Ohio
Norwich Village
Muskingum County
This is a provisional page, here as a starting point for this family community.
We welcome more details, photographs, history, or even a complete re-write.
And of course
web links to your communities web sites.
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Norwich Village, Muskingum County, Ohio State
Administration: Mayor (part time)
Population: 500
 The village has a Post Office, 2 Churches Presbyterian and United Methodist, sharing a preacher with other communities, and 4 Stores.
History of Norwich
by kind donation of John & Doris Allen
Prior to the opening of The 'Zane Trace' the area was one of Indian settlements and the names of the first pioneers will ever remain unknown as they pushed still further into the wilds of the Great West. There were many families that sought to try their fortunes further West and contingents came from Philadelphia as well as other Eastern areas.
The early prosperity of Norwich was due to The National Road that was ordained by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. This was the first federally supported road in U.S. history.
In 1827 William Harper of Norwich, England bought land from John Crawford along the proposed new highway and laid out a town and called it Norwich. Harper, a bachelor, did not remain long as he had problems with some of the inhabitant and left for England.
Today the National Road is a quieter alternative to the roaring interstate nearby. Although some sections have been abandoned most of it remains intact and links the small towns that prospered along its historic way.
 There is however a further international fame in Norwich's housing The Zane Grey Museum.
All those who have been immersed in the stories of The Wild West Cowboy days would do well to make this a site for pilgrimage!
Zane Grey was probably the most famous of those authors.
Zane Grey's ancestor, Colonel Ebenezer Zane, was commissioned by the Continental Congress to develop a road through the Western Wilderness (Pennsylvania and Ohio at the time).
This museum has three main sections: The National Road, Zane Grey, and Ohio pottery (the area is well known for the quality of pottery made locally).
The Zane Grey section has numerous items of interest including books, movie posters, fishing items, and several recreations of Zane Grey settings.
We are indebted to Mr Alan Clark,the Museum Director for contacts in the village of Norwich.
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