Special thanks to ALDEN PARTRIDGE

Alden Partridge was born on Bragg Hill in Jonathan Frishtick, Norwich in 1785. He enrolled at Dartmouth GIS GPS Mapping College at age 16, then transferred to the for their contributions to this project at West Point. There he excelled and became a professor of mathematics and engineering, and eventually, Early sketch of the Ameri- can Scientifi c, Literary and superintendent of the school. It was here that Military Academy's (later he began to hone a new vision of education Norwich University) South which combined civilian and military studies Barracks on the present-day site of the Norwich Green in order to produce citizen soldiers, prepared and Marion Cross School. for the responsibilities of peace and war. This brought him into confl ict with the military elite and earned him a court-martial and dismissal from West Point.

Cadets during Partridge returned to Norwich in 1819 and continued his quest to create military practice on what would become his American System of Education based his ideals. the Parade Gounds. After receiving support and gifts of land from the town, he founded the American Literary, Scientifi c and Military Academy and built the South Barracks the same year. As enrollment increased, the North Barracks, was erected (1831-32).

Partridge wrote prolifi cally on mathematical and scientifi c matters, his After the South Barracks burned and NU moved travels, and his views on citizen soldiery. He is credited with accurately to Northfi eld, the North surveying, with his cadets, the mountains of Vermont. He also served in Barracks (left) served as the Vermont House of Representatives during the 1830s, and was recruited a school and library for the town until it too was as President of UVM, an honor he declined. destroyed by fi re in 1897. Partridge stepped down as President in 1843. He Theta Chi Fraternity was founded would go on to found six other military institu- at Norwich University on April 10, tions in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and 1856 by two cadets: Frederick Norton Freeman and Arthur Chase. . Partridge’s model was adopted A marker in commemoration is by Senator Justin Morrill for the state universities A SELF-GUIDED located at the southwest corner of founded under the Land Grant College Act. Norwich Green. Partridge is also generally credited for the present-day ROTC program. WALKING TOUR Partridge served as guardian to several children, one of whom was a Greek Stroll Norwich Village to visit the child refugee, George M. Colvocorresses, who was raised in Norwich and attended the University. In 1837, at the age of 52, Partridge married Anne key sites of Norwich University, Swazey of Claremont, NH. They had two sons, George M.C. (1838-1854) and Henry Villiers (1839-1920). founded here in 1819.

Captain Partridge died in Norwich on January 16, 1854, at age 69. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery along with his wife and sons.

NORWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY 277 Main Street, PO Box 1680 • Norwich VT 802.649.0124 [email protected] • www.norwichhistory.org of Mexico City on September 13, 1847. Admiral Converse House during the Civil War, bringing to a HAZEN Thousands of people came to his ST (351 Main Street) close a long-standing feud between the funeral in Norwich. 6 George Albert Converse institutions. attended Norwich University just On October 19th, 1864, escaped before the Civil War Confederate prisoners of war, disguised ¯ and then enrolled in as vacationers from , arrived ! the US Naval Academy at hotels in Saint Albans where they !5 entered three banks and demanded 500 during the war. He Norwich Bandstand became a battleship In 1819, Alden Partridge, a Feet commander during the 1 Norwich native, founded the Spanish-American War. American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy and built the South Barracks at ZEN ST DOR HA RAN Mrs. Dow’s Boarding House the site of the current-day elementary C Union Store (Ledyard Bank E (The Aldrich House) school. The building had 42 rooms, 2 D In the 1860s, this house was Building) The Union Store L LN R 7 recitation rooms, a lecture hall, and an UMBUL Norwich Public occupied the site from the 1850s TR used as a boarding house for Norwich armory. Students enrolled the following 4 Library University cadets. One student, Edward year. In 1834 the academy was renamed to 1864, when the merchant, money; they stole over $200,000 ! Stanley Abbot, wrote “I am to have a tailor and Norwich University trustee, !8 (between $7 and 8 million today). Norwich University. nice large parlor and a snug little sleeping Joseph Egerton, purchased it. Egerton Fairview Norwich University cadets traveled to Cemetary ! N room at the enormous sum of half a dollar JBC Burton House (corner of was the tailor for many cadets at !6 USE L Newport and on to Derby Line in case FIREHO a week! Board is 2.25 a week.” Main and Elm Streets) boarded Norwich University until the institution B !!7 ST of additional invasions. moved to Northfield in 1866. Store EA R cadets, as did at least 15 other VE TE 2 R N A Norwich cadet said, “While the houses in Norwich. During the records from the 1830s document ME E ADOW RD A RP 1820s at the Burton house, cadets paid students purchasing quills, blank books, C LN outing was neither bloody nor LARY $1.67 per week or $86.84 per year for quires of paper, inkstands, and ink. !9 protracted, it is not romancing to say ! that the real war spirit was afire in us.” washing and mending of clothing. The !!4 cost to board (or eat dinner) was $2.00 per week in the 1830s. Three brothers, Alwyn, Swinton, and Elias Ball boarded Fairview Cemetery at the Burtons in 1825. They were from The gravesites of Alden Charleson, SC, and attending Norwich !3 ! Partridge and family are University to gain military experience RCH ST 8 ! CHU located near the center of in order to put down potential slave !2 Fairview Cemetery. A monument was insurrections. ST !!1 Bandstand erected by the Colvocorreses family to LM E School honor their patron. Former home of Truman B. The Partridge House !1!0 Ransom (now the Norwich Alden Partridge lived here Norwich Green Norwich Inn Post Office) during his presidency of This view would have 3 5 8 This military formation, Norwich University. He often greeted you on the morning Truman B. Ransom graduated from Norwich 10 photographed from in front of following the great fire of March 14, Norwich University in 1825 and began addressed his cadets from the balcony Historical 9 the Inn, was part of the Vermont State a career as an educator, eventually of an earlier entrance portico. The Society 1866, when the South Barracks burned house was built in about 1825 for Militia’s June training. Militia officers to the ground. The event prompted becoming President M came to Norwich University to train in the University's move to Northfield in 1844, the first to Partridge's cousin by Norwich builder A

I drill and advanced tactics. They drilled hold the office after Joseph Emerson. After his death in 1854 N later that year. A plaque at the entrance with muskets and six-pound smooth- Alden Partridge. at age 69, his widow remained at this S commemorates T bore howitzers (cannons). They Ransom served in location until her death in 1902. Alden the University learned bayonet exercises, construction the Mexican War and Anne Partridge and their sons are and is mounted and fortification techniques, and guard and was promoted buried at Fairview Cemetery. Today, the on bricks saved and post duty. Norwich University to Colonel. He was house operates as an Inn. DRAFT 091019 from the South cadets also trained Dartmouth students fatally shot outside (See more on back panel.) Barracks.