canada
Township of Norwich
Province	Ontario
County	Oxford
Government
- Mayor	Donald Doan
Area (2006) Statistics Canada
- Total	431.28 km² (166.5 sq mi)
Population (2006)Statistics Canada
- Total	10,481
- Density	24.3/km² (62.9/sq mi)
Time zone	Eastern Standard Time (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (UTC-4)
Postal Code	N0J 1P0, N0J 1P1, N0J 1P2
Area code(s)	226/519
Website: Township of Norwich

The Township of Norwich is a municipality located in Oxford County in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The name of the town is pronounced differently from that of Norwich, England (whose name is pronouned NOR-itch), and is pronounced exactly as it is spelled (NOR-witch).

It includes the communities of Beaconsfield, Bond's Corners, Brown's Corners, Burgessville, Cornell, Creditville, Curries, Eastwood, Hawtrey, Hink's Corners, Holbrook, Lambeth, Milldale, Muir, Newark, New Durham, Norwich, Oriel, Otterville, Oxford Centre, Rock's Mills, Rosanna, Springford, Summerville and Vandecar.

Oxford County Road 59 (formerly Highway 59) is the major north-south highway through much of the township, including the community of Norwich proper.

The local economy is largely agricultural, based on dairy farming in the north part of the township and tobacco and ginseng farming to the south. Slowly, ginseng is replacing the former cash crop - tobacco, as demand shrinks.

1 Government
2 History
- 2.1 The Otterville Mill
3 Grand Trunk Railway Station Museum and Blacksmith Shop=
4 Notable residents
5 Media
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Government

Norwich is governed by a mayor (currently Donald Doan, since election in November 2006) and a councillor for each of its four wards:

Ward 1 (South Norwich) - southern portion of township, including Otterville
Ward 2 (Village of Norwich)
Ward 3 (North Norwich) - middle portion of township except Norwich village, including Burgessville
Ward 4 (East Oxford) - northern portion of township, including Oxford Centre

[edit] History

[edit] The Otterville Mill

Built in 1845 by Edward Bullock, the mill is run by water power supplied by a dam on the river. The South Norwich Historical Society, on a lease basis, maintains this historic site and offers tours on request. A beautiful setting in the center of the village, the mill and its surrounding meadow is the site of an annual barbecue.

[edit] Grand Trunk Railway Station Museum and Blacksmith Shop=

The South Norwich Historical Society has restored this 1875 station to its condition as a 1881 Grand Trunk Railway station. The waiting room and office are restored authentically, the baggage room is an interpretation room for displays of the area's history. Permanent displays feature railway construction of the 1880's with many artifacts of all periods. The Underground Railroad and early Black settlement of the area is another highlight, as well as the story of early Quaker heritage in the area.

[edit] Early black settlement

In 1982 during the 175th celebrations of the community, a plaque was placed at the cemetery to commemorate the black settlement of freed families who made their homes in this area.

[edit] Otterville Park

Just north of the main corner, and through the stone gates, is 10 acres of parklands graced with beautiful tall pines, with a swimming pool, ball diamond, horseshoe pitch, tennis and basketball courts, and children's playground.

[edit] The Norwich Tornado of 1998

On the afternoon of June 2, 1998, a severe weather outbreak affected Southern Ontario. At around 3:50 PM, there was a report of a tornado touching down in Holbrook and heading straight for Norwich. The tornado hit Norwich around 4:05 PM, damaging trees, farm equipment, barns, houses, and Holy Trinity Anglican Church. There were no reports of injuries, and the next day, Environment Canada confirmed that an F1 or F2 tornado had hit Norwich.^[1]

[edit] Notable residents

Emily Stowe, (1831-1903), first woman doctor to practice medicine in Canada, and Augusta Stowe-Gullen, her daughter, first woman to earn a medical degree in Canada
Harold Innis, (1894-1952), political economist, born and raised in the Norwich Township community of Bookton
James Robertson, (1839-1902), Presbyterian, Superintendent of Missions, North West Territories
Margaret Allen Rockefeller, wife of William Avery Rockefeller (father of the American oil tycoon)